Having just spent a weekend camping isolated in the mountains, we’ve really come to appreciate a break from the city and technology. So when we came across this solar powered tent we felt conflicted – doesn’t this defeat the point of roughing it? On the other hand, then tent does look really cool and the power could come in handy.
Read more about this tent below the jump...
The Orange Solar Concept Tent, created with Kaleidoscope, uses moveable photovoltaic fabric panels to maximize solar efficiency. The solar energy would provide campers power for a wireless charger for camping gadgets and cell phones, a Wi-Fi control center and built-in “in-floor” (groundsheet) heating. Additionally at night, using “Glo-cation technology”, the tent glows when the camper texts it or gets near to it so the tent could be located in the dark.
Via Kitchen Clarity and Impact Lab
(Thanks clarityk!)
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i love the concept, but will the pv panels pack away for easy mobility? and i bet this thing is a million bucks.
view thedirtyshow's profile
Not: it's just a pipe dream rendering. Solar panels are heavy and expensive and will be for a while-- this makes little sense.
view salsa's profile
thedirtyshow & salsa,
Actually there are no 'solar panels' in the traditional sense. The 3 dome shaped pieces that are shown at the top of the tent are actually panels of fabric made of specially coated solar threads, so they are flexible and part of the tent structure, rather than an entirely separate and rigid component... But, likely very expensive either way.
view Rachelw's profile
What are the solar panels for? Lighting? The last thing I want after backpacking for 15 miles is to turn on a light and stay up. I knock out immediately. I guess maybe this is more for leisure camping?
view graciela's profile
Personally, I spell camping m-o-t-e-l, LOL but... we're in the middle of forest fires in our area this summer and I think these would be wonderful for the firefighters who we keep hearing are in camps out there when it's close to 100 F.
view thymeless1's profile
I love "glo-cation". Perfect when you're less than sober coming back to your tent after a night at a festival and find yourself in the general area of your tent, but know it is only 1 out of the hundreds of other tents.
view buda's profile
@Rachelw, thanks for the info, but it's unclear how they could keep those domed shapes without a lot of ribbing. "Specially coated solar threads" sounds cool, in the same way "space elevator" does...:)
view salsa's profile
Salsa --
I generally have to agree with your skepticism, but according to Orange the tent was supposed to be at this year's Glastonbury Festival, so hopefully we'll be hearing more about how it's actually working...
view Rachelw's profile