The Hilleberg Label System Explained
Jan 14, 2019
Hilleberg categorise their tents into categories, or “Labels”: Black, Red, or Yellow, each representing a performance range based on materials, construction or both. This grouping makes it straightforward to see the differences within our line, and so makes selecting the right Hilleberg tent for you much easier.
A Quick Overview of Hilleberg Tent Labels
Yellow Label tents are the best choice if light weight is your highest priority and if you travel in the snow-free months and in protected terrain, or in warmer climates.
Red Label tents are the best choice if you want general all season strength & stability and if light weight is your highest priority.
Black Label tents are the best choice if you want the most comfort and greatest ease of handling, and/ or if absolute all season strength is your highest priority.
Yellow Label Tents
Hilleberg engineer Yellow Label tents principally to be lightweight. Intended for use in warmer climates and in snow-free conditions, these models have inner tents with large mesh panels which cannot be covered, and shorter outer tent walls. This ensures they have superb warm-weather venting, but can also make them feel cold in cooler conditions. Yellow Label models are perfect for long or short trips in more protected terrain. However, while they do have remarkable strength, their lighter weight materials and their design make them less than ideal for fully exposed or high altitude terrain or remote adventures.
Yellow Label tents are constructed with our lightest materials:
● Kerlon 1000 outer tent fabric, with an 8 kg/17.6 lb tear strength.
● 9 mm poles.
● 2 mm guy lines.
● Our lightest inner tent and floor fabrics.
● Lighter weight zippers.
Yellow Label tents are designed to be very light and to provide comfort, appropriate to use in warmer climates and/or snow-free conditions:
● Outer tent does not go all the way to the ground, offering a lightweight balance of weather protection and constant air flow.
● Different length poles reduce weight.
● Large, fixed mesh panels on the inner tent and shorter outer tent walls create constant cooling air flow (which can feel cold in cooler conditions).
● The interior is designed to maximise lightweight while providing sufficient roominess.
In All Yellow Label Tents:
1. Poles may be different length to save weight.
2. The outer tent may not go all the way to the ground in some models.
3. Venting is incorporated into the overall construction.
4. All mesh panels are permanently open to airflow.
Red Label Tents
Red Label tents are built for both short and longer trips in generally less demanding conditions in all seasons, such as less exposed mountain terrain, forests in both winter and summer, and the like. However, you still may encounter severe situations. Their emphasis on lighter weight makes them less than ideal for harsh environments and extended adventures in demanding conditions. They are, however, quite capable of withstanding heavy storm conditions. Experienced users sometimes choose these tents for more demanding adventures because they knowingly accept the trade-off of strength for lighter weight.
Red Label tents' materials favour lighter weight over absolute strength:
● Kerlon 1200 outer tent fabric, which has a 12 kg/26.5 lb tear strength
● 9 mm poles
● 3 mm Vectran & polyester guy lines
● Lighter weight inner tent and floor fabrics
● Lighter weight zippers
● V-Pegs, our lighter, but still very strong, pegs
Red Label tents are designed to maximise lightweight while still retaining appropriate strength, ease of use and comfort in all conditions:
● Outer tent goes all the way to the ground for all season protection
● Different length poles in some models reduce weight
● At least one vent high up for ventilation even if the tent is dug down into the snow
● The interior is designed to offer roominess at the lightest weight
In All Red Label Tents:
1. Poles may be different length to save weight.
2. Outer tents go all the way to the ground.
3. At least one vent is high up to keep it out of the snow.
4. All mesh panels can be covered completely.
Black Label Tents
Our most versatile tents, Black Label models will handle any terrain or weather condition, from the mildest to the most demanding. Their simplicity, ease of use, and comfort make them perfect not only for any trip in any season, but also for general use in less challenging situations, and for less experienced users. Their strength, stability, and roominess, meanwhile, make them the best choice for long term, demanding, all season use in the harshest conditions – exposed and/or above tree line terrain, continuous heavy snow conditions, high-grit environments like deserts, beaches, and playas. The like. Their extra durability increases longevity, and reduces the risk of problems, especially on longer adventures in remote areas, where repair opportunities may be limited.
Black Label tents are constructed with our strongest materials:
● Outer tent in our Kerlon 1800 fabric, with an 18 kg/40 lb tear strength
10 mm poles
● 3 mm Vectran & polyester guy lines. Our most robust inner tent and floor fabrics
● Heavier duty zippers
● Y-Pegs, our strongest pegs
Black Label tents are designed to maximise strength, ease of use and comfort in all seasons and all conditions:
● Outer tent goes all the way to the ground for all season protection
● Same-length poles throughout make for simple set up
● Multiple vents high up offer ventilation even if the tent is dug down into the snow
● The interior is designed to offer the greatest usable space
In All Black Label Tents:
1. All poles are of equal length.
2. Outer tents go all the way to the ground.
3. Full vents are high up to keep them out of the snow.
4. All mesh panels can be covered completely.
Hilleberg categorise their tents into categories, or “Labels”: Black, Red, or Yellow, each representing a performance range based on materials, construction or both. This grouping makes it straightforward to see the differences within our line, and so makes selecting the right Hilleberg tent for you much easier.