I have the Niak too, it’s a great tent for me and my four-legged camping companion. I tried out a few others before settling on the Niak and have to say that I won’t be swapping this for anything. Thanks for this review. All the best. 👍🏼
Hi, thanks for this excellent review. Recently purchased the Niak. I've reached the age now, where due to some mobility issues, I need a tent with plenty of headroom, internal space and a large enough entrance so I don't need to burrow a hole to get in and out. In other words, I'm done with "coffin" tents. The Niak ticks all the boxes for me. Like yourself I've upgraded to 10 mm poles. Have you thought of doubling up on the guy lines? Ive added four extra guys using the already existing loops so that each pole can be supported from two different directions. It makes a big difference in heavy wind for a negligible weight gain. Thanks once again.
Cheers Andy, for some reason this took forever and a day (almost) to load up, good practice though. I can see now what I actually wanted to say etc. next review should only be five minutes lol. Really enjoying the Niak, look forward to the next outing… ATB… 👍
It’s just an OCD thing lol, yeah I’ve always felt it’s been more effective having the “left” door into the wind and slightly aft … You’re going to love your Niak Alex 👍
Hey Sean! Thanks for doing this review. It’s got even more room that I thought. Good to know it will fit a wide and regular pad at the same time. Just counting down the days (months) till mine arrives… Cheers 🍻
I really like the tent, but it is not perfect. I don’t think such a tent exists. Always a compromise, weight, pack size, space etc. I feel with this voice I sacrificed vestibule space to gain internal living space, I am happy with this choice as I want room to move and feel comfortable if I ever need to bolt down for long periods of time… Looking forward to using the tent more this year, Cairngorms soon 👍
I love my Niak - cracking tent, and you’re quite right: 2kg isn’t ultralight but the benefits ‘outweigh’ the weight. I’d owned a Soulo a few years back, but it was just too much tent for my needs, so this year I sold a pile of gear and bought a Niak. Oddly enough, even though I was set on the Niak, some of your earlier videos really helped cement my choice. So thanks for those, and for this overview - your delivery was excellent, great vid. Btw, are those the Easton 9” pegs for guying? I use the same - top kit. 👍
Thanks for the very kind comments Neil. Yeah there’s a mix of 9” Eastons, 6” and 9” MSR carbon cores, but, the ones I like using on soft boggy ground for buying out are 9” MSR cyclones 👍
I also have the Niak and was out in it last night. It was raining here and having the extra space makes organising things so much easier. The Niak is a great tent , spacious, light and dependable. I kinda missed the whiskey tasting on your last vid , like yourself I enjoy a drop also . ATB Mark
used the niak to thru hike the south downs way, north downs way, pilgrims way etc wild camping every night. build is as solid as a rock and light enough too. plenty of room inside for a wide sleeping mat and room to get dressed
Great review thank you Sean. I'm with you on the cheer of yellow, it swayed me in my choice of sleeping bag 😅 and is doing as I look for a new tent.. I've been considering a Niak but have been put of before by the mesh door, surprised they dont do a double door. You seem to suggest its not an issue though ? Cheers, John
I love them, I’ve have managed to get a close look at a red label and a black label as well. If finances weren’t an option, I think I would have more than one Hilleberg. Beautifully put together …
A great review, many thanks for posting....I'm still undecided between the Suolo, Unna and the Niak....but nonetheless an excellent , informative review...Thanks again
Thank you , There’s too many nice Hillies to choose from, I had looked at the Unna as well, very versatile tent, love the Niak as a simple easy pitch tough shelter ❤️
Looks a superb tent I'm seriously looking at getting 1 I have a few concerns tho become of the price 1 is the the vestibule big enough for my pack and to cook in.2 do you get rain being blown under the ends where the curve cuts are.3 is it best to use a footprint.4 is it worth getting the 10mm poles I camp all year in the lakes and in some pretty bad weather wind and rain.any help with these concerns would be a great help
Hi Craig. 1- vestibule holds my Osprey kestrel 48ltr pack, no issues, can still store boots and wet over clothes etc. as for cooking the angle of the fly sheet is (concave?), so I’ve always been a bit nervous about cooking, you can unhook a corner of the inner to help make more space. 2- no rain blowing under the catinery (spelling?) cuts on fly sheet. 3- I’ve only used it with the footprint, I believe it helps cut down condensation and keep the groundsheet clean. 4- I purchased the 10mm poles, the tent sits more rigid and you really notice the difference in windy conditions. Hope this helps you, I haven’t been walking/camping recently for a number of reasons but hope to get back out soon, ATB 👍
@@scotsnomad7395 thanks that's a great help all I need now is for them to be back in stock can't get 1 anywhere at the moment but will be getting 1 soon as they are
I was originally looking at an enan. But now I'm heading in the direction on the niak, unna, rogen. Do you have any advice/experience re the 3 of these?
