REASONS TO BUY
Freestanding design pitches easy and in small areas
Strong and tough
Very fast setup
Adaptable
REASONS TO AVOID
Side entrance is tricky with two people
Heavier than many single wall tents with a similar area
Hilleberg Unna Review
The lightest double wall tent and one of the lightest freestanding winter tents we've tested
RELATED: Best 4-Season Tents of 2024
Our Verdict
The Hilleberg Unna is one of the lightest freestanding winter tents we've tested. It provides bomber protection from high wind and snow loading, and is equally or more comfortable than many two-person single wall tents, even though Hilleberg calls this a solo tent. Adaptability is one thing that makes this tent shine: remove the inner tent to save 18 oz. and create a more spacious floorless tent. The Unna is a favorite double wall tent for solo missions. It also performs well for going light with two people, particularly if you remove the inner tent. However, whether going alone or with another person our testers reach for lighter tents more often than the Unna.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison of 2017 Version of the Unna
Ease of Setup
Two sleeves let you insert the poles quickly like all Hilleberg tunnel tents. Tighten the poles down and guy out the corners and the tent is ROCK SOLID in ~2 minutes tops. This is one of the fastest tents to pitch ever.
Livability
Hilleberg calls this a solo tent, but their views are generally rather conservative. The tent has the same or more floor area when compared to the Black Diamond Firstlight, Mountain Hardwear Direkt 2, and it's only 1 sq. ft. shy of the Nemo Tenshi. The Unna is also long for its weight. For example, the Unna is 10" longer than the Mountain Hardwear Direkt 2 and longer than all other single wall tents tested except the Mountain Hardwear EV 2, which is only 1" longer. The point here is that the Unna is a two-person tent, not a one-person tent.
You can remove the inner tent to have considerably more space. The 4-6" gap between the inner and outer tents can now be utilized for lounging and provides extra height to sit up. With the inner tent, this same gap can be used to shelter boots or other small objects from the weather.
Weather Resistance
The freestanding design coupled with top-tier fabrics and critical reinforcements make the Unna worthy of just about any condition. See the Hilleberg Jannu review for info about why the materials used in the Unna are so fantastic.
Durability
The Unna is one of Hilleberg's Kerlon 1200 series tents, and while not as tough as Kerlon 1800 series tents (Hilleberg Nammatj 2 and Hilleberg Tarra among others), it is still exceptionally tough. Durability is a non-issue with the Unna; we give it 9 out of 10 points in this category.
Weight/Packed Size
Without stakes the tent weighs 71 oz. or 4 lb 7 oz., that's only 1 lb. less than the Hilleberg Nammatj 2. Removing the inner tent drops its weight down to 48.5 oz.
When saving weight is a top priority our testers reach for the Mountain Hardwear Direkt 2 because it is significantly lighter than the Unna with an inner tent. For winter solo trips we also reach for the Direkt 2. The Unna is very heavy for a solo tent!
Adaptability
Again, being able to remove the inner tent is a fantastic benefit. When using the tent alone, you can unhook several toggles in a corner to create vestibule space. This works well particularly if you want to have access to a wet pack. More generally, the Unna's size positions it well for cramped, rocky alpine sites and thing ledges. It is a go anywhere, do anything tent.
Features
Most Hilleberg tents have best in class ventilation. The Unna is an exception. It has a small opening at the top of the door and a relatively small top cover. A larger vent would be particularly good for cooking in the tent. See the photos above for images of the vent and vent cover.
Best Application
Solo use or alpine expedition bivy tent for two people.
Value
The Unna is a good value if your needs align with what it delivers. We feel that many other tents, such as the company's Nammatj, are a better value because they are much more versatile and only slightly heavier.
—
Chris McNamara and Max Neale
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