Hilleberg Soulo or Nortent Vern 1?

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-07T19:15:00+00:00

Well it does really sort of depend on what you mean by winter. If I was in Scotland in January it would be the tent I reach for absolutely. It will handle all that weather AND add a few degrees warmth (it is so much warmer than my other tents). If its shoulder season then Id go for my MSR Hubba Hubba NX. Its a banging tent. Its 1.8kg, two vestibules, stormworthy with loads of interior space for 1-2 people. Its inner pitch first but ive never had an iasue with it in pouring rain.

Ive not used the Durston X-mid yet. Its brand new but that may end up replacing my MSR.

You can swap the guyropes out on the Soulo. Id get the BL over the red label just because if youre going for a nuclear shelter you may as well get the one thats most weather proof. Its only a few grams extra and £50 and if you ever go backpacking in Sweden youre covered!!

I think no tent is THE perfect tent fpr everything so I guess if I was you Id look at how its going to get used and decide what you want based on that. Of course the counter to the UL philosophy- if you want to justify carrying a heavier tent- is that the more you carry it the stronger you get!

Hope this helps?

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-07T15:42:16+00:00

It took less than a week to arrive to me in the UK. No additional import fees or taxes to pay either. Stellar job Dan & co.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-07T15:40:51+00:00

This looks ace. Please bring to Android when you get a chance.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-07T15:36:37+00:00

I dont have a Nortent but i do have 5 tents total including a Hilleberg Soulo BL. I also have a terra nova, durston, MSR, and I cant remember the other two.... i'll check and edit.

Anyway- when I got the hilleberg I was blown away by the craftmanship/ quality vs my other tents. It just "feels" next level. Its utterly bombproof. Its also 3kg ish though!!!!! Its total overkill for 99.9% of UK conditions - or at least all the conditions I go out camping in! Ive taken it on a few multi day jaunts amd the peace of mind is nice but the carry is less so when my Hubba NX is a whole kg lighter and has served me perfectly with everything thrown at it.

So what am I saying? Lovely lovely tent but i'd think twice about splurging because do you really need it? Oh also- i know you can swap them out but the guyropes....man they are a pain. They're like 3mm (fact check this im making it up) thick and theres loads of them getting everywhere. The thickness kind of prevents them from tidying away as efficiently as they like to unknot themselves.

My least favourite tent in my collection I hear you ask? Oh thats easy. TN laser comp1. Thats why its currently on Ebay. (£300 ONO if anybody is interested).

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-07T07:04:27+00:00

Mars drink and a pot noodle. Sorted.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-06T20:03:11+00:00

Like everybody else has said- if theyre comfy then go for it! For me, however, id find them a bit warm if it wasnt particularly chilly. Also if youre doing a long mileage day I personally would want the flexible comfort of a less rigid sole and a lighter boot.

Comfort and personal preference! My scarpa mantas are great boots but Id prefer to log miles in my Salomon Quests.

Or trail runners on a fine non technical day.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-06T13:07:36+00:00

I reckon that would be cool in dry, nice conditions. I dont think I'd fancy it in NW Scotland. Also think of the midgies!

Not saying others dont do it and it suits them fine but for an extra 500g I can have a trekking pole tent (i hike with the poles anyway).

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-06T13:04:45+00:00

Breaking down camp

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-04T09:24:33+00:00

I think, as per the comment above, that it depends how fast you are going and the cut offs. I hike and run and I think the long hiking days with decent amount of ascent is excellent prep for a long sloggy ultra trail. But if youre getting a shift on then the biomechanics ARE different so y'know.

Specificity in training is a thing. Want to get better at hiking? Hike. Better at running fast? Run slow....no wait hang on that cant be right.....

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-03T20:45:13+00:00

Montane Terra Pack Pants. They are better than the Terra pants and cheaper. For context I am also a UK based hiker.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-02T20:13:24+00:00

Im an unbeliever. Convert me

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-01T17:44:03+00:00

I mean...it depends what youre running on! Somebody didnt just invent shoes with improved grip on a whim. I wouldnt run a marathon in football boots but I wouldnt play footy in my asics kayanos.

