The Tiger Sabre 28 mm Log Cabin is one of the most interesting models in Tiger’s thinner-walled range — a compact, tidy apex-roof garden building with a distinctly “room-like” feel. Of all the 28 mm cabins Tiger offers, only one (the Persian) was on display during our most recent 2025 visits to Horsforth, Tong and Otley. This matters because the Sabre is structurally identical to the Persian: same wall thickness, same interlocking system, same floor and roof specification, same joinery, same glazing, same overall massing.

The differences are purely in the front configuration:

• Sabre = single half-glazed door + two matching opening windows
• Persian = double doors

Because of this, when we talk about performance — lux levels, dB insulation, moisture content, floor sag, wall deflection — everything we measured on the Persian translates directly to the Sabre.

And that gives us an unusually high degree of certainty when reviewing it.

Design & First Impressions

The Sabre is arguably the most “room-like” cabin in Tiger’s 28 mm lineup. The single joiner-made glazed door sits centrally, flanked by two matching opening windows, both using the same 3 mm toughened glazing and joinery quality found across the 44 mm range.

From the front, it looks more like a compact garden office or hobby room than a summerhouse. The proportions are symmetrical, tidy and mature. The apex roof keeps the silhouette traditional, while the glazing keeps the interior light and usable.

The Sabre is available in multiple footprints, from 12×8 up to 14×14, with ridge heights ranging from 2623 mm to 2932 mm and internal eaves heights at a generous 2126 mm across all sizes .

These aren’t cramped or squat buildings. Even in the 12×8, the Sabre has a comfortable internal feel.

Build Quality & Construction

Despite sitting in the thinner-walled 28 mm category, the Sabre uses many of the same components as Tiger’s heavier cabins:

28 mm Interlocking Walls

• Single-notch interlocking logs
• 28 mm thickness
• Smooth machining
• Tight tolerances
• FSC® certified European softwood

The key structural distinction is that the Sabre uses a single tongue-and-groove profile, rather than the double tongue-and-groove used in the 44 mm range. This matters for rigidity, which we’ll explore later.

19 mm Tongue-and-Groove Floor & Roof

This is where the Sabre punches above its weight. The datasheet confirms:

• 19 mm floorboards
• 19 mm roofboards
• Heavy-duty tanalised 58 × 44 mm bearers

These are identical to the components used in Tiger’s 44 mm cabins. In practice, this means the Sabre has:

• A floor that doesn’t flex
• A roof that doesn’t drum or warp
• Load-bearing capacity far beyond typical summerhouse spec

Joiner-Made Windows & Doors

The Sabre includes:

• A joiner-made half-glazed single door
• Two joiner-made opening windows
• 5-lever mortice lock
• Brushed chrome handles
• Proper architraves inside and out

This is unusually high-grade joinery for a 28 mm cabin. Most manufacturers downgrade windows on thinner buildings to save cost — Tiger don’t.

Light, Usability & Interior Atmosphere

Because the Sabre’s front elevation contains three glazed units (door + two windows), the natural light is very good for a cabin of this thickness.

Based on our measured readings inside the Persian:

• Exterior (overcast): ~1400 lux
• Interior (centre of cabin): ~310 lux

This gives a ~22% light transfer, which is typical for 28 mm wall construction, and more than enough for reading, hobby work, writing or occasional laptop use.

The Sabre’s configuration actually improves on this slightly because the central door splits the glazing more evenly, reducing directional shadowing. In real-world use the cabin feels bright, warm and functional.

Acoustic Performance (dB Reduction)

Our decibel tests on the Persian — which uses the same wall system — showed:

• Approx. 10 dB reduction

This isn’t soundproofing. It’s not meant to be.
But it is enough to dull outside noise such as conversations, birds, light traffic or lawnmowers.

It gives the Sabre a gentle, buffered internal acoustic that feels calmer than being outdoors.

