Hilleberg’s brand story

Hilleberg is known as the king of tents in Europe. Its design integrates the inner tent and the canopy into one, which not only makes it easier to set up but also shortens the setup time.
As early as 1995, it was selected as the best tent by the European industry.
Hilleberg tents are surprisingly light and strong, and have been chosen by many alpine and polar expeditions over the years.

About Bo Hilleberg

In 1971, Bo Hilleberg, a professional forester, founded his own company – Hilleberg AB.

That same year, founder Bo met his future wife, Renate Neuner, while on a skiing trip in Tyrol, Austria. They fell in love, and after marrying, Renate moved to Stockholm, Sweden. Their marriage was integral to Hilleberg the Tentmaker.

About Hilleberg the Tentmaker

Before meeting Renate, the start-up company initially focused on the production of forestry equipment and listed tents as one of its branch products.

As a lifelong outdoorsman, Bo was deeply frustrated by the stereotypical design of tents, which consisted of an inner and outer tent, with the inner tent typically erected first and then the outer tent added for protection from rain. He often wished and imagined that the inner and outer tents could be erected simultaneously, but he lacked the sewing skills to realize this ideal design.

Bo and Renate's marriage just completes their careers. Renate is responsible for producing the physical products, while Bo is in charge of design and sales. With this division of labor and cooperation, their company is thriving.

Today, family and business are inextricably linked. Bo is now CEO and is still responsible for design and R&D, while his daughter Petra manages the company's markets outside of Europe. Bo and his family of four have built the company's successful foundation through concerted efforts.

The History of Hilleberg Tents - Bo and Petra tell the story of the birth of the Hilleberg brand

In this video, Bo and Petra Hilleberg revisit the early days of Hilleberg, discussing how Bo designed and tested early tent concepts. He also shares how his time in the Swedish Army inspired many of the tent designs we have today, along with many interesting and challenging stories about the trial and error process in creating the "perfect" Hilleberg tent.

Bo Hilleberg founded his own company, Hilleberg AB, and met his future wife, Renate Neuner, on a skiing trip to Austria.

Hilleberg launches the Keb tent, the first tent on the market with a connected inner and outer tent that can be erected simultaneously. This simultaneous erection of the inner and outer tents makes this tent an instant success.

Bo discovered a special silicone-coated fabric that was six to seven times stronger than other tent fabrics on the market and decided to use it on all Hilleberg tents. Named Kerlon 1500 , it boasts an incredible tear resistance of 15 kg (33 lb) .

Bo improved the design of the connection between the inner and outer tents, allowing the inner and outer tents to be detached separately, and applied this design to tunnel tents.

The Keron series of tents was launched. This tent immediately became a Hilleberg masterpiece and remains a classic symbol of the brand.

The first generation of Nallo series tents was officially launched and received widespread acclaim in the market for its extremely light weight and innovative design that cleverly integrated the ventilation system into the tent door.

Hilleberg has launched the first "GT" series tents with an extended vestibule design, including the Keron GT and Nammatj GT , providing new options for users who need more storage and activity space.

Hilleberg begins developing and producing dome-style tents. Pictured is the multi-colored Staika prototype, produced in 1989 specifically for Antarctic expeditions.

The Akto one-person tent is launched, an instant hit, offering true all-season functionality at a fraction of the weight.

The company purchased land in Estonia and began construction of the new Hilleberg factory, which officially opened on February 2, 1997.

The first generation of Saivo tents was officially unveiled, featuring an innovative short pole sleeve and buckle system for the first time, making multi-cross-pole tents easier and faster to set up, especially in strong winds.

In 2000, Petra Hilleberg founded Hilleberg, Inc. in Redmond, Washington, USA, as the US subsidiary of Hilleberg.
In 2003, Rolf Hilleberg became Executive Director of Hilleberg the Tentmaker in Sweden.

