That main interior area further benefits from ample upper and lower vents while the darkened bedroom curtain helps with lie-ins and the separate porch area, complete with a removable groundsheet, is great for stashing gear.
#Airbeam inflatable tent windows
The use of two doors and six windows add to the overall impression of internal space and tall people will rejoice at the 290cm of head height.īetter still, the interior layout can be easily (and quietly) reconfigured using the magnetic close privacy screens to create inner zones. Hi-Gear pitch this as the first tipi-style airbeam tent to hit the UK market and it’s great for two people, or possibly three at a push.Ĭrucially here the use of airbeams does away with the need for a central pole, creating a truly open plan interior living and sleeping space complete with a sewn-in groundsheet and two cable access points. While it’s not supplied with a pump the recommended Quechua 5.2 litre double action pump only costs £19.99.īuy now £299.99, Decathlon Hi-Gear Lavvu Air Elite Tipi Tentīest for: airbeam tipi tent for campers & glampers Weighing 15kg it feels surprisingly robust, comes complete with a five-year warranty and stashes away nicely in its handy holdall. In case of rain that waterproof exterior will do a good job of repelling the droplets and you can simply raise the zipped floor at the entrance to keep out any encroaching water. Inside, the simple layout feels pleasantly roomy, the 6.5sqm living area blessed with an extra generous 1.9m high ceiling, and features some very welcome mosquito netting. Moreover, that Fresh & Black material provides decent blackout performance for the sleeping area – very welcome on those bright early summer mornings – while the UPF 50+ sun protection helps keep occupants cool, or ‘Fresh’, aided by the ample high and low vents. Indeed, Decathlon reckon it’ll deliver decent shelter in winds of up to 60 km/h. For starters, it’s got decent waterproof and windproof qualities. Sporting an elegant sand coloured, white-accented livery it answers some key asks at a keen price point. Great value active and outdoors chain Decathlon currently features nine inflatable airbeam tents but for my money this model, suitable for small families, couples or anyone else willing to snuggle up in that 280cm-wide sleeping space, offers the best bang for your buck. Ouch.īest for: airbeam tent for affordable family fun
Prices also vary markedly from affordable offerings from the like of Decathlon to hardy budget-busting options like the €5,499 Euro Mavericks from Heimplanet. That said, pioneers such as Alpkit do feature lighter, more compact offerings better suited to hikers and cycle tourers. It must be noted though that airbeam tents can be remarkably heavy and bulky – the saying ‘light as air’ having little muster here – making them best suited to car camping. Using a protective footprint under the tent is recommended. Plus, as it’s just the airbeams getting inflated, sharp objects on the ground aren’t such an issue although slow punctures do remain a long-term concern, not least with cheaper models. Well, rest assured readers, the latest breed of inflatable offerings are generally hardy beasts.
All this does raise some obvious questions, however, such as how hardy are they? Are they suitable for anything but the flattest, softest, grassiest of surfaces? And what if I spring a leak or get a slow puncture?
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