During my 2-month hiatus from circumnavigating the USA on my bicycle, I decided to seek out a lighter weight, more compact and more breathable tent to takeover for the Hilleberg Soulo I had used for 180 days on this trip. The Soulo is fantastic and is still at 100%, but is overkill for bicycle touring in warm weather. So I went to the Hilleberg website and discovered that the Anjan had been redesigned to enable the outer tent to offer better rain protection, and the poles and sleeves now enable one-side insertion and simplifies that process. (A must in tight spaces.) When I bought the Soulo, another consideration was the strength and durability of the Kerlon 1200 fabric, but now I know the Kerlon 1000 of the Anjan will be just fine for whatever I throw at it in 3-season use. Another reason I ordered the Anjan is roominess. While the Soulo is awesome and designed for efficient space in the cold, it is close in there during hot summer nights or rainy days. The Anjan offers more room and better ventilation in those instances. What struck me most when I received the Anjan, was the light weight! Under 4 lbs for a 2-man Hilleberg! A full 1.5 lbs lighter than the Soulo. As far as quality construction is concerned, I checked the stitching on each and every seam, and only found one tiny errant thread. (I’ll never understand how a person can handle sewing that slippery Kerlon fabric.) Having dealt with Hilleberg’s customer service person (Shannon) in the past, I am confident that they truly care about any concerns I may have down the road, and I look forward to a long-term relationship with them.
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