My first and probably last night in a Hilleberg Soulo. Wildcamping a 2,000 year old Hillfort.
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- I'm a bit behind with uploading - but this was filmed 4 days after my last video.
So tonight's the night I have my first wildcamp in a Hilleberg Soulo - kindly lent to me by a fellow CZcamsr called Phil (cheers Phil).
Storms had been swinging in left right and centre and I had a one day weather opportunity between storms Dudley and Eunice to get out with the Soulo.
A nice location would be fitting - and I stumbled upon an absolute gem!
A 2,000 year old hillfort and broch ruins on the Scottish Borders.
I had a nice night and actually bonded with the tent a wee bit, but at the end of the day I realised the Soulo isn't the tent for me.
I'm used to wildcamping in mostly 2 person tents and the extra space that they afford. I don't often do the type of camping that warrants a Hilleberg bomb shelter, if I know the winds are gonna whip up past 50mph I'll usually stay home or have a van night.
For me wildcamping is quite simply about being outside, getting some exercise and fresh air, pitching up with some great views, relaxing, recharging and having fun.
Link to Phil's channel (he's planning on putting out more content, so it'd be nice if we could support his channel with a subscribe and help him grow)
/ @phil.clarke
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Tents used:
DVS - Hilleberg Soulo
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Thank you 😊
Hey Donna 😁 great vid and nice to see an honest review of this tent, keep smiling ☺️
Cheers Kerry - it was great to get my hands on a Soulo for a few weeks but it's definitely not the tent for me. Too many other less expensive options out there - I'm a girl that likes a nice selection of tents and tbh if I won a Soulo in a competition I'd sell it lol. I'm used to more space. It's a great tent, but not for me. Are you still on holiday? X
Maybe I should have reached out to you a few weeks ago and offered to lend you my Black Label Soulo for your Colombia adventure? 🙂
Hi Donna another great video 👍 my mate has the Soulo and as you know I have the Kuiu and I just can’t believe how much better the Kuiu is for 3 reasons.
1- lot less condensation.
2- far more comfortable with loads of extra room and 2 huge vestibule’s, one for gear and the other for cooking.
3- both similar weights but for me the Kuiu is as solid as any tent on the market 🏕👍
Yeah I totally agree with your 3 points. The Kuiu is my favoured tent as well for exactly those reasons and I can see it being able to handle itself admirably in the worst of conditions, it's a solid build. I'd be interested to know what your Soulo friend thinks of your Kuiu?
Thanks for watching Colfish, good to hear from you 👍
Another cracking one… like an honest review,,,
Cheers for the tips with test kits, brilliant stuff 👍
Hi Scots Nomad 😊- yeah no point in glossing over stuff if I'm not happy with something. It may well be one of the best tents in the world but it's just not for me. Good to hear you appreciated the tips with the test kits - they work best with salt and pepper and herbs and spices. Oil makes the lid pop back out cos it's all lubed up haha. TFW 😊
@@donnavansenior lubed up 😂😂😂
Amazing location Donna, and I enjoyed watching the sheep in your time-lapse video. Cracking tip about the little salt and pepper containers too. Very interesting about the tent. I have long lusted after a Soulo but been worried about the condensation issues.
Yeah it's an absolute gem of a hillfort especially with the broch ruins there as well. I never noticed the sheep on the timelapse til I got home 😂🐏 If you've been lusting after a Soulo go for it 😁 if you didn't like it you'd easily be able to sell it on lol. I personally prefer more space and usually go for a 2person tent. Tfw John 😊
What an amazing place to camp, an old broch. Imagine the folk that have lived and loved and fought there. Real history. Good to hear honest thoughts on the hilly as well. ATB, Graham
Yeah it's an absolute gem of a place Graham and a total random find. I took a hike up after seeing a signpost that sounded interesting (I love a hillfort and to have a broch there as well sounded too good to be true), soon as I saw it I knew I'd found a place to pitch that night. I'll go back there and camp up the hill behind next time. I'm the same as you - I'll sit and wonder what life was like back in the day, what it sounded like, looked like and smelled like. TFW Graham. Are you not out this weekend?
No, unfortunately working. Put a couple of old pics up on insta to keep my spirits up. Hoping to get out on monday up the coquet valley
What a location Donna, if only walls could talk! Belter of a video, nice and chilled😊 Imagine you’re looking forward to getting back in the storm star🏕 Enjoyed watching👌🏻 Cheers, Mark
That's one of the best lowland locations I've pitched in Mark - the hills and mountains are great - but I love a camp with history attached to it. I've got a massive soft spot for hillfort camping/exploring so to stumble across this one with those fantastic broch remains - wow! Yeah looking forward to getting back out in the Storm Star, or the Hydra or the Xenon lol - just bought a Kuiu Summit Star ultralight shelter and need to have a few nights in that as well. Got a nasty flat tyre up near Alwinton on Thursday so missed out on camping this week. Never mind, there's always next week. Cheers Mark, TFW 😊
What a place that was Donna!!! Wowza ....... proper fort that was. Very honest review as always they aren't for everyone are they. Condensation is a huge huge problem!! Loved the timelapses and vid as always . Take it easy out there xx
Hi Simon, great to hear from you & hope you're doing well. X
Yeah what a mint hillfort!! An amazing random find - and especially with those broch ruins thrown in as well - took one look at the place and knew I had to camp there that night - and what a tent to have handy...the Hille Soulo! It's probably not best suited to a sheltered pitch in a 2,000 yr. old hillfort - the condensation was a nightmare and it's not just me saying this - there's plenty of other video's/reviews on CZcams which state the same issues.
Never realised I got those sheep on time-lapse until I got home and checked my footage a few days later..haha, that was great to see! TFW Simon and catch you up a hill sometime this year for def :) Xx
@@donnavansenior it was an unreal spot. Ur right seen lots of vuds now saying the same. I noticed the sheep and thought it was class seeing g the quickly mull about 🤣. Brilliant vid Donna. Be class to catch up on a hill let's get it sorted be a right good laugh hahah. I'm hoping to head north very soon ....cairngorms hopefully whilst the snow and cold temps are still going . Take care DVS xx
Happy Birthday Donna.
Love me Soulo for exposed munro level summit camps especially in winter.
Have a great birthday. X
Cheers Eddie, 56 today 😁 aye you couldn't get a better tent for summit camping and extreme weather camping that's what it's built for 👍🏕 X
Looked a nice sheltered spot to camp and a nice tea as well, nee wonder there are so many lateral flow tests gone missing, I know why now lol. Done well on hitting 200 wild camps and good to get the lend of a Hilleberg Soulo, cheers Alan
Hi Alan, hope you've had a canny weekend :) Yeah it was an amazing place to pitch - I pitched inside the broch because the ground was nice and level and the nearby farms wouldn't spot any tent lights lol. Always stealthy ;)
Those lateral flow kits - I hate the waste they generate and I had to take a test every day before work. That was 5 tests a week up until last week, so I've got a big stash of the plastic vials. Great for salt and pepper and herbs probs be canny for brown sauce as well. The little bags come in handy for loads of other things.
And 200 camps - yeah I was trying to work out how many camps I'd had in 2021, then had a check as best I could of how many in total. I never used to film all of my wildcamps, maybe only a third made it to video, but I have folders and photo's from most of them on my pc and my conservative estimate was 200. And I'm still learning.
The Hille Soulo - totally not my type of tent but I can appreciate the strength of fabric and workmanship on it and crikey for a fellow CZcamsr to loan me one! Miracles do happen haha. Cheers Alan atb :)
If you want to camp in a sheltered location, get a 3 season tent like the anjan 2. A 4 season tent like the Soulo needs to be pitched where there is wind, it is at it's best when pitched in windy locations like hilltops.
With a 3 season tent like the anjan, the groundsheet does not reach the ground to give good airflow , the porch and back can also be completely opened up, the front door is mesh, there is a large mesh panel on the back.
Had a soulo, if I went for one again , would probably go for the black label. Prefered my 2 man tents though like the nallo, nammatj and the Tarra, the latter being a palce in the hills, so spacious.
Hi and thanks for the detailed reply :)
I'm very familiar with tents and when best to use them. Admittedly this wasn't ideal conditions for a 4 season mountain tent. But many people in the UK own this tent, and use it in similar conditions to what was portrayed on this video, it's one of the most popular tents in the country. My main gripe was the condensation dripping from the inner ceiling next morning, and I had the tent vented as much as I could, without having both doors open. Hilleberg even state to put a waterproof jacket over the foot of your sleeping bag to combat condensation issues, so it's a known problem when pitching these tents lower down in calmer weather.
I have a nice tent collection, ranging from £700 4 season mountain tents down to budget sub £100 tents, they all have their uses for different conditions and pitches, and I enjoy using them all.
I have no Hilleberg's in my collection though, as I find them to be overpriced & I do not camp in conditions extreme enough to warrant buying any of their top spec models. The Nallo would be the one I'd go for it I was given a Hillle for free though, the Nammatj is a tad on the heavy side and tbh I'd never heard of their Tarra, but after a check on their site it looks like the TN Quasar, bombproof but heavy. Cheers, atb DVS :)
What a beautiful area and I bet there is a ton of history spanning years and years in that location!
Great tip for the salt and pepper, I think I have some of the tests knocking around still :)
A good overview of the tent too imo. I’ve had two Hillebergs, an Akto years ago and a Enan a while back. They are built like tanks and the customer service is second to non but both of mine were condensation tubs. The Akto was very flappy and I never slept well in it but the Enan would have been ideal if it were not for the condensation.
