Hilleberg pitches the Nallo 3 GT as “the ideal 3-person tent for trips where both the lightest weight and greater storage space are of prime importance.” Over the last two years, we’ve called our Hilleberg Nallo 3 GT home. Even on the uphills, we’ve never regretted our decision to invest in a Nallo 3 GT – here’s why…

Things we like

✓ Lightweight, spacious, all-season

At 3.7 kg, the Hilleberg Nallo 3 GT is the perfect solution for travelers seeking ample living space for less weight. It’s among the lightest three-person tents on the market and boasts an area of over six square meters. An internal inner tent serves as the Nallo’s “master bedroom,” providing an extra line of defense against moisture and mosquitos. The vestibule area is large enough to both store your luggage and enjoy a meal during those rainy days. In a pinch, you can even convert the vestibule into an “extra bedroom” large enough to sleep 2 medium-sized people.

The Nallo 3 GT is part of Hilleberg’s Red label line — a series of lightweight tents durable enough for use in any season. With both the outer and inner tents boasting a fabric thickness of 30 D†, you’ll sleep comfortably even through frosts and hot summer nights (see our Tour Logistics page for more info on weather conditions in Patagonia). If you anticipate consistent use in snowy conditions, check out Hilleberg’s Black label tents — at 40 D, they’re 33% thicker than Red labels.

† Denier: a unit of measure (abbreviated D) which measures the linear mass density of a fiber. For reference, a single strand of silk is considered 1 D thick.

✓ Easily Separable Inner Tent

The Nallo 3 GT is essentially two tents in one: an outer tent shell and an easily separable, highly-breathable inner tent. On wet mornings, quickly remove the inner tent and pack it separately to ensure your sleeping quarters remain dry.

Increase the tent’s sleeping occupancy to 6 by pitching the inner tent independently (requires a set of optional pole holders — sold separately; MSRP $15 USD). Given the breathability of the inner tent, this is only advisable in dry conditions.

✓ Tunnel design with extended vestibule

The Nallo features a sleek tunnel design, distinguishing it from the many “standard” dome tents which dominate the multi-person lightweight tent market. And with a low-profile (105 cm in height), it seamlessly blends into the surrounding landscape.

All of Hilleberg’s GT tents have an extended vestibule area. This extra space can be used for luggage storage, hanging out and preparing meals (remember: camping stoves should never be used inside the extended vestibule). Compared to the Nallo 3, you’ll enjoy 20% more length, 90% more vestibule area and 30% more total area with the GT model.

✓ Dual entrances and adjustable vents

The Hilleberg Nallo 3 GT features two entrances valuable for fast loading & unloading or when complicated terrain (or a messy tent-mate) is blocking an entrance. The outer tent has two adjustable vents — one on the front and one on the back. The front vent can be adjusted from inside, however the back vent must be adjusted from outside.

Tip: Open both entrances and both vents to maximize air flow through the tent and decrease drying time.

✓ Durable Materials

The Nallo 3 GT is made of tough stuff. After 200+ pitches and take-downs, our tent, including zippers and poles, has never experienced a material malfunction.‡

Tent Material Details

• Ripstop Threading: Both outer and inner tents feature ripstop threading which helps prevent ripping and unraveling if the fabric is punctured.
• 30 D Fabric Thickness: At 30 D, Hilleberg’s Red label tent fabrics are 50% thicker than Hilleberg’s Yellow label tents (3-season, lightest weight) and 25% thinner than Hilleberg’s Black label tents (all season, highest durability).
• Triple-Silicone-Coated Nylon 66 (Outer Tent): Like all Hilleberg outer tents, the Nallo 3 GT outer tent is composed of triple-silicone-coated nylon 66.
• DWR-Coated Nylon (Inner Tent): The inner tent’s ripstop nylon is coated with Durable Water Repellent (DWR) which maximizes breathability and prevents condensation.
• Inner Tent Bathtub Floor: Made of 70 D triple-coated polyurethane nylon, the floor of the inner tent is extremely durable and water resistant.

