I know what you’re thinking…
An inflatable tent? Really?!
When I first laid my hands on the RBM Outdoors Panda inflatable tent approximately six months ago, I must confess I had my doubts…
I had never ventured into the realm of inflatable tents before, and my mind was filled with whimsical images of the tent taking flight during the night – with me and my son inside! Truth be told, I also harbored concerns about its durability in the face of diverse camping environments where rocks and roots might puncture the tent.
So the question is, did all these fears come true?
As you can see in my video review above, not only did these fears not come true, but I found that this tent is an absolute rock star. The RBM Outdoors Panda inflatable tent is easy to set up, offers tons of interior space, and withstands strong winds like a champ.
Read on to get the whole story!
Table of Contents
- RBM Outdoors Panda Inflatable Tent Specs and Features
- RBM Outdoors Panda Inflatable Tent Setup
- How Does the RBM Outdoors Panda Inflatable Tent Perform in Windy Conditions?
- RBM Outdoors Panda Inflatable Tent Durability
RBM Outdoors Panda Inflatable Tent Specs and Features
At almost 10 feet wide, 13 feet long, and 7.2 feet tall at the peak of the roof, this tent is absolutely enormous. All told, there is 129 square feet of interior space, which is big enough to sleep eight people (or have a huge bed, a table, a fridge, and plenty of room left over, as shown above).
The tent is made of canvas, which is breathable so there’s less concern about condensation forming on the inside of the tent. Moreover, canvas is extremely durable and rugged, which is exactly what you want in a tent material (more on that later).
Image credit: RBM Outdoors
This bad boy has two large doors for easy ingress and egress, plus eight windows. Yes…eight windows! All of the windows have mosquito netting, so you can open them up and get nice airflow without the addition of bugs inside the tent.
Add in a panoramic window on the roof (as shown in the image above), and the interior of this tent feels more like a solarium than a tent. Open all the windows up and get loads of natural light! This is especially nice on cloudy, cool, rainy days when you’re stuck inside the tent but don’t want to feel like you’re trapped in a cave.
If you like to camp year-round like I do, the RBM Outdoors Panda inflatable tent has a trick up its sleeve – a stove jack (you can see the port for the chimney on the right side of the roof in the image above).
With fall rapidly approaching, having the ability to add a stove to your tent is a fantastic option. Just imagine relaxing in your enormous tent, the cold wind blowing outside, and the first snowflakes making their way from the heavens while you stoke the fire in your stove. Not a bad image, right? Especially with that awesome panoramic roof!
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RBM Outdoors Panda Inflatable Tent Setup
There’s really not a lot to say here because setting up this tent is about as easy as it gets.
Obviously, since it’s an inflatable tent, there are no poles, so you can immediately disregard all the messing about with what pole goes where. Instead, use the included manual air pump to inflate the tent (which takes about four minutes), stake the tent off with a few guy lines, and you’re ready to rumble!
I highly recommend using an electric pump to make even quicker work of inflating the tent. My little Flextail Max SUP Pump is rechargeable and offers up to 20 PSI, so it’s just the ticket for this application. Hook it up to the tent, watch it work, and about three minutes later, you’ll have a home away from home! Then, when you’re done, simply deflate it, fold it up, and carry it away in the included carrying case. It really couldn’t be simpler!
How Does the RBM Outdoors Panda Inflatable Tent Perform in Windy Conditions?
Once you tether the tent to the ground using the included stakes and guy lines, this tent is absolutely rock solid. I’ve had some of the windiest camping experiences of my life with this tent, and it has proven to be a reliable and comfortable option to take refuge from the wind.
I highly recommend upgrading the stakes, though. I use GroundGrabba stakes that screw into the ground to provide a better anchor for the guy lines. Since this tent is so large and has some big slabs of material to catch the wind, having a little extra connection to the ground certainly doesn’t hurt.
On a related note, this is a four-season tent, so you can legitimately use it year-round for camping trips without concern about its ability to hold up to wind, rain, snow, and sun. I’ve used this tent in many of these conditions, and it’s performed well each and every time.
RBM Outdoors Panda Inflatable Tent Durability
As I noted earlier, this is a canvas tent, so you get the advantages of breathability, durability, and ruggedness. This is a thick canvas – not the flimsy polyester material you see on many smaller tents – so it’s purpose-built to stand up to the rigors of outdoor use.
What’s more, canvas is extremely easy to repair if damage occurs. For example, if the tent gets a rip, it’s a simple matter of using the included repair kit to seal the rip or tear, and the tent will be as good as new.
At the end of the day, this tent has been absolutely awesome in every situation I’ve tested it in. As I noted in the introduction, it’s easy to set up, has loads of space for you and your friends, and has been surprisingly steady, even in really strong winds. For me, the RBM Outdoors Panda inflatable tent is a total champ.
Be sure to check out the video at the beginning of this review to get even more details about this awesome tent!