The Hilleberg History

In 1971, Bo Hilleberg, a professional forester, founded his own company, Hilleberg AB. That same year, while on a ski vacation in the Austrian Tyrol, Bo met Renate Neuner. After a couple of years, the two had fallen in love, married, and she had moved with him to Stockholm, Sweden. Their marriage was the final, necessary ingredient in the mix that has become Hilleberg the Tentmaker.

Before Renate, Bo’s fledgling company was primarily a forestry equipment concern, with tent making as a hoped-for sideline. An avid, lifelong outdoorsman, Bo was terminally frustrated with tents that required pitching the inner tent first and then covering it with a loose rain fly that usually displayed the same properties as a kite in the wind. He envisioned a tent that had an outer and inner tent that pitched together, simultaneously – but he didn’t have the necessary sewing skills. With Bo and Renate’s marriage, conjugal and commercial became one: Renate took charge of the sewing while Bo handled design and sales, and with their combined efforts, the company flourished.

Today, family and business are still inextricably linked. Bo is Chairman, and is still in charge of design and development; daughter Petra handles all company business outside of Europe; and Bo, Renate, Petra and her brother Rolf make up the governing board of directors – clearly, family synergy continues to beget success.

1971

Bo Hilleberg establishes his company, Hilleberg AB, and, on a skiing trip to Austria, meets his future wife, Renate Neuner.

1973

Hilleberg introduces the Keb, the first commercial tent to have a connected inner and outer. The simultaneous pitching of both elements of the tent make it an immediate success.

1975

Bo discovers that a certain type of silicone coated fabric is six to seven times stronger than nearly any other tent fabric, and adopts it for all Hilleberg outer tents. Dubbed Kerlon 1500, it has an exceptional tear strength of 15 kg/33 lbs.

1977

Bo redesigns the linked inner and outer tent design so that the two pieces can be disconnected, and incorporates this into a tunnel tent design.

1980

The introduction of the Keron, then and now the company’s signature tent.

1990

Hilleberg begins making dome tents. Pictured is a multi-color Staika prototype produced in 1989 for a South Pole expedition.

1995

The Akto, a roomy, very light, solo tent with true all season function, is an immediate hit upon its introduction.

1998

The original Saivo debuts, and showcases the new short pole sleeve and clip system, which makes pitching tents with multiple pole crossings simpler and quicker, especially in windy conditions.

2000 & 2003

In 2000, Petra Hilleberg founds Hilleberg, Inc., the US subsidiary in Redmond, WA. In 2003, Rolf Hilleberg becomes Managing Director of Hilleberg the Tentmaker in Sweden. Bo Hilleberg continues as Chairman of the Board.

2005 - 2011

Hilleberg adds models in all categories, including the Atlas and Altai group tents; Kaitum and Kaitum GT tunnel tents; fully freestanding Allak and Soulo dome tents; and the Saitaris and redesigned Saivo dome tents, both built with a new pole system and designed for the most demanding conditions.

2012

Hilleberg introduces the Anjan tunnel tents and Rogen dome tent. These models are designed as very lightweight options for trips in warmer environments and/or during the snow-free months of the year.

2013

To make it easier to choose the right tent, Hilleberg organizes its tents into one of four "Labels," Black, Red, Yellow or Blue. Each Label represents a grouping by components and/or construction. In the Yellow Label group, the Anjan GT is introduced, joining the Anjan and Rogen models.