Could this tent make camping COMFORTABLE? £200 Siesta4 reflects sunlight and uses 'air conditioning' to keep it cool and dark - dailymail.co.uk
Siesta4 was developed by Outback Logic and is available on Kickstarter
Four-person tent uses fly fabric that reflects infrared, visible and UV light
USB-powered fans can be installed in side vents to regulate temperatures
The tent costs $265 (£170) without a fan or $300 (£195) with a fan included
Anyone who has ever been camping will know the shock of waking up at the crack of dawn with sunlight streaming through the tent, or feeling like they've been sleeping in a sauna.
The Siesta4 tent has been created to solve both of these problems by reflecting infrared, visible and ultraviolet light using a specially-designed fly fabric.
By reflecting sunlight the tent stays dark and cool, but the designers have also added ventilation fans to create a built-in 'air conditioner'.
Siesta4 has been developed by California-based Outback Logic and is available through Kickstarter.
It sleeps four people and is made from a highly-reflective polyester fabric called 210t Ripstop Taffeta. This breathable fabric also helps reduce condensation.
The inner tent is fitted with two double doors with full mesh panels and two circular side vents, where the fans are stored.
Each fan measures 8-inches (20cm) in diameter and is powered by a USB cable.
Once fitted to the side vents, the fans draw cooling fresh air directly into the inner tent through a special fabric duct that connects the inner tent to the fly.
The designers said this is especially useful when the doors are closed, or if there’s no breeze.
There are also two smaller mesh vents in the roof, and all the mesh panels can be zipped closed so the inner tent can be fully protected against sand and dust.
Elsewhere, the fly fabric is waterproof and the aluminium poles and full-length pole sleeves give the 'best in-class performance' against wind.
'Compared to typical nylon and polyester tents, the Siesta4 is dramatically cooler and darker inside when in direct sun', explained Outback Logic.
'Waking up in the Siesta4 is more like waking up at home with the blinds and curtains closed than waking up in a tent.
'Unless you set your alarm, chances are you’ll carry on sleeping until you wake up naturally.'
In crowded campsites, such as festivals, the firm continued that the tent can be easily pitched without guy ropes. The inner tent can also be left clipped in, so everything can be pitched in one go.
During temperature tests in Spain, the Siesta4 remained relatively close to the temperature of the ambient air outside the tent, while a 'normal' tent reached temperatures of around 43°C (110°F).
Prices for the Siesta4 tent start at $265 (£170) from the Kickstarter page and rise to $300 (£195) with one fan, and $335 (£220) with two fans.
If the campaign is successful, the company will begin shipping the tents internationally in April after which the recommended retail price will start at $400 (£260).
At the time of writing, the campaign had raised more than $54,490 (£35,475) of its $100,000 (£65,075) target with 29 days to go.