Tent

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A basic requirement for the tent is, of course, that it is 100% waterproof and that it stands stable when it is windy, but then there are other factors that also come into play. If you paddle a lot where there are mostly stones and rocks, you probably appreciate a tent that is completely or at least almost completely self-supporting, i.e. a tent where you don't have to push sticks into the ground to make it stand upright, but on the other hand it's easy to use kayaks or other things to get tent fixed on rocks It is also very good if the tent has good ventilation so that you get as much of the moisture out as possible.

When the weather is worse, it's nice to have room in the tent or apse for cooking and packing. When you paddle, you usually don't have to worry too much about the weight of the tent, nor too much about the size, as you know, most kayaks are quite spacious. But at the same time, it's nice if the tent doesn't take up too much space and doesn't weigh too much. Lately, we've started trying to use a little less and smaller/lighter stuff, but it's hard to relearn.

Tent size: Manufacturers' recommendations for the number of sleepers are often a bit optimistic in my eyes. In any case, if you want it to be a little extra comfortable. If there is a 3-person tent, it is usually enough for 2, just as a 2-person tent is just enough for one person. Of course it works to sleep 2 in a 2-person tent, but if the weather is a bit worse and you might spend some time in the tent, it's nice to have a little extra space.

Absides: We think a small apse for storing stuff is good. When paddling, you can certainly have a whole lying down in the kayak. But when you wake up and it's pouring, it's nice not to have to go to the kayak to get the breakfast items. Being able to cook in the apse is also a highlight. Convenient with each apse when there are two of you or to have one for gadgets and one for cooking, for example.

Inputs: Of course, one entrance is enough, but it is easier with two if there are more than one person.

Attach: Tent pegs are normally used to secure the tent. If you are camping on rock slabs, it works well with stones, which can usually be found in the surroundings. We usually have 4-5 wedges with us (climbing wedges) that you can insert into small cracks/crevices. Works great, even though we don't use them very often. Instead of climbing wedges, nuts in different sizes with a rope in it work perfectly, maybe not as durable as a climbing wedge, but you shouldn't hang on to them like that... There are also special tent pegs for cracks/crevices that work well.

types: There are different types of tents, the most common are dome tents, tunnel tents, ridge tents, cabins and variations on these. The dome tents are usually completely self-supporting. The disadvantage of these is that they often have small apses. The tunnel tents usually only need two pegs (1 on each short side) to be able to stand up. The tunnel tents often have large apses and are sometimes found in extended versions with giant apses. The trucks have plenty of room for both people and luggage. However, they require anchoring in the ground and have no apses, but you can have everything inside the tent.

Color: Tents are available in different colors, often green and dark, but there are also happier and brighter options. We've had green, grey, red, yellow, orange, etc. Previously, I probably liked dark tents best; you can see less and it felt good when it was dark in the tent when you were going to sleep. But now I want a bright tent in a slightly "cheerier" color. I think you are happier in a bright tent, it feels warmer in a yellow or red tent and does not give a cave-like impression such as e.g. dark green. And red, yellow and brightly colored tents look much better in pictures and usually it doesn't matter that you are seen outside on the cobbles.

Cold and damp to sleep in a tent? 

Some claim, sometimes with determination, that sleeping in a tent is always cold, damp and raw. We are all different.

But on the whole, I think you can say: You have to think so. But with that is wrong 🙂

Ventilate more!

Many crawl into the tent and think it's rough, so you pull again as much as you can and then of course it becomes a little less drafty and the air stands still and feels warm. But that's only for a while, after a while it gets more humid because you've throttled the ventilation and when you breathe and give off moisture. Wet equals cooler.

Instead, open up for a lot of ventilation, preferably have the mosquito nets open as well (with the exception of the worst mosquito and fly period in July. Open up at the top so that it can blow through the tent but that you yourself are sheltered down there.

Then I think quite a few people decided that it SHOULD be cold and damp to sleep in a tent, and that doesn't help. You are probably much warmer in the sleeping bag than at home, but you are still cold. 

With a well-ventilated tent (that is not covered again), a reasonably comfortable sleeping pad and a sufficiently thick sleeping bag, it is fantastic to sleep in a tent and under the open sky all year round! Sleep outside more and it will probably just get better and better and more comfortable and more comfortable. A lot is about habit.

Here is a little about the tents we have in our possession and use now. Further down tents that we used and had before

2012 – Hilleberg Tarra

We thought the Saivo was a bit unnecessarily large and wanted something even quieter, so it became a Tarra. Very similar to Saivo but a little smaller. Even more tense makes it quieter. In addition, less "hat" which also seems to contribute to the silence. A great tent.