Looking forward to following for more adventures. ATB, Dave
Morning Dave, and tfw 😁 Yeah it's an absolute peach of a place to pitch up - apart from a few weeks ago when I was there with Llama Annie and a herd of cattle tried to get in - we had to barricade them out with hiking poles stretched across the doorway! Crikey!!
Agreed with the Hilleberg's, they are built to withstand the worst, but admittedly I have very little experience with them. I've heard a multitude of people say the same about condensation issues. I suppose it would be something you'd sort a work around for if you needed that type of tent. The Hilleberg website advises to place a waterproof jacket over the foot of your bag to stop it getting damp.
Anyhoo I've got a new tent ordered and it's not a Hilleberg - hoping it's here for next week so tune in on the next vid and we'll see what it's like ;) Cheers Dave, good to hear from you.
Aw bugger I chucked a load of those wee tubes out. Good thinking!
Braw night out that Donna, I love that Broch, my Dad took me down when I was a nipper. Hilleberg make good tents, no doubt but they've become status symbols now. BMWs of the camping world.
That's one of the finest hillforts and broch remains I've seen Robin, massive as well. I'll defo head back there again but I'll pitch up the hill behind next time.
Yeah the Soulo isn't the tent for me. Good to give one a wee test run tho 😉 you know me, I love playing out with tents lol. ⛺ tfw 😁
@@donnavansenior aye its quite rare to see brochs like that in the Borders, you really need to go up the Highlands or Western Isles to see a better example.
As others have said, Soulo is a cracking tent for summit camping in poor weather, otherwise a bit over engineered for most folk.
I was really surprised to see that broch in such good order , especially seeing as it's in the Borders - seen a few up in the Hebs when I was over there, Dun Carloway is a stunner!
And agreed about the Soulo, fantastic quality and superb strength but definitely more suited to shrugging off stormy weather up a mountain.
Fabulous spot Donna, had my first trip of the year in the van this week and was brilliant, love listening the rain on the roof and the thermal qualities of a spaniel at -1 can never be underestimated, even had to stick a leg out of the duvet 😉
Hahaha, sounds like I might need to invest in a spaniel lol. Great to hear you've been and had your first van trip of the year - where did you get to Sosaidh? The sound of rain on a van roof is lovely to go to sleep to. It's just as nice on a tent roof as well but probably not as warm ;) Hope you're having a good weekend and TFW :)
@@donnavansenior we camped for years, before the family in little tents, afterwards in a huge 2nd hand frame tent complete with 70s patterned orange curtains ! Finally when the family grew up we downsized to a dome tent which was
bl%%dy freezing after the canvas, now we're are old and dropping to bits the van is our happy place. We were in Warwickshire this week, rural and big skies but no hills to stop the wind 😁 we are so lucky up this end of the country, I think we have the best of everything and don't have far to ho if we want something different. Enjoy your weekend x
@@sosaidhrafferty4608 Ah I loved those old frame tents with the orange curtains! Yeah as we get a bit older vans are a good compromise for being outdoors but keeping warm, good to hear nothing stops you and you're still out there enjoying life. I work weekends so it's been back to the grind for me lol - looking forward to my days off on Thurs/Fri though, heading out with an old pal X
Never fancied one, to be honest. Hugely expensive! My Bobcat is pretty robust...and cheap. A bit like it's owner! 🤣 Smashing broch. Really interesting.
It's not my type of tent either Jeanette. It was great to be lent one for a few weeks but I have to admit to being a bit underwhelmed by it. As you say, hugely expensive when you consider what else could be bought for that money.
Great for stormy summit camps but that's not my style of camping.
The broch is amazing, I've camped there twice now - last time a herd of cows tried to storm in lol - had to make a barrier out of our hiking poles across the entrance.
Morning love. Lovely time out. Nice place too camp 👍✌️. Good review mi canny lass 🤣🤣. Tc Andy
Glad you enjoyed it Andy - what a great place to pitch a tent! I'll do that hill behind the broch next time I'm up that way ;) TFW and have a good weekend my good fellow :)
They tents are too expensive anyway. 😉 Tis a fine spot oan the Broch. Just doon the road fae me. Wis there last year oan ma birthday. Nipped up the wee hill at the back of it anaw. Another great video Donna. 👌
Aye it's a great place Kev - I'd had a walk up there in the afternoon and was in awe of the place, knew it'd be ideal to pitch the Soulo in, great views and a bit sheltered from those winds. I'll be pitching up the hill next time I'm up that way. Yeah the Hille tents are good quality but expensive, plenty other tent makers out there to pick and choose from - at least now I know they're not the tents for me. Cheers Kev :)
Hi Donna, great to see another of your videos. You are so clever camping there. Did you get any feelings that you weren't alone?lol.
