For avid campers and outdoorsy folks, there are few things more tranquil than pitching your tent next to a beautiful lake and falling asleep with nothing but the light of the stars above. The company SmithFly has created something that is even better than this. Instead of falling asleep next to the water, they’ve created a product that allows you to sleep on it.
SmithFly has released a new tent, called the Shoal Tent, which is essentially a floating raft with a popup tent on the top. To set yourself up for a relaxing sleep on the water, all you have to do is inflate the raft portion and assemble the top. Every aspect of this tent is inflatable. Both the mattress and the support system use three air chambers. This is important because it makes for no additional poles or parts to carry. This feature comes in handy specifically when you have to hike long distances to get to your final destination. SmithFly claims that, despite being fully inflatable and having no poles, the tent can still withstand high winds.
When fully inflated, the flooring of the tent is 6 inches thick. It is sturdy and double stitched. It can even be used as a mattress on its own, or a raft. The top portion of the tent can also be used alone. The tent is incredibly spacious. The raft/mattress portion measures 8 feet by 8 feet, and the tent is over 6 feet tall. The Shoal tent weighs 75 lbs with everything included. It is not ideal for long hikes, but is an excellent option for shorter distances.
Not only is this tent heavy, it is also pretty pricey. It retails for $1,499, but that is not to say it isn’t worth it. Many say it is totally reasonable for the experience you get while sleeping in a Shoal tent. Currently, you can purchase the Shoal Tent by SmithFly online.