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 👍
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
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 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
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
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 ❤️
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 …
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 know I'm very late to this video but does anyone have tips on cooking in this tent in the rain. It's the one thing I really hate about it; no "usable" porch, i.e. one where you can have a door open in the rain. I don't like cooking inside a tent with the doors closed (it's dangerous and will cause massive condensation) and all the other tents I've owned have a porch where you can open a door and put the stove outside without the tent inner getting rained on. But in this one, the porch door is angled so that as soon as you open it, the inner is exposed to the rain. You can open only the bottom half the door, but then the open part is too far to reach to (to fiddle with the stove) from inside the tent. Am I missing something?
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
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 👍
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 👍
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.
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
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 👍
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 👍
😂😂😂 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 ❤️
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 👍
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. 👍
Brilliant review, thanks for taking the time to do this. I'm very tempted to buy this for it's space to go with my Soulo RL.
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. 👍🏼
Thank you Lee, yes it really is a great tent, love it 👍
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.
Nice one Sean. Really good overview of a really excellent tent. Thanks for posting. ATB, Andy.
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… 👍
Just watched this video again. You mention the door with the flap being into the wind. Once again, great review!
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 👍
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
Quite simply it’s the best tent I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned a lot. Got mine in 2019 for £600.
It really is a brilliant shelter 👍
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 👍
Many thanks for a great review 👍 As the lying down bit didn’t get caught on camera, would you recommend it for a 6ft 3” well built bloke? Cheers….
I’m 6’ exact, I have room top and bottom, the steep walls help 👍
@@scotsnomad7395 many thanks 👍
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
Always nice to have wee whisky when doing an overnighter 🥃
I really enjoy the extra space in the Niak, back out this weekend 👍
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
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 ❤️
Thanks a lot… enjoyed your review!
Thank you 👍
Nice one mate , a good review . I dont have the Niak but i have a few other hillebergs ..the best tents out there ..cheers Stevie
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 …
I made an 18 inch high ripstop curtain to Velcro across the bottom of the mesh door if required weight just a few grams. 😊
Nice idea mate, I never found the tent too draughty, but it makes sense on the windier nights, might try that when I’m back out in the new year…
ATB👍
Thanks. Enjoyed that. Cracking tent for sure. Liked the changes and options you explained. Atb gordon
Thank you Gordon… palatial for a solo camper 👍
@@scotsnomad7395 aye, as you showed, the two mats is impressive space
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 know I'm very late to this video but does anyone have tips on cooking in this tent in the rain. It's the one thing I really hate about it; no "usable" porch, i.e. one where you can have a door open in the rain. I don't like cooking inside a tent with the doors closed (it's dangerous and will cause massive condensation) and all the other tents I've owned have a porch where you can open a door and put the stove outside without the tent inner getting rained on. But in this one, the porch door is angled so that as soon as you open it, the inner is exposed to the rain. You can open only the bottom half the door, but then the open part is too far to reach to (to fiddle with the stove) from inside the tent. Am I missing something?
Have you used it in winter with snow and winds? Good video. Thanks
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
@@scotsnomad7395 oh yea are the 10mm poles from the staika or do they do them specific for the niak
Allak poles will fit the Niak 👍
@@scotsnomad7395 thanks 👍
Cool video and brilliant tent, but then I checked the price - not for my pocket yet 😀
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 👍
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 👍
Really nice setup mate. Subbed your channel.
Thank you Dougie, much appreciated 👍
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.
Great video,thank you so 👍👍
Thank you Ian, glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully back in action soon so more active on the channel again… thanks again for the kind words 👍
It would be nice if you could give a rough indication of the cost of the tent even for the additional 10mm poles. Otherwise a useful informative vlog.
On point 👍
I’m planning to do a short summary on one of my next outings, I’ll add those in there, thanks for the suggestions 👍
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
True
It’s definitely colder in there on the colder nights, you definitely feel the droughts … I like the 10mm poles on the tent , feels more robust 👍
hello, down to what temperature would you recommend this tent? tomek
I’ve had it out in maybe -2 or -3 centigrade, as long as sleep system is warm enough for you,it’s fine. It seems to be draughty in strong winds …
@@scotsnomad7395 thanks for the answer Sean
👍
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.
Is the thumbs up, a correct? They suffer a lot from condensation?
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 👍
Awesome many thanks 👍🏻
How does it cope in the wind? How much wind have you tested it in? Thanks again
@@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 👍
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 👍
Arrrra yyyuu Sscottissh🙏
Top tip , tie line to sac
Aye , it’s saved me a couple of times now, that thing can turn into a kite if you’re not careful… 👍
Thank you!
ThAT HEAD ROOM IS REALLY GOOD
Yep, I’m bang on 6’ and love being able to sit up and miss e about comfortably 👍
I can sort of understand what he's saying, but I'm limited to English.
Apologies, I have a strong regional broken accent 😂
Top tip, tie to sac
Scot dialect rocks
Brilliant lol 👍😂
Love the accent but there were a few times I was thinking to myself "I have NO idea what you just said..." 🤣👍
😂😂😂
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 ❤️
Tidy review that. It's not a Hilleberg tent I've encountered in person but looks decent
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 👍
3 years ago I paid £820, now its about £920!
Brilliant review. Just stumbled on the channel looking for reviews on this tent ! Looks a cracker 🇮🇪🇮🇪👌
I really do like the Niak, looking forward to putting it through its paces more this year 💪
I don’t understand a word…. 🙃
ThAT HEAD ROOM IS REALLY GOOD
Cheers, yeah , a palace for one, being able to sit up straight and move freely is a godsend 👍
I am 6 foot but my sleeping bag is 6.6 feet will it fit .. also i watched a guy in usa and it leaked do you have any issues in heavy rain
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. 👍
@@scotsnomad7395 good to know thanks