A really random find this one Ruth - saw a sign that sounded interesting, took a hike up and loved what I saw, so went back for the big handbag. No real feelings about camping in that ancient space, it did feel safe once darkness fell but up until then it just felt a bit naughty, like maybe I shouldn't be camping there. Probs just me being pitching-paranoid lol. Another good all-round camp, enjoyed using the Soulo but it's not the tent for me - I suppose if it was I'd already own one. TFW Ruth X
I have conquered the condensation issue in my tents by using them in the weather for which they are intended, I only use my Soulo in winter conditions...so 20F and below. My Niak is used in temps above 20F. Also, the flapping inner in the Soulo was pretty much eliminated by digging out the snow and pitching the tent about 10" to 24" below grade. I have gone through a two day blizzard quite comfortably. The inner flapping in the Niak is something I live with in high winds.
Hi Mf Zupon. A very knowledgeable comment from a Hilleberg owner, thank you. To be honest, if I'd paid that much money for a 4 season tent I'd expect to be able to take it out in all four seasons. not just winter. I have winter tents but don't confine them to one particular season. Fair enough if it had a snow skirt, then yes that would look a bit daft and be overkill for a summers camp.
The Soulo is designed to keep you safe in extreme weather and on the whole handles it beautifully. It's just not the tent for me. I have several Kuiu tents and Vango tents which I would favour over a Soulo for the type of camping I do. Hats off to you for spending 2 days in a blizzard in a Soulo. How did you handle condensation issues being tent bound for 2 days? I watch the Norwegian Xplorer channel and enjoy seeing him out in blizzards in his Soulo. TFW :)
I really feel your pain about waking up in a wet tent. Truly horrible, and anyone who has made the jump to a mountaineering tent has had an experience like yours.
I think the confusion many consumers suffer is that there is no such thing as a four season tent. Mountaineering tents are labeled "four season" as a code for use in cold high altitude/winter. Think 20F and high winds. Actually they should be labeled "fourth season". True mountaineering tents have limited ventilation compared to three season tents as they are not to be used in temperatures above freezing. Rather to be used at high altitude in shoulder season or winter. Think about single wall mountaineering tents. They are basically a Tyvek plastic bag and ventilation is usually limited to a partially open door. Two days in a blizzard with temperatures below zero F was not a problem in the Soulo with the vent open and the inner solid door flap partially unzipped. I must admit that it took me about 2 winter trips to learn the proper venting for each of my winter tents. My first trip in a "fourth season" tent 40+ years ago was not nearly as wet as yours, but definitely damp due to not enough venting. It was in a JanSport Dome....now that was a heavy tent with solid pole sections. I have owned other "fourth season" tents and the Soulo is the best of the lot in terms of venting, structural strength, and portability. Number 1 &2 on my list of any tent's features are strength & water proofing, whether 3 or 4 season. I grew up in northern Utah and spent many a week in in all seasons in the Wind Rivers, Uinta, Manti La Sal, and Rocky Mountains in the USA/Canada. Nothing is worse or more life threatening than a broken/shredded tent in the winter or at altitude in the middle of nowhere.
Off topic: many people poorly rate winter packs and tents based on weight...either too light and weak or unnecessarily heavy and overbuilt. According to many experts, Mammut Trion 50+7 pack and Soulo tent are average or below average products based on weight. Both are indestructible and work well carrying equipment and snowshoes whilst skiing or carrying skis whilst using snowshoes. Both are not a good choice for fast and light ascents....something I have not done nor plan to do now.
Another excellent comment, thanks Mf Zupon. Your knowledge of winter camping far surpasses my own and I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comment. In the UK we rarely get many nights/days of 20F in succession - unless you're up a mountain - but the Hilleberg Soulo is by far the most common choice of high end tent amongst UK wild campers / outdoors people. In this video I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about and experience for myself a night or two in a Soulo. As I previously said it's quite simply not the tent for me - I don't do the type of camping that would warrant me owning a Soulo and I value the extra space a 2 person tent affords. It's undeniably a fortress built to handle most weathers but when the winds are forecast to come in at 50mph+ or we're due a really heavy snowfall then I would be staying home. I go out to enjoy the experience not survive it lol.
It sounds like you've had some epic trips over your 40+ years and I appreciate the time it must have taken to write your comments. I also hope others read what you wrote, some excellent pieces of advice in there. Thanks :)
@@donnavansenior The Soulo is really only meant to be used in winter, for other seasons, you can get a full mesh inner.
@@DemiGod.. It wasn't my tent and I only had a loan of it for a few weeks, so I had to camp in it when I could. It's also one of the most popular tents in the UK, used 12 months of the year by many people. For me personally, I wasn't impressed with it, and I don't do the type of summit, severe weather camping that this tent was designed for. I have other tents I'd favour over this one any day. TFW :)
As always a great video and awesome to see my Soulo being used this winter - many thanks!
It is an awesome, safe, and secure island when on summits and has been my invaluable companion in many nights in the Scottish highlands. With all tents there is a compromise and out there you can purchase a lease expensive tent, a lighter tent, and a tent with better ventilation.
Having said that my preferred tent is my Niak although I do miss my Vaude Hogan - anyone with one they want to sell??
