This portable tent looks funny, but keeps you and your gear safe from rain

After the article about the hands-free umbrella, plenty of people said that, in some cases, it simply wouldn’t be enough. Indeed, sometimes the rain is too strong. And when it’s paired with the wind, an umbrella alone doesn’t protect you and your gear well enough from the rain. But this is where Under the Weather portable pods can come to the scene. These wearable and portable tents serve to protect you and all your precious gear from rain and wind, and they can even keep you warm. It looks hilarious, but it seems that it works.

These pods look like a crossover between a tent and a foldable laundry basket. As a matter of fact, this type of laundry basket partially inspired Rick Pescovitz, the owner, for the design. Now he and his wife, Kelly Mahan, run the company together and it seems they’re doing pretty well. Rick has recently come out of the Shark Tank with $600,000 to grow the business further.

The idea came after freezing in one of his son’s soccer games. Originally, the pods were designed for all the spectators who wanted to watch an outdoor event without getting soaking wet and being cold. However, the business has spread, and so did the ideas. Therefore, Under the Weather designs their pods for photographers as well.

Their Photo Pods are portable and lightweight, weighing approximately 10 lbs. Still, they have durable, heavy duty steel wire structure. They have zips inside and out, so they are fully enclosable. Three out of four sides are made from clear plastic, so they enable 270º viewing. They are designed to pop up and fold in seconds, and they are wide and high enough so you can either sit or stand in them.

Photo Pods are designed to protect you and your gear safe from water and wind. It’s up to 30 degrees warmer inside, because you warm them up with your body heat. And aside from rain and wind, they also offer UPF 50 sun protection. If all this sounds appealing, you can get a Photo Pod for $199.00, although there are some more affordable models as well.

These pods can be great for outdoor activities that don’t require you to move a lot, like fishing, or watching a game outdoors (which was the basic idea). As for protecting photographers and their gear, perhaps they can also be helpful for landscape photographers while they are waiting for the perfect light. Sports photographers could also benefit from Photo Pods, in case they stay in one place while taking photos. But in all the situations when you’re required to move around while you take pictures, I don’t think this would be too handy. Perhaps you could poke a hole in the bottom and use it Fred Flintstone style? What do you think? Would you consider getting one of these to keep you safe from the rain?

[via USA Today]