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Hilleberg Anjan 2 GT Review

A great backpacking tent with a large vestibule that withstands extreme weather conditions
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hilleberg anjan 2 gt backpacking tent review
If you need to hunker down in the cold, the Anjan is a good option.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Price:  $925 List
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Manufacturer:   Hilleberg
By Ben Applebaum-Bauch ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 1, 2023
66
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#8 of 18
  • Comfort - 25% 6.0
  • Weather Resistance - 25% 10.0
  • Space to Weight Ratio - 25% 5.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 3.0
  • Construction Quality - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Hilleberg Anjan 2 GT is for those who do their best camping when the weather turns nasty. This is one of the most storm-worthy backpacking tents we have tested. Its durability and weather resistance are top-notch. High-end materials, tough poles, and a tunnel design that includes a massive vestibule make this tent an all-star choice. It's ideal for extended bike trips, short backpacking outings, or any adventure that requires a lot of storage space in camp and where weight (and price) are lesser concerns.
REASONS TO BUY
Extended vestibule
Highly weather resistant
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy for backpacking
Difficult to pitch
Very expensive
Editor's Note: We read through our metrics and assessments for accuracy on December 1, 2023.

Compare to Similar Products

 
hilleberg anjan 2 gt backpacking tent review
Awards Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award Best Buy Award 
Price $925 List$509.95 at Amazon
Compare at 3 sellers
$560 List$300 List
$299.95 at Amazon
$179 List
$199.00 at REI
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line This rugged tent is tough enough to support your backpacking trips deep into the shoulder seasonsThis tent offers enough room for three, without weighing you downA tent with plenty of pockets and great interior volume all in a lightweight packageThis comfortable, airy option can handle some abuse, though that durability adds weightSimple and reliable in mild conditions, this is a good solid backpack tent
Rating Categories Hilleberg Anjan 2 GT Big Agnes Copper Sp... SlingFin Portal 2 NEMO Aurora 2 REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Comfort (25%)
6.0
9.0
8.0
9.5
5.5
Weather Resistance (25%)
10.0
7.5
9.0
6.0
6.0
Space to Weight Ratio (25%)
5.0
9.5
7.0
5.5
2.0
Ease of Use (15%)
3.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
7.5
Construction Quality (10%)
9.0
7.0
8.0
6.5
7.5
Specs Hilleberg Anjan 2 GT Big Agnes Copper Sp... SlingFin Portal 2 NEMO Aurora 2 REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Measured Total Packaged Weight 4.75 3.81 3.34 5.51 5.65
Measured Floor Area., sq ft 30.10 39.20 27.74 30.33 30.21
Interior Floor Area to Weight Ratio, sq ft per pound 6.34 10.29 8.31 5.50 5.35
Measured Headroom Area, sq ft Not measured 25.04 13.24 25.28 4.86
Interior Headroom Area to Weight Ratio, sq ft per pound Not measured 6.57 3.96 4.59 0.86
Packed Size (length x diameter) 19 x 6 in 20.5 x 6 in 14.5 x 6 in 20 x (8 x 8) in 18 x 8.5 in
Dimensions (length x width x peak height) 86 x 51/43 x 39 in 89 x 68/59 x 43 in 85.6 x 51/42 x 44 in 84 x 52 x 44 in 87 x 50 x 40 in
Vestibule Area 27 sq ft 18 sq ft 8.4 + 8.4 sq ft 9.2 + 9.2 sq ft 19 sq ft
Peak Height 39 in 43 in 44 in 44 in 40 in
Number of Doors 1 2 2 2 2
Number of Poles 3 1 3 1 2
Pole Diameter 9 mm 8.7 mm 8.7/9.3mm 8.5 mm 8.5 mm
Pole Material DAC aluminum DAC Featherlite NFL DAC Featherlite NFL Aluminum Aluminum
Number of Pockets 2 8 7 4 2
Guy Points 6 4 12 4 4
Gear Loft No No No No No
Rain Fly Material Kerlon 1000 Proprietary patterned random rip-stop nylon with 1200mm waterproof polyurethane coating 10D nylon 66 ripstop Sil 68D PU Polyester (1200 mm) Coated polyester
Inner Tent Material Fine-gauge mesh Proprietary patterned random rip-stop nylon with 1200mm waterproof polyurethane coating 15D nylon mesh 30D Polyester/ No-See-Um Mesh, 68D PU Polyester (1200 mm) floor
Fly Fabric Polyester,
Polyester/nylon
Type One door tunnel construction Two door freestanding Two door freestanding Two door freestanding Two door freestanding

Our Analysis and Test Results

This tent excels at keeping out the elements and providing ample storage for all your gear in its extended vestibule. That said, what you get in weather protection and durability, you pay for in weight. It comes with the territory, though. If you want an all-star storm chaser, this is for you.

Performance Comparison


hilleberg anjan 2 gt backpacking tent review - this caterpillar-looking tent performs well in cold weather.
This caterpillar-looking tent performs well in cold weather.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Comfort


For as much as we like this tent, its interior sleeping area is not the most comfortable. The tunnel design creates a decent amount of space for its weight, but the 39-inch peak height of the inner tent is a tight fit for a 6-foot camper, and it slopes down steeply from the head to the foot. The interior floor is 51 inches wide at the front door, 43 inches at the foot, and 86 inches long. This contender is not as spacious as tents with two side doors, but it is no doubt meant to feel cozy, and it does. The low ceiling keeps heat close to the sleepers.


