Thanks Guys! Sorry, been a little tardy as we were finishing up with our elk season
Solid review with good photos showing the features.
Mike one thing I’d be curious to hear is when you are/are not grabbing the Niak? Kind of the same question on single-wall shelters. Is it more of a strength thing or a moisture management thing for you? For summer time single walls are awesome - but anything shoulder season where there’s moisture (and high condensation potential) it seems tough to get away from double wall protection.
If the weather is going to on the fair side (much of the summer, early fall) I'll use one of my Tarptents- they are both dcf construction and are crazy light 18 oz for the solo one (Aeon Li) and the two person - 32 oz (Stratosphere Li). Both save weight by using trekking poles for their setup. Both have done pretty well in rough conditions, but if I'm anticipating really rough conditions or it's a long trip where forecasts often change, I'll bring the Niak.
Single wall shelters w/ moisture can be problematic, not that you can't get condensation w/ a double wall, but they simply do a lot better. I had a four season single wall tent (black Diamond Firstlight) and in the dead of winter w/ low humidity (which was usually the case in the middle of the winter) it did fine. It wasn't uber light at 3.5 lbs and had no vestibule. With the additional vestibule, it weighed more than the Niak. It's also a front opening tent, vs side like the Niak, which is a bit of pain getting in and out.
The fact that I can use the Niak year round and imo more bomber, convinced me to sell the Firstlight.
@mtwarden is there a time you would use a floorless shelter in similar conditions or is there a list of reasons you would not? I assume condensation would be one, but I need some education on the topic overall.
I'll use a floorless shelter when I want my stove- cold, wet crappy weather where the ability to dry clothing is a top priority. It's a MSR Front Range that a buddy of mine sewed in a stove jack. It's reasonably light for a four person tent (two w/ the stove). When I use it I almost always are hunting (or snowshoeing/skiing) w/ a mother person and we can dive up the tent parts and stove equally. Wouldn't be overly excited to pack both myself.
There are condensation concerns w/ a single wall, floorless tent, but used w/ a stove it's not much of an issue (raising the sides off the ground also improves condensation management).
While this tent is relatively bomber, I wouldn't put in the same category as the Niak for handling rough weather. Pyramid tents also take up a lot of real estate. In the Brooks Range (and elsewhere) real estate is often at a premium and smaller/free standing shelter simply takes a lot less room. And while not s huge thing, the setup time w/ the Niak is a lot quicker- very welcome when rolling into camp at night or in crappy weather.
