Article by Markus Zinkl
Samaya Opti 1.5 (€800.00)
Introduction
Samaya Equipment, established in 2018, has quickly risen to prominence with its commitment to revolutionizing the lightweight four-season tent. Based in Annecy, Samaya designs its products with the demanding practice of alpinism in mind, adhering to the philosophy that gear capable of the most demanding conditions can certainly handle the least. The brand’s DNA is steeped in excellence and innovation, with each product undergoing rigorous testing in Chamonix and the Himalayas before reaching the market.
Samaya’s tents are a blend of technical prowess and ultralight materials, designed to meet the extreme conditions of high-altitude and polar expeditions. The company’s dedication to creating tools that are not only functional but also intuitive and performance-driven is evident in their meticulous attention to detail. Samaya’s vision reflects simplicity and authenticity, aiming to provide exceptional moments in nature through their technically sophisticated products.
As we delve into the details of this tent, we’ll explore how it stands up to Samaya’s promise of lightweight durability and technical innovation. Stay tuned for an in-depth review that will cover every aspect of this tent’s capabilities, from its technical specifications to its real-world performance.
Technical Specification
Waterproofness/Breathability
Floor waterproofness: 20,000 mm
Wall waterproofness: 10,000 mm
Breathability: 40,000 g/m²/24h
Capacity/Weight
Official weight: 700 g (24,7 oz)
Tent w/ stuff sack: 626 g (22 oz)
Tent pegs: 42 g (1,5 oz)
Additional guy lines: 11 g (0,4 oz)
Tent w/ pegs and guy lines: 679g (23,9 oz)
Capacity: 1 or 2 persons
Dimensions
Floor dimensions: 2,200 mm x 1,100 mm (86.6 in x 43.3 in)
Chamber area: 2.5 m² (27 sq. ft.)
Total area: 3.2 m² (34 sq. ft.)
Height: 1,100 mm (43.3 in)
Chamber interior volume: 1.4 m³ (49 cu. ft.)
Total interior volume: 1.9 m³ (67 cu. ft.)
Packed size: ø 145 mm x 200 mm (5.71 in x 7.87 in)
Packed volume: 3.2 L (195 cu. in)
Materials
Floor fabric: Dyneema® Composite Fabric 34 g/m²
Wall fabric: 3-layer laminated fabric - Nanovent® membrane
Vestibule fabric: Dyneema® Composite Fabric 18 g/m²
Front door: Aquaguard® YKK® adjustable water-repellent zip
Floor corners: Cordura® and Dyneema® reinforcement
Pegs Swiss Piranha BF90 (x8) & BF120 (x3)
Guylines : Dyneema® core, adjustable and reflective (x4)
Features
The Samaya Opti features a single-wall construction that simplifies setup and reduces weight.
The porch mode pitch option is a versatile addition for those who enjoy a protected space in front of the tent. However, it requires two additional trekking poles.
An inside storage pocket keeps essentials within reach and helps to organize your gear. The bug-net mesh door ensures a bug-free night’s sleep.
The Dyneema® door can be rolled up and secured with two toggles at the top.
The bug-net door can be attached at the bottom with the same kind of toggles.
Setup
The setup process is straightforward:
Stake out corners loosely to outline the tent’s footprint.
Insert poles, handle up, into the grommets, ensuring a slight outward angle for stability. Tighten both pole guy lines equally for a taut pitch.
Stake out the two front door guylines and the back guyline for additional support.
Tighten all guy lines for a secure setup. The optional porch mode requires additional poles and guy lines but offers an expanded living area.
Insert the pole tips into the loops at the corners of the door, add the additional guy lines and stake them out
Performance
The Nanovent® membrane has truly set a new benchmark in condensation control within single-wall tents. My experiences with DCF, Sil-Nylon, or Sil-Poly tents have always involved some degree of moisture build-up, but this tent’s membrane technology has kept the interior remarkably dry.
Even during nights when the air was thick with humidity, the inside of the tent remained almost free of condensation. Nanovent® consists of a three-layer fabric that concentrates in its core structure a nano-porous electrospun membrane like an extremely fine spider web.
