Page 8 - The Tent Handbook 2017

The Hilleberg principles
We BuIld tentS and backcountry shelters. That’s all we do, and from our rst tent in 1973, we have been driven by a single, simple point of reference: de ne the capabilities of the tent or shelter we envision, then build it with the most advantageous balance of six essential principles for its desired performance. We believe this method of design and construction yields the highest performing backcountry shelter solutions available.
To outline a tent’s capabilities, we use our Label categories: Black Label models are all season, all condition tents ideal for any user; Red Label tents are all season models that favor light weight over absolute strength; tents in the Yellow Label group prioritize the
Reliability
Simply put, you must be able to depend on your Hilleberg tent, whether it’s one of our strongest, Black Label models, or one of our lightest, most minimal Yellow Label ones. We deliberately choose all materials, design elements and construction techniques – outer tent fabrics, pole diameter and guy line placement, for example – to exceed the performance parameters in each Label category.
No matter what your adventure is, from winter expeditions, to backpacking in the sum- mertime, to traveling around the world – especially whenever you venture far away from civilization – being able to rely completely on your tent is crucial. Photo: David Freitag (BACH Backpacks)
lightest weight, and are geared for warmer climates and for use in snow-free times and in more protected conditions; and Blue Label models are individually task speci c. Our performance “principles” – the six attributes we consider critical to superior performance – are reliability, adaptability, ease of use, durability, and comfort, all integrated into the optimal synthesis for the intended performance range, at an appropriately low weight.
Thus, Black Label models o er the highest level of these qualities. Since lighter weight is given higher priority in the Red and especially in the Yellow Label performance blends, there is some sacri ce of reliability, adaptability, ease of use and so on in these groups.
Adaptability
Your Hilleberg tent must perform equally well across the entire spectrum of its Label category performance range. Thus, Black and Red Label tents must be true all season ones. Specifically, Black Label models must be fully functional in both the most and least demanding conditions. Red Label tents must be nearly as adaptable, but with the constraint of their prioritizing lighter weight over absolute strength. Yellow Label tents, designed for warmer environments and for snow free trips in less exposed terrain, must still adapt to hot or cool, rainy or dry, and windy or still conditions.
On any given trip, the conditions can change, so your tent must be able to handle everything you encounter. Deserts, such as here in Namibia, are notorious for extreme variation in temperature, both hot and cold, so your tent must be able to handle that fluctuation. Photo: Adrian Nordenborg (pathfindertravels.nu).
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