Poles and Zippers

Hilleberg’s Red label tents include 9mm DAC featherlite NSL poles, an extra repair section, and an aluminum repair sleeve. The Nallo 3 GT comes with three poles, each 328 cm in length. Additional poles can be purchased for $42 USD which can come in handy for repairs and “double poling” (for extra strength and stability). Poles must be handled with care, especially during pitching/take-down.

Hilleberg sources its zippers from renowned Japanese zip-maker YKK. Remember, zippers should be occasionally brushed, especially after exposure to sand or dirt.

V-Pegs

Hilleberg’s signature “V-Pegs” are made from hardened aluminum and specifically engineered to resist bending. Each peg is anodized to a highly visible gold and has an integrated string loop for easy removal from the ground.

Guylines

Hilleberg’s guyline cords are super strong yet easy-to-handle. Made of Vectran and woven with polyester, the cords are stretch resistant, absorb minimal water and boast a stout 80 kg (176 lb) breaking strength.

‡ Although not a material malfunction, one of our pole sections suffered a minor crack in it’s crown during a hasty takedown. We repaired this with a small amount of duct tape.

✓ Easy set-up

When the inner tent and the footprint are attached, the Nallo 3 GT can be pitched in less than 5 minutes. Simply unroll the tent, assemble the three tent poles and slide them into sleeves. Anchor the tent to the ground using four corner pegs then attach guylines for desired support. Tighten corner peg loops and guylines. Done!

Watch the official pitching instruction video. And here we are attaching our footprint to our Nallo 3 GT then pitching it for the first time:

Things we didn’t like

✗ Not free standing

The Hilleberg Nallo 3 GT requires four corner pegs (and typically at least the front and back guylines) to stand securely. This can be annoying when pitching where V-pegs can’t penetrate the ground (e.g. rocky terrain, gravel, concrete). In these situations, we have anchored the tent to the ground using heavy stones or logs.

For pitching your tent on soft terrain, Hilleberg offers Sand & Snow pegs (sold separately; MSRP: $85 for six pegs).

✗ Footprint sold separately

The Nallo 3 GT footprint is priced at $100 USD and weighs 0.6 kg (increasing the tent’s total weight by 20%). While not strictly necessary for the tent to function, we highly recommend adding the footprint to your Hilleberg tent purchase. The footprint easily connects to the outer tent and serves as a floor. It protects the inner tent from damage and helps prevent condensation from forming on the Nallo 3 GT’s interior. Best of all, it converts the vestibule area into a comfortable living space.

✗ Not for stargazing

Given the absence of a removable rainfly, it is impossible to gaze at the stars from inside the Nallo 3 GT’s outer tent. Of course, if you’re desperate for a night under the stars, you can always pitch the inner tent separately (remember this requires the optional pole holders).

Things worth knowing

3-person size — even better for 2

The Nallo 3 GT has been an excellent tent for us (two space-loving, luggage-heavy bike tourers). The extended vestibule easily holds all of our panniers and the tent’s 1.6 m width provides us with enough wiggle room to sleep comfortably.

This tent is long!

The Nallo 3 GT has a length of 4 meters. Sometimes, designated tent sites at commercial campgrounds (especially in urban areas) are too short for our Nallo 3 GT. Depending on the terrain, it can be difficult to find sufficient flat ground for the entire Nallo 3 GT. In these situations, position your tent so that the sleeping quarters are on the flattest area possible.

Hilleberg is an industry-leading brand

Hilleberg is a family-owned Swedish company which has been making tents for over 45 years. They refer to themselves as “the tentmaker” — and for good reason: in 1973 they created the first commercial tent with connected inner and outer portions. Every Hilleberg tent is completely set up and inspected before it is shipped from its central manufacturing hub in Estonia.

Warranty & return policy

Hilleberg provides a lifetime warranty against defects in material & craftsmanship and such repairs are covered no cost. Damages due to improper handling, accidents or general wear and tear, including effects from UV-exposure and sand, are not covered under the warranty. Additionally, Hilleberg provides a 15-day return policy on every tent purchase, so long as the tent hasn’t been pitched outside.

Summary

We highly recommend the Hilleberg Nallo 3 GT, especially for 2-person cycling adventures.

Click here to visit the official Hilleberg Nallo 3 GT website.