Every summer, parents search for ways to convince their kids to put away the controllers and go outside. From trips to the park, the local zoo or to playing games in the backyard, parents will try anything to get the family excited about getting fresh air.

Getting the family outdoors | Courtesy of Todd Davis

Getting families outdoors is what Fofana founder Nathan Surgent is all about. 

Fofana sells outdoor gear and adventure products designed to help kids and adults reconnect with nature without sacrificing convenience and comfort. Kids-related products include slacklines and obstacle courses, and for adults they offer easy-to-assemble pods and trunk tents. 

Created by a mechanical engineer and dad of three kids, Fofana was born from the passion for outdoor sports and activities. Surgent always encouraged his kids to play outside and decided to use his engineering skills to create fun, original gear to do just that.

Today the brand holds over 150 patents and sells across the U.S. and Canada with the mission to help people embrace sport and outdoor activities and enjoy quality time in nature rather than spending hours immobilized in front of screens.

Whether you are an experienced camper or new to the adventure world, Fofana has simple gear and products to suit your needs. If you want to enjoy the beach, Fofana has something to help you stay longer. If camping is more your thing, Fofana has convenient products for that. Or maybe you just want to hang out with your kids in the backyard with a Ninja obstacle course. 

Kinute wanted to know more about Fofana and its mission and reached out for a conversation.

Q: How has the Fofana mission statement driven your product line?

A: Our mission is to encourage sports and outdoor activities. We want to promote an active lifestyle and help parents strengthen bonds with their children while preventing them from spending ages in front of screens such as TVs, PCs and smartphones.  

Fofana's truck tent has been named Forbes Wheels Best Truck Bed Tent and offers a range of features that make it versatile and convenient | Fofana Instagram

How did you get the idea behind the Ninja product line?

The idea behind the Ninja product line comes from the brand founder. Nathan loves outdoor sports and activities and has a very active family who also enjoys them. Nathan's love for the outdoors combined with his background in sporting goods made it a natural fit.           

How hard is it to put up the Slackline?

The setup is very easy. Find two strong trees 10-55 feet apart and attach the Slackline. Add the pulley and the swing, and let the adventure begin! In four simple steps, you will be ready to go: 

1) Set line ends at calculated heights 

2) Full line tight before ratcheting 

3) Crank the ratchet handle to tighten the line 

4) Mount Ninja Slider and attach swing

Ninja Pulley | Courtesy of Fofana

Does the Ninja Slider Slackline Pulley have a brake?

There's no brake for the Ninja Slider. It was initially designed to be an obstacle within the ninja kit, so the sliding length was short and would end at the next obstacle and be low speed. After lots of positive feedback from customers, I decided to offer it as a Ninja Slider kit. It did bring up this situation, and customers sometimes ask the same question. 

Here's the answer we posted on the FAQ: There is no brake, so be sure that your setup does not generate unsafe speeds. We recommend placing the Slider Pulley at the beginning of a ninja course so the user can slide down the line toward the middle when the line sags due to the user's weight. We don't recommend setting this up on a slope because that can generate unsafe speeds.

Since the slider is used with a slackline, it does have more sag than a steel cable zipline. The sag helps slow the user down after reaching the midspan of the line. The instructions also direct the user to set up with the ratchet at the lower end of the slackline, so the ratchet stops the troller. 

Yes, users should always be supervised, and nobody should take any risks they're uncomfortable with.

Is there a workaround if I don't have trees the right distance apart?

Any similar surface would do it as long as it has a solid structure that can deal with the kid's weight. The distance between them can go from 10 to 55 feet.

Fofana Ninja Obstacle Course | Courtesy of Fofana

Can you leave the Ninja product line up year around?

Sure, with no problem. All ninja (and truck tent and pod) products are built with high-quality materials to ensure safety. To give you an example, the slackline pulley is forged with an aerospace aluminum body and features a machined stainless-steel axle. Actually, it holds a premium patented design that makes it durable and safe.

Any plans for a Nina Jr. for the little ones?

The success of the current Ninja products and our eagerness to innovate, encourage us to expand our portfolio and design new gear. We know the little ones are a bit leftover with the current ninja courses, which we definitely want to change. We'll probably see some designs for them in the future.