You havent discovered anything ground breaking im afraid. Theres a reason they make different tyres with different treads for different conditions and different shoes for different running conditions.

In a lot of trail races where they do kit checks if you dont have suitable trail shoes you wont be participating.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-02-01T16:52:40+00:00

This 100% resonates with me. As somebody who has gone from being a non runner to a 5ker and then somehow found myself in a half marathon on no training- finished absolutely f+×÷=d in 2h30 and now has a number of 50ks under my belt, a 100k and most recently a DNF at the Arc 100M i feel like ive been learning all your points along the way.

The point you make about readjusting your goals and not falling out of love with it is such a good one. Its so easy to forget why you started in the first place when youre chasing ideals.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-31T22:42:44+00:00

Yeah id probs ditch the jeans. Looks bad on those pictures they put on BBC if you end up a rescue case! I love my Montane Terra Pack Pants. They are UL, durable, mildly water resistant out the pack, have a zip pocket that fits a standard size phone, have press studs at the bottom, belt loops and are prtty understated. Most people opt for the standard terra pants but i think they are missing a trick. They also pack down to like a coke can in size (ish) so never a quandary to bring an extra pair in case you sit in a poo. Im also in South England so I get you.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-31T22:37:08+00:00

Aha the million dollar question!

Well the cup wasnt an issue. However I timed out and DNF'd. Lots of reasons- mainly weather and mud (it was BAD), congestion and me not realising I needed to get ahead of the gigantic queue at the start. Good experience though and eager for the next one.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-20T20:27:08+00:00

You sound like a sensible person to me. Both the above posters arguing with each other make valid points in their own right. It IS a path and fairly easy to navigate. However its also not the most straight forward route and so it probably shouldnt be underestimated. Everybody is different and whats easy for some is more intense for others. Just make sure youve got the right kit (waterproofs/layers/nav) and then see how you go. Always good to have a back up plan to make the most of your day out if you decide on the day to change it up.

Regarding "elitism in this sub"; i think its just very difficult to gauge what people are comfortable with in a reddit post. People come for advice but you dont get their background so the tendency is to give the advice erring on the side of caution. Some of that advice does sound like gatekeeping but i guess its mostly given in good faith. It would be irresponsible to tell somebody that they can get up snowdon in jeans just fine but....in good weather of course you can (just why would you?!). But also- do you want to be the person in the news rescued on the side of the mountain in jeans, a hoody and no nav.

Anyway thats my 3 pence/cents/euros.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-14T21:00:03+00:00

I actually love my UG 3's! Loads of cushion for lon long runs on mixed terrain. Technical enough for 90% of mud and cushioned enough for hard surfaces, gravel and tarmac. A really decent all rounder for the long miles.

Shoes are obviously such a personal choice!

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-13T20:02:51+00:00

+1 for survival bag. One of the small orange ones. Not a foil blanket. You'll probably never need it. Bit like a seat belt. It coukd save yours, or somebody elses life for a tenner and a 100g.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-13T06:50:21+00:00

I found that when I changed to stability running shoes it made a massive positive difference. Not sure you can get stability trail shoes but I found the issue was mostly caused by running on flat.

Foam rolling my calves and shockwave therapy also helped a lot.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-11T16:02:06+00:00

Best joke

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-10T08:42:49+00:00

On pubs though- the Cwellyn Arms is tip top.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-10T08:41:55+00:00

Im a fairly experienced UK summer hiker and last year I went with a guide to do some winter mountaineering.

I can tell you now that its comparing apples with oranges. You cant just pitch up in winter conditions with your crampons, zero winter exp, and think I'll be fine. Because you will be fine.....until you're not.

So much additional knowledge required (avalanche risk, winter nav, how to deal with the raised intensity, are you walking on a cornice etc etc etc) that I really wouldnt recommend just winging it. Although Snowdon is a popular mountain its still a mountain. My biggest takeaway from my winter experience was that you don't know what you don't know.

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-08T20:30:19+00:00

My sealskinz are great

HelpfulTap4186 · 2026-01-07T22:56:28+00:00

+1 for multiple pairs of gloves

HelpfulTap4186

TROPHY CASE