Ep 138 - Zempire: Innovating the Outdoors with Richard Knauf

For links to everything mentioned in this episode, check out our show notes: https://www.snowys.com.au/blog/podcas... 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! Shortcuts: 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 Join the conversation over on our Facebook group:   / snowys   Head to snowys.com.au for all your gear needs: https://www.snowys.com.au