Chris Townsend reviews the Hilleberg Niak as part of his tests of the best one-person tents for backpacking.
The Niak is in Hilleberg’s Yellow label series, designed for three-season use. Even so, it’s probably the most suitable tent reviewed for severe weather. The flysheet has a high hydrostatic head, the groundsheet a phenomenal 12,000mm one, ten times that of some of the groundsheets in other tents.
- Price: £920 (buy from Hilleberg)
- Weight: 1650g
- Pros: roomy, stable, porch
- Cons: not that light, expensive
Flysheet: Kerlon 1000 silicone ripstop nylon, 5000mm HH | Inner: 20D ripstop nylon | Groundsheet: 50D PU nylon, 12000mm HH | Poles: 9mm DAC Featherlite | Pegs: 9 x 16cm V | Porches: x 1, 65cm deep | Inner Dimensions: 220cm x 120cm, 100cm high point
In design, the Hilleberg Niak is a two-pole dome that opens along one side. It goes up as a unit and pitching is quick and easy. It only requires one peg, for the vestibule, to stand but it’s obviously wise to peg out the corners and guylines.
The flysheet is raised slightly at each end and the inner door is mesh for ventilation, which is why this isn’t a tent for use in blizzards – snow could blow in. In strong winds, the Hilleberg Niak flexes a little but isn’t noisy and feels secure.
Hilleberg describes the Niak as a hybrid between a solo and two-person tent. There is room for two, but one person has no access to the door or vestibule without climbing over the other. For one it’s very roomy with space for your pack and gear inside. Headroom is good too and steeply angled walls means it’s still quite high at the ends. The porch is big enough for footwear and any wet gear and for careful cooking.
As usual with Hilleberg the Niak is beautifully made. This is a lovely tent. It needs to be, as the price is very high. It should prove very durable though. The weight is quite high too, but for that you get masses of space.
If weight isn’t significant and cost no object and you want a comfortable roomy tent that could sleep two at times, or perhaps an adult and a child or a dog then the Niak would be a great choice.
To read the other tent reviews in this test head to The Great Outdoors‘ best one-person backpacking tents.
Tested by Chris Townsend
Chris tested these tents in the Scottish Highlands, mostly the Cairngorms, over autumn 2021 and winter 2022. Sites were both high and low level and at times the tents were subjected to more severe weather than they are designed for. Note: weights are for the tent complete with stuffsacks.
This review first appeared in the May 2022 issue of The Great Outdoors.