I will not admit to have a regard for the Kuiu price points, and I will not admit to liking the Kuiu logo at night. And I will not admit that your Kuiu will cope with 98% of winter weather conditions.
The RL Soulo can, in my opinion, cope with 99% of winter weather in Britain. So I bought a BL Soul to be able to cope with 99.9% .....
And a final point though there is a way to resolve the so-called condensation issue - simply breath breath the hilleberg way. 🙂
And a final final point - great tip about the test kit tubes!
Cotswold have the hogan, although probably £100 dearer then it was a year or so ago…
Niak user as well , love the inside space , too scared to cook in the vestibule 😂😢
@@scotsnomad7395 Yes - saw that offer xmas 2020 - was a bargain but snooze you loose and I was asleep - by the time wanted to buy all out of stock. Never mind. Thanks for the tip it is back in stock - it is £280 now in the Cotswold shop so I think that I may well treat myself and use my defence discount code for 15% off.
Good evening Phil - and many thanks to you too for the ridiculously kind loan of your Soulo.
I never expected in a million years that a fellow CZcamsr would lend me his Soulo - to take out and field test, have a play with, see what all the fuss is about. Thanks again, it's been a great experience.
Yip - the RL Soulo will easily handle most things the UK weather can throw at it. It's a tent built for summit camping. It's built for bad weather. Mind you the Kuiu's not exactly just a summer's night kinda tent lol. The jury's still out with this one Phil.
They're both cracking good tents. You know I prefer the extra space the Kuiu affords, I like a tent with double doors as well.
They are two totally different tents - but their weight is very similar, they're both 4 season and both free standing. They are also both top-spec tents built to keep you safe in the harshest of weathers. Which one would I choose to sit out a storm in? That's easy - my Kuiu.
Ah so you have a Niak as well, you truly are a Hille man through and through.
I'll be in touch tomorrow to sort out the return of your Soulo Phil. You know I'm cursed with it. It loathes me. hahaha. Cheers Phil, you're an absolute diamond X
Hiya Donna my mate had the soulo same problem he sold it they arnt worth the money my f10 helium 2 was always dry and stood up to strong mountain winds just So he bought one haha never looked back great video as always love the location looking forward to next one
I just said to Kerry before if I won one in a competition I'd sell it. It's not the tent for me, I like/need more space to enjoy my camping experience and the condensation was a big issue that morning - any tent would have had condensation but I know a few of my tents wouldn't have gotten that wet inside. The F10 Helium is a great tent, decent price and it'll take a hammering, I've looked at them many times. Cheers for the positive comment Dj.
I was up the Rising Sun with a new tent yesterday afternoon - another Kuiu tent but an ultralight 1P 1kg thing of absolute beauty! Hopefully get a vid up in next few days. Enjoy your weekend and TFW :)
Wow Donna, ace video, esp your shots of putting it up in the dark. I've watched all your videos and that scene was brilliantly filmed and edited..Get ready for the Hillytrolls!! DONNA! How dare you have condensation inside your Soulo and mention it on CZcams? I bet llama Annie in her prison in Argentina is having a hissy fit after watching this!!!! Hugs xx
Hya Martin, good to hear from you :) Aye I'm sat waiting for the negatives to come in - I had to be careful editing this video not to offend Hille owners - wtf?? At the end of the day it's a tent. Simple as. A tent. And it's not the tent for me, I don't need a Soulo and couldn't justify the price tag associated with one for the type of camping that I do. I'm more than happy with the tents I currently own. Appreciate your comment about the timelapse and putting the tent up, nearly didn't use it so thanks for mentioning it :)
Aye Llama Annie's not a fan of the Soulo either - and she's owned at least one. I hear she'll be out on parole soon and trying to sneak her way back to old Blighty ;) haha
Cheers Martin, your comment's made me smile this morning, have a chipper weekend xx
You are right Martin - many of my fellow Hilleberg fanboys don't admit to the bad points of their tents.
@@phil.clarke Agreed Phil. All tents have their negatives. The Kuiu? The door toggles are far too small and fiddly. Those metal outer clasps can be tough to secure with cold hands. The X-Pac reinforced outer sleeves make compressing the tent down small impossible, you either roll or fold, there's no 'stuffing option'. The inner roof vent access doesn't have midge netting. I like to say how it is with tents, discuss their plus and minus points, compare and then decide what would work best for me and the type of camping I mostly do.
