AT

Tent company Vango is launching a tent range that uses air instead of poles.

The AirBeam tents have inflatable tubes where you’d normally have poles, which Vango claims will make them lighter, and quicker and easier to pitch. There are three sizes of tents in the AirBeam range, to suit couples, families or groups.

The range will be released in early 2011, so they’re so new we haven’t got hold of one to test yet, but we did see one in action at a preview show last month. To touch, the pole-replacement air tubes felt robust, and they’d survived a veritable September gale.

The AirBeam range will be useful for out-of-the-car-camping as the two-man Velocity tent weighs 6.65kg, which isn’t particularly lightweight. And don’t forget to pack the pump. Vango says you can pitch the tent in under three minutes, something that we’ll be trying in the Great Adventure Travel Tent Race of 2011. We also don’t know the price range yet, but we’ll let you know when we do.

But I’m excited about the idea, even if it’s just for novelty value. And if you’ve got kids – hours of entertainment, I reckon. It’d probably even be worth pitching the tent twice.

For more, see http://www.vango.co.uk/airbeam/airbeam.html.

Comments (3)

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written by bubble, November 23, 2010

When the hoolie comes this tent will be flat,man the pumps!at least no broken poles.

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written by Rosie, November 25, 2010

ha ha - yes I can just imagine loads of campers patrolling with their pumps in a gale!

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written by Bryn, April 20, 2011

We're having a sample of the 3 man Vango Airbeam dropped off at the AT office in the next few days. With all these bank holidays coming up it's a great time to put it to the test! Expect a review up soon

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