The world of the inflatable tent

In recent times, there has been a growing trend in the world of camping to make life easier for hikers. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this: it is just the natural development of technology, applied even in the field we are most passionate about. We have thus seen the emergence of a large number of objects and tools to help us during our stay in the open air. But this time we want to focus on the base of it all, namely an innovation concerning the tent itself.

What is an inflatable tent?

In few words: it is a tent that has pneumatic air chambers instead of the usual poles. All you have to do is lay it on the ground on top of a protective tarpaulin, spread it out well and then inflate the individual tubes with a pump. These are normally invisible and inside the tent fabric has heat-sealed seams to prevent infiltration. You don't need to worry about anything else: in a few minutes the tent will be ready and you only need to secure it with pegs and poles.

Is it reliable?

Of course it is: some more complete inflatable tent models even outperform normal tents in terms of holding up in difficult weather conditions. It's likely that the first concern in many people's minds when they hear about an inflatable tent is that it might get a puncture. Of course this is a possibility, but it's very rare and, in any case, an immediate repair kit is supplied. No fear then. The advantages of this type of structure are many, such as the speed of inflation and deflation. In addition, the weight of a small tent (for one or two people) means that it can be easily transported on treks or touring trips. And the last aspect not to be underestimated is that you can inflate it practically by yourself, making life much easier for those who decide to go camping alone.

Prices

And here is the sore point. This is a fairly expensive type of tent. The prices you can find online vary, of course, depending on the size, brand and features, but they don't go below €300 and can reach a maximum of €800 for the largest and most equipped versions.
You may also consider buying a used inflatable tent that has all the necessary guarantees from the previous owner: in this case, the prices are halved and remain a little more affordable.

Have you ever slept in an inflatable tent? Write to us and tell us about your experience!


Photo:@Adrian