The AirBeam Velocity 200
Camping manufacturer Vango is claiming a first with its innovative pump-up range of tents.
The Scottish company says broken tent poles will be a thing of the past with the introduction of its AirBeam tents, which come with a hand pump to inflate the tent hoops in a claimed three minutes for the smaller models.
The pole-less range starts with the two-person Velocity 200 and goes up to the Infinity 800 for eight people.
But these are no lightweight backpacking tents: the 200 weighs in at a hefty 7kg and the 800 tips the scales at 28.1kg – heavier than a sack of potatoes. These are definitely aimed at the family camper or the touring tripper rather than the wild camper.
Vango says: “To pitch one of these amazing tents all you have to do is take it out of the bag, pop a peg in each of the four corners, blow up the inflatable beams, peg down a few guy lines and away you go. This can all be done in less than five minutes.”
The company says it has spent 15 years perfecting the technology and its fully featured tents are made of extremely durable material, and have been tested in extreme winds and weather conditions to ensure safety and stability.
The larger Infinity tents also come with the Vango TBSII tension-banding system for extra stability.
A custom pump is supplied with the tents to inflate the low pressure, 5psi (0.344bar) beams. Electric pumps and other bike and car foot pumps are not suitable.
Vango claims that, because there are no poles to snap, the tents perform well in high winds. A puncture repair kit is supplied for damage to the beams.
It says: “The inflatable AirBeam tubes are encased in a very robust material to protect them from damage and ensure they do not over-inflate. The beams are inflated at very low pressures, ensuring your tent doesn’t go droopy when the temperature drops at night.”
Other features include:
- Waterproof Protex 6000HH polyester elements
- Embossed flysheet
- As-one pitching
- Double entry with one mesh door to allow airflow on warmer nights
- Crystal clear PVC windows with internal covers
- Orange reflective guy lines
- Sewn in polyester groundsheet
- Breathable fabric inner tent with Vango ‘lights out’ fabric to keep out that early morning sunlight
- Handy storage solutions such as inner pockets and hanging loops to keep your belongings tidy.
Prices start at £235 for the two-person Velocity 200 and range up to £760 for the Infinity 800, which sleeps eight.
The AirBeam range is expected to go on sale next month. Further details are on the Vango website.
Neil Reid
20 April 2011No way is this a first. I remember seeing blow-up tents way back in the late '70s. They never caught on though. Wonder if this will have any more luck?
mrmoosehead
21 April 2011I remember a leader having a pump up tent at a cub camp in the 80s
pete cos
21 April 2011I remember camping with someone back in the mid '60's who had a blow-up dome tent
chrish
23 April 2011I started camping in 1949 and the Igloo tent came out in the early 60's. Seem to remember there was some system of connecting it via the car exhaust to blow it up.
chrish
23 April 2011Part 2 - Just remembered - it was produced by The Pneumatic Tent Company. Google it and see what comes up.
Charles
31 May 2011Nemo - a USA company have inflatable poles too. Vango are part of the revolution
Chris
08 June 2011I met a dutch couple last year in Scotland with a blow up tent.
Danny da Costa
14 July 2011I like th idea of an inflatable tent but this is not a first. I bought an Igloo tent in the 60's and never got round to usinhg it. I started to blow it up in the garden with an electric pump atached to my car battery. I went indoors for a cup of coffee and a chat with a visitor when all of a sudden my tent exploded.
shandor
22 July 2011we had one, our parents used in the 60's and 70's, along with a kiak(?) boat which had a pump up 'frame'. unfortunately the tent was stolen when it was being used.! had to sleep under the stars....
Harry Cowell
14 January 2012My father invented the igloo blow up tent in the 50's via a company called PTC and later Europleasure from Dorking.
gloria
28 May 2012my husband and had a igloo tent in the 70's it was so easy to blow it up with car pump also it had a sewn in ground sheet.
Emily Rossiter
12 June 2012@Harry, I would really like to know more about those tents, if you could tell me? or refer me to anywhere online where I could learn more? thanks!
Brenda Grove
17 June 2012We have one of these Europleasure Igloo tents. We have just dug it out of the garage and blown it up but we cannot remember the correct pressure needed. Any help out there?
Clive
29 July 2012Have an Igloo inflatable tent which belonged to my parents and we toured the USA in it in 1967. It is still working with no damage or deteriartion.
I have a photograph taken last week of it standing in my garden.
Alan Jones
17 September 2012I bought the Europleasure version of the PTC Igloo in the early seventies - used it a lot then and since it has spent most of it's life in lofts and cellars. Have just blown it up to check whether to keep or chuck and I'm delighted to see it looks as good as new - great tent with lots of room. Well done Vango for reviving the idea.
Caroline
02 February 2013We've had and used our Igloo tent practically every year since 1976, it was the only way I could get my husband to go camping. Ours is only 6x6ft but I've seen several 2x2m versions - a veritable ballroom! We've camped safely in all weathers but you need a car as it's made of good old-fashioned canvas which occasionally has to be reproofed. I wish now that we had bought the 'tunnel' that could be used to extend the overall coverage of the tent, so now I'm looking for something similar so I don't have to cook outside any more. I think the new Igloos are made in Holland.
harry kelly
02 May 2014I have a six sided PTC Igloo tent which unfortunately suffered a burst inner tube in unusually h ot sun. would like to know how I can obtain a replacement tube
many thanks