Choosing the right tent with the Hilleberg Label system
There really is no “best” tent, but there is a “right” tent for you. Choosing that “right tent” is less about what you do on your adventures – climbing, hiking, hunting, sea kayaking, bicycle or motorcycle touring and so on – than it is about determining what your tent needs to be able to do on those adventures. We advocate that you establish when, where, and how you will most often use your tent as well as any specific features or performance attributes that are important to you, and that you assess your general level of experience and confidence in your backcountry skills. With this information, you can then determine the tent (or tents) with the most suitable qualities for your needs.
In the end, only you can decide which tent is the right tent for you, but since it will literally be your home in the backcountry, we urge you to choose wisely!
Find which Label best meets your needs
A Black Label Keron in a burnt forest near Fond du Lac River in northern Saskatchewan. Photo: Alma Bågefalk
Choose size, construction, and specific features
An Akto and a Soulo each have their advantages. Photo: Bryan Martin (asianmountainoutfitters.com)
The “lightest weight” trap
A Nammatj is a light weight option for summiting Mt. Pomerape in Chile, where strength is of equal importance. Photo: Guillaume Ceyrac.
Kerlon 1800 outer tent
Kerlon 1200 outer tent
Kerlon 1000 outer tent
Kerlon 2500 outer tent
Tunnel design
Dome design
self supporting*
free standing*
Other design
Number of occupants
Entrances
Vestibules
Extended vestibule
Modular components
Pole diameter (mm) & number
Indicates which fabric the outer tent is made from.
- Kerlon 1800
- Kerlon 1200
- Kerlon 1000
- Kerlon 2000
All Season - outer tent walls may not extend to the ground and mesh areas have no backing fabric panels.
Three Season - outer tent walls extend to the ground and mesh areas are backed with adjustable fabric panels.
Tunnel design
Dome design
Self supporting
vestibules need to be pegged out
Free standing
vestibules do not need to be pegged out
Indicates the number of occupants. A semi-transparent figure () indicates multiple sizes (eg 3 and 4 person models available).
Indicates number and type of vestibules.
- Standard vestibule
- Extended vestibule
- Pole diameter (mm)
- Number of poles
The Atlas inner tents (3 versions are available) are optional accessories and are not supplied with the base models. External vestibules for the Atlas are also optional, and require an extra pole. The optional connector can be used to link multiple atlas tents. More information
The Altai inner tent and floor are optional accessories and are not supplied with the base models. The Altai UL has a Kerlon 1200 outer tent; the Altai XP has a Kerlon 2500 outer tent. The Altai is a yurt-inspired design, and is meant to be pitched with a ski or similar central “pole” and eight trekking poles, but a dedicated pole package of one 19.5 mm pole for the center and eight 13 mm poles is also available. More information