Tent and Advertising Inflatable Weights – Types and Usage

Anyone who has ever set up an outdoor event booth knows how crucial it is to properly secure all elements against various weather conditions. One of the biggest challenges is wind gusts. Event tents, inflatable arches, balloons, and other large event accessories must be correctly anchored to prevent equipment damage or potential accidents.

Standard solutions usually involve various anchoring systems. But what if the event takes place on hard ground – concrete, asphalt, or any other surface where you cannot use ground stakes? This is where various types of tent weights and ballast systems come to the rescue. Discover their types and applications below.

Weight Bags – Sandbag Weights

This is a highly popular and practical solution. A sandbag weight is a durable bag filled with sand or fine gravel. While you can find various models dedicated to specific types of advertising media, most are quite universal in application.

• Tall, narrow cylindrical weights are most commonly used for frame tents (pop-up tents). These weights can be attached along the tent leg using straps or Velcro. This setup looks professional and neat. Typically, these weigh between 15–25 kg.

• Wide, low cylindrical weights are usually used to secure various inflatable products, such as arches, pillars, and pneumatic tents. Their weight depends on the specific product and manufacturer, but it is usually 20–30 kg, though larger 50 kg versions are also available.

You can fill sandbag weights yourself or purchase them pre-filled. The first option is very practical – you only transport and store the empty weight bags!

TIP 1: If you fill the weight bags yourself, put a plastic bag inside first. This prevents the sand from getting wet and, if the sand was already damp, prevents water from leaking out. This helps you avoid unsightly stains on the fabric.

TIP 2: Before the event, make sure your weights can be properly secured—check if they have all the necessary mounting eyelets and carabiners to connect them.

The simplest sandbags look similar to shopping bags. They don’t have zippers; you simply fill them with sand and clip them to the tent or other media. This solution works particularly well on beaches.

TIP 3: If you need to manage in unforeseen circumstances, simply fill a heavy-duty shopping bag (like an IKEA bag) with sand and secure it to the tent.

Interestingly, a sandbag weight can also serve an advertising purpose. How? Through custom printing! At Inventini, our weight bags are made of polyester and can be any color or even feature full graphics. This has another advantage – it allows for quick identification of your equipment during busy events!

How much ballast is required for Inventini products? This table explains it all: Required Quantity and Weight of Ballast.

Cast Iron Weights

As the name suggests, these are made from cast iron—an alloy of iron and carbon. They come in various shapes and sizes, but manufacturers typically design them with user convenience in mind. Most feature a carrying handle and an interlocking shape that allows them to be stacked securely without slipping. The most common weight is around 15–16 kg.

Cast iron weights are primarily used for frame tents (pop-up gazebos), though they can certainly be used for fan-operated inflatables as well. Inventini products with built-in fans are designed so that you can unzip them and place any type of weight inside. We can also manufacture custom inflatables with a specialized “ballast floor” to hold weights in place.

TIP 4: When purchasing cast iron weights (especially from a different supplier than your tent), make sure they fit your specific product—check if the leg notch dimensions are compatible with your tent frame.

TIP 5: Cast iron weights can rust over time. It is worth refurbishing or repainting them occasionally to ensure they look professional during events.

Water Weights

Water weights are most commonly made from durable, welded PVC. While they usually come in cylindrical shapes (tall or low), you can also find unique designs like dunat-shaped weights. In terms of construction and attachment methods, PVC water weights are very similar to sandbag weights. The simplest form of a water weight is a donut-shaped ring placed over a flag base.

TIP 6: Small weights – around 15–20 liters – can be filled first and then moved into place. For large units (up to 200L), you must reverse the process: place the weight in its final position first, then fill it with water. A full weight is too heavy to move and could be easily damaged if handled while filled.

PVC water weights can also be personalized, as they offer custom printing options similar to sandbags.

HDPE Weights

These weights are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a durable plastic that can be filled with water, sand, or gravel. In practice, they consist of a hard “shell” available in various shapes, though most commonly cylindrical. Depending on the specific model, some designs allow you to stack them on top of one another. While plastic weights take up more space during transport than PVC versions, they are significantly more durable.

HDPE weights are used for tents, but you will most frequently see them serving as bases for advertising umbrellas. Tent-specific versions are usually smaller, with a capacity of about 7–9 liters. Parasol bases have a larger capacity and, consequently, provide more ballast once filled.

Concrete Weights

Concrete weights are also available on the market. They usually come in a cylindrical shape with a slot, and some are equipped with a metal carrying handle. They are primarily used to secure tent legs.

TIP 7: Just like with cast iron weights, ensure that the slot or notch in the concrete weight is compatible with your specific tent frame.

It is also worth mentioning concrete bases used for securing umbrellas. These can be cylindrical (resembling a wheel of cheese), square, or rectangular. In some cases—thanks to specially designed base frames—standard concrete slabs can also be used as ballast.

TIP 8: Regardless of which weight type you choose, always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding the required ballast weight for your specific advertising media.