A Helpful & Quick Guide To Buying Tent Fabrics

A Helpful & Quick Guide To Buying Tent Fabrics

A high-quality tent is an essential component of any camping trip/vacation. You’ll be lying under the open sky if you don’t have this item, which means you’ll be open to the wind, the cold, the heat, and all the weather conditions that might be thrown at you.  We’ve put together this helpful guide to buying tent fabrics to help you. 

Modern tents, fortunately, are made of a variety of materials that make them both robust and weather-resistant. The ideal tent fabric will aid with weather protection. This guide to buying tent fabrics will help you decide on the best tent materials for you, based on how well they perform. 

Which Tent Material Is Best?

The best tent fabric, in general, will keep the weather out while protecting the interior. You don’t have to fear heavy precipitation soaking through and getting you wet with this fabric. It should also help you keep warm at night by trapping as much heat as possible. However, the fabric should be permeable enough to keep the tent from becoming too stuffy.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a single tent fabric that is ideal for any and all weather and camping situations. However, we’ll examine the best tent materials —nylon, canvas, polyester, and polycotton – to examine how they fare.

The Best Waterproof Tent Fabrics 

A tent that is waterproof is required for any camping trip, regardless of the season. Even if there isn’t a chance of rain, you must be concerned about morning dew forming on the outside. Dew can seep inside your tent if it isn’t waterproof, soaking yourself and your camping gear.

Tents Made Of Polyester

To make polyester, manufacturers must heat PET plastic pellets and twist them into long, thin threads. Polyester is naturally water-resistant due to its plastic composition. To make a polyester tent waterproof, the fibers must be knitted extremely tightly. Polyester is a decent choice in general, especially if you utilize a waterproof tent cover.

Tents Made Of Nylon

Nylon fibers, like polyester, are manufactured from synthetic chemicals. Nylon is made by fusing the raw ingredients into a film, then splitting it up to fuse into strings, instead of heating plastic pellets and twisting them into threads. Nylon, like polyester, is typically waterproof, though perhaps not waterproof.

Nylon is great for light rains and potential early dew, but it won’t keep you dry in a storm.

Tents Made Of Canvas

Canvas is an organic textile made from cotton or linen fibers. Canvas is not extremely waterproof due to its natural nature. Canvas tents, on the other hand, absorb and hold water, making them leaky. However, you may keep your canvas tent impermeable by regularly soaking it to help close the gaps between the threads.

This procedure, however, may take days to finish and is not 100% effective. Canvas, on the other hand, is by far the most permeable of the textiles and can help avoid condensation.

If you’re going to use canvas, first make sure to waterproof it and then cover it with a water-resistant tent fly.

Tents Made Of Polycotton

Polycotton is a polyester-and-natural-cotton combination. The mix could be 50/50 or tilt to one end, like 60% polyester and 40% cotton, depending on the manufacturer. The goal of polycotton would be to combine the greatest features of both fabrics while minimizing the drawbacks. Unfortunately, polycotton can be quite absorbent as a tent fabric, which means it’s not especially waterproof.

Sunforger Shelter Tent Duck

What Does A PU Coating Mean?

On their own, woven materials are not waterproof. Waterproof fabric treatments are available on several tents. A  polyether urethane coating, a silicone o,r a polyurethane one are some of the options (PE coating). Tent materials with polyurethane, silicone, or polyether coatings are more water-resistant and waterproof.

Tents also include seams that are sealed to prevent leakage at the contact points between fabrics.

Material Durability And Fabric Denier

The ideal camping tent fabric ought to be tough and durable in addition to being water-resistant. The tent must not only be packed and unpacked on each occasion you camp, and that it must survive the elements. Furthermore, branches and other dirt may scrape the skin.

The fabric denier rating is a simple technique to determine if a fabric is durable. Whereas the Fabric Denier isn’t perfect, it’s a decent starting point.

Fabric Denier: What Is It?

When comparing camping tent materials, you’ll find that each has a denier number. This number indicates the fabric thickness; a larger number indicates that the cloth is thicker. Tent fabrics have a value of 50 to 500 on average, but lighter tents could have a lower score.

When comparing two similar tents, the one with the greater number needs to be more durable.

