Hello
I was looking for some info about air tents and how do they cope with really excessive wind.
I currently own a montana 6 and it has coped really well with wind. I am looking to sell my montana 6 and switch to a air tent and need to know the important stuff before I make the switch.
Thank you
We have an air awning and it’s fantastic in high winds. We have been in the Peak District with 72mph winds. The awning was pushed by the wind but it stayed firmly pegged down and just came back to normal as the wind subsided. Oh, and it wasn’t noisy either.
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Hi we have a Vango exodus 800xl airbeam and last year we were camping in Yorkshire one of the nights we were in very high wind we caught the back and of a tornado the tent stood up very well in the high wind and we had a side awning attached at the time all stayed intact the tent just took the wind beating in its stride and swayed with it till it stopped.
We've got a Kampa Croyde Classic air and have been out in gusting gales up to 45mph, very frightening and the back beam did collapse inwards, which frightened our dog, but just as quickly popped back up again.
I really wouldn’t worry about wind with air tents. Having camped through plenty of thunderstorms in a pole tent and then a few thunderstorms in an air beam tent last year i was very impressed with how it coped.
Our pole tent flapped about alot in really heavy wind, it was unnerving at times. The air beam felt much more comfortable and stable, of course it moved around a bit but in my opinion it performed better in really bad weather.
i have amongst my tent collection - a Karsten 300 pod Dutch Storm tent.
they are the strongest tents sold on the Uk domestic market made from superbly strong materials and crafted by hand and machine in Holland ( not Vietnam like my latest Outwell! ) ...
the Karsten pod is quite interesting and amusing to be inside in very strong winds.
it does what i call i merry dance - almost as though its enjoying itself proudly protecting its contents and occupants.
in a basic form it just bounces around and rides the storm out. if it were one of my poled tents, im sure the poles would be bent or broken in some of the storms iv been in.
my Vango, Zempire air tents similarly just bounce around in the winds - buy one and enjoy its merry dance.
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Living the Dutch Dream - Karsten 300 pod + extns in Sea Green and Pure Cotton
we endured some horrendous gales in the Lake District in our Vango Rhapsody 800xl, but the only thing that came adrift was the bottom of the front door zip...cross pegging the zip pull sorted that problem out tho...
i've been thru many severe storms in a poled Outwell Montana 6 and even tho the tent survived unscathed, my nerves didn't...!!
Thank you all for your replies definitely given me the information I need.
Think it will be our last summer in our montana 6 it is a fab tent love it however the set up time is just too much for us and if the air tent can cope with the wind which the montana 6 does I am ready for a change.
The go outdoors mag has a zempire tent in it looks perfect size for us as a family of 4. Would like to see one up and have a walk around.
Hi 😊 We used our Kampa Hayling air tent in Storm Hector last night, and I have to say it was more stable and solid than ANY of the pole tents (even the steel ones!) we've ever had. Well worth your hard-earned £££.
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We've been in a couple of windy storms last year... And it was almost shocking how much more stable air tents were in comparison to pole tents... I presume it's because the "poles" in an air tent are so wide?
Needless to say, the rigidity (and single person pitching) is one of the main reasons we're thinking of upgrading to an air tent.
Interestingly, that video appears to suggest the wind test is replicating a constant wind, give or take the odd increase adjustment.
Equally as interestingly, from what I have seen in person, and read on t'interweb, most wind damage (or associated problems) seem to be caused by the fluctuating wind speeds we experience with gusts... causing the tent to sway, rock, and indeed roll, to and fro! It's those gusts that tend to make inflatable tubes cave in (subject to guying efficiency) and subsequently bounce back, and/or poles to dance, bend, crack and snap!
And of course, you've got to get the tent erected, first and foremost!
The close up of the anemometer (in the video) isn't much use, as we can't make out the units being measured. (Well, I can't seem to zoom in to read them). I doubt it's 120kph, as that's 74mph, and the guy in the vid seems to be standing pretty firm?
Here's a close up of mine... all in mph (Blurry pic is down to crap photographer! )
That's 22.1mph current wind speed (constantly changing), with a max gust (since turning on the meter 2 mins prior) of 51.0mph.
After sitting around for a few hours waiting for the wind to drop, we finally decided to go for it, and put our trust in both the tent, the air beams, and our pitching "skills".
The couple with the poled tent who arrived on the next pitch before us (and were sat in their car, with all the gear unloaded!), ended up putting it all back in and gave up, defeated, presumably going home!
In all honesty, on this occasion, we did have a fair bit of trouble pitching in these conditions, with the one tube (wind-side) constantly caving in before we could guy it properly! We got there in the end, and once up and guyed, it stayed firm, despite the wind picking up even further later that night!
The beauty of the air-beam system is that, in theory at least, there is little to get damaged (quality of materials/stitching notwithstanding!).
Without a doubt, had we arrived with a poled tent... even our steel poled tent... we wouldn't have dared attempt to pitch in those conditions!
Once they knew we were in it for the long haul, (they admitted they didn't expect us to stay and pitch! LOL!) the site owners very kindly gave us an extra windbreak, in the shape of their landrover...
Original post/more details and pics on page 264 (about halfway down the page) here...
Hi
we had a Montana 6 as well, due to the weight of the poles and difficulties putting it up, we changed to a Kampa Southwold 4+2 air, I can confirm that all the above advice is true!
a strong gust of wind just pushes it temporarily out of of shape and then it snaps back into position as the wind decreases. of course you must have it pegged correctly.
unfortunately due to increasing disability I now have to sell it, although my wife puts it up on her own, I can no longer get down to floor level to sleep. so I am giving up camping. all my gear including tent is on the free ads on here
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: wind airtent
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