The vast majority of inflatable tents are designed to withstand winds of up to 20mph without the use of tent pegs. Tents that are supported with the use of pegs are able to handle wind speeds of up to 40mph. The good news is, on a rainy day the wind speed is only around 15mph. Generally, people don’t go camping unless the weather is nice, on a hot summer’s day you can expect wind speeds to be lower than 10mph.
So, in short: Yes, inflatable tents are highly reliable in windy conditions, especially if you’re taking advantage of reliable pegs. They are good in the wind because the infrastructure made by air beams provides a more stable and secure tent that can withstand wind.
You can also take extra steps to ensure that your best air tent is weather-proof and protected against windy and rainy conditions, which we’ll explore below.
Of course, like most things in life it boils down to the quality of the tent itself. If your tent has higher quality material, inflatable beams, and pegs then you can rest easy knowing that you’ll be safer in poor conditions.
Inflatable Air Tent vs Traditional Camping Tents
Instead of traditional tent poles found in most generic camping tents which are made from metal or plastic, inflatable tents feature inflated beams which can be pumped up to provide a more reliable structure that is better served to withstand poor weather conditions in comparison to generic tents.
Inflatable air tents are similar to a canopy tent, they provide a more reliable means to shelter and protect you from rain. The difference is, air tents are built with air beams which are more stable than canopies and more suitable for camping and outdoor use.
These tents are inflated using a pump, which is great for people who don’t like putting tents together with poles. As a result, you can simply just pump your tent up instead of getting frustrated with bendy poles or poles that get stuck inside each other.
Finally, what’s great about inflatable air tents is that, unlike traditional tents, the air poles are flexible and when they’re impacted by sudden gusts of winds they bend, stretch, and reform back into place. As a result, there’s far less risk of the poles snapping which can force the entire tent to collapse as a traditional tent would. Find out more in our in our air tent buying guide.
What Kind of Wind Speeds Can it Handle?
Inflatable camping tents were designed to be a better solution for camping in challenging conditions in comparison to your average tent, which is not reliable in windy weather. On the other hand, inflatable tents provide more of a stable structure that is capable of handling high wind speeds up to 40mph, which is pretty intense.
As a result, if you have arranged a family camping trip and are feeling daunted by a rainy and/or windy weather forecast then it won’t ruin your plans if you have an inflatable tent. Always check wind speeds before arranging a trip so you can plan ahead.
The amount of wind that an inflatable tent can handle depends on the tent’s quality, and how securely it’s pegged into the ground. Furthermore, there are different types of winds such as continuous wind which is when the wind is blown constantly for a prolonged period. Let’s say that a well-pegged inflatable tent was facing the constant wind, then it should be able to cope with it well.
You may ask exactly how much wind can a tent handle before breaking apart? Well, according to Heimplanet, some of their larger tents have been known and tested to handle 110mph winds. However, the likelihood is that you will never face wind speed on the scale unless you’re camping in a storm.
Benefits of an Inflatable Tent
Let’s look at the benefits of an inflatable tent for camping trips and general outdoor use:
- Capable of handling strong winds and poor weather conditions
- Not difficult or time-consuming to set up
- Provides a far better structure than other tents
- They do not puncture as easy as pole tents break
- Can be set up by just 1 person if required
- Can be packed away with ease
- Can be repaired easily
- No broken poles
It’s worth noting that the entire mainframe of a tent can be pumped up in the same valve, meaning that you don’t need to change places to pump, it can all be done in one go. In addition, it only takes a few steps to set up an inflatable tent; If your tent is already connected to the airframe, inner and outer sections of the tent, then all you need to do is simply roll it out, pump it up, and fixate with pegs.
Likewise, an inflatable tent can be put away in a straightforward manner too. You simply open one of the air valves, allow it to deflate, roll up and pack it back up.
Some high-quality inflatable air tents are made from nylon fabrics which are specially designed to withstand the wind force of heavy winds and prevent the tent from ripping apart. For ultimate wind resistance, it could even be worth looking into plastic bubble tents.
What if an Inflatable Tent Bursts?
Inflatable tents are made from high-quality materials. In fact, they don’t puncture with ease. If your tent has a tube puncture high wind damage then it is still unlikely your tent will collapse, depending on your tent’s durability. Most inflatable tents come with a repair kit. Furthermore, the tent is supported by other pillars and ropes to prevent collapse. Below are some steps you can take to fix your air puncture if one of the inner tubes breaks or bursts.
- Remove the tube from the tent
- Close all of the valves so the tent does not deflate after tube removal
- Remove inner tube from the outer casing
- Pull out the clear plastic tube
- Find a flat surface to work with
- Identify the hole in the tube
- Seal the hole with duct tape
- Reinsert the tube back into the tent
This is how you can fix a damaged tent in the event that you get a puncture, other things can also be used instead of duct tape and may be available in your tent repair kit.
How to Protect an Inflatable Tent
There are further steps you can take to protect your inflatable tent from high winds and other poor weather conditions such as heavy rain. It’s important to take the right gear on your camping trip to use for protection.
1. Use a Tarp
This method is conducted by attaching your tarp to a nearby tree or poles. Furthermore, the tarp will provide shelter for your tent and protect it from rain. Additionally, any wind will bounce off the tarp depending on its speed.
Alternatively, a tarp can be used underneath your tent if the ground is muddy. This will act as an additional layer to protect your tent from wet ground. It’s a good idea to use a tarp to protect your tent from rain even if you have a waterproof tent. Finally, once you pack your tent away, the bottom of it will be dry.
2. Find a Good Spot
When deciding on your place of camping, it’s good to pick a sheltered spot, particularly in forested sites. If you are camping underneath a bunch of trees, they will act as further protection to shelter your tent and camping site. On the other hand, it can also be quite dangerous camping near trees so beware of thick or heavy falling limbs/branches because they may damage your inflatable tent if they fall due to strong wind.
3. Don’t Peg Too Loose or Too Tightly
Believe it or not, pegging your inflatable air tent too tightly into the ground can actually cause more harm than good. This is because if it’s too tight into the ground the air poles will not be able to bend and flex into shape when facing moderate to high winds. Additionally, you may cause strain on the material if the tent stretches due to it being pegged in too tightly.
To state the obvious, if a tent is pegged loosely then it’s susceptible to wind damage regardless of how flexible the air beams are. Suitably fitting the pegs into the ground will result in keeping your tent safe.
4. Always Be Prepared
A good camper will always come suitably prepared when embarking on their camping trip. For instance, remembering to take your repair kit is a great start and an essential item to prevent any trouble in case something goes wrong.
Similarly, remembering the little things such as a pillow, spare pegs, and even torches will go a long way.