Finally, keep in mind that a heavier tent implies more material, so plan appropriately, especially if you’re hiking to your campground.

All decent tents usually come with simple instructions, and after erecting a few different types of tents, you’ll see that they all have the same formula. However, if you do have the time or space, practicing setting up your tent in the yard before going on vacation is a wonderful idea. This can avoid the classic “make your tent at home” scenario that can ruin a camping trip!

Hopefully, we have covered everything you need to know about choosing the best tent fabric in our Quick Guide to Buying Tent Fabrics. However, if we left anything out, check out our website and find everything you need to know about tents and other camping equipment. 

Stay tuned for more helpful hints on buying wholesale fabric online, DIY tips and tutorials, and of course, some awesome new products! Canvas ETC is your one-stop shop for all things fabric including buying bulk fabric online and more.

Our fabric experts are on hand and ready to answer all your fabric questions, help you select the right material for your job, and even help you design custom prints. Call us today! Let’s get started!

What Are Tents Made Of? Helpful Guide With 10+ Materials Compared

Tents are one of the most important pieces of camping gear. They protect us from rain, wind, and animals when we sleep in the outdoors. So it’s perfectly reasonable to ask: What are tents made of? Are they reliable? How do different materials perform? What is the right tent material for me? I’ve asked all those questions myself.

I spent 8 hours looking at the specs sheet on my tent and doing research online to answer these questions. Here’s what I found:

Most modern camping tents are made out of nylon and polyester. Cotton or canvas tents still exist but are much less common due to their heavyweight. Tent poles are most commonly made out of aluminum and fiberglass.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of material, and they are suited for different types of camping. Moreover, the qualities of tents can vary greatly even if they are made from the same material. The coating, seams, and density of materials all have an impact on how durable and waterproof the tent will be.

What Are Tent Fabrics Made of?

The big distinction here is between man-made synthetic fibers and cotton or canvas. Polyester and Nylon are both synthetic fibers, so they share many common characteristics. 

Polyester Tents 

Polyester is probably the most common material for tent fabrics. It can be found in almost all affordable car camping tents but also in some backpacking tents. 

It is much more lightweight than cotton or canvas. This makes polyester tents much easier to transport but also flimsier and noisier in windy conditions. They are also easier to maintain than cotton or canvas. But you’ll likely see more condensation build up in your tent since the material is not really breathable. You can pick tents with good ventilation to mitigate this issue.

Another downside of polyester is that it provides minimal insulation, so don’t expect a 3-season polyester tent to keep you warm and cozy on a 30-degree night. You’ll need a heater in that case. During the summer, don’t be surprised if you feel warmer inside the tent since the small space traps heat and the fabric won’t help block the heat.

While polyester is generally durable, fabric strength varies at different deniers. Denier is essentially a measure of how thick or dense the fabric is. A higher denier usually translates into stronger fabrics. Most tents will be in the range of 75D to 150D.

Polyester also doesn’t absorb water, so it won’t shrink or expand in heavy rain. But that doesn’t mean it’s waterproof by itself. In fact, rainwater can still seep through the gaps between those fibers, which leads me to…

Polyurethane (PU) coating is usually applied to polyester tents to make them more water-resistant. It is the cheapest coating and therefore the most common in budget-friendly tents. Many brands have cool names for their coated polyester, like Coleman WeatherTec and Outwell Outtex Select.

But this water-resistant coating can deteriorate over time due to exposure to the sunlight. To make it last longer, you can collapse your tent every day after you get up in the morning and set it up again when you get back to your campsite. But I know we all get lazy sometimes, and even I myself haven’t been doing this every time. 

Nylon Tents

Nylon tents are also very common. As a man-made fabric, Nylon has a lot in common with polyester and has similar advantages over cotton or canvas. It’s lightweight, easy to pack, and easy to maintain but not insulated or breathable.  

But nylon is more lightweight than polyester and thus more common among backpacking tents. Nylon is generally stronger and stands up better to wear and tears. This means a nylon tent can have the same durability and strength as a polyester tent but with less material, making it lighter. Take these Naturehike tents for example. The 3-person nylon tent weighs about half a pound less than the polyester ones.

Nylon is also not waterproof by itself, but it can be mixed with silicone (the technical word here is “impregnate” but who knows what that means) to create something called SilNylon. The silicone makes the fabric highly waterproof and stronger. This treatment is not available on polyester fabrics. 

Due to these differences, nylon tents are usually more expensive than polyester tents. Again in this Naturehike ultra-light series, the price difference is about $50. 

Cotton or Canvas Tents

To make things clear, cotton and canvas tents are essentially the same since the canvas is mostly made from cotton. After reading about nylon and polyester, you can probably guess what the pros and cons of the canvas are. Canvas tents are mostly used for glamping or “luxury” camping nowadays due to their great comfort but heavyweight. 

Canvas offers much better insulation than synthetic fibers. It actually keeps you warm on a cold and windy day but cool on a very hot day. It’s significantly more comfortable than most tents for this reason alone. 

The bulk and weight of canvas tents make them harder to carry around and practically useless for backpackers. But you can’t deny that they will be more sturdy on a windy day — no more bent poles or annoying noises from flapping tent fabrics.

Poly-cotton Tents

As the name suggests, poly-cotton combines polyester and cotton. The Roben HydroTex Polycotton fabric is an example of this, with 65% polyester and 35% cotton. It’s marketed as something that has the best of both worlds, but I think it’s more of a compromise in the “middle”. It’s more insulated and breathable than a regular polyester tent, but it would also be bulkier. 

Cuben Fiber (DCF) Tents 

This is the most advanced of all tent fabrics and pretty much only used for ultra-light backpacking tents. It combines extreme lightweight with high tensile strength. Some say it’s stronger than steel, but I’m a little skeptical of that. It’s also very water-resistant and can be used in a variety of weather conditions. For all these advantages, be prepared to pay a pretty penny for a tent made from Cuben fiber. 

Which Tent Fabric is the Most Waterproof? 

This was the first question that came to my mind when I started looking into what tents are made of. After all, being soaked during my sleep doesn’t sound like a pleasant experience. 

The answer is that the fabric itself doesn’t determine how waterproof it is — the coating and seams do. Let me explain. 

There’s a waterproof rating measured in millimeters universal across all tents. Here’s an idea of what you can expect at each rating:

1000mm, lowest level to be considered waterproof, best used only in rain showers

1500mm – 3000mm, most appropriate for summer camping, can handle most wind and rain

3000mm+, usually on 3- or 4-season tents that can withstand substantial snow and heavy rain. This Coleman tent is right at 6000 mm.

While one layer of PU coating is 100% waterproof, tents with higher waterproof ratings have at least 2 – 3 layers to account for potential wear and tear. They are also more reinforced at the seams so that there’ll be fewer leaks.

What Are Tent Poles Made of?

Ok, now we get to talk about tent poles. It’s interesting that when I first started researching what tents are made out of, no one mentioned tent poles — every page was talking about tent fabrics. But poles are very important because they hold everything together. So I want to quickly fill in that gap in this article. 

Tent poles are most commonly made out of aluminum and fiberglass, although carbon fiber, steel, and composite materials are also used. And you have something called “air beams” for inflatable tents. There are pros and cons of each when it comes to strength, durability, flexibility, weight, and price. 

Fiberglass Tent Poles

This is currently the cheapest material for tent poles, and it’s used mostly in affordable car camping tents for mild weather. Fiberglass tent poles can be quite long-lasting with the proper handling given that they don’t corrode. They are also safe in a thunderstorm as they don’t conduct electricity. 

But a key downside of fiberglass tent poles is that they can be heavy and bulky. Due to its low strength to weight ratio, it takes more material to provide the necessary strength for a tent to withstand the winds. 

Fiberglass is also less flexible than aluminum, so it’ll snap more easily in strong winds or under pressure. Make sure you handle fiberglass poles properly so that you’re not putting unnecessary strain on them. They may also splinter in colder weather, so think twice about winter camping in a tent with fiberglass poles.

Aluminum Tent Poles

Aluminum tent poles are commonly used light-weight backpacking tents, though they are also available in some more expensive car camping tents. They are stronger than fiberglass at the same weight, so less material is needed for the same strength.   

