While I wait for my MLD Trailstar to be built, I'm looking into lightweight bathtub floors and inner nets. Sean at Oookworks suggested I took a look at Chikara ripstop nylon as a lighter alternative to his standard 30D PU nylon.

Blogger Zed seems pretty happy with the condensation management from his Chikara-floored OookStar, but I thought I'd ask here if anyone else has experience with this material from a weight and robustness perspective. I'm more likely to be pitching this over dirt, tree roots and rocks than I am soggy grass.

The only other thread I've found is Chikara Nylon?. It didn't get much of a response when it was posted last summer.

Edited by lotuseater on 03/14/2012 10:56:10 MDT.

"Chikara" means "strength" in Japanese, so I wonder if it stronger than most such fabrics...

I just ordered a Chikara-floored Ooknest inner for my Duomid. While I don't have any experience with the fabric, it does seem to be a popular Ooknest floor fabric option. Robin over at blogpackinglight has ordered a Chikara-floored Ooknest inner for his Duo.

Edited by hankinsohl on 03/14/2012 12:29:00 MDT.

Thanks for your comments and pointer, David. Seems like Blogger Zed has been too ill to use his OookStar, and Robin at blogpackinglight is still waiting for his to be delivered.

I exchanged a couple of emails with Sean at OookWorks and his comment about the 'crinkliness' of the material was that it's quieter than spinnaker, and in use it shouldn't be noticeable once a sleeping pad is placed on it. Verification from an owner would be great, as would be comments on how durable the material is.

Any update on your experience with the fabric?

I've only been out once for 3 days in my OookWorks inner with the Chikara floor. The black Chikara fabric seems to me to be similar to silnylon.

It was a bit a saga, getting my OookStar. I placed an order on May 1st, and Sean surprised me by shipping it three weeks ahead of schedule, in late May. However it never arrived. Sean made up another one for me at no charge (kudos to him for that), and I received it a few weeks ago. I've since been too busy to take it out, and my next scheduled trip isn't till the end of September.

I do have a little experience with Chikara to report, however. I also ordered an OookTub made of the material, and I received it in time for a June trip. It's somewhat lighter than silnylon, packs up nicely, and doesn't feel clammy to the touch. I can't really comment whether it's less slippery than silnylon though, as the OookTub is almost the same width as my Synmat UL7 LW, and the bathtub walls kept the pad in place.

Sean's craftsmanship is excellent, and his designs are well thought through. The carbon struts in the corners of the bathtub floor really help it to keep its shape and keep the slop out.