Wenzel Vortex 8 Person Tent Review – Inflatable Air Beam

Who is it for

Sizewise, this tent is with the declared capacity of 8 people. When you see its dimensions, you realize that there is 135 ft² (12.5 m²) of the floor area, and this makes 16.9 ft² (1.56 m²) per person. This is not so great, they have used the backpacking principle in defining the capacity. More about the tent capacity in general you can see in my separate post.

So to have a comfort in the camp, it is best to use it for 4 – 5 people. The tent is suitable for groups and for families with 2 – 3 kids.

Seasons-wise, the weather resistance of this tent is quite moderate, more below, so I see it as a 2-season tent. But its structure is such that it is better suited for a cooler climate. This is because of its construction which is without mesh on the ceiling which you have in tents designed for a warmer environment and summer camping.

Regarding transportation, the packed size is 25.5 x 11.5 x 11.5 in (65 x 30 x 30 cm) and the weight is 22.81 lb (10.35 kg). Both are reasonable and the tent can be transported even on a motorbike. In any case, it is for places with a motorized access.

Materials & structure

The floor is 1000D welded polyethylene, so this is a very tough material and this welding technology gives the best sealing and it is frequently used with such plastic materials. Such floors are completely waterproof. A bit more about materials and sealing please see in my separate text.

The rest of the tent is a coated polyester with 800 mm waterproof rating. This is quite moderate, and you can see more about this terminology here. This is why I wrote above that it is best suited for 2 seasons only, meaning summer, late spring, and early autumn.

But the tent is rather closed, and it is a single layer design, so use it in a cooler environment. There are vents on both narrow sides, and you have mesh on the windows and on the door. But there are no ground vents, and with such a design, some complaints about condensation and the lack of ventilation are no surprise.

Inside, you have only two small pockets, so this is totally inappropriate for such a big tent.

The tent is with pre-attached guy ropes, and air beams behave nicely in windy conditions; they bend due to wind pressure but they get back into normal positions instantly. This is a very flexible design.

A bit more about setup please see in this video by Wenzel, note they use a smaller tent for the demonstration here:

Good and less good features

Here is my short summary:

The price & rating

As of the moment of writing this text, the Amazon price for this tent is around $282. Is this too much or not? I think it is best to see the comparison table below and then make a conclusion. But yes, there are more affordable options in terms of money/value combination. See how I rate this tent for several criteria.

Specifications

• Type: inflatable tent.
• Capacity: 8 people.
• Weight: 22 lb 13 oz (22.81 lb, 10.35 kg).
• Dimensions (L x W): 15 x 9 ft (180 x 108 in; 457 x 274 cm).
• Floor area: 135 ft² (12.5 m²).
• Area per person: 16.9 ft² (1.56 m²).
• Peak height: 74 in (188 cm).
• Packed size: 25.5 x 11.5 x 11.5 in (65 x 30 x 30 cm).
• Fabric: polyester.
• Large volume double-action pump included.
• Doors: 1.
• Windows: 5.

Wenzel Vortex 15 x 9 Air Tent vs Competitors

Here I give the Wenzel Vortex 8 tent side by side with two other tents built with the same air beam technology. As you realize, it is less expensive than the competitors, but it is not the most comfortable option there. Please follow the links in the table for more info.

Final thoughts

If you want something more traditional with metal poles, please check this NTK Arizona GT 9 tent. Check also this Eurohike Buckingham 8 Classic Family Tent with 5 rooms. Need something simple and portable for 8 users? Check this Timber Ridge 8, a very affordable tent. Thank you for reading. Please use the comment box below if you have any comment or question. Have a nice day.