2009 – Hilleberg Saivo

We wanted a replacement for the TNF VE-25. It turned out to be a Hilleberg Saivo, a wind-resistant and easy-to-set-up tent with good space and height. Reasonably large apses made us like it.

Hilleberg Nallo 3 GT
Since we weren't completely satisfied with Jannu't to begin with, we got another option. As a lightweight alternative, but still with good space. Weighs the same as Jannu, but is significantly more spacious, on the other hand, not as stable. Stuck on Nallo GT because you can open the entire end to get a nice view but still sit protected inside. However, it requires an awful lot of sticks to stand well if there is the slightest wind and it makes quite a lot of noise even in moderate winds partly due to the thin fabric. The ventilation feels ok, but not quite 100%. Very easy/quick to set up.

2008-2011, 2013- Hilleberg Allak
The long awaited lightweight variant of Staika has finally arrived. About the same size, a little rustier and with thinner fabric. Built-in gutter! Completely independent and exactly three kilos.

2008-2011 Hilleberg Soulo
An independent Akto? Or an Unna with an apse? Whatever it is, it was also long-awaited; a completely independent one-man tent. We haven't used it much yet, but it looks promising.

2007-2011 Marmot Aelos 2P
We scouted for a reasonably light and fairly self-supporting 2-man tent with two entrances and apses and stuck with this. As of this writing, we've used it for two seasons and maybe 50 nights and are happy so far. However, we would like a version with a slightly larger apse on one side. Unfortunately, both the small windows "jumped out" during a trip in Blekinge, felt like that 😉

2006/2007- Hilleberg Akto
We wanted a lighter one-person tent and then we stumbled upon a used green Akto that was purchased in the fall of 2006. Many people seem very satisfied with this; we'll see how it goes for us. After the first few nights, I was so satisfied that we ordered a red one and sold the Aktot in the dull green color. Have used it a couple more nights and it feels promising. Very small packing volume and low weight, good space in the tent and a substantial apse for cooking. Ventilation seems good due to substantial openings in the short ends. A bit difficult to get it really tight, I think.

2005- Outdoor design's Bivy.
Goretex condom. This probably can't really be counted as a tent, but it actually replaces one if you bring it along. Only used it 6-7 nights. Works really well and hardly takes up any space. This model is without a frame, but it is easy to fix a little height using e.g. one paddle.

The Goretex condom is tensioned using a paddle.

2005-2009 The North Face VE-25
Our most stable, quietest and most spacious tent and with the guaranteed best indoor environment when the weather is a little worse. Nice space in the inner tent as the poles stretch it out. Not the "hanging" style that you get inside Hilleberg and others like it where inner and outer tents hang together when you set it up. Were a little worried about how it would work to set up the inner tent first when it rains, but it has gone well in both heavy rain and also the wind/rain combination. Of course, the inner tent can get a little damp on the outside, but it dries quickly.
And the tent is very quiet even in a bit more wind and stands great. Superb ventilation!! Disadvantages; heavy and a bit small apses and a bit half fun to set up! We got rid of it as we thought it was a bit of a struggle to get up sometimes when the rod channels or rods were a bit damp and we a bit cold.

We are quite happy with the tent collection right now, but we are constantly looking around, there are surely solutions/combinations that suit us better.

But something in between our Marmot Aelos 2P and NorthFace VE-25 then? Or a Hilleberg Tarra with GT apse like the new Saitari!! It should be perfect; 2-man, fairly self-supporting, good ventilation and maybe 3,5 kilos. Or is there already? Tips are gratefully received.

MSR Maybe has something... Then it does Tarptent a lot of cheeky lightweight tents if you want to pack light.

Below a little about the tents we have used and owned before

2006-2007, 2015- Hilleberg Nallo 3GT

2005-2007 Hilleberg January
Acquired November 2005. The idea was a small and light tent when we want to save weight or space, which was also reasonably self-supporting. Primarily for the K2 or on other tours when we wanted to save some weight and space. The first impression was that the ventilation was really bad, but then we imagined that it was ok for a while, but it didn't measure up; half-baked ventilation and one (1) small and very sloping apse made it sell on.

2005-2006 The North Face Tadpole 23
Very promising tent for 1 person, for 2 we think it is definitely at the minimum. However, one sleeps very well in it and the ventilation is very good and it takes up quite a bit of space when packed. Stands stable and quiet even when it's windy. And like many other American tents, the inner tent is well stretched.

