Buckminster Fuller, Superior Dome, that big ball at the Epcot park in Disney World — all things that come to mind when you think of geodesic domes.
Now, thanks to the North Face, you can include your camping setup in that list.
The company’s new Geodome 4 tent is a black-and-white bubble that looks like it belongs on Mars. But the geodesic structure, made up of a series of triangles, is first and foremost practical: it allows stress to be distributed so it can withstand much harsher conditions than the size and weight would suggest.
Like, say, a 24-lb. tent that can handle wind gusts up to 60-MPH.
A deceivingly simple setup of five criss-crossing poles makes up the outer framework, with one additional pole running around the “equator” of the dome. The whole unit becomes water-resistant once you attach the yellow flysheet.
Inside, the 44-square-foot floor area and 6.9-foot height allow four people to sleep comfortably. Around the top of the tent is a rope for hanging gear, while five mesh and four zipper pockets line the sides.
Compared to the company’s 2-Meter Dome tent, which requires 12 poles, this is a huge upgrade in portability and assembly. The tent will first see a release in Japan in mid-March, going for around $1,650.
The rest of the world will have to wait.
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