Are Airbeam tents worth the money?

[StillMedusa]

We do one big camp a year... for a week.
We used to own a huge Vango Amazon 800 (4 kids) but then sold it after about 6 years , downsizing as we figured our now young adult kids wouldn't want to come every year.

We were wrong and now they bring boyfriends and girlfriends along, so we have a smaller tent for a few of them and want a decent (at least 6 berth and big) tent again. Our old Vango was heavy..steel poles etc but very sturdy. Are the Airbeams as reliable? DH thinks they are a ridiculous price but I think if we use one for the another 6 years it works out.

Anyone have an Airbeam tent and love it.. or not??!

[Callmecordelia]

We had a thread about this recently - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/camping/2555468-Inflatable-tents-yay-or-nay

I assume all these young adults will help set up and strike the camp? If so, I would just get a poled tent. The ease of pitching single handed isn't needed, so save the money. Or spend it on an even more fabulous poled tent.

The newer airbeams seem reliable but I am not sure that's really relevant to your decision.

[Durpy6]

We've just bought an vango Capri 600xl airbeam tent and it's absolutely fantastic. It doesn't even take 15minutes to put up! Totally recommend an airbeam tent!

[StaceeE]

We have the Vango illusion 800 (think that's what it's called) using a manual pump my partner can have it up by himself in 15 mins which is good however we have agreed that we could do a standard tent with poles in the same time. My advice would be save yourself a fortune and go for a tent with poles! Nothing wrong with the tent but I can't really see the benefit of the airbeam

[taybert]

We've just got an airbeam and it's brilliant but we have a 3 year old and a 1 year old so the ability to pitch a large tent single handed is very helpful. If we were all grown ups we'd probably just stick to poles, no huge advantage otherwise.

[Yellowiceytek]

Yes yes yes, I've got a Vango Edoras, there is no way I could put a poled tent of that size up on my own.
It goes up and down really quickly.

[SouthDownsSunshine]

Love our vango airbeam. But, the valves are dodgy already.

[whenwillsummercome]

We've got one - the Centara 600. New this year, used twice. Cost £400 (on sale).
It's FANTASTIC to put up - amazingly quick, easy, simple. Real delight.
BUT, it's a pain to put it away. Because it has the beams it needs careful folding along beam lines, and we haven't worked out a good system yet.
So I think yes, worth it when pitching time matters (our kids are young and we quarrel about this sort of thing) but not otherwise.

[ihatethecold]

Ours is great.
We bought a vango one last year.
I will never go back to a pole tent now.

[user7755]

We are looking at getting one. DH has a disability and we thought we had lost the chance of camping but if I can put an inflatable tent up by myself maybe we can continue to go. Is it doable for a 5ft 5 mid 40s woman on her own?

[reallyneedmoresleep]

If you are feeling rich, you could get a Karsten. They are modular inflatable canvas tents that are very strong and last forever. That way, you can take part of the tent if just camping as a couple or the whole thing if camping altogether

[ihatethecold]

Yes User, Definitely.

[Zampa]

You can buy customer returns (from the likes of Go Outdoors) via eBay from a place in Runcorn. We got our 6 person Airbeam from there for £200. The colour had faded and there was a small hole in the window but easily repaired. Got the carpet and porch too (again faded). Had to buy the ground sheet full price.