Aluminum poles are also more durable and stronger than fiberglass ones in windy conditions. They are more flexible, so they will bend instead of breaking or snapping even in cold weather. You can repair your tent poles if they get bent by strong winds, and manufacturers will likely send you replacement poles. 

Due to the lightness and strength, expect to pay more for tents with aluminum poles than those with fiberglass poles. But keep in mind that there are always exceptions. 

Aluminum tent poles do have some minor downsides. It corrodes. Manufacturers try to slow the corrosion by anodizing, but it’s still recommended that you dry the poles when you store them. In addition, aluminum poles are more dangerous during a thunderstorm since they conduct electricity. To be completely honest though, I’ve never had these issues myself. Corrosion generally takes a long time to be noticeable, and thunderstorms are rare given I check the weather forecast. 

Other Materials for Tent Poles

You are unlikely to get tents with these pole materials if you’re just a casual camper like me. So I’ve only included a brief description for each. 

Composite materials are equally lightweight as aluminum poles but are more flexible. They will bend but get back in shape without repair.

Steel poles are quite heavy and are commonly used in large car-camping tents. They can be used to support the canvas or the roof. Canvas tents usually have steel poles due to their heavyweight. 

Carbon fiber tent poles are known to be extremely lightweight and strong. They are typically used on long backpacking expeditions by experts and are generally quite expensive.

Which Material Is Right for Me?

That was a lot of information to take in. You might have come for a simple answer but now feel you’ve got some decisions to make. Don’t worry, I’ve summarized the best tent material for each situation below. After all, no material will be perfect for all types of camping. 

Car Camping on Warm and Sunny Days

Any affordable polyester tents with fiberglass poles will do just fine here. They are by no means the strongest or the lightest, but you won’t be pushing the limit of these materials. Of course, you can still purchase aluminum or nylon tents if you have the budget.

Car Camping in Unpredictable Weather

It’s better to upgrade to aluminum poles for more protection against strong winds. Also, make sure the waterproof rating is high so that you’re prepared for a sudden downpour. Both nylon and polyester will be fine here.

Car Camping in Cold Weather 

I rented large canvas tents with steel poles for the few times I went winter camping. It’s worth it for the additional insulation. That being said, you can do just fine with nylon or polyester tents with a heater. Aluminum poles are also suitable since they remain strong in low temperatures, but I won’t risk it with fiberglass poles. 

Backpacking, All Weather 

Weight is the most important factor here given you’ll be hiking miles to your campsite. I’ve always used my Naturehike tent with nylon fabrics and aluminum poles for the most lightweight combination. Aluminum poles are also weather-resistant.

There you have it. You now know what tents are made out of, as well as how to pick the right materials for your next adventure. If you want more information on how to choose a tent, here are some more guides.   

Different Types Of Party Tent Fabrics: What Are Tents Made Of?

What material is a tent made out of, you ask?

Well, there are plenty of materials available, and it can be helpful to know the differences when planning an event with a commercial tent. All have different qualities, and all serve different functions suited for various applications. Here are some of the pros and cons of different types of material so you can find the best fit for your occasion.

Nylon

Nylon is a lightweight fabric popular for backpacking tents. While nylon can be susceptible to rips from wind and debris, backpacking tents are small enough to maintain strength. Nylon offers enough stretch to allow for stress distribution on the small tent panel, making it less likely to tear. Overall, nylon is a good material for small tents but is not a strong choice for larger commercial tents.

Polyester (PVC)

Like nylon, polyester has a slight stretch; however, it is a stronger material. This strengthened ability to stretch makes it more resistant to the outdoor elements. While polyester is relatively durable, you will still want to think about waterproofing and thread count options based on your planned use. Luckily, these setbacks can easily be solved by coating polyester in PVC (also known as polyvinyl chloride), a protective layer that increases the tent’s protective capabilities.

Ripstop PVC

Ripstop PVC is typically seen in commercial tents because it is one of the toughest materials on the market. The scrim fabric is woven together, creating material reinforcement and making ripstop PVC a reliable party tent fabric that will keep everybody at your event protected.

Additionally, the polyvinyl chloride coating increases weather resistance and creates a nice shiny seal, more so than polyethylene tent material. Polyethylene (PE), while a common tent material coating, is lighter weight and does not protect against UV rays as well; that being said, PE is considered a safer plastic environmentally.

