Should You Buy An Inflatable Tent? Seasoned Campers Offer Their Two Cents

If you've ever fumbled over tent poles on a camping trip, you may have gotten to the point where you wish you could just press a button and have your tent set itself up on its own. Well, there is a type of tent out there that basically does that, as long as you have the right equipment. Inflatable tents have been a popular shelter in Europe and Asia, but haven't gained popularity in the U.S. until recently. Many travelers are hesitant to adopt these cushy tents out of fear that they will blow away like a bouncy house or pop like a balloon. One user on Reddit, u/er1catwork, writes, "This may be a false Impression, but with the luck I have had with air mattresses, I would surely wake up in the morning with a half-collapsed tent."

Contrary to popular belief, several campers swear by inflatable tents, particularly because of their ease of setup and durability. One Reddit user, u/misterpiggies, wrote about their inflatable tent, "I've weathered storms of 70+ mph in this tent. Stake it properly and you shouldn't need to worry." However, high-quality inflatable tents can be quite the investment, costing upwards of $1000, so you're going to want to be sure when you lay down your card.

Inflatable tents are perfect for car camping, glamping, and folks traveling in big groups. One of the downsides of inflatable tents is that they are bulky and hard to move, as user u/tagish156 notes, "Packed away, it's the size of a hockey bag and around 70 lbs." This is why they are best suited for car travel, and when you have a couple of other hands to help you set up. But on the other hand, because of their large nature, inflatable tents can be huge, with multiple rooms, making it the best type of tent for families. 

You can get seriously creative and make your tent super comfortable by bringing along inflatable furniture, foldable tables, and other accessories. So, despite expectations, if your inflatable tent is one of the best on the market and set up correctly, it should not blow away in high winds or pop as soon as a tree branch touches it. Just be sure that you have the right camping style for an inflatable tent.