Man isn’t meant to stay indoors — our weekly “Trekking” column can attest to that. It’s a column dedicated to the adventurer inside of all of us, the one pining to ditch the office humdrum for a quick surf session or seven-week jaunt in the Grand Tetons. One day we may highlight an ultra-light stove and the next a set of handmade canoe paddles. Life doesn’t just happen inside the workplace, so get outside and live it.
Heimplanet is not your typical manufacturer, nor does it make your typical tent. Whereas other tent makers concern themselves with sleek, aluminum poles and ultra-packable components, Heimplanet is German manufacturer that prefers to produce shelters with a penchant for flexible stability and naturalistic design. Many of the company’s wares — which include dopp kits, duffles, tents, and an assortment of other items — are built for rugged landscapes–areas where quick-pitching is a must. The Heimplanet NIAS ($1,200), the company’s latest innovation, is just another example.
Unlike traditional tents, the unique NIAS utilizes a network of inflatable tubes that act as support beams (no poles included). The main structure consists of two identical cabins, with a protective vestibule in the center. The latter components provides ample space for cooking and storing equipment such as packs and bicycles, while serving as a communal gateway for the quickly accessing the opposing cabins. The nylon tent, polyester fly, and inflatable diamond frame capitalize on a geodesic design, too, a facet that keeps construction materials to a minimum and grants the NIAS greater stability once erected in the wild.
As for capacity, Heimplanet built each cabin to accommodate two or three people, with the aforementioned bridge in between and four closeable vents for added airflow. The best part of the NIAS, however, is the setup process — all you need to do is roll it out, affix the hand pump, and push the handle.
Check out Heimplanet online to make a purchase, or to peruse the company’s limited array of tents, bags, groundsheets, and outdoor accessories.
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