Hi I only have experience with the Niak I’m afraid, the only other ones I’ve seen in the flesh were the Allak and Keron , the Unna looks pretty versatile as well 👍
Thanks I’ve been looking at this tent for the last year as my Akto is getting on in years (20) how’s the condensation compared to the akto Like the idea of 10mm poles
If you get a little breeze there is no real issue with condensation. If you’re pitched in humid conditions with no breeze then there will be some condensation on the fly sheet, unfortunately that’s the nature of the triple silnylon fly. No condensation on the inner though, any condensation is usually near the door. It really is a cracking tent, Hope this helps… and yeah the 10mm poles really keep the strong shape of the tent 👍
Yes, I waited a couple of years, and watched the prices steadily climb. I was gifted most of the cost and decided to finally take the plunge. I’m pretty sure the price has risen twice since purchase. It’s a shame, as the cost of all the gear has risen dramatically… but as I said, look after it and it’s almost an investment 👍
How is the condensation, there is a review on one forum stating they are very wet on the inside of the fly every morning and very hard to dry out with the two clipped together. Appreciate your thoughts.
If there is a breeze, condensation is rarely an issue. I have found when the air is still or if I camp in really cold conditions, there will be condensation at the top of the doors and on the roof of the tent, only on the outside of the fly sheet, it will dry very quickly. If it is cold with heavy rain, there will be more condensation on the fly sheet, never the inner. If this is the case I remove the inner tent, you can do this while still inside the tent sheltering from the rain. I will then pack inner separate from fly sheet which I will put in a dry back in mesh section outside backpack, will again dry pretty quick. I think the triple coated silicone is excellent for repelling water, but it is not breathable, and this contributes to any condensation issues. As a side note, I have never seen the fly sheet sag like I have seen in other tents I have owned … Hope this helps 👍 ATB 👍
@@evacoutdoors5867 35-40mph 9mm poles will flex but spring back into shape. I use the 10mm poles in stronger winds, frame remains more rigid. Tent is pretty robust, if wind moves more to rear of tent and fly is pegged right out for maximum ventilation then inside will ripple a little bit no issues 👍
Cracking tent use 10mm poles with mine bought them for my allak but they are the same length and very little weight difference...I would say its definitely a 3 season tent for me not strength wise but it's really drafty compared to Red or black label hillebergs which to be fair its designed to be
Thank you Dan I bought it for the interior living space and probably sacrificed some usable vestibule space as a result. It’s a very sturdy shelter which is very quick and easy to pitch , a palace for one 👍
😂😂😂 I’ll be back out and about next year… I’ll be taking my time and speaking a bit slower lol.. my accent isn’t the best, even half the folk from work need subtitles 😂😂😂 All the best for New Year ❤️
I bicycle tour and have the Staika Black labelfor extreme weather. With that said I am going to NZ and may find myself in chilly cold nights on South Island. With that said my Niak Yellow label arrived this week and I set it up but am concerned I might get too cold. I’ve considered returning it for the Soulo Red label. The downside is the Soulo is tight and two pounds heavier but can be easily regulated for heated nights. The Niak is beautiful! They all are!
I do enjoy the Niak, saying that, with the high cuts in the outer flysheet, and the large mesh door, it can be a bit draughty in there. Still a brilliant tent though. Enjoy NZ, ATB 💪
Using my Niak in the Swedish winter w/o snow no problem. My sleepsystem handles the cold. Only snow conditions make me switch to my Hilleberg Keron. You could also look at the Hilleberg Unna. Basically a 4-season Niak as roomy and same weight as Soulo. Plenty strong for most. Unclip a corner of the inner and get a vestibule plenty good for cooking. A bit less expensive then the Soulo aswell.
The Niak is considerably “roomier” than the Unna. 10cm shorter in length & 10cm wider results in the walls being much steeper. The Unna is a superb living space for one and tough as a pair of old boots but the Niak noticeably increases that space & feel without sacrificing too much strength - especially so with 10.25mm pole and 3mm guy line upgrades. The addition of the vestibule area also significantly increases the available living space and “roominess” feel of the Niak over the Unna.
It might be a bit tight. I’ve never had any issues in heavy rain. I did a local camp in high winter nd and heavy rain and the water just runs off the fly sheet. 👍