Of course, water hoses and squirt guns are part of the fun in the summer. Are there any concerns if Ninja products get wet?

As mentioned above, there's no problem with the gear getting wet. Having fun is the only concern kids and parents must have.

Kids without controllers | Photo by Todd Davis

Are there installation and tear-down videos for your products?

Definitely! You can find the installation videos for all the products on our website.

Does the Fofana Truck Bed Tent keep you bug-free?

Yes. Our Truck Tent helps you reconnect with nature without sacrificing convenience and comfort. You can nestle comfortably away from rocks, roots, insects, predators and unpredictable weather.

How long does it take the average person to set up the Fofana Truck Tent?

One of our truck tent's main features is its ease of installation. It has an automatic pole structure that sets up quickly and easily. Take down is just as simple and lets you break camp in no time. No loose poles to wrestle. The pole structure sets up QUICK and EASY, giving you more time to relax and enjoy nature. Take down is just as simple and lets you break camp in RECORD TIME. You'll find installation and take-down videos on our website.

Fofana Truck Tent | Courtesy of Fofana

Any future plans for Fofana Truck Tent accessories?

We're working on upgrades and designing new products as with all our products. Regarding the Fofana Truck Tent, we'll likely go in the direction of designing gear for different types of cars, not only pick-ups. Here you can imagine rooftop tents for tourism or tents specially designed for SUVs. We are considering creating larger packs that may include extra accessories like mattresses or shades.

The Fofana Pod looks like a great fit for the beach. Is it sturdy in the sand?

Yes, it is great for the beach too. Since the plastic windows open, you can get a nice breeze, shade, and privacy simultaneously. The pod has the floor, so it will stay fairly clean (except for what the user brings in with them). The pod only weighs about 10 pounds, so it should be secured in windy conditions. Placing weight inside the pod will also keep it from blowing over or away should also do the job. The tent stakes/pegs included work best in the grass. Larger stakes/pegs would be needed at a sandy beach. If the user wants to use only the rainfly/shade portion, it will need to be staked down, as mentioned above. And if it's windy, I recommend using additional guylines that connect to the upper portion of the frame to keep it stable.

A Fofana Truck Bed Tent set up a the beach | Fofana Instagram

Is there enough room in the Fofana Pod for little ones to sleep?

The inside dimensions are 74-inches-wide by 51-inches-deep by 62 inches tall. It seats up to four grown-up people. The little ones would be cozy, taking a nap inside.

Can you connect Fofana Pods?

Not currently. Our Pod is the largest you can get. It's been designed to fit everyone in one single pod (up to four adult people). Despite this, upgrading it with this feature is something we're already considering.

Fofana Pods fit up to four adult people | Fofana Instagram

It seems like every Airbnb should have the entire Fofana product line. Is there a price break for large orders?

Although we offer the chance to place large orders, there's no flat rate for them. All B2B orders are processed by a specific department that evaluates these types of orders.

What separates Fofana products from the rest of the pack?

Patents and trademarks. The Fofana and Ninja Slider trademarks are registered. Additionally, we've got several design and utility patents. Our main competitor's designs have been analyzed and improved by the brand founder, who's got an engineering background and holds over 150 utility patents. Summing it up, our advanced designs are what make us stand out from the competition.

Is there anything you want parents shopping for products like yours to know?

Yes, we'd like them to know they're contributing to building their kid's confidence and coordination as well as stimulating physical and mental agility. This is a great way to keep kids off screens and connect with them. Parents should know about its benefits and be happy about them.

Taking outdoors seriously | Photo by Todd Davis

What is next for Fofana?

Following the success in the U.S., we also want to expand to new markets. We're seeking innovation and growth. We reworked our website a few days ago, and we're also planning to push our social profiles to build community.

Lastly, we'll keep innovating by launching new product categories in line with our passion for the outside world. We're also keeping an eye on our customers' feedback that helps us plan some new additions to our current product lines as well as product upgrades. In fact, we already have some more patents on the way.

Exciting times are ahead for Fofana!