Best Inflatable Tent
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Inflatable tents are gaining more popularity in recent years. Inflatable tents use air beams to create structure for the tent. This airbeam tent is straightforward to set up compared to fiberglass poles found in the regular 4 persons tent. Generally they are stronger than pole tents as they are sturdy and able to withstand strong winds and rain.
As there are so many choices out there, it can be confusing to decide what is right for you as the best tent. At Outdoormagnet, we have performed hours of detailed research and have narrowed down a list of features we think campers need most for a tent. In this guide, we have listed down 5 tents as our top picks. If you want to skip and find the best inflatable tent, then HEIMPLANET Original is our favorite choice.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Inflatable Tents
This is one of the lightest inflatable tents among the 5 tents we have reviewed. Weighing at only 5.5 lbs, you can easily transport it anywhere, as a lightweight backpacking tent. For a serious survivalist, weight is everything to allow you to move around whenever it calls for it. Despite it being a lightweight tent, it is well engineered to withstand wind speeds up to 110mph and will not leak even in pouring rain.
This is a 2 persons tent that has 31 sq ft of space, but we found it more comfortable for 1 person to use. The height of the inner tent is 44 inch, so you may need to bend your back when moving around the tent. The inner tent has a big gap between the outer tent, so water will not seep through.
One amazing feature is it only requires 1 valve to pitch up the entire tent. This is because all the air chambers are connected altogether. It uses multi chambers construction technique, which allows the structure to remain upright, even when one of the chambers is damaged. Just secure the frame down with aluminium stakes and you are good to go. This design allows you to immediately set up your resting spot whenever you feel like it, even in the dark.
Fabric used for the construction of this tent is uncompromising, Heimplanet uses only the best materials. The fly sheet is 66D 210T Ripstop with PU lamination with 5000 mm HH rating. The airbeams feature a casing and an inner bladder, which is using airtight TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). This TPU bladder is able to keep the air in the air chambers for extended time.
There are 2 entrances to allow convenient access to the tent, And there are also 2 vestibules for light cooking or to store your shoes. Lots of storage pockets are available for you to store your bottles or tent lights. Do note that there is no pump that comes with this ultralight backpacking tent. So if you already have one, then it should be no problem.
Pros
- Lightweight tent
- Easy to set up
- Airbeams are super durable and airtight
- Sturdy
- 1-2 person tent
Cons
- Less affordable
Vango Ringstead is a tunnel type tent with 3 bedrooms. There are 2 smaller rooms at the sides and one large living area in the middle. You can configure it to be a 1,2 or 3 rooms, with the inner tents. It is relatively quite spacious with an area of 100 sq ft, which can fit 4 persons comfortably.
It is super easy to set up, thanks to its AirBeam Technology. There is no need for any poles. You can pump up the tent within minutes, even when it is raining. This is an advantage if you are caught in the rain. Pumps are included with this tent, so you do not need to get one separately.
One feature to speak about is waterproofing at 3000mm HH rating. This makes it a very good 4 season tent, which can suit all weathers, even rain or winter. It can withstand adverse conditions such as strong winds due to the use of its patented Vango Tension Band System.
You will love the Lights Out Bedrooms features, where you can really darken the room for better sleep. This is especially during summer time when daylight is longer. There is a drop-down door design which is useful if you want to roll in a wheelchair or a pram.
Pros
- Wheelchair access door
- 3 rooms
- 3000mm waterproof rating
- Lights-Out design
- Pumps included
Cons
- Less affordable
This is also a 3 room tent, with 2 sleeping areas and one large front room. Dealing with broken poles is a thing of the past, as it uses strong inflatable beams to keep the tent sturdy. It is pretty spacious at 116.3ft2, which can easily fit in 5 persons.
There are organizer pockets in the tent to store your small items. There are lots of windows for you to view the beauty around you. One feature worth mentioning is its spacious headspace. You can walk inside the tent without bending down.
Its living area is accessible via 2 large drop down doors, so you can wheel in your bike for shelter. Its inner doors are meshed so you will not need to deal with visits from the bugs.You will love that it is very well ventilated with multiple windows. There are additional vents in the back and in the living room, which keeps the air fresh and prevents condensation within the tent.
Its fabric is made of 190T 100% polyester with PU coating, and is waterproof with 3000mm hydrostatic head. For safety measures, it is also fire retardant. However when folded up, it weighs 34.8 lbs , which is rather heavy. When packed down it measures 29.5×16.1 inches, which easily fits in your car boot.
Pros
- 2 large doors
- Multiple windows
- Sufficient headspace to stand up
- 2 way pump
- 3 rooms
Cons
- Heavy
Ferrino Flow 4 Family Tent is pretty easy to set up as it uses 3 inflatable beams instead of poles. A manual pump is included so you do not need to buy a separate pump. The structure allows for dry setup. This means you can inflate it up while it is raining, and the inner area will still remain dry.
