Tentsile Blog

#BecomeOneOfTheMillion

A New Year’s Resolution: Tentsile aims for 1 MILLION people in trees!

We’re setting ourselves a new challenge, a Tentsile Challenge: From January 2017, we will aim to get 1 MILLION people camping in trees within the next 5 years. That’s right, 1 million people, 5 years. Who said ambition was for the faint-hearted?...

January 5, 2017 — Jethro Shirley-Smith

Secret Spots

The clever design and easy handling of our Tentsile Stingray meant we managed to set up camp within a few minutes. As you can see, a Tree Tent was perfect for this terrain. Hidden by branches, we were invisible. From this unique secret spot, we could see the stars through the tree tops as they lulled us to sleep after a hard first day...

October 31, 2016 — Alex Shirley-Smith

The Waiting Game

As the summer season kicked into gear, and as more and more campers all around the world heard about Tentsile for the first time, it happened; orders came in, tents sold out, waiting lists went up...

September 20, 2016 — Alex Shirley-Smith

One step closer to ending child hunger

Colina and I (Amelie-Rose) have been close friends since we were about 8 years old. We are both from France originally, and currently live on the Isle of Wight. We share the same passion, which is to travel.

From an early age we have also both wanted to support various humanitarian associations, and we thought it would be a fantastic idea to combine our travels with fundraising, partnering with a non-profit to raise money for them on our way. For our first trip we have decided to support the outstanding work of Action Against Hunger. We are about to embark on a 1,200 km adventure to circle the Pacific island of New Caledonia by whatever means available to us. This two-month journey will see us cross different landscapes and terrains, hugging the coast and climbing hills, through forests and across beaches – no doubt encountering many challenges on the way! Let us tell you more about the motivation behind it.

September 15, 2016 — Alex Shirley-Smith

Feeling 'in tents' about Architecture...

Everything they say about studying architecture is true: we work laughably long hours, and adopt ridiculous routines and habits over the many years it takes to complete the course. I’ve been one of those people for 2 years now, hiding to keep working overnight in the studio, choosing to buy expensive paper instead of lunch, and exclaiming over a particularly pleasing timber joint. Studying architecture teaches you to question the spaces around us and, for me personally, how to define a ‘home’.

A home can be many things: a city or a forest, or not even a fixed place at all. I think I’ve found a home in Tentsile, and look forward to being a part of sharing it with the world!...

August 22, 2016 — Alex Shirley-Smith

Inside the OutDoor Show 2016

Trade shows can be hard. There is no escaping that fact. Everyone knows it - the effort and time they take to plan, the building of the stand, the early starts and late finishes, the sore throat from hours of talking. But they are also fun. There is no escaping that fact either. And everyone knows that too – the meeting new people, the making of deals, the working together, the well-earned beer at the end of the day. A conflict of exhaustion and exhilaration. And that is exactly what the OutDoor show was for Tentsile. All of it in one. Four seasons in one day.

August 12, 2016 — Jethro Shirley-Smith

Hot Stuff

Firstly off, we would like to thank you all for believing in Tentsile. Your enthusiasm, praise and support has been overwhelming these past few months. June 2016 broke all kinds of records and took us all by surprise! We went viral with over 150m views of various edits of the film we made of YOUR content, we have had an upsurge in sales so large that we are currently battling a 800 tent back log ( thank you for your patience ), and we have seen retailers coming back for more stock again and again and again....

July 6, 2016 — Alex Shirley-Smith

Tentsile goes back to nature with NuAdventure

As a start-up company, a range of adventure sports are used to entice small groups across part of the island. The pinnacle of this pilot week was perhaps the night spent stargazing to the sound of crashing waves – together with the feathered inhabitants of the cave. A real natural treat.

July 1, 2016 — Jethro Shirley-Smith

Follow The Tentsile Road

But it is not just Europe that feels like a playground in the sun. The Tentsile community is growing across the world, from Australia to Argentina, from Cambodia to Canada, from the largest countries to the smallest villages; our Tentsile community is growing, bringing all of our experiences together.

June 13, 2016 — Jethro Shirley-Smith

Tagged: Sustainability

Euphoria Festival Fun!

Although I had a 1400 mile trip in front of me, I couldn’t help a smile of satisfaction creep over my face as I realised the season of summer festival fun was about to begin – and people will be pitching their Tentsiles everywhere the world over.

May 24, 2016 — Alex Shirley-Smith

I Love My Job

A jolly fella named Syd was trying to find a place to live in Ogden; so I offered up my help. Naturally, I asked if they were hiring and sent over my CV right away. The whole Tentsile team was heading to Utah from London for the Outdoor Retailer show. I was heading to the show anyway, so I made some time and we arranged to meet up. Just after a few minutes of chatting with Alex… a job offer! Before signing on, I had the pleasure of working side by side with both Kirk and Alex modifying a prototype. That pretty much sealed the deal for me. These guys are passionate and treated me as though I was already part of the team/family. So I accepted the job.

May 13, 2016 — Venessa Castagnoli

Exposing Europe’s Biggest Hole.

Rise Up are are group of activists on a mission to share a dirty secret and expose Europe’s biggest man-made hole in an attempt to save one of Europe’s ancient forests.

April 22, 2016 — Jethro Shirley-Smith