2005-2006 Moskoselkåtan Tåpp 5 Varrie
We sold the old Moskoselkåtan and exchanged a couple of year models. Basically the same as Tåpp 5 Combi. Improved is; more ventilation openings at the bottom, the inner tent floor can be opened up more/better so you can put things on the slope, good for cooking, dirty shoes etc. Nowadays they are called Tentipi! The tent was sold a few years later in favor of smaller tents...

Moskoselkata Tåpp 5 Combi and Hilleberg Staika on Arnö in the Blekinge archipelago

2004-2005 Robens Fortress.
On the outside forum, a thread appeared about Roben's tent. Had never heard of them before but after visiting their website I was a bit intrigued by their Fortress model. It turned out that they were sold in Falkenberg so when we had the roads past it was just a matter of turning in, trying to set it up and then shopping. We used this tent for about 30 nights in 2004 and were very happy throughout. The price is about half the equivalent Hilleberg. It is a fairly large tent with a substantial apse and large inner tent, with a high ceiling. We bought an extra floor from Hilleberg which we cut and sewed so it fit both under the inner tent and in the apse, it got luxuriously worse. Holds well in wind, but flutters a bit. In theory self-supporting, but in practice requires a couple of pegs to stretch it out. The impression is that you get a lot of tents per kroner if you buy Robens, but it is simpler in both construction and weaves. Like many other tents, the inner and outer tents are pitched together, but the inner tent can be taken out.

Pia outside the Robenstältet at Vallerö

2004-2005 Golite Hex 3. We wanted a tent that took up little space when packed, and then got stuck with this mini-house. With outer and inner tent with floor, center peg and tent pegs, the weight is just over 2 kilos. 2 people with some packing and clothes are no problem. Haven't had it set up in any strong winds, but it can handle it just fine. Requires a good substrate. If you only take the outer tent, you are under a kilo. We sold it in the summer of 2005 in favor of a TNF Tadpole 23.

Golite Hex 3 on Ljungskär in Blekinge

2001-2005 Moskoselkåtan Tåpp 5 Combi.
After a couple of years in Staikat, we felt we wanted a little more space. It was a hot one. This model has "regular" tent fabric in the outer tent and an inner tent with a floor. 5 in the name suggests that you can sleep 5 in it. However, we mostly used it for 2 people and then you have plenty of room for stuff and yourself. No apses, but you can keep everything inside, but with the large surface there are no problems with wet things in a corner, cooking in a corner, etc. Great with a high ceiling. Zippers in the floor allow the kitchen to be placed on the ground. On later models, the floor can be opened up even more. We have used it a lot, lately mostly during the cooler part of the year. Extra nice when it's cold outside to be able to go into the house and get up and change. And then you can gather 5-8 people and sit indoors. Requires 8 good anchor points to stand up, handles wind well. This was exchanged for a Tåpp 5 Varrie Combi in 2005, see above.

1995-2005 Hilleberg Staika
Self-supporting dome tent. We used this quite a few nights for just under 10 years. The first few years more because it was the only tent we had. It works fine for 2 people in it, in bad weather it is a bit cramped and the apses are a bit small for both packing and cooking when you are 2. Mostly it was used as a 1-man tent in the last years we had it. Easy to set up, withstands wind well but flutters a bit. If it rains and the outer tent is open, it rains on the bottom of the inner tent. I would like to see a lightweight Staika, like 2,5 kilos and preferably with a smarter entrance so that you avoid a wet inner tent. (the latter almost now exists with Allak).

1994-1994. Tatonka (or whatever brand they were)
When the Intersport tent started to wear out, in 1994, we drove to Naturkompaniet in Malmö and wanted to buy a "real" tent. Found one that seemed great, I think it was a Tatonka, cost 2500:- we thought it was expensive, but it could be worth it. Dome tent, with decent apse. We were very happy with this tent the first two nights it was used. On the third night it rained and then it rained like eight; no fun! We put a tarpaulin over it so it worked but not quite as we thought. Left the tent back when we got back home. Decided we would buy a good tent next time.

1991-1994 Intersport budget model.
Purchased in 1991 when a friend and I were going to the Roskilde Festival. The requirement was that it should last that weekend and then be thrown away. It cost SEK 199, I have it for myself. Dome tent, 2x2m, no apses, grotesque color. Made it through the festival despite very persistent rain. Then kept close for several years and quite a few nights. Not very wind resistant, but the rain and soil moisture kept it out with flying colours. You realize that most of the time you manage easily but simple things that don't have to cost the shirt.

Lots of kayakers camping, Kayak Symposium Stockenträffen på Orust 1999. All kinds of tents.

Yes, there are many different kinds of tents, under links There are many different manufacturers. On e.g. the outside is it possible to find some discussions and reviews of tents.

Check tents at out north, The outdoor expert & Amazon