was built to keep out trolls that wall lol or giants haha great videooooo
Didn't do a very good job last Monday Bony's M's.....seeing as how I sneaked in with a Hille Soulo 😂😂 what a great place tho ay? Looking forward to heading back for another camp up that hill behind. TFW have a good weekend :)
An honest review of the soulo Donna , as previous comments have said pitch it on a summit and it’s rock solid . I remember from my Akto days waking up to being dripped on 😂😂 hence why I sold it for £200 more than I paid for it wtf .. could to try out but clearly not the one for you . I’m hopefully out this Tuesday for my first of the year 😂😂 atb Dave
Yeah it was an absolute treat to be lent a Soulo but it's definitely not the tent for me. There's only so many venting options and no real way to get air circulating inside the tent without having the fly door open. I'm more than happy with all the tents I already have - a tent for every occasion and tbh if I had a Soulo I don't know how often I'd actually feel the need to take it out. Great to hear you're possibly out this Tuesday - there's a change in the air, you can feel it, things feel somewhat 'lighter' Cheers Dave :)
Nice one Donna 😉👍
Thank you 😁 Cheers Jimmy
Hilleberg says Kerlon material is not that breathable, user has to manage ventilation opening vents as you did, maybe pitching in more open space with some wind. O.K. makes no sense but on other hand I believe it wasn’t designed for sheltered camping spot and is asking for more… I have Staika, like a double Soulo with 2 vestibules, 2 doors and on occasions still find hard to manage condensation especially near rivers and during fog and mo winds. Thanks for good review.
Hya Kris - I watched Andy Wardle's last vid with his Staika up near Blencathra last week, christ that tent took a beating and held firm and proud! Great stuff.
I understand what you say about pitching the Soulo in a more open space so more breeze/wind hits it.....that's great on a summers night, through the winter months I actively seek a sheltered pitch - as I suppose a lot of folk do. Every tent will get condensation to some degree - dependent on the conditions and pitch.
I'm inexperienced with a Soulo - if I liked the tent I'd find work arounds to keep things dry - I heard Hilleberg suggested putting your breathable waterproof jacket over the end of your sleeping bag to keep it dry from condensation, I have a Tyvek bivi bag that would also do the trick. I'd maybe actively seek out more open pitches. Make sure I wasn't camped too near water sources. Then there's things I can't control - rain, fog, the wind dropping, wet grass....It seems like a lot of extra work to keep the tent happy though doesn't it?
Thanks for taking the time to leave an interesting and constructive comment, Hope you're having a decent weekend, cheers Kris 😊
Hihi Donna, Great hiking! Just wondering how frequently you cook in other tents before sleeping and do you notice much less condensation? Thanks
I cook in every tent I own, and with cooking comes condensation. Every tent will suffer from condensation, whether you cook in it or not, it all depends on the humidity and inside / outside temperatures, wind is also a factor.
On my last vid I was in Jura, pitched below the Paps, I didn't cook in the tent & only used it for sleeping in - the tent was absolutely soaked thru next morning (Kuiu 'Mountain Star'), but just on the fly, the inner was bone dry.
My gripe with this tent was that the condensation was dripping from inside the inner tent ceiling. I wasn't expecting that. Maybe I didn't vent it correctly by keeping the inner door open enough. For a tent that costs £900 I was very disappointed. I have cheaper tents that vent better, but the Soulo is one of the strongest tents on the market. It all depends on the type of camping you do and what type of extreme conditions you'll put it through. Hope that helps some. TFW :) DVS
@@donnavansenior many thanks for reply and sharing your experience! Thanks!
When ya wake up at 3am and can't get back to sleep so decide to watch DVS next installment of wildcamping/tent review to lull ya back over 🤣🤣. Only joking me little dreedlocked heeded marra. Nice to see ya out even this was from last week 🙌 💗💗. What a 'stunners' place to camp. Love a hillfort me. Always wonder what it would have been like to live back then.....I reckon I'd have been on the hills with a flock of sheep or is it seegils lol. Beautiful scenery and a stunning hillfort. 😍. Enjoyed your review on the tent you were so kindly loaned by Phil. I love this hiking camping community, folk are so kind and full of positivity. Very rare nowadays. Too much negativity in the world 🌎
Your tent review was like a mild game of would ya rather. 🤣🤣. Now speaking of that.......and seeing you have those covid things full of weird substances......would ya rather..........🤣🤣🤣🤣.
Super duper video again DVS. I'll be seeing ya soon 🤪 xxx right I'm going cos ya boring the tits of iz 💗💗💗💗
Morning Azda! Aye what an incredible place to pitch a tent! One of the best hill-forts (with a cheeky broch thrown in) outside of Northumberland that I've seen. Had a random hike there early afternoon last Monday, loved it and dashed back for one's big handbag and Hilleberg. That's why I was running out of light to pitch the tent.
Back in the day it would have been stinky and noisy, that's what I think anyway. Smelly because the Bodyshop wasn't established back then and noisy because the internet also wasn't a thing and people would have been talking to each other instead of staring at screens and they'd have been playing drums and instruments and being drunk and laughing and singing. It sounds mint. The air would be filled with the smell of fresh cut wood, fires and food cooking. I'm unsure about the toilet situation.
Yeah I held back on the tent review - I edited it down. At the end of the day it's not the tent for me - if it was I'd have bought one, you know what I'm like for tents, I have a serious tent addiction. Great of Phil to let me field test his Soulo, the CZcamsrs/Insta/FB outdoors community is full of amazingly lovely people. You can count yourself in there as well ya cheeky sod.
