Gear Reviews

Review: Hilleberg Allak 2 Person All Season Tent

posted by gumptiongear August 27, 2016 0 comments

DSC_0025The Hilleberg Red Label Allak Tent combines the strength, weather protection, and versatility of a double-wall design with a reasonable weight that everyone can appreciate. Designed to withstand surly winter storms, whipping winds, and even bone-chilling temperatures, the Allak is a stout 2-Person All-Season shelter ideal for everything from winter camping in Tetons to summer adventures along the California coastline.

On Performance and Design…
The Hilleberg family has been making some of the world’s best tents for 45 years, and the Allak stands as a superb representation of the design, detail and performance that result from such a lengthy tradition of craftsmanship. A lighter version of Hilleberg’s legendary Staika tent, the Allak is a two door, two vestibule, all season, dome tent. But at just 6 lbs 10 oz. it tips the scales at a weight considerably lighter than the Staika and many other all season tents.

DSC_0033Of course the beauty of Hilleberg is that they didn’t sacrifice weatherproofing or durability to attain that lighter weight. The outer tent utilizes the brand’s Kerlon 1200, a silicone coated fabric which strikes an impressive balance between strength and weight. How strong is it? Kerlon 1200 offers a minimum tear strength of 12 kg/26.5 lbs which, in laymen’s terms, means you get superior weather protection, greater longevity and a virtually tear resistant tent.

Hilleberg has mastered the art of the linked inner and outer tent construction. A hallmark of the Hilleberg design, this design offers maximum protection, allows the user to use the inner and outer tents separately, and also customize your inner tent space. Coupled with Allak’s impressive cross-ventilation, it also means you can rest easy knowing you won’t wake up to a dewy mess halfway through the night. Hilleberg’s flat fell-seams repel sleet and snow, and provide impressive water resistance for the all too common mountain thunderstorm. A plethora of guy out lines mean you can lock down this tent and feel completely secure in all but the most severe weather conditions.

DSC_0046Now that we have some of the finer design details out of the way, let’s get to a little outdoor honesty.  In moments when either time or Mother Nature are running hard and fast against you, a complicated set-up is the last thing you need to wrestle with. Towards those ends, the Allak offers an impressively efficient and uncomplicated set-up. It requires no pegs for pitching, and the straightforward short sleeve and clip pole system make for a simple-and-secure setup.

DSC_0043Its freestanding design means that it can be pitched on rock, sand, and other difficult terrain – meaning there’s no time wasted in searching for the “perfect spot”. Our first night out with the Allak, we didn’t get to our campsite until nigh on midnight. And yet, we were able to set up the tent in under ten minutes, saving both our time and our sanity. As an added bonus, the Allak features an integrated vestibule design which lets you keep your gear dry without cramping living space—which is important because every inch becomes precious when you get  trapped in your tent for six days.

Notes from the Field…
There no escaping the fact that the Allak comes part and parcel with a significant sticker shock. At $955 the red label Allak doesn’t fall in what anyone would consider the “bargain range” of pricing options. But what’s also true is that the materials used in a Hilleberg tent are, quite frankly, of a superior quality which legitimately equates to a higher price point.

DSC_0030After using the Allak, we’re also absolutely certain that this tent will never succumb to the pressures of a life lived in the rugged outdoors. You see, another little truth about adventure is that it doesn’t always take the form of those picturesque, screen-saver worthy images.  Dramatic soul-inspiring moments can turn into nightmarish weather scenarios in a flash.

Maybe it’s the severe snowstorm that comes out of nowhere; the windy ridge top you get stuck on for days; or a biblical styled rain that keeps you pinned to the tiny bit of high ground your tent sits upon. Should you ever find yourself in one of those scenarios, you’ll be glad that you packed in the Allak. Not only is this tent designed to thrive in those unforeseen scenarios, but it offers a level of livability and comfort that isn’t easily matched in the outdoor industry.

Bottom Line…
Simply put, it’s one of the best all around tents we’ve ever put through the paces. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, the Hilleberg Allak 2-Person Tent stands ready and willing to come through for you.

*Gumption Gear Review received the items featured in this review from Hilleberg at no cost and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The items featured were provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.