As adventurous grey nomads increasingly head off the beaten track, sometimes that means dropping off the van and ‘roughing it’ for a few days in a tent.
However, the advances in tent technology are re-defining what roughing it actually means. The latest iteration of the easy-to-set up, luxury tent comes from French company, EXØD, and its Air Station Pod-01, which it says is as ‘light as air, strong as steel’.
The inflatable tent’s revolutionary inflatable skeleton is based on the cutting-edge technologies of kite-surf wings, which reportedly demonstrate exceptional durability and resistance even in the most extreme conditions.
Flexible, lightweight, and easy to fold once deflated, the structure of the POD-01 becomes incredibly hard and rigid at just 0.5 bar (7 PSI) of pressure.
The Air Station Pod-01 offers 360-degree panoramic views. PIC: EXØD)
It can apparently be erected or packed away in as little as five minutes, and it creates a floor area of 4.2m² … and you don’t have to use any of those pesky poles!
The designers have incorporated numerous hanging and storage solutions and a ‘Wall Organiser’, allowing users to suspend their equipment on the air frame, freeing up floor space and keeping the capsule well-organised.
The walls of the POD-01 lift up to give adventurers a 360-degree panoramic view, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in their surroundings.
Space-conscious grey nomads will be delighted to learn that the whole kit and caboodle can be folded away into a carry bag measuring 25 x 35 x 64cm, and it all weighs just 8.5kg.
While the POD-01 certainly seems comfortable enough and spacious enough for a few days away from the van, it’s worth noting that its inside height is 153cm … so, it’s a place to sit in comfort rather than stand in comfort.
The POD-01 comes in both black and white, and can be shipped worldwide. It looks good and its ease of set up and pack up could make a difference to a lot of travellers, but it’s certainly not cheap. It will set happy campers back a hefty US$2800.
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