Back in April, we took a look at the French-designed Exod Home, an innovative inflatable hammock-tent for backcountry or frontcountry glamping. At such a shaky time during the early days of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the four-figure tent’s future felt quite uncertain. But since then, camping and outdoor recreation has caught fire, so maybe a four-figure air/ground tent is not so out there after all. Exod is now chasing crowdfunding dollars in hopes of getting the Home, now called the Ark, to market.
Beyond the name, not much else has changed from Home to Ark. The unique tent is still positioned to be a sturdy and exceptionally user-friendly portable outdoor shelter that adapts to the idiosyncrasies of the world around you.
Camping the coast for first-light breaks? Enjoy a comfy night of sleep right on the sandy beach. Just inflate the Ark’s exo-frame into shape and stake the tent down for stability, all in mere minutes.
Up in the mountains with nothing but jagged rock floor around? Hang the Ark from one or two trees and sleep in suspended bliss.
The Ark can mount to two trees (or rocks, or Land Rovers) spread anywhere from 13 to 32.8 feet (4 to 10 m) using Exod’s roller cam strap system. The straps can also be bunched together over top the roof and used to hang the Ark from a single point. Either way, you connect the telescopic carbon poles to create a rectangular floor frame to create a stable, cot-like sleeping platform.
Exod has secured manufacturing and supply partners around France to ensure each Ark is built entirely domestically. Its tent body manufacturer also builds large inflatable field structures for military tanks and helicopters.
Exod is running a Kickstarter now, offering several packages. A tent kit (tent, pump, stakes, guy lines, carry bag and repair kit) is available for a €795+ (approx. US$940) super early bird pledge. It weighs 10 lb (4.7 kg). The complete kit (tent kit with carbon frame and cam straps) comes in at the €1,895+ ($2,240) and weighs 17.9 lb (8.1 kg).
So far, Exod has rallied close to halfway to its campaign goal with a few weeks left to go, and most supporters are opting for the full kit, not just the tent. If successful by the time the clock runs out, Exod plans to move forward and begin shipping from France and the US in April 2021.
Exod pumps and pitches its inflatable ground + tree tent [New Atlas]