Inflatable Tents
Discussion
Just wondered if any one had used one before? I can't decide if it will actually save me time pitching or just be a gimmicky, useless, pain!
Here's the one I'm looking at: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-airgo-stratus-...
Here's the one I'm looking at: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-airgo-stratus-...
Edited by Nerve on Tuesday 20th May 15:25
We have got a Vango Airbeam. Eye-wateringly expensive for 'just a tent' but it is so much easier to put up than the old conventional one. It is a large six berth and assuming the weather isn't horrendously windy I would have no problem putting it up by myself. I have no concerns about its strength - it is excellent.
Single point of failure was the cheap pump so I bought another one to be on the safe side for about a tenner.
We have only used it a few times with no issues at all - I'm not completely sold on camping to be honest but I would recommend the tent.
Single point of failure was the cheap pump so I bought another one to be on the safe side for about a tenner.
We have only used it a few times with no issues at all - I'm not completely sold on camping to be honest but I would recommend the tent.
Vango/Outwell/Kampa etc air tents seemed to have a good reputation (which you pay for), not sure I'd trust HiGear but that may be my innate snobbery having seen their normal, poled brethren start to collapse in a decent blow. In fairness I should add that it tends to be new campers that buy HiGear, so their collapsing could be as much down to poor pitching/tensioning/positioning as the quality of tent.
But for that size of tent I'm not convinced there's that much to be gained over a poled tent - most tents of that size are straightforward and easy to erect, even with just one person. Paying extra for an inflatable system seems a little unnecessary unless there's disabilities involved? Personally I wouldn't consider one for anything smaller than a 5-6 man tent.
But for that size of tent I'm not convinced there's that much to be gained over a poled tent - most tents of that size are straightforward and easy to erect, even with just one person. Paying extra for an inflatable system seems a little unnecessary unless there's disabilities involved? Personally I wouldn't consider one for anything smaller than a 5-6 man tent.
We had an inflatable beam tent called an 'igloo' that came with and outer kabana tent back in 1974!
The igloo was brilliant. In a massive storm during the TT in about 1976, it was the only tent left standing. But it had been collapsed onto out faces during the high winds, then just popped back up!
Great idea, I reckon the old man still has it somewhere !
The igloo was brilliant. In a massive storm during the TT in about 1976, it was the only tent left standing. But it had been collapsed onto out faces during the high winds, then just popped back up!
Great idea, I reckon the old man still has it somewhere !
we saw quite a few of these on our European trip last summer, and I must say they looked fantastic.
http://www.campingtravelstore.co.uk/karstentents.h...
http://www.campingtravelstore.co.uk/karstentents.h...
s3fella said:
We had an inflatable beam tent called an 'igloo' that came with and outer kabana tent back in 1974!
The igloo was brilliant. In a massive storm during the TT in about 1976, it was the only tent left standing. But it had been collapsed onto out faces during the high winds, then just popped back up!
Great idea, I reckon the old man still has it somewhere !
I have still got my old mans one of these, look like a giant Jaffe orange, and still works very well!!The igloo was brilliant. In a massive storm during the TT in about 1976, it was the only tent left standing. But it had been collapsed onto out faces during the high winds, then just popped back up!
Great idea, I reckon the old man still has it somewhere !
Last year we bought an Outwell Wolf Lake 7. Absolutely massive tent but a pig to put up. Very heavy to get up once all the poles were threaded. We ended up returning it as it had several faults.
This year we went for an Outwell Smart Air Harrier XL. A bit smaller but (literally) a breeze to put up! We haven't been away in it yet, but we've had a couple of practice erections
So much easier to put up. Lay it out flat, peg out the corners and give it about five minutes on the pump, and up it goes! I wouldn't go back to a 'normal' tent again. It certainly wasn't cheap, but in my opinion it's well worth it.
This year we went for an Outwell Smart Air Harrier XL. A bit smaller but (literally) a breeze to put up! We haven't been away in it yet, but we've had a couple of practice erections
So much easier to put up. Lay it out flat, peg out the corners and give it about five minutes on the pump, and up it goes! I wouldn't go back to a 'normal' tent again. It certainly wasn't cheap, but in my opinion it's well worth it.We have an Outwell Hirnet XL that we used over the summer last year. Big enough to cope with a family of four and was put up in about 10 minutes (including pegging, groundsheet etc)
Only issue I had was that the pump is a bad design and left me with 2" blisters on my hands
so will use gloves next time
Only issue I had was that the pump is a bad design and left me with 2" blisters on my hands
so will use gloves next time Inflatable tents are relatively pain free as long as you buy a cigarette lighter compressor for pumping them up. You can be sipping wine as the tent goes up effort free instead of fiddling with complicated poles putting up a fight. I go camping in my Scoobie and the only thing is the tent bag is a bit bigger than poles but Id say worth it for the ease of putting the thing up.
flatso said:
Does any body know what this is? Especially the part that unites the Campervan to the tent (it looks inflatable)
You can see the poles holding the tent up this is a Vango Kella it has the Airbeams and is a great awning http://www.vango.co.uk/gb/drive-away/329-kela-ii-s...Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff