Ep138 - Zempire: Innovating the Outdoors with Richard Knauf

What happens when New Zealand innovation meets camping comfort? Zempire founder Richard Knauf pulls up a Hexolite table to share the story.

From lightweight yet sturdy camp tables to their 'Lasagna of Glory' Monstabeds - in this episode, Ben and Lauren unpack Zempire's latest gear innovations with the man who helped dream them into existence. They dive deep into the tech behind the Aerospeed Air Tent range, discuss the balanced stance on blackout fabric, and discover why air poles might just be stronger than you think.

Tune in for an hour of product insights, the lowdown on designs, and how feedback from real campers turns a 'what if' into a rustic reality!

00:00 – Intro
00:28 – Introducing Rich from Zempire
01:17 – Richard’s Story
02:22 – Zempire’s Hottest Products
02:39 – Hexolite Camp Tables
03:48 – Achieving Lightweight but Sturdy Strength
06:30 – Heat Resistance
06:54 – Adjustment Mechanism
07:58 – Hangdome Lanterns
08:09 – Monstabeds
15:00 – Inflating the Monstabed (for a ‘Lasagna of Glory’)
16:25 – Total Weight and Pack Size
16:46 – Puncture Resistance
18:27 – Aerospeed Air Tent Range
25:30 – Size and Weight Comparison: Aerospeed 10 Air Tent
26:15 – User Experience for Air Tent Beginners
26:43 – ‘Something’s Gotta Give – What’s the Catch?’
32:27 – Burst Strength of Zempire Air Poles (PSI)
33:09 – UV Resistance
35:51 – Aerospeed Air Tent Storage Bags
40:16 – Aerospeed Air Tent Walls and Door Configurations
43:20 – ‘Blackout’ Fabrics
47:22 – Aerospeed Air Tent Accessories
49:09 – Roof Covers
50:52 – One Product, Many Markets
51:46 – Connectivity
53:18 – Compatibility of Aerospeed Link with Legacy Models
54:35 – The Feedback Loop and Design Process
57:15 – Zempire Pumps
01:02:13 – Summary

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