Hilleberg Rogen 2 tent review

David Lintern takes the Hilleberg Rogen 2 tent out in wind, snow and rain. Read his verdict.

The Hillebeg Rogen 2 is a semi-freestanding tent which pushes it’s 3 season definition due to superb build quality.

Quick specs

Price: $1,295.00 / £1,325 (available from Feathered Friends) Weight: Total 2.2kg (1507g tent, 551g poles, 141g pegs) Pitching: as a unit Flysheet: Kerlon 1000 20D ripstop nylon, 5,000 HH Inner: 10D ripstop nylon with DWR Groundsheet: 70D ripstop nylon, 15,000 HH Poles: 9mm, DAC Green Pegs: 14 x 6” Y stakes Porches: 2 x 70 x 200x 90 cm (usable) Inner Dimensions: 120 x 210 x 90 cm (usable) hilleberg.com/eng

Pitching is uncomplex – there are 2 identical cross poles (no colour coding required) which slide into sleeves that run diagonally into each corner, from tail to head. The head sleeves terminate in a reinforced fabric pocket, while at the tail, the poles tuck into a small plastic ‘bucket’, which is then cinched tight. A smaller cross pole is suspended across the top to meet each door apex and cinched into its own sleeve. The main body pegs out with 4 stakes, while the doors require a further 1 each. Vertical seams/edges are reinforced and so resist blowing in.

Both porches are huge – there’s plenty room for footwear, kit and cooking. Each door is double zipped to allow steam egress and with ample vertical space to use a tall stove system safely in bad weather. There are a further 8 reflective guys, and a total of 14, 6” Y stakes. I found the stakes a bit short for Scottish ground but they are of good quality. There are double mini line locks on each guyline. I’m less sure of the need for a second lock on each guy, but there’s no doubting the strength of the guys.

Once this is all in play, the shelter is very weather resistant. I tested in some pretty unpleasant conditions – windy, sleety showers at the end of winter – and it did not flinch. Inside, the living space is generous, with room for 1 wide and 1 regular mat, plus gear at the head and foot. It will happily host 2 adults, especially with those generous porches on each side. The inner is solid with mesh doors. There are two side panel pockets and headroom is good, even sitting on a winter mat.

A standout feature of all Hilleberg tents is their build quality and robustness. The bucket style 70D groundsheet is properly Scottish bog proof, and fly is the brand’s Kerlon 1000, classed by Hilleberg as a lighter weight fabric but which has excellent tear resistance and feels really bomber. Yes, there is a weight penalty but it makes a real difference to how the tent performs in windy conditions – those pegged out doors stay where they are put! Split that weight between 2 people and it’s less onerous.

The doors are fitted with big, glove friendly metal ring pulls, plus a nifty toggle system which allows you to quickly switch which door is pegged out, without the use of extra pegs. Both sides of each door open out fully for ventilation and views, although keeping the fabric tied back can be fiddly. There are big, simple plastic toggles for the inner tent doors. The cinches for the poles and all adjusters are large, Cordura style hoops, easy to grab in poor weather or with cold hands. It’s all built to last.

The packed size highlights that build quality, and it’s not petite at 24 x25cm, but the bag is nice and roomy too, so it’s easy to pack away when wet. There’s no doubt that the cost is eyecatching, but buying a Hilleberg is like investing in a tailored suit – not an everyday purchase, but one that will last a lifetime. As with every Hilleberg tent I’ve tested, I’ve grown to really appreciate the Rogen 2. Its footprint is quite modest, too. Overall, it’s a practical to pitch, comfortable and very reliable 3+ season home from home.

How we test

David Lintern tested in wind, snow and rain at the end of this winter, in the forest and mountains of the Cairngorms and Perthshire. Weights are from his scales and ‘useable space’ measured with a tape measure.