Skip to main content

Camping in Extreme Conditions is Easier with this Inflatable Geodesic Tent

As kids, fun looked like inflatable bouncy castles and slides. Now, as adults, it’s the inflatable tent, Heimplanet Mavericks, we’re eager to play in.

A Mavericks tent is as architecturally advanced as it is cool-looking. With an astounding 142 square feet of ground area — it can house up to 10 explorers (or just you and a shit ton of gear) — you’d think it would take a small village to pitch this beast. Au contraire. Intuitive and extremely quick, Mavericks use an intuititve One-Pump System allowing set-up with one pair of hands and a simple, quick procedure: roll out, inflate, finished.

Recommended Videos

Modular, double-layer air beams enable this easy and quick set-up, which could make all the difference between getting frostbite and staying warm at basecamp. These inflatable tubes stand up to the elements thanks to a resistant double-layer construction comprising of an extra airtight thermoplastic polyurethane bladder that keeps the inflated air inside for an extended time. (Nothing like that dinky inflatable pad you’re sleeping on that sags during the night. Why aren’t you using Klymit Sleeping Pads?) Meanwhile, the simplistic outer jacket uses tried and true high-tenacity polyester fabric. What more could you really want.

Mavericks
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While the air beams get all the acclaim, the true hero of the Mavericks design is the shape. The Heimplanet Mavericks is a geodesic dome— a design you’d ordinarily see used for greenhouses. These domes use triangular elements to distribute structural stress, allowing the tent to handle extremely heavy loads for its moderate size.

The American Institute of Architects calls the geodesic dome “the strongest, lightest, and most efficient means of enclosing space known to man.” This material-to-volume ratio appealed to Heimplanet, and, as a result, the brand invented the Inflatable Diamond Grid (IDG) of air beams seen in the Mavericks.

This design also protects itself against collapse. Let’s say your ordinary tent gets a tear. The rest of your structure is therefore screwed. This isn’t the case for the Mavericks. A patented Multi-Chamber Safety System enables you to divide the airframe into separate chambers in the event that any part becomes damaged. (i.e. if one air beam is accidentally torn, the rest won’t go down with it.) You can then localize the defective part and easily repair it, keeping everyone dry and out of the cold. However, a teat is unlikely because the Mavericks is built t withstand winds over 111 miles per hour.

Anyone else suddenly itching for an Arctic road trip?

To be frank, we’re not Arctic (or Antarctic) explorers and would probably never need a $6,500 tent … but on the other hand, the aesthetics of the Mavericks alone are deserving of exhibition. We love backyard camping in the summer, so why not Mavericks-up and pitch a tent during the next winter storm.

Jahla Seppanen
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Born and raised off-the-grid in New Mexico, Jahla Seppanen is currently a sports, fitness, spirits, and culture writer in…
Jetboil’s rebooted Flash 1.0L Fast Boil is hotter, better, faster, stronger
The next generation of Jetboil's wildly popular camp cook system is better than ever
Woman cooking with a Jetboil Flash 1.0L Fast Boil system in a mountainous backcountry setting.

Jetboil's OG Flash has been a staple of my camp and overlanding kits for years. The dead-simple design boils water quickly and reliably, and the entire kit packs down into a very travel-friendly footprint, making it ideal for everything from overnighting backpacking trips to extended off-road/car camping expeditions. Now, the popular camp tool is getting a reboot to make it better in every way.

The next-gen version, dubbed the Jetboil Flash 1.0L Fast Boil, isn't an all-new product, but rather a substantial upgrade that fixes the most common minor issues of its predecessor. Most notable is the turn-and-click igniter system with a built-in position indicator that works just like your stovetop at home. So, there's no need to bring a lighter or separate ignition source, and it's easier to set the temperature than ever. Just push, click, and you're cookin'.

Read more
Arkto’s C10 micro-camper trailer is trail-ready with all the comforts of home
With ample tech and amenities packed into a pop-top design that's ready for your backcountry adventures
Rendering of a Jeep Wrangler towing an Arkto Campers C10 micro camper through the desert.

Overlanding today is often about doing more with less. For travel trailer owners, that means packing more features and creature comforts into ever-shrinking towables — towables like the all-new Arkto C10 camper trailer.

For the Canadian maker's first micro-camper, it started with its wildly popular G12 overland camper, then figured out how to pack most of the same features in a much smaller footprint. Indeed, the composite-built C10 is two feet shorter in length and more than a foot narrower, making it surprisingly nimble on tight backcountry trails. At 2,750 pounds dry (900 pounds lighter than the flagship G12), it's designed to tow safely and easily with something like a Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, or other mid-sized SUV.

Read more
iKamper’s latest Skycamp Mini is a sleek rooftop tent designed just for Rivian
With a 60-second setup, room for two adults, and a seamless design that feels fresh from the factory.
Rivian pickup truck with an iKamper Skycamp Mini rooftop tent parked near a desert overlook.

Rivian has been quietly proving that today's best EVs are, in fact, a viable option for overlanders and serious car campers. The next-gen automaker recently teamed up with iKamper on an exclusive rooftop tent designed to take owners, well, just about anywhere they want to go.

The two brands collaborated to build the special edition rooftop tent as a seamless camping solution for Rivian R1T and R1S owners. It features a sleek, premium hardshell that integrates beautifully with Rivian's modern, bleeding-edge aesthetic. That includes an exclusive colorway with signature yellow accents and blacked-out hardware that not only looks great but also allows the tent to be installed securely and effortlessly. The sub-140-pound weight makes it a straightforward job for you and a friend. Exclusive Rivian badging inside and out rounds out the "fresh from the factory" vibe.

Read more