Vango Airbeam Tents

[bearman]

Does anyone have any experience with these new fangled "air-beam" tents? they look great but i'm not sure about performance etc... They are a bit pricey but myself and a few friends were thinking about investing in one as a 'base camp' tent for walking weekends. Any thoughts?

http://www.vango.co.uk/vango-airbeam.html?gclid=CJKe0Zi8j7ECFUdlfAody2PWOw

 

[Andy BB]

From a few youtube videos and reports it appears that they're very sensitive to over-pressure in the support chambers - seen a few blown out.

 

[woof]

Interesting, does anyone else recall the inflateable "igloo" tents from the 60's ?

Rob

 

[rik_uk3]

I did use an inflateable 'Igloo' tent in the 60's, bit bendy in the wind IIRC. http://karstententclub.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/1960s-igloo-tent-pneumatic-tent-company.html sort of thing.

 

[Robbi]

Interesting, does anyone else recall the inflateable "igloo" tents from the 60's ?

Rob

i do, yes, always wanted one

 

[mountainm]

From a few youtube videos and reports it appears that they're very sensitive to over-pressure in the support chambers - seen a few blown out.

Reading up on them the first batch had some faults which they've ironed out now (mostly leaking water into the tent, not air out) - but I have heard of a few instances where people over inflate them. Shame there isn't a pressure valve to prevent this.

I'm waiting to see if the price comes down over the next few years - the 10 minute setup time appeals.

I also wanted to experiment with air beams for my hammock (see if I could make a hanging cylinder that packs up small)

 

[bilmo-p5]

Interesting, does anyone else recall the inflateable "igloo" tents from the 60's ?

Rob

As it happens there was one on Ebay last week.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-6...re_HikingCamping_Tents_JN&hash=item3a76662056

 

[woof]

As it happens there was one on Ebay last week.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-6...re_HikingCamping_Tents_JN&hash=item3a76662056

Lol !, thanks for showing that. Robbi, as a younster i always wanted one they looked(at the time anyway) so cool. I was begining to wonder if i'd dreamt them or seen them in a sci fi programme or something.

Rob

 

[spiritwalker]

waiting for the price to drop too, ive been in one and they are remarkable stable (it was a windy day) they dropped the bar rating on the pressure recently as people where putting the recommended pressure in them and in last years hot spell some ruptured. The only downside to the big ones was the pack size they are like full size suitcases with wheels. Also take a look at this one would be at home on the moon lol
http://www.funkyleisure.co.uk/heimplanet---the-cave-inflatable-tent-3574-p.asp

 

[mountainm]

A company called nemo also has been making small air beam tents for a while.
http://www.nemoequipment.com/nemo2012-morpho2p-tent

 

[bilmo-p5]

Nice links spiritwalker & mountainm, thank you.

Looking at them, I can't help but think that a hybrid poling system of airbeams & alu/grp might have some useful applications.

 

[bearman]

I think I'm with those of you waiting for the price drop, or for anther companies to adopt the technology, I love the idea, just not sure about the price tag! I also heard that they can have problems with "folding" in high winds, when the beams bend, they can reach a kind of "point of no return" where instead of springing back to their original position, they fold in on themselves. I havnt seen this myself its just something i've heard-I would have thought that if it was roped out properly this would be impossible. Its hard to know what are actual problems with the tent and what are problems caused by people erecting it incorrectly!

 

[spiritwalker]

when i viewed them at the showroom (outside) it was blowing a hooley and they never even had the additional guy lines set up just the ground stakes and i must say i was very impressed with the stability but now they have dropped the recommended bar pressure they may not be as stable (havent seen so cant comment) but at full bar they are very rigid

I think I'm with those of you waiting for the price drop, or for anther companies to adopt the technology, I love the idea, just not sure about the price tag! I also heard that they can have problems with "folding" in high winds, when the beams bend, they can reach a kind of "point of no return" where instead of springing back to their original position, they fold in on themselves. I havnt seen this myself its just something i've heard-I would have thought that if it was roped out properly this would be impossible. Its hard to know what are actual problems with the tent and what are problems caused by people erecting it incorrectly!

 

[Jinsin456]

I got one last year to test and did a review which can be found here.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82211&highlight=Flux

That was for the Flux 400 which they are yet to release I think.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

They have sussed the high pressure and rigidity issues in SUP boards, the high pressure blow up ones and seriously solid, you would not think they were blow up if you ride one.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Saw a few in the Alps.