Since Tentsile introduced its very first tent, stretched multi-point tree tents, sheltered hammocks and dangling live-in pods have been bombarding the market with regularity, and a number of them camp on the ground as well as in the air. To keep up with the trends, Tentsile adds a ground kit to its revamped third-generation tent lineup this year. The kit transforms swaying tree tents into stable ground tents, giving each tent more versatility in camping anywhere.
As we mentioned when looking at Tentsile’s new stand a few weeks ago, we’ve encountered situations in which stringing a tent up in the trees was a no-go. A 100-lb (45-kg) stand is certainly one solution, but an easier, more packable solution is a ground conversion kit capable of eliminating the trees from the picture and making the Tensile a simpler ground tent. It’s the strategy Tentsile used when launching its triple-element (land, water, air) Universe raft/tent, and Tentsile now extends air/ground capability to its entire lineup of one- through three-person tents.
The ground kits are specific to individual models but include the necessary components to make each Tentsile a freestanding tent. Each kit includes a ground sheet to protect the bottom of the Tentsile, screw-in stakes, reflective guy lines and telescoping support poles for the fly. Put those pieces all together (Tentsile has some handy videos to guide campers through the process), and the previously tree-dependent Tentsile tent makes the forest floor home like the Stingray above.
The new ground kits launched this year as part of an updated 2020 Tentsile lineup that also includes a new ruggedized “Safari” trim Vista tent and underfloor gear nets on all models. The ground kits range between $60 and $150, depending upon tent model, while the tents themselves run between $299 for the solo UNA to $999 for the new three-person Safari Vista. The ground kits also retrofit to previous Tentsile models so current owners of those tents can double their camping pleasure, too.
Tentsile tents leap between air and ground with new conversion kits [New Atlas]