Hilleberg Allak

Hilleberg Allak

The Allak uses the same integrated vestibule design as the Staika, as well as a similar 3 pole structure, but it employs ultralight materials for weight savings. The result is a two door, two vestibule tent that weighs just 3.0 kg/6 lbs 10 oz. The Allak’s three poles cross in three places, so it is sturdy enough for all season use in both exposed and/or above tree line terrain as well as protected conditions.

Because of its Kerlon 1200 outer tent fabric and 9 mm poles, it is not as stout as its Kerlon 1800 cousin, the Staika. Its exceptionally compact footprint and free standing design are ideal for tough pitching conditions, such as rocky ground and sand, and it is easily light enough for mobile journeys, where you move your camp every day. At the same time, its three pole dome structure is strong enough for some base camp use, where you leave your tent unattended, especially in moderate conditions.

Performance Attributes
The Allak’s dome design is completely free standing, and the vestibules are included in its self-supporting structure. Its innovative short pole sleeve and clip system construction, same length poles, and linked inner and outer tents make for simple and quick set up. Its design allows for a very compact footprint while maintaining interior roominess.

Ultralight materials – Kerlon 1200 outer tent fabric and 9 mm poles – combined with the three poles crossing each other in three places – make for a very lightweight yet very stable tent with excellent snow-load handling capability.

Pitching requires no pegs, but 12 peg points provide options for increasing stability: six loops, one at each pole end and six double guy lines with double line runners, one along each pole line.

Both the floor space and head room are quite spacious thanks to the three pole structure and dome design.

Two entrances and two vestibules afford tremendous convenience, flexibility and comfort. And the two vestibules are parallel to the sleeping area, so access to gear stored there is wonderfully convenient – you can even get at it while lying in your sleeping bag!

Dual entrances ensure that one door can always be situated out of the wind.

The Allak’s ventilation works regardless of weather conditions, since both the inner tent’s fabric is highly breathable, and since there are two roof vents integrated into the top of the doors. Extra sliders on the outer tent doors provide plenty of adjustment options, and the inner tent door is a no-see-um mesh panel covered with an equal sized, zipper-adjustable fabric panel. In addition, the top portion of the outer tents’ doors are made of highly air permeable yet water resistant fabric panels, so air flows freely, even when the panels are zipped closed. A separate vent cover ensures that the weather stays on the outside.

Minimum Wt: 2.5 kg/ 5lbs 7oz
Packed Wt: 3.0 kg/ 6lbs 10oz
Inner Height: 105cm/ 42 in
Inner Tent Area: 3.0m sq / 32.3' sq
Vestibule: Area: 2 x .9m sq / 2 x 9.7' sq
Poles: 9mm
Pegs: 12 V-Pegs

Every Hilleberg tent comes with outer tent, inner tent, guy lines with line runners, poles pegs, stuff bags for tent, poles, pegs, spare pole section, repair sleeve and instructions

"Minimum Weight" refers to the outer and inner tents and the poles only. "Packed Weight" includes all items that come with the tent.

Movie: Hilleberg Allak - Pitching instuction

Using a Firesteel

How to strike a firesteel with a bushcraft knife:-

NEVER use the cutting edge of your knife to strike a firesteel (always use the back of the blade).

The Swedish Army Firesteel is a metal alloy rod used to create sparks to ignite a wide variety of tinder materials. Its’ very simplicity has made it a firm favourite with many outdoor people as it is reliable, long lasting, is not adversely affected by water, and has no moving parts to go wrong. In the following example a piece of maya wood has been used to create the tinder.

Step 1) Preparing the tinder. Using the back of the knife blade, scrape down the length of the piece of maya wood producing a bundle of small shavings that are still attached to the piece of wood (a little like a feather stick). Then cut a small sliver of wood from the main piece with all the shavings still attached to the sliver (this helps to hold all the shavings together when using the firesteel).

Step 2) Positioning. Place the end of the firesteel on a firm surface in a position that will allow the sparks will fall onto the tinder.

Step 3) Striking. Strike downward with a hard and slow movement using the back of the knife blade. Never use the cutting edge of your knife to strike a firesteel as you are likely to completely ruin the knife. The sparks produced should ignite your prepared tinder.