This tent is spacious at 117.5 sq ft, with 3 rooms distributed across the tent. It makes it perfect to house a couple with 2 kids. But because it is so large, it actually can fit even 6 persons despite the description of the tent. It is quite tall at 70.87 inches high, so you can move around quite comfortably.
There are 3 doors, one at the front, side and back. This makes accessing the tent easier from multiple points. There is also another window at the side. There are 2 sleeping rooms at the back and 1 living area in front. It is equipped with 4 roof vents which makes this tent highly ventilated allowing fresh air to circulate through.
This is a 3 season tent. The shell tent is waterproof with a rating of 2000mm compared to standard tents that usually have a rating of 1500mm range. The inner tent floor is made of 70D polyester which is fully welded to prevent water from seeping in. There are double layered floors , the inner tent as well as the shell tent floor, which makes it well protected against the elements.
Pros
- Well ventilated
- Well protected against outside elements
- 3 doors
- Very spacious
Cons
- Bulky
This is a 4 person tent, with a 59 sq ft of interior space. It even has a spacious lounge area to laze or for storage. It is so easy to set up, only takes one person to set it up in minutes.The air holds up very well in the inflatable tubes, so the tent remains standing sturdy even with people moving around inside.
It is supported by inflatable tubes which are made of 210 denier polyester making the tent able to stand up sturdy on its own. If you have rowdy kids, then you won’t have to deal with bent or broken poles as the tubes always return to their original shape every time.
It is pretty waterproof with water resistance of 1800mm. You will not need to worry about leaking seems as it is made with 68D polyester fabric. When packed down it weighs 18 lbs which is slightly heavier. Thus, it may be suitable for car camping instead of hiking.
Pros
- Water resistant
- Fits 4 persons
- Lounge area
- Durable airtight inflatable tubes
Cons
- Heavy
Buying Guide
Weight
If you are going for car camping most of the time, then weight is not going to be an issue for you. But if you are a solo traveller, and you do lots of backpacking, then you may want a tent that is lightweight and packs small.
Ventilation
Especially summer, you will want tents that provide a good ventilation system. Especially when it rains and you need to close the windows, it is essential that your tent comes with vents to allow air to circulate. Vents are also useful, if you want to install your tent air conditioner or tent heater. Having large mesh panels also helps to allow air to escape and fresh air to come in.
Access
A tent with multiple doors allows easy access, so that you will not disturb others during your night breaks for the washroom. For families with kids or older folks, you will appreciate the full drop down doors which allows pram or wheelchair access. Having a spacious vestibule is advantageous. You can use it to place your bikes to avoid being wet or cook your camp meals.
Size
Ask yourself, who do you plan to camp with? If you plan to camp most of the time with your family , then you would want a spacious tent for more comfort. If you are using a folding cot, then check that it fits well into the tent you are getting. You also need space for your camping gear such as your bug out bag.
Water resistant
HH (Hydrostatic Head) is a measurement of water resistance. Anything above 3000mm makes the fabric waterproof. As inflatable tents are usually made of better quality materials, you will find that they are generally more water resistant compared to your average tents.
Material
As inflatable tents use Air Beams to have the tent stand up, there is a possibility of getting punctures which may cause the tent to collapse.
Thus, it is necessary that inflatable tents use high quality material for their inflatable tubes so they do not burst easily. Usually durable kinds of materials are made with high quality polyester of 700D and above . Repairing of the air tube is easy, just like repairing a flat bicycle tire.
Compared to Tent poles, tent poles have the tendency to snap or bend under pressure from the wind. With inflatable tents, you still need to peg the guylines to ensure that the tent is kept in position.
Price
Inflatable tents are more costly than pole tents, as they are usually made of stronger material.
Accessories
Some inflatable tents come with a pump, some don’t. So if you already have one for your inflatable kayaks, then you don’t need to get a separate unit.
Setup speed
Especially when coming back from a long day of hiking, you will not want to find yourself spending hours figuring out how to set up a tent. And if you are travelling solo, you want a tent that can be easily set up without any help.
Summary
If you still cannot decide and need a final recommendation, then we would recommend HEIMPLANET Original to elevate your camping experience. You can forget problems with snapped poles and easily carry around as it is very light making it super portable. You can trust this brand as the quality is durable and a reliable tent, making one of the best backpacking tent. The design of the tent looks so futuristic and cool, that you will want to own one too.
What's next
If you are a first time camper and just want to try out a basic tent, then check out our picks for 4 person tent. Alternatively, if you have a large group of campers to house, you can check out our reviews on the 12 person tent.