Beach tents are often a simplified conformation Tents of dome tent and provide a useful (relatively sand-free) compass to temporarily store beach equipment, but are at most showerproof. Some beach tents employment specially treated fabric which is opaque to ultra-violet light, and so provide some protection against sunburn. Maximum height is extensively about 120 cm (4 ft), and they are usually not enormous enough for an adult to lie down in.
Inflatable pole supports, also noted as airbeams, serve as rigid structural supports when inflated but are soft and pliable when deflated. Much like a bicycle tube and tire, airbeams are often composed of a highly dimensionally stable (i.e. no stretch) fabric sleeve and an air-holding inner bladder. However, other airbeam constructions consist of coated fabrics that are cut and manufactured to its intended shape by a method such as thermal welding.