A question I am often asked is ‘Which tent is better? Inflatable airbeam vs pole tent?”. We have camped using both types of tent and although we prefer an air tent for us cost plays a factor for us when choosing tents.
Inflatable Airbeam vs Pole Tent – Which is better?
Who ever you speak to in the camping world will have their own preference when it comes to which they prefer. However this blog post will help you decide which tent would be suitable for you.
Inflatable Airbeam Tents
Airbeam tents uses air tubes to prop up tents rather than the usual fibreglass, steel rods. They have been on the market for a few years now and there are some great ones currently available to purchase.
Pro
Pitch time – Airbeams are so much quicker at pitching over a standard pole tent. Some airbeams take only minutes to pitch rather than the pole tent that can take alot more.
No poles – Obviously there are no poles to have to worry about getting snapped or lost. Also, airbeams are better in windier weather as the flex more. Poles are rather rigid so rather than move with the wind there is the possibility of them breaking
Cons
Weight – The weight of the airbeams are heavier and you can’t distribute the weight either. For example with pole tents, you can separate the poles from the tent.
Cost – Airbeams can be more expensive than the standard pole tents
Air Pump – Not all airbeam tents come with the air pump needed to inflate. When buying double check that the pump comes with it.
Replacement parts– If anything was to go wrong with a beam then it could be costly to replace. Standard fibreglass poles are available from most camp shops.
Pole Tents
There are 3 different types of pole tents; Glassfibre pole, Steel tent poles and Aluminium poles. Each has their own individual pros and cons however here I have looked at the overall pros/cons of pole tents.
Aluminium – A lot stronger than other pole types however a lot more expensive.
Steel – Steel plated poles need maintaining otherwise they are at risk of corrosion. They are also stronger but this does mean steel pole tents are heavier than others.
Pro
Price – Pole tents are a lot more budget friendly and you can pick up bigger tents for less.
Bigger sizes available – There is a wider range of choice for larger berth tents
Weight – Pole tents are easier to carry and transport. You can separate the poles from the tent to distribute weight in the boot.
Cons
Pitch time– Pole tents are a lot more hassle. It takes a lot longer to pitch and requires more people to set up. I mean you could do it on your own but unless you are a seasoned pro, you’d struggle.
Not windproof – What I mean by this is, in high winds pole tents are more studier and structured which means they do not flex in winds which could damage the poles.
Pitching – With a larger tent it has more poles which could lead to needing more people to help pitch a pole tent.
Overall
Like I said at the beginning everyone has their preference. Our first family tent was an inflatable airbeam and we loved it for the ease of pitching. We currently camp using poles and although trickier you certainly get more space for your money. However as I mentioned cost for us plays a factor when choosing a tent.
I would suggest popping to a camping shop where you are able to see the tents in person to really get a feel for size and space. You will be able to see the packing size as well as getting a feel for the size of the rooms. 
I’ve been debating an airbeam tent this year, although the one I was after was last year’s and now out of stock everywhere and nothing else is quite fitting the spec in comparison, so I’m sticking with poles this year. The whole putting up thing is great, however many airbeam say 10-20 minutes. But I can put my poled 5 man tent up on my own in that time. But I’d probably be able to pack away my poled tent in less time than fully deflating and rolling an airtent on my own. So I’m of mixed opinion especially as the better tents are anywhere from 7-20kg heavier! One of the people we camp with has just bought an air tent, so I’ll be checking out how they get on, and saving for next year’s sales!