Hilleberg Akto

The Hilleberg Akto is a high quality 1 man tent for use in 4 seasons. It's one hoop design can be erected in a flash and in decent conditions, only needs to be secured by 4 pegs. In nasty weather, this can be ramped up to include the six guy-points. Once you experience the Akto, it will pain you to go back to your bivi bag - the amount of room in this Hilleberg for occupant plus gear is impressive.

Site	Price	Postage	Total
	£288.99	FREE	£288.99
	£322.97	£4.50	£327.47

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   User Reviews

General comments: This is a fantastic quality tent, very easy to set up, light enough to carry around, but (allegedly) strong enough to endure even very severe weather. It is also well suited to adventure racing, as it can sleep two people as long as they are on reasonably friendly terms. Although I've never had the chance to test it in a big storm, I can vouch for it's ability to withstand heavy rain and moderate wind without any problems. For one person it is very comfortable, and the porch is easily big enough to cook in.

Pros: Light, durable, waterproof

Cons: Condensation can be a problem.

General comments: I went to buy a bivvi bag, and came out with a tent. Why? Well, this is a tent which weighs about the same as a bivvi (1.5KG approximately), but it's a heck of a lot more comfortable to sleep in. You can cook in the porch, keep your stuff out of the wet overnight, and if necessary would hold two people without too much discomfort - useful if you're checkpointing or for emergencies. And have you ever tried changing your pants in a bivvi bag? Hilleberg have put a lot of thought into this tent. It pitches as a single unit - the inner and outer remain attached - which means you can put it up in no time at all. The outer is very lightweight ripstop nylon, but is totally waterproof. The tent has a single hoop, which keeps the weight down. The guy lines have quick-adjust clips, which mean you can tension the guys instantly, even with wet and cold fingers. The inner and the outer can be separated by degrees, meaning you can make the porch bigger and the inner smaller, at will. I've used this to house 3 cold wet people in complete cosiness, plus their gear. The inner also has a built-in vent, so you don't have to leave the door open to avoid condensation, and even the top of the outer door is wired so you can leave an air gap (or a peep hole) without letting the rain in. The attention to detail even goes as far as providing a stuff sack which is bigger than it needs to be - so you can pack it easily when it's wet and you're in a hurry, without looking like an elephant trying to put on a condom, although it doesn't take up any more space in your rucksack. I've used this tent in expeditions (when feeling antisocial, or as an emergency shelter) and it's stood up to the weather pretty well, the only exception being on sand in the wind, when the lack of a firm structure like geodesic domes, and the inability to peg it down properly, meant it wasn't that stable.

Pros: Good design; nice attention to detail; better all round than a bivvi, no heavier, and generally cheaper than a decent goretex bivvi bag.

Cons: Not as stable in strong weather as a "proper" mountain tent; mine is not cut that great, which means it can look a bit wonky when I put it up, although this might just be mine.

General comments: The Akto is made from a single hoop design, a design adopted by other tent makers but they have not mastered it aswell as Hilleberg have with the Akto. With a porch twice the size of its competitors and excellent build quality using the most advanced of lightweight materials for all parts of the tent, the ultra lightweight Akto at only 1.5kg is an unbelievable and in my opinion essential piece of kit for any solo backpacker. The Akto can also be used without the inner in summer for an even lighter shelter. The only downside with small tents is possible condensation, however the Akto has two end vents to combat this issue and the newest version comes with a vent in the top of the door aswell for true chimney venting effect. The benefit of cooking in the tent in bad wether is huge.

Pros: Lightweight, tiny pack size, roomy porch, easy & quick erection, excellent build quality, effective venting, pull out string on pegs.

Cons: Condensation possible, pegs are uncomfotable to the palm.

General comments: Now onto my second Akto in 5 years and still believe this to be the best 1 man shelter available. Just a little heavier than a bivvy but all the comfort of a decent size tent. Gossamer weight yet super strong, I've used this in varying conditions thru 4 seasons in the UK and Alps and it never fails to impress. Top quality fabrics shed water without stretching the fly. Great room/weight ratio. Single Pole with captive end socket makes it a breeze to pitch quickly when the weather closes in. Reassuring when your invariably exhausted after a hard day on the trail. Will probably sleep 2 close friends by unclipping the inner but can't say I've had the occasion as yet.

Pros: Light, small and fast to erect, great sleeping and storage area, very warm and draught free due to fly sealing all round down to ground. Surprisingly wind resistant.

Cons: Susceptible to condensation due to small size in still conditions, Need care from abrasion due to the gossamer fabrics involved. Pegs bend a little too easily. Needs very precise pitching and guying angles to get the best from it.