The massive 27-square-foot vestibule takes up more than a third of the total footprint of this tent. While living out of the tent in campgrounds, our testers managed to fit two 60-liter backpacks, two 30-liter backpacks, and shoes inside the vestibule. In nice weather, a third person could sleep in the Anjan. This tent also comes with an adjustable clothesline inside, which we found useful for socks and hats. The two side pockets are not huge but are convenient for keeping small items like gloves or a watch close at hand, so you know where to find them in the middle of the night.

hilleberg anjan 2 gt backpacking tent review - the anjan comes with a sleeping section for two and a massive...
The Anjan comes with a sleeping section for two and a massive vestibule for gear storage.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Weather Resistance


The Anjan receives top honors for its weather resistance because it offers superb protection from all of the elements. We have spent many hours sitting out storms — this tent even made it through a pelting hailstorm with ice balls the size of nickels! It's advertised as a three-season tent with many features found on four-season models. The extended vestibule allows backpackers the opportunity to hunker down and spread out while waiting out a storm.


Key points like the reinforced vestibule zippers and the bathtub floor protect from splashback and spindrift. In fact, we found the floor to be just about waterproof on its own without a ground cloth. Similarly, the inner tent is made primarily of a solid nylon fabric that blocks blowing sand and snow and sheds condensation that drips from the roof — a significant advantage over most backpacking tents that have mesh inner tent walls.

hilleberg anjan 2 gt backpacking tent review - the tent floor feels almost rubberized. some snow melted on the...
The tent floor feels almost rubberized. Some snow melted on the inside, but it also means that slush on the outside can't force its way in either.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

In terms of ventilation, this model is a mixed bag. Because of the shorter dimensions of the interior, you may have your sleeping bag touch the end of the tent and get damp from condensation. However, there is a fairly substantial swatch of mesh at the foot end and at the mesh door vents into the vestibule, which lets moisture disperse.

hilleberg anjan 2 gt backpacking tent review - the fly hugs the ground to limit interior exposure to wind and rain.
The fly hugs the ground to limit interior exposure to wind and rain.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Space to Weight Ratio


Measuring just over 30 square feet, this is one of the more spacious tents in the test. But its 4.75-pound pack weight means that you only get 6.3 square feet per pound. You're trading space for weather resistance and durability. That said, we think the higher weight is well worth the extra security if you will be in an early or late-season snowstorm.


This model isn't blowing anyone away with its packability. If you are looking for faster and lighter, there are plenty of other options out there, but they come with the tradeoff of reduced protection.

Coming in under five pounds, it's not the lightest tent, but it is...
Coming in under five pounds, it's not the lightest tent, but it is reliable.
Lightweight stakes are one way that this tent tries to limit the...
Lightweight stakes are one way that this tent tries to limit the extra ounces.

Ease of Use


The Anjan 2 GT features a tunnel design that differs significantly from a traditional freestanding design. Consequently, it takes a few times to get used to it and quite a bit of time to set up. The concept is simple enough –- three poles slide through sleeves on the exterior of the tent, and tension from guylines holds the body upright.


This outside first approach keeps the inner tent drier if you are forced to pitch during a storm. It requires a lot of dexterity, though, which can be especially difficult in cold weather. The guylines come pre-attached, which is a big plus, but there is still a lot of cord to manage.

hilleberg anjan 2 gt backpacking tent review - sliding the poles through their sleeves on the tent is somewhat...
Sliding the poles through their sleeves on the tent is somewhat time-consuming.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Construction Quality


The Anjan is one of the most durable tents we tested. By most standards, the tent is overbuilt for three-season conditions. It uses metal rings on the four corner guy points to reduce wear on its already burly webbing loops. It has strong plastic and metal hardware for friction adjustments, and the zippers are robust. The floor fabric is significantly more durable than the fly. All in all, this is a tent that is built to last.


Hilleberg uses Kerlon 1000 for the waterproof rain fly. This fabric is a silicone-impregnated ripstop nylon that's impressively strong for a three-season tent. Our only word of caution in terms of durability is due to the nature of the hoop-style pitch; it is important to 'push' the poles out of their sleeves on the outside of the tent rather than pull — otherwise, you run the risk of tearing the fabric or breaking the elastic pole cord.

The stakes included with the Anjan 2 GT are oddly ultra-lightweight. Normally, we would say this is an advantage, but they somehow don't match the gravitas of the rest of the tent. We found them to be serviceable, but since this tent requires stakes and a good pitch to stand upright, if you have already invested in this tent not-cheap tent, you may as well pick up some stakes that you know you can trust to hold in the snowpack.

hilleberg anjan 2 gt backpacking tent review - large, hefty zipper pulls and rubberized zipper flaps are just a...
Large, hefty zipper pulls and rubberized zipper flaps are just a couple of pieces of hardware that tell us this tent is meant to last.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch

Should You Buy the Hilleberg Anjan 2 GT?


We think the Anjan 2 GT will be overkill for most folks, but this tent is a good value for users requiring exceptional durability and weather resistance. It is one of the most expensive options in our review and is ideal for backpackers who plan on spending time in inclement weather, want the extended vestibule, or want the best of the best for durability and weather resistance. If we were to recommend just one tent to friends and family who want to stretch their tent to the limits of the seasons (and the price was not a factor), this would be the one.

What Other Backpacking Tents Should You Consider?


If the Anjan feels like overkill or is out of your price range, but you still want excellent weather resistance, the SlingFin Portal 2 is not to be missed. It's more comfortable and lighter as well. If you'd like something for three folks, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 is our favorite. If weight is less of an issue and you just need something casual for car camping or short backcountry excursions, the REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ is our high-value pick.

Ben Applebaum-Bauch