Reets, time to get ready for work. Ciao for now xx
It wasn't kindly loaned by me - it was a devious attempt by me to undermine Donna and her love of the Kuiu and for Donna to realise that Hillebergs are 42 times better than Kuius. 🙂
@@phil.clarke 🤣🤣🤣your evil plan didn't work Phil 🤩
Thanks for this video. I’ve been waiting for a Soulo BL but am hesitant due to condensation rumours I’ve heard. Have you had such issues with the Kuiu?
Hi Andrew. Yes there's a few times I've had condensation inside the Kuiu - but it's been limited to the bathtub walls, near where I've been breathing, and a couple of times in heavy clag the fly has been wet to the touch on the inside, as would any other tent in the conditions I'd pitched in. The Kuiu has better venting options than a Soulo, as a Soulo only has the one main vent inside, up under the hood, but it all depends on the type of camping you do. The Soulo is undeniably a fortress designed for cold harsh weather and performs best condensation-wise in cold temperatures so I've been told. It also has a smaller footprint so it's easier to squash into tighter spaces.
The Kuiu has 2 opposing roof vents, both accessible from the inner via zippered openings, this allows circular air movement. The Kuiu has both solid and mesh panels on both doors, again this is good for air circulation. It has 2 doors, both double zippered with a securing clip at the base for when the winds really kick up. That's a lot of venting options. If you vent the tent correctly you can minimise any condensation build-ups, even from cooking. Its a great tent & they're back in stock after a long time. Hope this info helps some TFW :)
@@donnavansenior Hello, thank you for the detailed response. I'm in the Borders, so need something that's "wet proof". Cheers again.
Wet condensation means lack of air flow.. It's the best tent for a reason.. Ya didn't leave vents open.
Vent was open, mesh door was in operation with the solid part clipped back, and mesh door was partly unzipped. I don't recall you being in the tent with me to have such detailed information? It's a drippy little coffin of a tent, best suited to winter camping high up, and in that environment it shines. No-one dares criticise the mighty Hilleberg though, because of comments like yours. ...if there's no air to flow, how will a tent vent with limited venting? The Soulo only has one fly vent....traditionally 2 vents work best for air flow.
A full and frank review. It's always nice to get as many opinions on board as possible especially with the cost of these things nowadays.
As with every tent, it's not for everyone 🙂
Up the Kuiu 😂
The Soulo has it's problems - as does every other tent out there - but for some reason people don't seem to speak of them, the condensation was bad. As others have said it's a tent best suited for mountain camping, summit camping, wild weather camping. That's what the nigh on £1,000 price tag buys you - safety up the mountains.
If I'd liked it I would definitely have considered buying one. But nope, it's not the tent for me.
As you say: 'Up the Kuiu' lol - that tent is gonna take a lot of beating and personally the Soulo comes in 2nd place with these two.
Cheers Ade_ventures have a chipper weekend 🙂🙂
Soulo is magnificent, but overkill for most of the hikes it's taken on imho. I use a Scarp 1 at near half the weight (and more space) and that's more than I need most of the time. Better with condensation too, although all hiking tents will condense in the right (wrong?) conditions.
Hi Dave. Yip - the Soulo is overkill for most trips it's taken on in this country. It's a storm worthy shelter that'll keep you safe no doubting that, but there are so many other options out there - like your Scarp 1 - which are lighter, breathe better and are more spacious. I enjoyed being able to use the Soulo but it's not the tent for me. TFW :)
Good to see a review from someone who doesn't have say how good it is because they spent a lot of money on the tent. I think some people do or there blinded by the cost so they will defend there tent even with its weaknesses.i think it's safe to say it does suffer from condensation so you either pitch in a lot of wind to create air flow and have it rattle and flap all night or you shelter and get condensation.so for me it's just a summit tent for bad weather and it probably does it better than any other tent there's no denying that but I'll stick with my kuiu for me I made the right choice
Craig that's an excellent comment about it being a specialised summit tent, I'll readily agree with that - no doubting it could save your life one day, but I'd sincerely hope that I'd never be out camping in conditions that would endanger my life. The condensation was bad. There are only so many venting options with the tent apart from having all the doors wide open. I have other tents where the condensation is bad, you either learn to adapt and live with it or you don't keep the tent.
It was an absolute treat to get a loan of one and I did enjoy my night in it but it's not the tent for me - even if the condensation hadn't been an issue it still wouldn't be the tent for me. I prefer a 2 person tent - and like you I prefer my Kuiu lol. Had my new Summit Star out to play today - hopefully get a vid up in next day or two. TFW Craig :)
@@donnavansenior yea I'd like to see the summit star I'm waiting for the mountain star hopefully should be in the next cpl weeks
Cool video. I like your wit. Why do you think you got soaked? I got an Ako, but prefer a simple Tarp 90% of the time.