The polymer is stretched into a filament by means of an electrostatic field and randomly projected onto a surface. This electrospinning production process produces nonporous membranes with a more precise and finer result compared to conventional microporous or monolithic membranes. This provides the ability to protect against all types of weather while evacuating excess water vapor and CO2 through the wall and allowing for air renewal inside the tent.
In windy conditions, the tent has proven to be exceptionally sturdy. The Dyneema® core guy lines are not only reflective, making them easy to spot in the dark, but their strength and adjustability contribute to the tent’s stability. The Cordura® and Dyneema® reinforcements at the floor corners are strategic, ensuring that high-stress points are robust against the elements.
The setup process is intuitive, although requiring a minimum of 9 tent stakes. The tent stakes out quickly, and trekking poles—when inserted handle up and angled slightly outward—provide a solid frame for the tent. Achieving a taut pitch is straightforward, just make sure to tension the pole guy lines equally.
The compact footprint is a significant advantage, especially in environments where space is at a premium. In alpine areas, where finding a flat spot can be a challenge, the tent’s smaller ground area allows for more pitching options.
The porch mode is an innovative feature that, with the addition of extra poles and guylines, offers an extended vestibule for gear storage or cooking, enhancing the tent’s functionality. If you are using this tent, like me, as a solo shelter, this option probably won’t be applicable for you.
The included Swiss Piranha BF90 and BF120 stakes are ultralight and perform well in soft ground. However, in rocky or hard-packed soil, they are not sturdy enough to get them in the ground. For those conditions, I recommend upgrading to more robust stakes, such as the MSR Groundhog stakes, which offer better versatility and reliability.
The steep walls at the head and foot ends are a thoughtful design choice, preventing the sleeping bag or quilt from making contact with the walls.
The interior space is generous for gear storage, allowing for an organized and comfortable living area. However, the A-frame geometry does limit headroom, which might be a concern for taller individuals or those who prefer more headroom. For me personally it was not really an issue, I put my sleeping pad in the middle of the tent, so when sitting up I had enough room.
The adjustable water-repellent zip on the front door is effective in keeping out moisture, but due to the door’s design, there is a risk of water entering the tent when exiting during rain. Additionally, the door toggles at the top of the tent have a tendency to catch on the bug mesh door, which can be a minor annoyance.
Samaya also markets the tent as a 2-person option. For me, this would only apply to exceptions. For general 2-person-use, the headroom is too narrow.
While the floor width allows two standard wide pads, if you have a wide pad two pads will not fit. Furthermore, for a 2-person tent, I would always recommend a door at each side, so that each person can get in and out of the tent without needing to climb over each other.
Conclusion
For the ultralight backpacker seeking a reliable, high-performance shelter that doesn’t compromise on comfort or convenience, this tent is a compelling option. It’s a product that not only meets the demands of the trail but also inspires confidence in the face of nature’s unpredictability. Whether for a weekend getaway or a lengthy thru-hike, this tent is poised to be an indispensable companion for many adventures to come.
Available at Samaya Equipment
The products that are the basis of this test were provided to us free of charge by Samaya Equipment. The opinions presented are our own.
Tester Profile
Markus Zinkl: I’m 34 years old and live in a small village in Bavaria, Germany. I started hiking and backpacking 5-6 years ago. Coming from trail running and with light and fast in mind, I started hiking and fast packing with ultralight gear. Over the years I tried and tested a lot of gear, always in search of weight savings. Although still trying to stay out of the ultralight rabbit hole. I spend most of my days off from work on the trail, with at least one 2-3 week thru-hike. Among the more well known trails I have hiked over the last few years are the GR221, WHR (Walker’s Haute Route), TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc), TC (Tour du Cervin-Matterhorn) and Via Alpina Switzerland. As you probably notice by now, I’m at home in the mountains. So if I’m not running or thru-hiking a longer trail, I’m probably somewhere in the Alps checking out some shorter trails.
SEE ALSO OUR VIDEO TEST REPORTS ON THE ROADTRAILRUN YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
You can read the running biographies of all the RTR testers here.
We welcome comments and questions in the comments section.
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