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Seven Years and 200,000 miles
My dream of traveling on a motorcycle began back in the mid 60’s and grew though out the 70’s while watching TV shows like, Then Came Bronson, a series starring Michael Parks, depicting the freedom that comes with riding a motorcycle. The 60s and 70s was a time in when rock in roll was considered the root of all evil, a time when you honestly believed you couldn’t trust anyone over 30, a time when communism was a real threat to the free world and protests to the Viet Nam war was an everyday event on the evening news. The idea of leaving all your cares and daily grind behind really appealed to me. Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper were riding across the screen at every drive in Movie Theater in the classic Easy Rider, Evel Knievel was becoming a household name. It was a time when “bikes” were really coming into their own, there wasn’t any helmet laws or special classes or “cycle” endorsements required. If you could hold it up you could ride it!
Those early dreams of riding the countryside never left me. I often thought about what it would be like to just ride at will, but reality always came back in the form of obligations and responsibility. It took 40 plus years but the day finally came in 2002, I bought a bike and I was on my way! Yea, just me and the highway!
The first few major road trips were to say the least an education. What to take, how to pack, searching for camping gear that could be packed on a motorcycle was a major problem especially finding a good tent! The tent had to be big enough to accommodate me and my gear, a size that would be somewhat comfortable living in for a week or more or in the event of a couple days of rain, yet compact and light enough to be packed on a bike. It had to be extremely well built and durable enough to stand up to whatever Mother Nature could dish out whether it be desert heat, the early fall snows of the mountains or the relentless winds of the badlands! It had to be quick and easy to set up after a long day of riding or when out in the middle of nowhere when the weather turned from good to bad without much warning. It had to be quick to take down and pack up when it was time to break camp, and of course be affordable. Wouldn’t it be great if someone made a tent that somehow didn’t use ridged or “bow poles” that are all but impossible to fish through the tent sleeves or have to be fastened to the outside of the tent in some fashion especially in the wind, rain or at night, not to mention the poles drastically restricted the collapsibility and compactness of the tent for packing.
I searched all the major and not so major sporting good web sites. As I traveled, criss-crossing the country I would stop whenever I found a sporting good or outfitter store but to no avail. I looked at all the major camping/outfitter brand names tents and tried most of them, all of which had several short falls. I searched back packing web sites, e-mailed other bikers and camping clubs from all around the country, only to discover they were all having the same problem. Search as I may, there just wasn’t a tent that fit all those requirements. Was I being unreasonable? Then wham outta the blue, while searching the web…Airzone, an inflatable tent! No poles to deal with. WOW, what a concept! Could this be “THE” tent! According to what I seen on the web site it certainly met all the criteria I was looking for. After contacting the company and talking to the rep I was positive this was what I had been looking for. I placed an order, sight unseen and when I took delivery I couldn’t believe the quality. It was exactly what I had been searching for. What a great tent!
It’s now been over 7 years and I can’t begin to tell ya how I have abused my tent, everything from packing it up wet to falling off my bike at 70 mile per hour. It has endured wind, rain, sun and everything in between. It sets up in a heartbeat, and has never failed to perform exactly as I was told it would. 200,000 miles later all the seams are still water tight, the air tubs have never leaked (The tent came with a patch kit, but I lost that years ago) and the material is still in perfect waterproof (not water repellent, not water resistant but …water proof) condition! And believe it or not the zippers still work perfect!
I don’t know if Airzone actually set out to make the perfect tent for bikers or not but the end results are they have. As I travel the country, folks are amazed at how simple the tent sets up, how quick and easy it inflates. The stability of the tent is better than any “bow rod” tent when the air tubs are inflated, in fact unless I’m planning on staying in one place for more than over night I rarely use the stakes.
When folks ask if I plan on buying another one my answer is no. Based on the past seven years, 200,000 plus miles together with the quality of material and workmanship, I won’t need to, this one is going to last me a lifetime.
Thanks Airzone.
Hyway
P.S.
So… Airzone, when can I expect to see a leak proof air sleeping mattress?
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Thank for all your help (PS: I Already have a Ptarmigan tent and I suggested to my 2 friends to each get a tent for our African Sahara crossing!!) Please send them.
Valentini A, Italy
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A pop-up tent, finally!
Inflatable tents have been in development for 70 years, but finally someone has got it right.
The 10-pound AirZone pitches in just 7 seconds, as a carbon dioxide cartridge inflates it support poles. The poles are basic rubber inner tubes surrounded by woven polyester.
Turning the release valve deflates the poles in 2 seconds.
Science Tribune
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I have had the tent you sent me set up for almost three months and my daughter has been using it as a play house in the back yard. I expected to have to re-inflate frequently but have just now had to top off the pressure for the first time! The quality, instant set up, and cool features like the Velcro attachment for the fly were great. Air Zone has certainly raised the bar for other tent manufacturers.
Sincerely, Tony H
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