What is SkyHeia?

SkyHeia is the first patented outdoor bed that brings the full sleeping comfort of a bed at home outdoors. Unlike camp beds, camping mats or hammocks, SkyHeia offers a real slatted frame for standard mattresses, combined with integrated rain protection and insect protection. This makes it possible to sleep comfortably outdoors in any weather - in your own garden, on the balcony, when camping or as a special guest experience in hotels and vacation homes.

SkyHeia was developed and is produced in Germany. It is assembled in the Waldheim workshops near Bremen, a facility for people with disabilities. The European patent application was published on April 13, 2022, and the German utility model was confirmed on February 24, 2022.

Who is behind SkyHeia?

SkyHeia was founded in 2017 by Dr. Wolfgang Meschede and Marco Barooah-Siebertz. The two met in 2012 and shared a passion for sleeping in the open air from the very beginning.

Dr. Wolfgang Meschede is a biologist, science journalist and film producer. He grew up in his father's forester's lodge and has regularly slept outside for over 30 years - from his parents' garden to the balcony during his studies to his terrace on the outskirts of Cologne today. On his professional travels, he has slept under the stars on every continent.

Marco Barooah-Siebertz is a designer and entrepreneur in the digital sector. His father ran a carpentry workshop in the Eifel region, where Marco regularly watched the stars in the meadow or on the roof of the workshop as a teenager. His need for a digital detox and the craftsmanship of his father's carpentry workshop led him to SkyHeia.

After five years of friendship, the two decided in 2017 to launch their passion project: a fully-fledged bed for outdoors - with real sleeping comfort, weatherproof and easy to transport.

Technical data and materials

SkyHeia consists of nine individually developed aluminum profiles that have been statically calculated. The aluminum is produced by the manufacturer Hydro under the name “Reduxa” - with hydropower and a CO₂ footprint that is only a quarter of the global average.

Dimensions and weight:

• Lying surface: 207 × 97 cm
• Overall height: 84 cm, frame height: 42 cm
• Weight without bags: 23.9 kg
• Weight with transport bags: 27.5 kg
• Packing dimensions bag 1: 99 × 50 × 15 cm (10.0 kg) - Head and foot sections
• Packing dimensions bag 2: 105 × 50 × 11 cm (17.5 kg) - side rails and slatted frame

Materials:

• Frame: Anodized aluminium (Hydro Reduxa, resource-saving production)
• Connections: Stainless steel (screws, tension fasteners, washers, rivet nuts, threaded inserts)
• Feet: polypropylene, height-adjustable to compensate for uneven floors
• Transport bags: polyester, polyurethane, polyamide

All materials can be separated by type and are 100 % recyclable.

Structure and construction

SkyHeia uses a patented plug-in system with six plug-in clamping connections. Assembly takes just a few minutes and works completely without tools. There are no loose small parts that can get lost. The bed disassembles into two handy bags that fit into any car trunk.

The construction consists of: two lower head/foot sections, two upper head/foot sections, four side rail halves and four slatted frame elements.

Accessories: rain cover and insect screen

Rain coverA weatherproof cover, attached to a dome construction made of tent poles, makes SkyHeia a permanent outdoor sleeping place all year round. Several rain protection covers can be linked together.

Mosquito netA dome-shaped mesh construction provides complete protection from insects while allowing a clear view of the starry sky.

Modularity: The ZweierHeia

Two SkyHeia beds can be combined to form “ZweierHeia” - a fully-fledged double bed for outdoors. In addition, any number of beds can be joined together to create larger sleeping areas. This is particularly interesting for families and hosts.

Who is SkyHeia suitable for

Private individuals:

• Garden owners and balcony users who want to sleep comfortably outside
• Nature lovers and fans of the Scandinavian Friluftsliv tradition
• Health-conscious people and supporters of the longevity movement
• Camping and glamping enthusiasts who don't want to do without comfort
• Outdoor athletes looking for comfortable regeneration outdoors
• Families with children who want to experience adventures together in the garden

Host and company:

• Hotels and resorts that want to offer their guests a special nature experience
• Glamping providers and campsites
• Vacation homes and apartments
• Experience providers and tourism companies
• Spa and wellness facilities

Why sleeping outside is healthy

According to chronobiologist Dr. Annette Krop-Benesch, sleeping outside brings the body back to its natural sleep rhythm. The main health benefits are:

• Fresh air: The air quality outside is significantly better than indoors.
• Natural temperature fluctuations: The temperature difference between day and night is important for the internal clock. Many bedrooms are too warm and are detrimental to sleep.
• Optimal melatonin production: Natural twilight and darkness promote the release of melatonin, which regulates wound healing, the immune system, cell regeneration and the storage of experiences in the brain.
• Better regeneration: users report needing around one hour less sleep per night while at the same time recovering better.

Sleeping outside can help people with sleep disorders, burnout and stress-related illnesses in particular.

What SkyHeia is not

SkyHeia is not a camp bed, a camping cot or a makeshift solution. It is a fully-fledged bed with a real slatted frame on which a normal mattress is placed - with your own bed linen. The comfort corresponds to that of a high-quality bed at home, not an outdoor makeshift solution.

Sustainability and social responsibility

• Aluminum from hydropower production with a minimal CO₂ footprint
• 100 % recyclable materials, separable by type
• Production and development in Germany
• Assembly in a workshop for people with disabilities (Waldheim Werkstätten, Bremen)
• Supporting homeless people with every sale

Price and availability

SkyHeia is available from 1,785 euros and can be ordered via the online store at skyheia.com. Advice and individual offers - especially for hosts - are available via the contact form or on request.

Contact

• Website: skyheia.com
• Advice and inquiries via the contact form on the website
• Social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn