OzTent marks 20 years with Signature Edition

Just about everyone who’s ever camped under canvas has a ‘tent holiday from hell’ story to tell. Walls collapsing under fierce winds, the roof leaking in heavy rainfall, furry creatures visiting in the night…

But rather than curse, give-up camping or buy a caravan, OzTent founder Joe Viglione turned his tenting mishap into a multi-million dollar business.

As the story goes, back in the mid 1980s Joe and his wife borrowed a tent from a friend so they could enjoy a few nights under the stars, only to discover a vital pole missing. ??With divorce threatened, and the holiday cut short, Joe later went in search of a tent that could be easily erected and had minimal items that could be misplaced. ??

The fruitless journey eventually led to him inventing the ’30 second’ OzTent, a patented Aussie invention that has been so successful it's now sold in 10 countries and is reputed to have been pitched in every campground in Australia.

Now, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first OzTent, the NSW-based company has released a special, limited edition model with all the usual OzTent benefits as well as “dozens of new features”.

Unveiled at this week’s NSW Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow at Rosehill Racecourse, the JV Signature Edition OzTent features a standing room height, enclosed awning at the front, attached to a separate, rear ‘bedroom’ that will easily accommodate a queen size mattress.

Among the special features are upgraded materials and ‘Signature Styling’ trim and colours, individually numbered badging, a new side and front panel design, and a new zip in the tub floor sealing the awning section to create another room.

The sleeping compartment and awning have both been redesigned and extended, and it comes with an extended four-year warranty and ‘Signature’ back up service.

Erected, it measures 2.4m wide, 4.2m deep and 2.2m high, while the tent packs up into a 1.6m long bag for easy carrying and storage.

Like all OzTents, the JV Signature Edition comes with a ‘100 per cent waterproof guarantee’, offers excellent ventilation, and fits a range of standard OzTent accessories.

Just 1500, individually numbered Signature tents will be made, priced at $1650.

See the OzTent website for further details.