Choosing a camping tent is one of the main tasks you should decide before going on a camping or hiking trip. The market today is teeming with an abundance of enticing options to choose from. Depending on the season, the number of people, and the purpose of the tent, you can choose between different types to find the one that best suits your particular needs.
Lately, adventurous explorers have stumbled upon a fascinating kind of refuge: the air or inflatable tent! These remarkable structures offer a splendid twist on the conventional camping gear, presenting a fantastic alternative. But before you take the plunge, let’s unravel the magic behind these tents, uncovering their extraordinary workings, standout features, and the situations in which they truly shine. Get ready for a breath of fresh air in the world of camping!
What Is An Inflatable Tent?
Poles-free construction is the main detail that distinguishes inflatable from other more common types of tents. When setting up a traditional tent, you need to use poles. But the mechanism is different in the case of inflatable tents. Here, you have built-in encased tubes called air beams instead of poles. And these beams are the detail designed for inflating the tent to give it shape. Therefore, when buying this type of tent, remember to also get a pump or, better, a compressor with you on a trip to get everything done quickly.
Depending on the model of the tent, the inflation process may vary. So, for some models, you only need to pump air into one tube to allow the entire tent structure to form. At the same time, other models may have a cell structure form of inflation, which means you should pump air into each tube individually to “build” the tent.
Watch this video to get a glimpse of what an inflatable tent for camping is all about:
Air tents come in different types and can be designed for a different number of people (most often for 1-7 persons). In addition, it should be borne in mind that such tents can be somewhat more expensive than traditional ones. However, the design features and the setting up process make them an attractive camping option for both experienced and new travelers.
What Are Inflatable Tents Good For?
Although inflatable tents may seem to some people a little less secure than traditional tents with poles, this is not the case. What’s more, air tents are perfect for all seasons! The main thing is to choose a model made of waterproof materials. Therefore, inflatable tents will protect you from heavy rain, snow, and wind, whether it’s summer, spring, or winter outside.
In addition, these tents are perfect for different types of camping: from short trips of one or two days to camping stays for a week and longer, for example, during fishing or hunting activities.
The main thing is to ensure that the shelter you are interested in suits the season you are planning a trip. After all, the security and stability of your shelter do not depend on whether you inflate the tent or set it up in the traditional way using poles. It depends on what materials this tent is made of.
Thus, inflatable tents are a great option if you are looking for a versatile tent that could be useful to you in different camping at any time of the year.
What Are The Advantages Of Inflatable Tents?
Recently, inflatable tents have become more popular. And there are many reasons for this. From stability to setting up, inflatable tents have several features and benefits that make them attractive to many.
- To set up such a tent, you do not need to rack your brains on how to do it properly and spend a lot of time on this task. It is enough to read the instructions once, or even you can do it intuitively since such tents don’t include some sophisticated mechanisms. The pump or compressor is all you need because the air will do everything for you. So, instead of wasting half an hour or an entire hour when threading poles, you just need to pump air into the tent.
- If you think you might overdo the task and the tent will crack from too much air, you can leave your worries. Inflatable tents are designed in a certain way to avoid any issues. Their maximum psi capability is around 11 psi. It means there is no risk of over-inflating the tent and causing damage.
- Another advantage of inflatable tents is their wind resistance. Since such tents do not have poles, they can withstand even sharp and strong wind. Therefore, if you suddenly face stormy weather during camping, you can not worry about the tent and your safety since there is no risk that one of the poles may break.
Thus, inflatable tents combine everything many travelers, especially beginners, need. These are an easy and quick way to set up a tent and the shelter’s resistance to bad weather.
Watch this nice video for an Inflatable tent vs. Poled tent explanation:
Are Inflatable Tents Durable?
One of the main factors that campers are often interested in is whether air tents are durable, especially when compared to traditional tents. And the answer here is yes — inflatable tents are durable enough.
Think about the problem you may face with your tent or your friends’ tent most often. Chances are it may be something related to broken poles. Such an issue can make the tent difficult or almost impossible to set up. But there are no poles in inflatable tents, so there are no risks associated with them either.
At the same time, many people may wonder what if something accidentally pierces the tent. The designers have considered the possibility of such problems in advance since it was obvious that the highest risk for an inflatable tent is depressurization.
That is why thermoplastic polyurethane is most often used for air tents. This material has high strength, abrasion resistance, and slight elasticity. Moreover, it is not easy to pierce thermoplastic polyurethane.
Therefore, the chance of accidental puncture of the tent walls during storage, transport, and camping is very low. You can check different types of tents, including inflatable tents at Hot Tent.