Hilleberg has launched the fully modular Atlas group tent. This self-contained tent accommodates up to eight people and can be configured to suit your needs. It offers a variety of inner tent options, and you can even connect multiple Atlas tents together to create a larger space.

Hilleberg has introduced two new tents: the two-person Allak and the one-person Soulo . Both feature a Kerlon 1200 high-strength flysheet, a fully self-supporting design, and a vestibule (the Allak has two, the Soulo has one). Both tents offer ample space, exceptional strength, and exceptional lightness.

Hilleberg introduces the Altai group tent. Inspired by the Mongolian yurt, this simple and lightweight tent can sleep up to six people or serve as a shared dining or gathering space. In 2011, the Altai also introduced optional inner tents and floor coverings for increased flexibility and comfort.

The four-person Saitaris and the all-new and improved three-person Saivo dome tent are officially launched. Designed for the most demanding environments, these two tents feature an innovative pole system that combines full-length pole sleeves with short pole sleeves and buckles, making it easy and quick for one person to set up even a large dome tent in inclement weather.

In 2012, Hilleberg launched its first three-season tents, the Anjan series tunnel tent and the Rogen series dome tent. These tents are made with 9mm poles and a new ultra-lightweight flysheet fabric, Kerlon 1000 .

In 2013, Hilleberg systematically classified its tents according to structure and materials, launching four major label series: Black Label , Red Label , Yellow Label and Blue Label , to help users quickly choose the most suitable tent according to their needs.

Hilleberg has launched the Enan single-person tent and the Niak two-person tent, both part of its lightweight Yellow Label series . It has also introduced the Stalon XL , a large, fully modular group tent from its Blue Label series , offering more space and flexible configuration for group activities.

In addition, Petra Hilleberg takes over as CEO of the Hilleberg Group, succeeding her father, Bo Hilleberg, in leading the company, while Bo continues to serve as Chairman of the Board.

Hilleberg has comprehensively redesigned its original Yellow Label tents— the Anjan , Anjan GT , and Rogen —to enhance overall performance and user experience. The Kaitum family has also expanded with the launch of the four-person Kaitum 4 and Kaitum 4 GT , offering lightweight, spacious, and multi-season options for those who need more space.

Hilleberg introduces the Mesh Tent 1 , an ultra-lightweight one-person mesh tent with a sewn-in groundsheet designed for minimalist summer backpacking, providing ideal protection from mosquitoes and insects.

The Allak series has added a new member, the three-person tent Allak 3 , and the original Allak has been officially renamed Allak 2 .

At the same time, Petra Hilleberg , CEO of the Hilleberg Group and President of the US branch, has officially become President of Hilleberg the Tentmaker AB, Hilleberg 's European headquarters, with full responsibility for the group's European operations.

The Anaris, the newest tent in the Yellow Label series, has officially launched. Inspired by Hilleberg's first keb tent, the Anaris offers exceptional lightness, spacious comfort, excellent ventilation, and high flexibility. The inner and outer tents can be used separately, and the two vestibule doors and side walls of the fly can be fully rolled up, offering greater flexibility and versatility.

Hilleberg celebrates its 50th anniversary with the launch of several new tents:

• Joining the Yellow Label range is the Helags , a spacious and lightweight tunnel tent with dual entrances and a dual vestibule design, offering both convenience and comfort for lightweight trips in changing weather.
• Soulo BL is officially launched. This is an enhanced and upgraded version of the popular Soulo single tent in the Red Label series . It belongs to the Black Label series and has a more robust structure and materials, designed for extremely harsh environments.

The all-new four-person Saivo 4 joins the Black Label lineup . Both Saivo tents have been fully upgraded, featuring one standard-size vestibule and one enlarged vestibule, along with a pole design for more space and comfort, making them ideal for extended use in extreme environments.

In addition, the Rogen series has also expanded its lineup and launched the three-person tent Rogen 3 , which belongs to the Yellow Label series . It is lightweight, well-ventilated and conveniently spaced, providing a better choice for summer hiking or lightweight travel.