When I was in elementary school, there was an empty lot behind our house where my friends and I built a secret base.

We dug a hole with a shovel, covered it with a vinyl sheet, and propped up the inside with dry branches. Our semi-underground secret base, covered with cloth like an air-raid shelter, was great for keeping an eye out for intruders and was really cozy. I was so thrilled that I couldn’t help but brag to my family, who were supposed to be the “intruders.” In other words… it wasn’t much of a secret base.

So, how do you blend a secret base-like space with functionality that makes man-powered travel feel effortless? That was the theme for this development. It wasn’t just about making it comfortable, but also lightweight, compact, and easy to use—key requirements for the NINJA series.

Our first trial was to attach triangular fabric to both sides of the NINJA TARP. Since this tarp is very easy to set up, we aimed to achieve the same principle for setup. We first tested it at the OMM race in Nagano in 2016 and encountered an issue with tension loss due to condensation. We found that with nylon fabric, humidity changes caused the threads to stretch, making the tension on the fabric uneven. This wasn’t an issue with tarps or dome tents, but it was a problem for floorless shelters. We solved this by switching to polyester fabric.

The bigger challenge was the height adjustment mechanism. For solo hikes or bikepacking, a lower ceiling is preferable, while for a style with cots or chairs, a higher ceiling is better. We wondered if it was possible to easily adjust the height with just poles and guy lines—without compromising the style.

After testing with CAD, scale models, and full-size prototypes, we arrived at a simple solution: design the main body with a low ceiling height and add a skirt to the bottom. This design not only allows for height adjustment but also makes it easy to manage insulation and ventilation, with adjustments that can be made from inside the tent once you get used to it. The skirt’s effectiveness was immense and worked well in various situations throughout the seasons. Plus, it pairs perfectly with the NINJA NEST. At 1150g, it’s lightweight enough to bring along for most adventures.

The result is the NINJA SHELTER. Its interior space feels just like the secret base I built as a kid. The simplicity of being made from just fabric and poles, combined with the right amount of darkness, makes it incredibly comfortable. Being inside, you feel calm and free. It’s a tent that can be used as a base camp for outdoor activities, for party camping with 2-3 people, or for stealthy camping in the woods. Just remember to let your family know your destination.

Because it’s always better when both the gear and the secrets are kept light!

Let’s pack and go!

Tetsu Saito, Designer
PAAGOWORKS
Nov. 20, 2020