General comments: I've used lots of tents in the past but now have stuck with Hilleberg, they're not the cheapest but I would say definitely the best. The Akto is no exception, for lightweight backpacking its exceptional. Its lightweight and will take pretty much any weather thrown at it. I've used many times in inclement british weather, several storms in new zealand and longer treks in europe and found it brilliant. The amount of room you get inside is great. The fact that it opens from the side is brilliant because it gives you so much more room and you can sit up in the middle and look out at the view. The porch is roomy and you have no problems fitting yourself and a full size bag inside with room left over for cooking. Some people claim that its bad for condensation- all tents are it depends on climatic condiions and with both ventilation holes open and the top of the outer fly door open its usually fine. Many other designs have tried to copy the Akto and i can't say how good they are but the quality of the material's used in the akto is ace and all in all i;d rather pay a bit more for quality materials, a few grams heavier and have a tent that lasts than have tent thats lighter not so well made and doesn't last as long.

Pros: Great build quality, very lightweight, lots of room multitude of guy rope points so very stable when erect. Single hoop design means you can sit up in the middle of your tent. Outer material is brilliant. Outer and fly pitch together, takes about 2 mins to pitch!

Cons: Tent pegs are very lightweight but took a battering on hard european ground (think the new model comes with different pegs). Not self supporting (though only solution would be geodesic so heavier). Pricey- but worth it.

General comments: I've used this tent for most of the long distance walks in Scotland, never in winter but in all other seasons. I carry a Crux 47litre 10kg pack (excluding water) and like to have everything inside, nothing strapped or tied to the outside. Obviously a light compact tent like the Akto is ideal for this. I'm not young anymore, so the quick and easy deployment at the end of a 20-25 mile walk is important.

Pros: Very quick and easy to erect, and so light and compact it's like not having to carry a tent at all.

Cons: Severe condensation in all but high summer. Remember this comment applies to walking in Scotland, though. I've even tried making an extractor fan from an old PC cooling fan with a 9v battery glued to it (didn't help). Fundamental fault seems to be lack of a high central vent in the inner tent. Needs near-perfect pitch to avoid contact between fly and inner.

General comments: It will be a miracle if anyone ever gives this tent a bad review. Before buying I had narrowed my options down to the Akto and the Terra Nova Laserlite. My decission to go for the more expensive option was based on the fact the the manufaturers had slightly different ideas about their products weather resistance: Terra Nova suggesting the Laserlite is for three season use, Hilleberg suggesting that the Akto would have no problems with 'above tree-line use'. Not that I always pitch on the tops of hill or anything but given the very changable nature of Scottish weather I like to feal secure when I'm in my tent! The solid feal of the tent when pitched using all the guy lines is excellent, a nice low wind shedding shape with very strong but light rip-stop fabric. Many reviews I read before buying this tent mentioned a problem with condensation. I find that the (relatively) new chimney vent above the door and the low end vents work well enough provided you don't pitch in grass that smothers them. Plenty of room in the porch to cook and store wet gear

Pros: Size to weight ratio is excellent. Ease of pitching (only one pole), goes up in minutes. Strength in poor weather. Small pack size

Cons: Price, but you get what you pay for - this will last for years.

General comments: FANTASTIC FANTASTIC FANTASTIC.Need I say more. This is a lightweight bombproof bit of kit. It goes up in a one in 2 mins flat. Great porch. Packs easily into ample sized bag. SUPERB SUPERB SUPERB. Would I have another, mmm let me think a second YES YES YES. :)

Pros: The lot

Cons: mmmmmmmmmmmm none

General comments: I borrowed this from a friend for a quick weekends camping trip on the premise that I was looking at buying one. All I can say is that this to me is the ultimate in light weight, one man tents. I have spent many nights out under canvas and more importantly, many days out carrying said canvas and the Hilleberg is THE best single man tent that I have ever used. It is not just its light weight or its simple to pitch construction, it is not it's virtual destruction proof materials (gusts that destroyed my camping partners v%*go in the shetlands), it is the all round durability and just...well..sexiness of the damn thing! Yes this tent for a solo trip out for a weekend is a very expensive proposition, but as the age old adage goes...You Get What You Pays For! This is no more true than with the Akto. This is the ultimate for solo campers. There is more than enough room for all your gear, plus at a push a second person can be accomodated should conditions dictate that they have nowhere left to sleep (thanks Doddy) If you can justify this price tag and you are going anywhere but the lowlands of ooooh Devon, then this must be a tent at the top of your list of choices. I only wish I did not have to give it back!

Pros: Roomy, lightweight, ease of pitching

Cons: Your friends will wish to borrow it

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