If you’re thinking about buying the Naturehike Vik 1, you’re in good company. This popular little tent has lots to offer, but there are a few things that you should know before you go ahead with the purchase.
This review will tell you everything you need to know about the Naturehike Vik 1, so you can be sure you are making the best decision for your camping needs.
Naturehike Vik 1 Review
Who Is the Vik 1 For?
The Naturehike Vik 1 is perfect for a solo wild camper or thru-hiker looking for an affordable and reliable tent to bring along on lightweight camping adventures.
It can be easily put up in 5 minutes, so it’s the right tent for an active person who spends the daylight hours hiking and wants a no-fuss shelter to collapse into at the end of the day.
The Vik 1 is suitable for a beginner or intermediate camper who wants to stay warm and dry in the occasional rainstorm. However, it wouldn’t be ideal for extreme cold weather camping.
Design, Material, & Performance
The Naturehike Vik 1 is a 1-person backpacking tent with a small vestibule in which to keep your kit safe and dry outside of the sleeping area.
The tent is single-layered, making it just 2.34 pounds. You will have enough space to sit up in the Vik 1, but not to stand.
Waterproofing
The 15D nylon rainfly is silicon-coated, with a waterproof index of 2000mm. The inner tent has a waterproof index of 4000mm, while the oxford cloth floor is coated to 3000mm.
This means the tent will keep you dry in heavy, prolonged rainfall if you set it up properly. It must be staked out nice and taut to prevent moisture from coming in, and you should open the skylight whenever possible to reduce condensation.
Poles
The Vik 1 tent poles are made from high-strength aluminum alloy. This makes them both light and robust. They will last much longer than the carbon fiber alternatives that some lightweight tents use.
Cold Weather Performance
The Naturehike Vik 1 describes itself as a 4 season tent and comes with a snow skirt.
However, we do not recommend it for extreme cold weather camping. The structure is not well designed for extreme conditions and could collapse under the weight of a heavy snowfall.
What’s more, ventilation is not as good in a lightweight single-layer tent like this, so you may experience a build-up of condensation in cold months.
Comfort
With a length of 210 centimeters (6 feet 10 inches), most people should sleep comfortably in the Vik 1.
With the help of your walking poles, the vestibule can also be set up as a little tarp, giving you a small outdoor area in which to shelter from the rain or sun.
The tent fly is 50+ UV protected, so it will protect you in the summer just as much as in the rainy months.
Portability
The Naturehike Vik 1 is a brilliant little tent to hit the trails with. At 2.34 pounds without the optional snow skirt, it is light for the price. You can put it up in less than 5 minutes, and the packaged size is just 18 inches x 6 inches x 6 inches.
For the quality and price, these dimensions are impressive.
Durability
All in all, this is a reliable and durable tent that stays secure and dry in wet and windy conditions. It does not respond well to heavy snowfall, so try to avoid using it for cold weather camping.
Pros:
- Built-in magnets to protect zippers from rain
- Great value
- Lightweight
- Waterproof (seam-taped rainfly)
- Inner storage pockets for mobile phones
- Vestibule to protect kit (doubles as tarp with walking poles)
- Comes with a free tent footprint
- Strong aluminum poles
- Skylight window for ventilation
- Sun protection UV 50+
- Freestanding
Cons:
- Single layer tends to hold more condensation
- Doesn’t perform very well in winter
What Do Users Think & Say About This Tent?
Although we haven’t had the opportunity to camp in this tent, we have thoroughly researched it using a wide range of sources and our expertise.
They were overwhelmingly positive, with the vast majority of users calling the Vik 1 an excellent value and reporting that it stayed dry in heavy rainfall and 40mph winds.
The only review that complained about water entering the tent was from a user whose rainfly zip broke on the camping trip.
Some users mentioned condensation in the colder months, but this is normal in a single-wall tent.
The overall consensus is hugely positive. People particularly like the small magnets sewn into the door, which give extra rain protection to the zipper.
What We Love About The Naturehike Vik 1
We love this tent’s portability and affordability, and we are seriously impressed with how easy and quick it is to set up.
The small details, like magnets sewn into the door and the fact that you can set up the vestibule as a tarp, show that a great deal of thought and attention went into the design process.
What We Don’t Like
We don’t like the fact that this tent is advertised as a 4 season tent, as it could lead people to camp in unsafe or inappropriate conditions. It may come with a snow skirt, but we recommend that you avoid using the Vik 1 during snowfall.
Alternatives
If you’re looking for a similar quality tent with a bit more room, you may want to consider the Naturehike Opalus Backpacking Tent. This double-layer, 3-person tent weighs 6.5 pounds, so it is suitable for backpacking if you distribute the tent between packs.
There is a large vestibule to keep everyone's kit or bicycles safe and dry, and the waterproofing index is an impressive 4000mm for the rainfly and floor (green version).
Although it claims to be a three-person tent, the Opalus would be much more comfortable for a couple of people sharing, or perhaps a couple with a young child.
Click here to read our in-depth review of the Naturehike Opalus Backpacking Tent.
Final Thoughts
The Naturehike Vik 1 is an affordable, lightweight, and reliable backpacking tent. The quality is exceptional for the price, and the user reviews are overwhelmingly positive.
The Vik 1 is suitable for a wide range of conditions, and the freestanding design means you can set it up on rocky terrain.
However, we doubt that the tent is really as appropriate for 4 seasons as the manufacturers claim it to be. The specifications indicate that it wouldn’t be a wise choice for winter camping.
We hope you found this tent review of the Naturehike Vik 1 useful, and we wish you many happy camping adventures!
More tent reviews from Naturehike:
About the author
Rachel is a freelance adventure writer and founder of Highly Sensitive Nomad. When she isn’t writing, she can be found wild camping in the mountains and swimming in the lakes of Europe.