Other Tinder Materials:

Birch Bark. This is probably my favourite tinder as it’s easily collected where available and works extremely well in all conditions due to the oil content of the bark.

This is a strip of birch bark torn from a dead rotting tree found lying on the forest floor. Most of the wood had disintegrated but the bark was still usable. Use the back of your knife to scrape up the surface of the bark into a pile of fine shavings.

Place the firesteel firmly on the bark and strike slow and hard down the full length of the steel with the back of your knife blade. The shavings should catch fire and set the rest of the bark alight. You can see an indication of the oil content of the bark when it’s burning by the black smoke that it gives off.

Feather Stick. This is a favourite for lighting a fire in a soaking wet forest. Make feather sticks from cut and quartered dead standing wood. Even if the wood is wet on the outside, dead standing wood will contain dry wood in the centre.

Arrange three good feather sticks so that the fine shavings are in a large pile. Strike slow and hard down the firesteel with the back of your knife so that the sparks set fire to the fine shavings.

Hilleberg Soulo

Hilleberg Soulo

What appealed to me most was the idea that the outer rain shell is already attached to the inner tent - and the poles are attached as an 'exoskeleton' of sorts. So that in foul weather - the inner tent is not exposed to the elements during pitching. 

The tent is completely self supporting - so it can be pitched almost anywhere. The 3 aluminum poles have color coded sleeves - so that the guess work is taken away from pole placements. The inner vestibule is not huge, but large enough to handle most of your gear. You can choose between a red or green exterior - and each has a cheery yellow inner tent.
This is a 4-season tent, and I have used it in heavy cold rain. I have yet to use it in snow, but the shape and taughtness give me plenty of confidence this tent will hold up admirably.

A spare pole \ emergency repair kit is included. The vestibule does not have a floor - but the custom footprint (sold separately) does that job if that is what you need. The tent with accompanying gear weighs 4 lbs 10 oz. (2.1 kg). There is a separate kit that can be purchased that allows you to pitch the inner tent by itself, or pitch the shell only.
Higly recommended.

FEATURES of the Soulo 1 Person Tent by Hilleberg The Soulo's dome design is completely free standing, and the vestibule is included in its self-supporting structure. Its innovative short pole sleeve and clip system construction and linked inner and outer tents make for simple and quick set up. Its design allows for a very compact footprint while maintaining interior roominess. 

Ultralight materials - Kerlon 1200 outer tent fabric and 9 mm poles - combined with the three poles crossing each other in three places - make for a very lightweight yet very stable tent with excellent snow-load handling capability. Pitching requires no pegs, but 12 peg points provide options for increasing stability: six loops, one at each pole end, and six double guy lines with double line runners, one along each pole line. Both the floor space and head room are quite spacious thanks to the three pole structure and dome design. 

The single entrance/single vestibule configuration affords convenience, flexibility and comfort. And the vestibule is parallel to the sleeping area, so access to gear stored there is wonderfully convenient - you can even get at it while lying in your sleeping bag! 

The Soulo's ventilation system functions regardless of weather conditions, since both the inner tent's fabric is highly breathable, and since there is a zipper adjustable vent above the door of the outer tent. Made from a highly air permeable yet water resistant and snow-proof fabric, the vent allows air to flow freely, even when it is zipped closed. And the vent is fully accessible from inside the tent itself, thanks to extra sliders on the inner tent door. 

In addition, one entire side of the inner tent door is a no-see-um mesh panel covered with an equal sized, zipper-adjustable fabric panel. A separate vent cover ensures that the weather stays on the outside. SPECIFICATIONS: Minimum Weight: 1.7 kg / 3 lbs 12 oz Packed Weight: 2.2 kg / 4 lbs 13 oz Inner Height: 95 cm / 38 in Inner Tent Area: 2.0 m2 / 21.5

Movie: Hilleberg Soulo - Pitching instructie

WESTERN MARSH HARRIER 

(Circus aeruginosus)

35 cm tall. The overside of the male is blue grey, often with a redish belt on the underside. It is the only bird of pray that visits regularly big and smaller city's. Glides in the air, calmly on stiff wings.
Nests from south of Norway up to Troms.