So I bought an inflatable tent...

[NT2C]

Yeah, I couldn't resist.

It jumped off the page at me on Woot.com and I had to buy it to save myself. 

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit.  This is a tent I've been seeing on the for months and seriously considering as a viable camping tent for myself, and a possible bugout abode for the wife and I if it came down to it.  So when I saw it on final clearance for 82% off MSRP, with just 5 hours to go, I pulled the trigger.

I've got a trip to Texas coming up this June and money is tight, so if I can stay a day or two in a campground that might help out.  I already have most everything else I'd need, including a good folding cot and or an inflatable bed if I want it.  (we keep two such beds for extra guests who might show up)




Is it junk?  Might be, but for $149.99 instead of the $880 list I'll take the risk.  Even if I get just a couple of uses from it that might be worth it.  And yes, I know these things are all over Temu in the mid-low $200 range.

[MacWa77ace]

i'm just going to leave this here.

[NT2C]

Thanks, Mac, but there's a nice dual piston compressor in my Jeep

[NT2C]

And I bought this:

[tirls]

And I bought this:

Very cool.

Ummm...and what is this? Currently I'm stuck on an electric plumbing device.

Edit: Never mind, it's a link.

[NT2C]

And I bought this:

Very cool.

Ummm...and what is this? Currently I'm stuck on an electric plumbing device.

Edit: Never mind, it's a link.

You pretty much nailed it though since it is electric and air is a fluid.

[majorhavoc]

I saw that tent and briefly considered posting it in the bugout deals section. Let us know how it performs on your road trip. 

[tirls]

Can you fill it with helium?

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[NT2C]

I saw that tent and briefly considered posting it in the bugout deals section. Let us know how it performs on your road trip. 

Well, as a weight it works quite well.  I think carrying it to the garage is what killed my back for a week. It's 18kg.

It does come in a really nice oversized carry/storage bag that is roomy enough that even if you don't deflate and pack it as perfectly as the factory it should still fit in just fine.  I was going to test it today but it's a little too windy and the electric pump arrived late in the day and needs charging, maybe tomorrow.

[NT2C]

Can you fill it with helium?

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Max pressure is 5kPa and the instructions specifically say it won't fill ballons.

[tirls]

Max pressure is 5kPa and the instructions specifically say it won't fill ballons.

Not the pump for balloons. Fill the tent with helium.

[NT2C]

Max pressure is 5kPa and the instructions specifically say it won't fill ballons.

Not the pump for balloons. Fill the tent with helium.

Only the frame of the tent inflates.  Might launch with a cat or small dog but maybe not even that given its weight.

[tirls]

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[NT2C]

So I inflated the inflatable tent...



Not too bad...once I closed the second deflation/inflation port after the electric pump overheated and the battery ran out (~20mins)



I didn't bother with guylines but I was impressed they are pre-connected and routed, with adjusters.



Nice screening and plenty of windows and vents for airflow, and even has an opening for a stovepipe, making this a true multi-season tent.



I have some crappy video of the interior that I'll try to get online.  Even though I screwed up with the electric pump it made good progress once I closed the valves.  It probably will fully inflate it by itself but the included high-volume pump finished the job pretty easy.

[MacWa77ace]

Where's the ufozs flag? 

[NT2C]

Where's the ufozs flag? 

On the top of the flagpole, of course. 

[MacWa77ace]

Its all in the framing of the shot i guess

[NT2C]

I felt an inflatable tent needed a companion inflatable sleeping pad to put on my folding cot, so I bought this:



Okay, when did inflatable sleeping pads get small enough to fit in my damn pocket, yet big enough to sleep all 6'2" of me comfortably?   

[majorhavoc]

I felt an inflatable tent needed a companion inflatable sleeping pad to put on my folding cot, so I bought this:



Okay, when did inflatable sleeping pads get small enough to fit in my damn pocket, yet big enough to sleep all 6'2" of me comfortably? 

They are remarkably compact aren't they?  And they provide comfort in more ways than one.  I use a similar inflatable sleeping pad with my folding cot and I love it.  While I personally think cots are quite comfortable by themselves (compared to sleeping on the ground), they can be cold because you basically have no insulation beneath you - your body weight compresses even the warmest sleeping bag to practically zero loft.  On cool nights, you have convective and radiant heat loss all night long.  Even the thinest sleeping pad makes a world of difference for cool weather camping with a fabric cot.

Inflating them with lung power takes patience.  If you have a small cordless or 12vdc inflator with an adaptor that's a reasonably close fit, it's much more convenient.  And don't inflate them to the max - I'm convinced that helps prevent burst seams.  Leave it at what first seems to be slightly under-inflated and trust me, once you lie down on the pad, the air spreads out under your body weight and suspends you along its entire length and width.

And the trick to packing them up to fit in that tiny stuff sack again is to deflate them once and close off the valve.  Then spread out and carefully fold lengthwise to match the length of your stuff sack.  Slowly roll it tightly, starting with the end opposite the valve.  About half way through, reopen the valve and continue rolling to evacuate the last of the air.  When you're done, close the valve again and it'll slip it right into that tiny stuff sack.

Picture squeezing the absolute last iota of toothpaste out of the tube and you get the idea.

[NT2C]

I felt an inflatable tent needed a companion inflatable sleeping pad to put on my folding cot, so I bought this:



Okay, when did inflatable sleeping pads get small enough to fit in my damn pocket, yet big enough to sleep all 6'2" of me comfortably? 

They are remarkably compact aren't they?  And they provide comfort in more ways than one.  I use a similar inflatable sleeping pad with my folding cot and I love it.  While I personally think cots are quite comfortable by themselves (compared to sleeping on the ground), they can be cold because you basically have no insulation beneath you - your body weight compresses even the warmest sleeping bag to practically zero loft.  On cool nights, you have convective and radiant heat loss all night long.  Even the thinest sleeping pad makes a world of difference for cool weather camping with a fabric cot.

Inflating them with lung power takes patience.  If you have a small cordless or 12vdc inflator with an adaptor that's a reasonably close fit, it's much more convenient.  And don't inflate them to the max - I'm convinced that helps prevent burst seams.  Leave it at what first seems to be slightly under-inflated and trust me, once you lie down on the pad, the air spreads out under your body weight and suspends you along its entire length and width.

And the trick to packing them up to fit in that tiny stuff sack again is to deflate them once and close off the valve.  Then spread out and carefully fold lengthwise to match the length of your stuff sack.  Slowly roll it tightly, starting with the end opposite the valve.  About half way through, reopen the valve and continue rolling to evacuate the last of the air.  When you're done, close the valve again and it'll slip it right into that tiny stuff sack.

Picture squeezing the absolute last iota of toothpaste out of the tube and you get the idea.

I do have such an inflator...that also deflates.  Took under a minute to inflate and less than 5 to get it back in the stuff sack.