Tentsile: solution for those who want to camp without sleeping on the ground [gallery]

Created in 2010 by British inventor Alex Shirley-Smith, who in 2012 hired designer Kirk Kirchev to help perfect the project, Tentsile is what you might call a simple and practical idea. Pick up a camping tent, tie tethers to it and hang it off the ground, avoiding wet or uneven ground, and exposure to creepy creatures that are common on camping trips.

The concept already existed before, but probably had never been implemented so efficiently. To make use of this ingenious suspended tent, simply locate a set of three support points that form approximately a triangle, stretch the straps attached to the ends of the structure with the help of tensioners and you're done.

Trees are the ideal structures for installing a Tentsile, but it is possible to attach the suspended tent to other natural structures, such as rocks, or artificial, such as columns. Another very interesting factor about the product is that it has no environmental impact as it does not have to break, puncture or move anything in order for it to be installed. And if you decide to tie your Tentsile far off the ground, just climb a rope ladder to get up there.

The company's website offers a choice of tents, from simple unshielded "hammocks" that can be occupied by up to three people to tents covered with insect mesh and tarps to protect occupants from adverse weather conditions. These tarps, if not needed against rain or strong sunlight, can be tied under tents, serving as a kind of luggage storage and keeping travel supplies protected from predator actions.

Oh, and if you can't find anywhere to "hang" your Tentsile, it can still be mounted to the floor like a conventional tent.

Where would you camp if you had a tent that could be suspended? Comment on the Mega Curious Forum