UK-based company Tentsile recently unveiled its latest off-ground tent. The Connect follows the basic design of Tentsile's previous Stingray and Tentsile models, but is the firm's smallest, lightest, and most affordable tree tent to date.
Like its predecessors, the Connect can be thought of as a mix between a double hammock and tent, and it enables off-ground camping by attaching to three nearby trees with three 6 m (19.7 ft)-long straps which are pulled taut with ratchets. The company recommends the tent be situated at a height of 1.2 m (4 ft) above ground.
The Connect can be physically joined together with two other Connect tents to create a forest-based hangout Tentsile calls the "Trilogy," and the company says even more units can be added to create a kind of tree tent community. Each tent is able to take the weight of up to three adults, plus their gear.
Once fully assembled, the Connect measures 2.8 x 4.6 x 4.6 m (9.1 x 15 x 15 ft) and packs down to 50 x 20 x 20 cm (20 x 8 x 8 in). It weighs 5 kg (11 lb), has a total floor space of approximately 5 sq m (53 sq ft), and access is granted via four doors. The tent is waterproof and also contains a basic insect net and fly sheet.
The Connect will set you back US$599, plus shipping, and comes in two shades of green, in addition to orange and camouflage.
Product Page: Tentsile
Hammocks has been around for centuries, and this is after all just a fully enclosed hammock.
I would start at one foot high and gradually move up to four and maybe more as my confidence grows. Any tent can keep you dry and shield you from the "creepy-crawlies", but making a camp fire close to your tent doesn't apply here, unless you want to see how the tight straps can melt pretty quick!
Again, it's a cool idea but $600 and needing to find the proper tree configuration to set it up makes it impractical. Hammocks have been around for centuries and I own one. But my hammock didn't cost $600... it didn't cost $50.