14 DAY TRIAL // There are many ways to bring light along with you on a hiking trip, but most of them need a lot of careful handling and jostling if you're going to succeed in doing anything less than simple, like reading a book at night. Big Agnes decided to make it easier by integrating light into the tent itself.
A flashlight isn't the best idea for a way to read a book at night, but sometimes you don't have much of a recourse when you camp out in the woods or wherever.
Admittedly, there are other things you could bring along, like headlamps, tent lights, lanterns, etc. You can't be expected to have one for everyone though, and the lantern isn't the safest thing to use in a tent.
Anyway, Big Agnes decided to just build a lighting system into the tent itself, leading to the release of the mtnGLO line.
The mtnGLO tents have LEDs integrated directly into their construction, complete with a light switch. It's like having a nightlight. AAA batteries are used to provide power, so as long as you take a healthy stock of them with you, you'll be set for a fine week of outdoor living.
Big Agnes seems to have prepared different lighting layouts, varying based on individual models of the tents. There will be complete mtnGLO tents, from ultralight backpacking models to base camp models.
What's more, if you already have a tent you like, you can just buy the LED add-on. Or you will be able to buy it, once Big Agnes figures out the ordering and shipping logistics.
That was actually the only way you could integrate lighting into your tent until now. The concept of lit tents isn't new after all. Big Agnes is just the first company confident enough in demand to release an actual product line with LEDs integrated by default.
So far, the mtnGLO line of tents was revealed in Europe, at the Outdoor Friedrichshafen Show that took place in July. Next up, the tents will be headed to the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market taking place next week in North America (beginning of August 2014).
Prices range from $39.95 / €30 for the lighting accessory to €599.95 / €448.33 for the Gilpin Falls 4 mtnGLO, which also comes with a Joey T55 Powercase, a portable, lithium-polymer power pack that will fuel the lights and recharge your phone or tablet on the side. Just don't abuse it, because it will be depleted after you do it three times.