Moisture Content Observations

During winter inspections, we often find:

• 28 mm logs: ~14–15% moisture
• 44 mm logs: ~12–14% moisture

This is perfectly normal and is explained by:

• The thinner profile equilibrates faster
• Air temperature changes affect it more quickly

Nothing here is problematic. It simply means:

• You should treat the cabin immediately after assembly
• Expect seasonal expansion/contraction as described in the assembly manual’s timber behaviour section

We’ve never seen a Sabre or Persian with wood movement severe enough to cause structural issues.

Floor Sag Testing (Empirical Measurement)

This is where the Sabre excels.

Using our standard test:

• Place 75 kg weight in centre
• Measure with laser

We recorded:

• ~2.3 mm deflection

This is virtually identical to Tiger’s 44 mm cabins. It is exceptionally stable for a 28 mm building.

When we physically jumped in the Persian, the floor didn’t creak, shift or squeak. It felt more like a garden room than a summerhouse.

This strength comes from the:

• 19 mm floor
• Heavy bearers
• Tight spacing
• High-quality machining

It’s one of Tiger’s biggest structural advantages in the 28 mm class.

Wall Flex Testing: The One Weakness of 28 mm Cabins

This is where the Sabre behaves exactly like the Persian.

In our 75 kg wall-lean test:

• 4.0 mm deflection on the large rear wall
• Noticeably more movement than the 44 mm range
• Fully safe, but perceptible

This is entirely expected due to:

• 28 mm thickness
• Single tongue-and-groove
• Longer uninterrupted spans in larger Sabre sizes

The Bigger the Cabin, The Bigger the Flex

Sabre sizes range up to 14×14:

• These large spans are not ideal for 28 mm
• In 14 ft widths, wall movement becomes more perceptible
• Smaller sizes (12×8, 12×10, 14×8) feel significantly more rigid

This is the key structural trade-off.

Rule of Thumb

• Small/Medium Sabre → 28 mm is perfectly fine
• Large Sabre (14×12 or 14×14) → strongly consider the 44 mm version

The difference in wall feel between 28 mm and 44 mm is night-and-day.

Intended Use & Practical Reality

The Sabre makes the most sense as:

• A light summer room
• A small hobby room
• A garden retreat
• A light-use office (spring–autumn)
• A space to read, sit, unwind, or store light items

The single door gives it a more residential, room-like feel than a workshop cabin.
The two windows let in more than enough light for occasional laptop work or quiet hobbies.
The strong floor makes it feel premium.

But the thin walls mean:

• It won’t retain heat in winter
• It has audible flex under hand pressure
• It’s not suitable for heavy tool storage or machinery
• Larger footprints benefit massively from upgrading to 44 mm

If you want a proper office, gym, workshop, or all-year building, the 44 mm Sabre is the right choice.

Sabre vs 44 mm Equivalent – Our Expert Recommendation

Choose 28 mm Sabre if:

• You’re buying a small/medium size (12×8, 12×10, 14×8)
• You want great value
• You’re using it mainly between April–September
• You want something light, bright, tidy and simple

Choose 44 mm Sabre if:

• You want any large size (14×12 or 14×14)
• You want near-zero wall movement
• You want to insulate or heat it
• You want a year-round office or hobby room
• You dislike wall flex when leaning

Final Verdict

The Tiger Sabre 28 mm Log Cabin is a tidy, well-made, great-value garden room with excellent joinery, a rock-solid floor, a bright front elevation, and a calm, pleasant interior atmosphere.

Its only real limitation — as with all 28 mm cabins — is wall rigidity on larger spans. For smaller footprints, the Sabre feels reassuringly solid; for larger ones, the 44 mm upgrade is transformative.

But taken for what it is — a simple, attractive, spring-summer cabin — the Sabre is one of the strongest 28 mm models you can buy. It doesn’t pretend to be an all-year building, and it shouldn’t be judged as one. Instead, it excels as a light, manageable, reliable garden room with exceptional value and solid construction where it matters most.

A clean, honest, well-engineered cabin — and an excellent choice in the right footprint.