chefisaac, not sure if you've got the tent by now, but here are my 2cents:

If you like Hilleberg tents you might as well like the tents by Nordisk, small Danish manufacturer. The tents are of good quality and less pricey than the Hillebergs.

For family touring we've got their Norheim 3 SI, which is pretty light for it's *huge* size and packs down pretty small. The inner tent is 190x230cm large, which is enough for me, my sleeping bag does not get wet anymore. They also have narrower version (140x230) which is half kilo lighter:



I am 6'6"+ tall, and together with my wife and two little daughters (who somehow take all the space!) we fit very well. We got our tent for circa 400 euros (taxes included).

I much prefer the tunnel type of tents for everything but windy mountain passes with rocky ground (have another little tent for that). Super comfortable! And it's really nice to have a large separate compartment for wet/dirty clothes and all the panniers..

Few pictures of our tent for 3+ people (no inner tent as i was doing the seams):

1. Packed (not so well)



2. Set up without inner tent



3. Inside



PS. Though i would prefer hilleberg nammati if i could afford, two vertical walls and two exits are a real improvement in terms of space and comfort.

PPS. Helsport also makes nice tents, bit more expensive than Nordisk but cheaper than Hillebergs. Their Fjellheimen 3 tent is almost as large as Nordisk 3, 165x230cm, but some 700 gramms lighter.

You're absolutely right.

And WF, I see your point, although I have only one tent where that might be an issue. The others either are symmetrical with a side entry, or are tunnel.

I'm still not sure I would be factoring it into any future tent-buying decision though. Up to this trip we are doing, I usually slipped my sleeping bag and inner together down my legs, rather than unzipping all the way down. But I am now using my bag fully open and use it like a duvet, and like it that way.

So which side the bag has its zip is sort of a none issue.