This strange looking tree shelter was created by a team of British designers, to provide portable habitation for campers while also minimizing material usage. Dubbed Tentsile, the shelter is a dangling tent that offers similar comfort to a hammock and can be used in a number of environments. The portable shelter employs tension forces to provide a suspended habitat that is protected from wildlife, including insects and snakes, while at the same time providing a secure shelter from the elements. The tent is easy to assemble and can be suspended up high in the tree tops or slightly hovering over ground level.

The Tentsile features a collapsible frame with webbing straps and infill panels that are made from fire-retardant, UV- and water-resistant polyester fabric. The frame's tension is maintained by elongated sections at each of the three high-level anchor points. By utilizing this three-dimensional force, the shelter reportedly offers stable, adaptable and lightweight accommodation for campers.

The unique inverted pyramid shape creates an elevated position that offers protection from floods, sand storms, earth tremors and wet or cold ground, while leaving a minimal footprint behind. Since the Tentsile tent is suspended above ground level, there is no need to clear areas of dense foliage and it can easily be erected over waterlogged ground, desert sands or rocky landscapes. A simple rope ladder allows easy access to and from the tent and ensures that no unwanted "visitors" will be making their way in during the night.

A simple rope ladder allows easy access to and from the tent and ensures no unwanted "visitors" will be making their way in during the night

Tentsile is available in three different sizes, catering to 5, 8 or 12 occupants. Besides their use in camping, the tents could also conceivably serve as low-cost emergency accommodations or wildlife safari lodgings, or could even see military use ... but with that being said, Tentsile may also be the easiest treehouse a dad could set up for the kids in the backyard!

The company has yet to publish the prices of these hovering habitats, but inquiries can be made on its website.

Source: Tentsile via Treehugger