![vango airbeam tent vango airbeam tent](https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/userimages/15338.jpg)
A really nice additional advantage of airbeams for the kitesurfer is the increase bouyancy they give - very useful when the kite comes down on the sea. The critical nature of the airbeams reliability for someone out at sea and their reliance on the airbeam's continuing functionality need hardly require emphasis. Other similarities include the use of valves and isolated beams so that a puncture will result in only the affected beam deflating. Like tents, these kites use airbeams to form the rigid skeletal structure they require. The type of power kite we are referring to is known as a Leading Edge Inflatable or LEI for short. Power kites are used for kitesurfing, kite landboarding and kite buggying. ( Yes, interestingly, airbeams are used in other products ). The inner tube therefore stays inflated until you deliberately choose to allow the air to escape typically when you wish to take the tent or awning down.Īn interesting approach to answering this question is through the consideration of airbeams and their use in products other than tents.
![vango airbeam tent vango airbeam tent](https://www.outdoorgear.co.uk/PIX/BIG/511189-01_XL1.jpg)
![vango airbeam tent vango airbeam tent](https://www.norwichcamping.co.uk/media/shapes/product/small/21000/21043/vango-2020-tents-airbeam-elite-tahiti-air-850xl-cloud-grey-norwichcamping-co-uk.jpg)
![vango airbeam tent vango airbeam tent](https://www.vango.co.uk/img/cms/collection-detail/adventure/avington-flow-air-500.jpg)
Was there an alternative? The answer of course brings us to the present day - airbeam poles. Poles that had to be stored, looked after and transported to and from site. Yet, despite all these technological advances, one thing remained constant tents had poles.
VANGO AIRBEAM TENT FULL
Dome tents, tunnel tents, semi-geodesic and full geodesic tents appeared on the market and the departure from the traditional tent shape had arrived. Combining these tent poles with new fabric materials that replaced the weighty traditional canvas, enabled tent designers to flex their creative minds and realise the potential new tent shapes were born. Over the years, as new materials have been developed, tent poles have taken on new characteristics rigidity has given way to flexibility and poles have become lighter whilst retaining strength. Many of us will be familiar with the traditional shape of the ridge or frame tent. The stubborn rigidity of these poles and the weight of canvas they had to support, tended to determine the shape and design of the tents. Traditionally, tents and awnings have used rigid tent poles made of wood or metal to form their shape and structure.