Inflatable family tents

Inflatable family tents

Because of their great ease with seting up, these tents are incredibly popular: the inflatable family tents. But how does inflatability actually work and what are the latest developments?

For those who are not familiar with it, let us first explain the operation of the inflatable tent. With inflatable tents, the classic poles have been replaced by tubes that are filled with air. You fill the tubes by using the supplied pump to built up tension in the tubes through a valve. Depending on the size of the tent (and therefore the capacity of the tubes) you may have to pump longer or shorter. That pumping hardly costs any force and is done quickly. Some models have an integrated system where you inflate all tubes through one valve, but with the vast majority of models, each tube has its own valve.

Setting up an inflatable tent

As you can see in this video, setting up an inflatable tent is done very quick and easily, even with the larger models. It works like this: you roll out the tent completely and then fix the corners with pegs. Then you start pumping air into the tubes. Most inflatable tents can stand without use of guy ropes, so you can stretch them at your leisure (depending on the wind force of course) and apply the other pegs.

Taking down an inflatable tent

Taking these tents down is done much faster than setting them up. Loosen the guy ropes and open the valves. The tent then collapses with a cozy hiss. Now loosen the pegs, fold up the tent and roll it up in the direction of the valves so that the last air can easily escape. That's it.

Punctured tubes

Tubes filled with air are reminiscent of a bicycle tire. A bicycle tire can get punctured, so what about the tubes of an inflatable tent? The tubes are packed very well: the air tubes themselves are made of a robust plastic and surrounded by a kind of canvas "outer band". This outer tube is in turn zipped into a sleeve. Nevertheless, the tubes can puncture. With a punctured tube, there are two options: you can simply glue a patch on the tube (with a "normal" puncture) or there is a "blowout" which means the tube must be replaced. The latter is of course a particularly unpleasant situation. In itself it is possible to buy spare tubes and take them with you on holiday, but this is often a pricey option. Fortunately, we see a lot more people in the store with broken tent poles (especially those made of fiberglass!) than with broken inflatable tubes.

The fully integrated tub and an extra groundsheet

Typical for inflatable tents is that they made in one piece. The groundsheet is always attached to the flysheet like a tub, except for the awnings of a few large models. This saves work during set-up (ground sheet zips in) and has the advantage that water and vermin are better excluded. To keep this construction manageable, manufacturers often opt for a light and flexible groundsheet. It is therefore sensible to consider using a extra loose groundsheet: this will extend the life of the groundsheet of the tub and also keep it clean. Make sure that you absolutely opt for a groundsheet without plasticizers (so no agricultural plastic, etc.). Plasticizers affect the tub! The quality of the material of the tub, flexible and easy to handle or stiffer and more durable, can certainly play a role in the choice of the tent model.

The tent fabric

Inflatable tents can be made of almost all fabric materials: cotton, polyester-cotton or polyester. Only heavy cotton cloth you will not encounter with the inflatable tents: it would make the tent unmanageably large and heavy. For an overview and information about tent fabrics, see our special information page.

The modern shape of tents: more headroom

The inflatable tents were originally always designed as "tunnel models". The advantage of a tunnel design is that it is a strong construction and also relatively easy to make for the manufacturer. The downside is that you lose headroom on the sides of the tent. That is why more and more modern models have a "bungalow" shape, named for convenience for the old bungalow tents. These tents have a more square shape (from the front view), so you have the maximum headroom over the full width of the tent and this adds a lot of space!

Sleeping compartments of tents trends

The latest trend in the sleeping cabins is the dimming of light on the inside. The canvas of the sleeping cabins has been made black. So you will no longer be bothered by the lamppost under which your tent is placed. You will no longer be bothered by a sunrise which makes sleeping difficult and it is also ideal for the little ones who still have to sleep in the middle of the day.

Many modern sleeping cabins are also flexibly because the dividers can be removed or rolled up. This way you can create an extra large sleeping space, for example by making a double and a single cabin into one triple cabin. The modern sleeping cabins are comfortable and flexible!

What determines the price of an inflatable tent?

Of course, quality determines the price (and vice versa), but what determines "quality"? First of all, the materials used as the tent fabric are leading. For instance polyester is cheaper than technical cotton. The finish is also an important factor in the price: are the sleeves of the tubes sturdy and well finished? Are the zips of the tubes secured against loosening? Loosening increases the chance of a "blowout" of the tube. The quality of the zips used in the doors and windows, the quality of the construction and the robustness of the attachment points of the guy ropes, all these factors determine the price range of a tent.

Inflatable family tent accessories

In addition to these general quality features, there is also the category "accessories". With this one should think of the mosquito screens in the doors, windows and in the curtains. There are additional exits on the sides of the tent to opt for, as well extra ventilation options. How many ventilation options are there and how weatherproof are these? The Dutch brand Bardani has a name to uphold in that regard. Are there convenient and weatherproof inlets for electrical cables and how many are there? Are there mounting options for electrical cables along the pipes, so you can install a lamp? Does the tent have storage compartments, where are they and how many are there? These are all matters that determine how "rich" a tent is in its set up and therefore how expensive it will be. Realise that a tent, especially the (technical) cotton variants, will last a long time and that shortcomings or annoyances in a tent can haunt you for a long time. Spending a little more for a little less annoyance or a little more comfort often pays off in the long run!