How do you choose your inflatable tent?

They’re like the little bouncy castles of camping. Their main advantages are:

• Ease of pitching: you just need to inflate the tent with a pump (and insert a few pegs). At Quechua, we’ve simplified the pitching process to the max, thanks to an all-in-one structure with pre-assembled bedrooms and flysheet.
• Pitching speed: pitching a six-person tent, such as the Quechua Air Seconds 6.3 XXL F&B tent, takes no time at all! A few minutes are enough to inflate it and stake it to the ground. The time saved can be spent enjoying sports activities or making the most of your campsite!
• Striking speed: no need to rush or stress when vacating your pitch, dismantling is as quick and easy as setting up. You will be on your way back home in no time!
• Comfort: our engineers and designers have created pleasant interior spaces with living rooms offering standing height, spacious bedrooms, and super clever storage spaces.

• The price: for the same number of places, the purchase price of an inflatable tent is higher than that of a standard pole tent. You also need to buy a suitable pump.
• Sensitivity to puncture: even if you escape breaking an arch, you could face punctures. At Decathlon, all our tents are repairable. In addition, to protect our Decathlon inflatable tents, all of our inflatable poles have a dual-layer arch structure: a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) air chamber and a 600-denier polyester cover. Actually, we’re so confident about them, that our Decathlon inflatable tents come with a <link href="/contents/5e6dd314-f850-4c55-b660-66050a7c5743" target="_blank">five-year guarantee</link>.

Having an inflatable structure is extremely practical. But the quality of the tent fabric still needs to follow!

Check the tent’s waterproofing level on its product data sheet. This is expressed in Schmerbers or in litres of water per hour per sqm. The higher the value indicated, the more waterproof the material is. At Decathlon, we test our tents in the laboratory and in the field.

You also need to differentiate the waterproofing value of a particular fabric and of the tent as a whole. The assembly (especially the seams and zips) will have an effect on the tent’s overall waterproofing level: a tent made of a highly waterproof material, but without taped seams or without a flysheet or groundsheet, is likely to let water seep through in rainy weather.

Polycotton, also called technical cotton, is loaded with benefits. It offers better UV resistance and better breathability than traditional polyester. It also offers longer life (it does however require more maintenance, and must never be stored if it’s still damp). It’s also lighter than 100% cotton. Finally, it offers a more appealing living environment, by muting noise. In short, although less efficient than the Fresh and Black technology as far as darkness is concerned, polycotton is much cosier and more pleasant on a daily basis.

For tents, a specific number of people, or a specific number of bedrooms is often specified. At Decathlon, for instance, a 6.3 "tent" can accommodate up to six people in three separate bedrooms.

If you’re camping with kids, count them as adults (as we know that a child going on holiday travels with their own weight in luggage and toys). Note that a bedroom can accommodate two to three people, depending on its dimensions (and on the persons’ willingness to share a room!).

Finally, take the size of your mattress into account! This will avoid situations where you find yourself with overlapping mattresses because there isn’t enough space (camping is a social experience, but sleep is also sacred).

Camping with a classic tent, a rooftop tent… the choice is up in the air! But how can you decide?

At Decathlon, we give our products a second lease of life with our Second Life platform for second-hand products. This is an excellent option if you are looking for a high-quality inflatable tent at a reasonable price, reconditioned by experts.