Coated Vinyl

Vinyl is probably the most commonly used commercial tent material. Coated vinyl results from dip molding, which forms the protective layer over the vinyl with corrosion resistance and greater stability. Vinyl is most often coated in either PVC or PE. Compared to other fabrics, it is the most waterproof option making it ideal for tents to stand strong through inclement weather. While coated vinyl is a pricier option, it can be worth it if your tent will be exposed to the outdoor elements for the long term.

Laminated Vinyl

Laminated vinyl is exactly what it sounds like —  vinyl covered in a laminate. The scrim is placed between layers of PVC film then fused together in a laminating machine through heat and pressure. This lamination process increases material weight, UV protection, abrasion resistance, and glossiness. It is fire retardant, water-resistant, and is less costly than coated vinyl. Because of these incredible qualities, laminated vinyl is the most common material you will see used at American Tent.

Cotton Canvas

While cotton canvas was relevant years ago, it is far less common to find this material being used in commercial tents today. Cotton is natural and more environmentally friendly than other synthetic materials. The thickness of the cotton creates insulation against outside sounds; however, untreated cotton is not weather resistant, requiring additional precautions. Untreated cotton is a dense, heavy option that can make your set-up and transportation process a bit more difficult than lighter fabrics, but if that is not an issue for you, then the rustic charm of the cotton canvas could do the trick.

Coated Cotton

Coated cotton, also known as polycotton, has a lot of the same qualities as regular cotton. It is thick and durable, with added insulation and waterproofing capabilities from the coating. Woven cotton is coated with a protective layer either during the creation of this material or afterward. This is a heavy-duty tent fabric, making it much heavier (like untreated cotton) and, though the coating offers weather protection, it is still less water-resistant than other options.

Which Fabric Is Better For Your Tent?

It is important to do your research when thinking about what material will best suit your tent needs. The lifespan of tents can depend on the materials used to create them, so knowing the options can be crucial! If you are looking for a good backpacking tent fabric, nylon will be just fine!

However, if you are looking for a commercial-sized tent, you will want stronger material for its larger size. Though strong, uncoated fabric, like cotton canvas, is more susceptible to weather damage. So, if you need your tent to withstand wind and rain, you are definitely going to be best off choosing a coated or laminated material.

At American Tent, we are partial to laminated vinyl due to its trustworthy weather and fire-resistant capabilities, and its beautiful finish; you can’t go wrong!

How To Take Care Of Your Tent Fabric?

Of course, you want to keep your tent in tip-top shape. Make sure you save the box in which your tent came for easy and safe storage later on. At American Tent, we send tents in a special bag for this very purpose!

When you are setting up your tent, lay down a drop cloth to avoid rips from dragging on the ground. Once your tent is up, check the panels for any pinholes or snags. If you notice one, don’t fret! American Tent will send a free patch kit for any blemishes that catch your eye.

Keep your event tent fabric looking meticulous by keeping it clean. Lay your tent down on the dropcloth to brush off dirt and debris, and then simply hose it off! You can create a DIY cleaning solution by mixing four parts warm water, one part vinegar, and light soap as needed.

When your tent is out of commission for a period of time, roll it up like a sleeping bag to slide right back into the protective bag in which it arrived — easy as that! Make sure your tent is completely dry before putting it away for safekeeping, and you are sure to see positive impacts on the longevity of your tent fabric.

Why Choose American Tent?

Quality is of utmost importance when you invest in an event tent. The materials used for your tent will determine how well your tent works, how it looks, and how long you will be able to use it for events. At American Tent, we use the highest-quality fabrics to ensure our party tents are the perfect choice for whatever event you are planning. Buying your event tent from American Tent means you will be getting a high-quality tent that will last years, and you will be able to work with our team to find or create your perfect, custom event tent.

Conclusion

Now that you know more about what a tent is made of, you’ll want to keep your options in mind when purchasing for your next event. If you want to know more about the material offered by American Tent, visit our website and get in touch with us! We can send a Sample Material Kit of our vinyl, colors, graphics, and finishes so you can see for yourself!