With inflatable tents being relatively new, we decided to pitch the Dometic Hayman 4 Air inflatable tent to see how easy they are to handle and look at the design.

How Do Inflatable Tents Differ?

The main difference between the Dometic Hayman 4 Air inflatable tent and a similar dome-style tent is that the structural poles are air tubes.

These are no flimsy setup and are close to the solidity and pressure you might see in a kitesurfing kite. Instead of connecting elasticised fibreglass or alloy poles and then threading or clipping this in place, the inflated tubes do a similar job.

How Easy is the Hayman 4 Air to Pitch?

The Hayman 4 Air inflatable tent is an intuitive tent to pitch. After laying out the tent, I pumped up the three air tubes. The valves are logical and unscrew fully to deflate, have a middle section with a one-way valve for inflation and a cap to ensure no air loss once inflated. 

The pump is large in volume and operates on the push and pull motion meaning the tubes inflated far quicker than expected. The pump has a gauge with a green indicator to show you’ve reached the correct pressure.

One large diameter pole needs to be then connected to form the tent’s front shade. The final step was to peg out the four corners and then peg out the forward guy ropes to hold the tunnel style tent taught lengthwise. I tied this off to the handy pine camp divider. 

This setup is the minimum pitch, was fine for good weather and only required six pegs or, in this case, four pegs and the pine divider. Like any tent, you’ll want to use all of the pegs and guy ropes provided in the wind.

What’s in the Bag?

The Dometic Hayman 4 Air inflatable tent comes with everything you’d expect. The bag has twin zips to open fully and get the tent back in the bag with ease.

The pole for the front shade, pegs, and pump are all included and roll up inside the tent, which still easily fits in the bag. The only other things you’ll need are a hammer, and if you beach camp, sand pegs are invaluable.

The bag itself is a clever shape, compact enough to fit inside of many vehicles but streamlined enough to store on a roof rack if you prefer.

What’s it Like Inside?

The front room is versatile and can be shade, a mesh room or fully enclosed to block the wind, rain and keep warm. There is a large rear vent so when all of the windows are rolled up the breeze flows through and keeps it cool and comfy for sleep and lounging.

The rear sleeping area has two small sleeping spaces making it ideal for a family. The inner divider between these sleeping places is removable, so if you are a couple or have young children, this can become one larger room.

In fact, the whole inner tent can be removed to make one large shelter or open living/sleeping space. The inner has coloured coded straps that make it easy for you to orientate it for connection.

Specifications

The Dometic Hayman 4 Air weighs in at an easy to manage 18.61kg and the bag measures 780mm x 400mm x 400mm. Pitched the tent measure 4100 long x 3000m wide and 1950mm tall. It’s roomy but will still easily fit in most campsites.

The outer fabric is waterproof Weathershield™ 68D that is UV stabilised. The Hayman 4 Air comes with a 4 year warranty.

How Does it Compare?

Compared to similar size poled tents we’ve used, this inflatable tent is a faster setup. The tent pitches inner and outer together, saving the usual hassle of trying to get the tent outer over and hooked down. The minimal pitch requirements of this tent is a clear pro, with most alternatives requiring a series of poles, guy ropes and pegs to erect the forward living space.

What Setup is Right for Me?

Unfortunately, there is no perfect setup, but different options suit different travellers for various trips. We’ve accumulated a few options over the years and use each for different styles of trips.

Rooftop tents are great for on-the-go travel, but they aren’t always ideal for families or when you want to stay put for a few days and still head off exploring in your vehicle. Smaller tents and swags are a great option but aren’t so popular for families and are harder to escape the bugs and elements. Camper trailers are another good choice but are a significant investment and can be harder to travel with and store at home.

So while there are more suitable options than ever before, the humble ground tent is still a top choice.

Learn More

To learn more about the Hayman 4 Air Inflatable Tent, visit Dometic.

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Mike Collister

Founder of Adventure Curated, Mike has spent his life outdoors. He has represented Australia as a slalom kayaker, guided whitewater expeditions in Nepal, and taught outdoor education and wilderness medicine. He’s paddled the Kimberley’s Fitzroy River in the wet season, across the Bass Strait and has explored many of Australia’s remote areas by 4x4.