Hya Wille - If there is a significant difference in the temperature inside a tent to the outside it can lead to condensation. This can happen before and after rain or when it chills down quickly outside while it's still warm inside the tent. If the grass is wet it will give off water vapours. These were some of the the conditions I had that night. Every tent would have gotten condensation pitched there - but maybe not as much as the Soulo. The tent got soaked because of a lack of options to through vent and circulate air effectively. The Soulo only has one roof vent. A tent with 2 outer vents would circulate air better. How do you find your Akto for ventilation/condensation? TFW :)
@@donnavansenior Yeah, one roof vent made no sense to me in anything other than really bad weather. It's a puzzling design to have no designated vent for inflow. :s
That's a good question. I've only used my Akto below freezing. Just one real multi-day trip and a couple of preparation overnighters in the lowland. This is my first tent after being a tarper full time. From that background, I think I've used it a bit differently than intended. 😅 I stripped all the functions down to wind and snow protection. No regard for how the tent may or may not retain warmth. Perhaps this is counterintuitive, I don't know.
I uploaded a 20 sec video from inside it. I've not thought about condensation at all. You tell me.
Fascinating to read your comments to Tom Heaney regarding why you were using your Akto that way and obviously a heck of a lot of thought had gone into planning and executing your unconventional use of the tent. I like that. Everything would have to work with mittens on. Very well thought out Wille. Looked a wild and cold night, also looked like the Akto handled it very well. Suubbed you and looking forward to more uploads :)
Nice one Donna 🙂
How do you think the Kuiu would have gone in the same conditions ?
Good question Andy - it would have had condensation as well, but just confined to the lower wall of the inner bathtub floor. It's never had major condensation on the fabric of the inner, the fabric seems to breathe well. Venting is good in the Storm Star, 2 roof vents with zippered access to the inner, so the air can circulate. Also the 2 inner doors are solid but unzip to reveal mesh - which helps with venting. Because it has two doors that also help circulate air and the fly doesn't hug the ground like a Soulo, so that's a bit of extra venting as well. TFW :) have a good weekend Andy
@@donnavansenior You have a good weekend too Donna 😁
Cross ventilation is the key I think.
What is a PCR test? 😂
Thank goodness you survived the marauding sheep
Mxx
Hopefully a thing of the past Mick - I haven't stuck this much stuff up my nose since the early 90's!!! 😂😂 xx
it's the same in the Akto - hangin with condensation :(
Yeah I've heard that from a few people - on paper it looks like it's got more ventilation options than a Soulo. TFW Camperwheeler :)
I’ve never had any problems with condensation with the Soulo. Have you the soulo footprint attached I found out with it it helped with condensation.
Yes, footprint was attached.
CONDENSATION the reason i sold my soulo after 4 camps in it.great tent but its not comfortable imo 👍
Yeah the condensation was bad that night, and like you my thoughts are it's a great tent for serious summit/ severe weather camping but it's not the tent for me. TFW Justpip, enjoy your weekend :)
@@donnavansenior cheers 🐶👍
Donna, in your opinion what’s your preferred tent
Between the Soulo and Storm Star? Personally I'd take the Storm Star every time. It depends on the type of camping you do David, if you're a summit camper get the Soulo. If you enjoy a more relaxed camping experience with extra space that'll still take a good beating up a hill go for the Kuiu 😉
@@donnavansenior thanks for the reply, much appreciated,
I'd feel like I'm in a coffin in a one man tent. Minimum of two man tents for me every time.
Me too Martin - but if you got the chance to try a Hille Soulo on loan you'd be daft not to take up that offer. Great to try one out but it's not the tent for me - like you I'm used to the extra space a 2 person tent offers & I prefer a doubled doored tent - the air circulation is better. There's so many other 4 season options out there - 2 person options as well - that would suit most peoples style of camping without breaking the bank. TFW Martin :)
@@donnavansenior
Your best point in response is the improved ventilation in a two man. I also agree that I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to try any hilleberg out 👍
Not a tent I would buy especially for that much conditions and I've seen other CZcamsrs saying the same were did you get that music from it sounds like classic 70s porn music 😂😂😂 atvb jimmy 😎😎👍👍💃💃
Christ man Jimmy - porn music?? 😂😂 it's supposed to be upbeat sunset/sunrise music. I was trying to be a bit more modern 😂😂 Yeah it's not a tent I would buy either but I'm chuffed to bits I've had the opportunity to try one out. Plenty more tent buying options out there - and most of them significantly cheaper lol. TFW and atb :)
Honey moisture comes from the environment you are part of the environment and you didn't vent it correctly all .
And how should I have vented it then?
Never heard of honey moisture? Did you make that up?
Aw man Ruth that's had me laughing - it must be a 'ladies thing' 😂😂
@@donnavansenior Thinking about it Donna you are the first and only lady to even handle my Soulo let alone sleep in it! 🙂