Karsten Tents from Zwaag is introducing a new milestone in camping comfort: the Karsten ToW (Tent-Up-Wheels). The launch follows shortly after the company's 50th anniversary in 2024 and coincides with another special anniversary: it is exactly 45 years ago this year that the North Holland manufacturer changed the market with the very first inflatable tent.
From innovation to classic
Karsten Tents has been a household name in the field of high-quality camping tents for decades. In 1981, the studio caused a furor with a revolutionary invention: an inflatable tent in which two cross-linked pressure hoses are inflated to a pressure of 4 bar. This not only allows the tent to be erected quickly and without poles, but also requires hardly any guy ropes or pegs. To this day, this principle is a bestseller. Now Karsten is taking the next step by combining this proven system with a compact luggage trailer.
The solution to the luggage problem
Many tent campers recognize the phenomenon: the car is full to the brim, making an extra roof box or trailer necessary for all the gear. The ToW cleverly solves this problem. It is based on the iconic, igloo-shaped inflatable tent, but instead of a traditional tent bag, the tent now forms one unit with a lightweight luggage trailer that offers plenty of room for all camping gear. Literally a Tent on Wheels. The clever design allows easy access to the luggage compartment even when closed, making it easy to load and unload luggage at home without setting up the tent.
Tent experience with king-size comfort
Arriving at the destination, the ToW is set up in no time. The tent is simply unfolded from the car, after which the pressure hoses fill with air within minutes. Soon a spacious 3.5 x 3.5 meter (family) tent is erected. The integrated tub ground sheet ensures that you are always and everywhere dry.
A big advantage is the integrated sleeping comfort: you do not sleep on the ground, but on an extremely comfortable slatted base with a double mattress of 210 x 165 cm. Like every Karsten, the tent is made of 100% cotton TenCate tent fabric; this breathable material ensures a natural and pleasant climate.
Ideal for electric and compact tow cars
On the road, you literally and figuratively have no worries about the ToW. Due to its height of less than one meter, you simply look over it in the rear view mirror. Because the ToW is no wider than a passenger car and only 3.75 meters long including the drawbar, it follows effortlessly; additional exterior mirrors are therefore unnecessary.
Its low weight of around 300kg, combined with the 750kg axle, leaves more than enough load capacity for all your gear. Despite that low weight, the ToW stands for optimal driving comfort and safety on a braked lightweight Al-Ko chassis; quality as you would expect from Karsten. A B-driving license is sufficient and because of its weight, the ToW can be driven behind almost any (electric) car.
A real Karsten, but on wheels
Director-owner Marc Takken emphasizes that when developing the ToW, it was deliberately not a traditional tent trailer or folding trailer. "It is a real Karsten quality tent, but on wheels," he says. "We wanted to keep all the good things about our inflatable tent, which has proven itself as a camping verité over the years. Often tent camping is combined with a small luggage trailer, so we thought, why not combine the two? An additional advantage is that you sleep off the ground on an extremely comfortable bed that is ready to use immediately. We are convinced that with the ToW we will be able to attract new groups of campers in addition to the existing die-hard tent campers."
Also suitable for families and travelers
The ToW is there for everyone. Thanks to the well-known Karsten coupling modules, you can easily expand the tent into a fully-fledged vacation accommodation for the whole family. The ToW is also an ideal partner for the adventurous camper on a long tour thanks to its great ease and comfort on the road.
Available from Easter 2026
The ToW will be available from Easter 2026 through Karsten Tents and at, among others, De Vouwwagenpecialist, with an introductory price starting at €13,995. There is a temporary introductory offer for early orderers: those who order in April for delivery in June will receive €1,000 introductory discount.
The Karsten ToW is manufactured entirely by hand in the tent atelier in Zwaag and then assembled at sister company Easy Caravanning in Emmen.
