Hi, As anyone now gained the experience on how best to inflate the Vango Airbeams after all the panic about not inflating above 3 psi ( apart from one or two puffs ). Now I understand that a second person is required to guide the airbeams into position during inflation. IN MY EXPERIENCE, you need a third person to stop the pump hose blowing off the inflation valve during inflating the airbeams. Without such assistance, how can anyone inflate the airbeams correctly, inline with Vango's recommendations. As anyone got any ideas?. Regards Mike.
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Having been to the Karsten tent display at Cheshire last year, and now seeing the Vango AirBeam at my local Winfields store. I have never before witnessed such two extremes of the same concept, in comparison to the Karsten, the Vango is at best a form of flattery to the Karsten.
Even at £5k for the Karsten, if looking for an inflatable tent, that's were my money would go, although I don't think I could ever bring myself to part with that much money for a tent, we have seen plenty of Karsten tent's whilst on French campsites, and they do look the business.
We got cheesed off with ours when at 3 psi plus extra puffs, the tent wasn't rigid in the wind and the beams bent with every gust. Plus we got showered with rain every time the beams bowed. At 5 psi, the beams explode in the heat (BOOM - the shame!) In the heavy rain, water pooled around the base of each beam. Needless to say, ours has gone back for a refund! We have bought a Khyam Harewood - similar set up time and layout. It survived very wet and windy weather, no probs. My advice would be, if you're not happy, don't persevere for as long as we did, send it back.
Thanks for that candid report, but what was Vango ever thinking, when they came up with the AirBeam, like the old saying, if you can't do it properly, then don't bother doing it at all.
havent had any need for the 3rd person holding on the pump??
Our airbeam has performed perfectly, never leaked, done a week in hot weather in France, no bursting beams, no problems at all. Easy to put up alone as well in our experience. Camped with it now 5 times in total.
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I agree-we had no problems with our Airbeam-it does help to have someone gently place the Airbeam in position as it goes up but equally you could just lean over and do it yourself in a matter of seconds. We think it's great.
As above you don't need a second person, it just makes it easier. I don't have an Airbeam but have a Karsten and it is just the same. It does not magically pop into postion as it's pumped up. I have to pump it up nearly to full pressure,(at which point the poles are barely lifting off the floor) then lift the poles into position, then pump up some more.
I really liked the look of the Airbeams and I think Vango should have produced an orange small cotton version...a sort of inflatable dome version of their Force Ten!
now ive seen a couple so salesman demos over the past couple of weeks at springfield camping and winfields on how easy the airbeams are to inflate but never seen the salesman ask for any help........
as splendidisolation & penny21 say just inflate the beam until they are barely lifting off the floor then lift into position then finish inflating still only a one man job.
if it is now Vangos recomendation for a second person, maybee the tent salesmen should be informed of this so they can pass the information on to customers........
I use the same pump and valve system, and never have problems with it coming apart. You could try sanding the ends where they push together, this may give you a bit more friction to keep them together. I love my small inflatable tent, and actually use it when the wind is gusting with no problems.
------------- Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.
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Have had no problem at all inflating my airbeam velocity 400 on my own. inflate till it feels rigid, but slightly squeezable! A fantastic quality tent! I LOVE mine!
I would like to recommend that anyone who has a Vango AirBeam tent or is thinking about getting one to read the user guide in the attached link: http://vango.co.uk/airbeam-user-guide/airbeam_user_guide.pdfIt offers many useful answers to any common questions or queries.
Sometimes there can be confusion in the pitching process with a Vango AirBeam tent and this is understandable with all new technology that comes with any type of product. We have found the same difficulties when we first started using Vango AirBeam during development stages.Hopefully the user guide will help with this and offer further guidance.
We work extremely hard to ensure our products are tested thoroughly to every element and standard, but unfortunately in some cases a fault can occur. On these occasions we recommend following our step by step processes in the user guide and if you then need further help please do not hesitate to get in touch with our AMG Group Services.All of our Vango AirBeam products are covered by a full year's warranty from the date of purchase and this covers all manufacturing, fabric and workmanship faults.
Thank you for all of your useful feedback and comments,
I think it's worth noting that this thread is coming on a year old now however some of the more positive posts are possibly regarding this years range where some of the issues have apparently been sorted..
The thing that got me about the Airbeam range is that Vango went on and on about how it's been 15 years in the design stages however the first years models had some obvious flaws.
How one more year can fix all those issues that weren't spotted during those fifteen years is beyond me. I was close but I went with something potentially less troubling. When they do a working version of a polycotton that has some years behind it I may well jump on board..
I do wish them well though as the concept is good..
Hi SoggySteve.
We have just got back from our 3 weeks camping in the South of France, the pitch next to us was a Dutch family with a Karsten, they even offered it it to me for sale, but it was one of the smaller sizes, apart from that it was superb, heavy cotton canvas with no poles, the perfect tent imho.
Yeah Francais. It appears they are ahead in accomplishing the reliable blow up tent. Expensive but so is anything that's of good quality.
The only thing I don't love about the Karsten's is the fact that our Trout Lake 4 opens up very well when it's sunny. You get a real feel of the outdoors, from within the tent. Many of the Cabanons and Karstens look a little closed in to me. It's the same reason i'm not one of bell tents biggest fans..
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Topic: Vango Airbeam inflation System.
