Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

Nemo produces a unique line of tents that are immediately striking for their lack of poles. Instead of poles, several of Nemo's tents use AST--AirSupported Technology.  Tent supports are tubular arcs that you pump up to provide tent structure.  Tents include either a foot pump or hand pump and  inflate into shape within seconds.  You can sit in the tent and pump it up around you, allowing quick escape from a sudden storm.  AST is available in Nemo's GoGo Bivy ($265 2.5 lbs) and 2-man Morpho AR ($385 5.7 lbs).  It will also be available on the Nano in 2009.  In addition to quick, easy set-up AST allows versatile storage of tents that large, rigid poles would not allow for.  Store easily in a backpack, kayak, bike trailer, etc.  Company reps stressed that the airbeams are as sturdy as aluminum poles and will hold up in storms given proper guying.  If you hear a pop and fizz, don't worry; tents come with a replaceable, slide-in air bladder for a quick fix, much like a bike tube.