What Is The Best Tent Fabric For Family Camping Tents

What Is The Best Tent Fabric For Family Camping Tents

For a family camping tent, it is essential that it is weather-resistant, in other words waterproof. So what is the best tent fabric regarding this and other criteria? Here I give some basic information covering the fabric issue.

Tent fabric comparison

The most important parts of a tent are its fly and floor. These elements are supposed to be waterproof, and this holds also for the lower sections of tents’ walls if the fly is not a full-coverage type.

Typically the waterproof tent fabric can be one of these:

Only the first five are of importance for the family camping tents which you have here in the site. The other three are used either for smaller tents designed for professionals, or for winter tents. Some of the synthetic materials do not need the coating to become waterproof.

In general, nylon is stronger and more abrasion resistant than polyester, but it can absorb some water and this is not so with polyester. Being stronger, nylon tent materials can be lighter, so you can see this material used in backpacking tents. The usual family camping tents are typically polyester or less frequently canvas.

Polyethylene is used mainly for tent floors. So you have such thick floors in some Coleman tents. It is heavy, but it is durable, so it is good to have the floor built from this material because you basically do not need a footprint when you have this material on the floor. This material is waterproof itself, it doesn’t need coating.

UV-Tex 5 fabric is a sort of polyester, and tents with such a material are cooler because the material reflects more sunlight. If you camp frequently and throughout the year, this is a material to consider.

Synthetic materials vs canvas

Synthetic materials

They are not breathable (except those that are, like the mentioned Gore-Tex). So you guess, you have to fight with condensation.

Those synthetic materials are bad insulators. When it is cold outside, it is cold inside, and when it is warm outside the same is inside.

They are thin, but this means they are noisy in the wind. This can be annoying.

Quite often they do not smell good.

Oh yes, some are known to cause cancer.

But these materials are usually inexpensive.

They are lightweight.

They dry quickly.

They do not need much maintenance.

They are not supposed to be flammable. See a video in my separate text if you do not believe it.

Canvas

These materials absorb water.

They are heavy.

They need more care and maintenance.

They are expensive.

It would be hard to imagine a modern backpacker with a canvas tent.

But these tents’ materials are breathable. They are great for desert camping.

No issues with condensation.

They insulate much better.

Being heavy they are not noisy.

They are more resistant to UV rays.

Canvas waterproofing

Canvas absorbs the water so it must be treated in such a way as to remain breathable. So you have various waterproofing technics which should make it more or less waterproof and cause water beading. In general, impregnation is used for cotton threads and it becomes waterproof but it remains breathable.

Sometimes it is mixed with polyester and this combination is known as poly-canvas. It is supposed to have the best (and the worst) of both materials. You can see an excellent example of this poly-canvas type in the Crua Loj 6 insulated tent.

See this great Kodiak 8 person tent as a nice example of a canvas tent:

Polyurethane coating

The PU coating is the most common coating for budget tents, i.e., this is the cheapest waterproofing method and it is used in most of the family camping tents presented in this site. When exposed to visible light, this coating may in time turn to yellow or reddish brown, but this still doesn’t affect its waterproofing properties.

But higher-energy UV radiation can cause chemical reactions in the foam so it may become non-waterproof over time.

Silicone coating – SilNylon

Silicone applied to nylon is what is usually called the SilNylon. In this technology, a thin woven fabric is impregnated by liquid silicone from both sides. The silicone adds to the strength of the fabric and makes it highly waterproof. Such materials are not breathable of course.

The SilNylon is used in higher quality tents and it is very stable regarding the UV radiation and temperature variations. This is an expensive material and you will see this in the prices of tents where it is used.

In some cases, you have silicone applied from outside and PU coating from inside. This is cheaper and you still have silicone outside where it is most needed. But such a combination results in a heavier material than when you have silicone on both sides. Yet another reason for such a combination is that seams of a PU coated material are far easier to tape, and this is done from inside as usual.

Cuben fiber

This is a high-performance non-woven fabric with an excellent resistance to ultraviolet light. This is the lightest and strongest of all waterproof outdoor materials. It is around half the weight of the SilNylon fabric. It does not stretch and it is translucent. Such materials are very expensive and you will not see them in family camping tents.

Gore-Tex

All is known about this material which is the only breathable in the synthetic materials mentioned above. This material is used mainly in 4-season tents which are then used by professionals, and you will not see it in family camping tens. As you guess, such tents are very expensive.

Seam sealing

Regardless how waterproof the tent fabric is, if the seams are not sealed you do not have a waterproof tent. What you can see in the descriptions of some waterproof items is the following terminology:

Critically taped seams. In this case, only exposed seams are sealed. This is typical for waterproof jackets, but not so frequent in tents.

Fully taped seams. The meaning should be obvious, all seams are taped. A fully waterproof tent must have this in the specifications.

Welded seams. In this case, the pieces of material are fused together with the help of heat and pressure. This cannot work with all materials, so you have it in thermoplastics materials. The material itself is used as the fastener to hold the seam together. This technology is used typically for tent floors made from polyethylene mentioned above, and you have it in the Coleman tents presented here on the site, see for example this Coleman Red Canyon 8 tent.

How much waterproofness to expect

The tents presented here on the site are with the waterproofness rating typically in the range 600 – 3000 mm. To better understand the meaning, you should know that an ordinary umbrella is around 400 mm. So for example, you have 600 mm in this Core 6 Dome tent, and the Coleman Sundome 6. but you have 1800 mm in the Kelty Trail Ridge 6 tent. 

The bigger the number you should expect in the floor material than in the fly. So in this Marmot Limestone 6 tent, you have a 3000 mm rating for the floor, which is very impressive, and 1500 mm for the fly. More about waterproof rating please see in my separate text.

So this was about tent materials, you might want to read also about footprints, so please follow this link.

Thank you for reading. Please use the comment box below in the case of question or comment. Have a nice day.

Tent fabrics - which is best?

Tent fabrics - which is best?

If you're thinking about buying a home tent, you'll come across a confusing mix of different tent fabrics, from polyester to polyester-cotton, and a range of different brands. It's hard to know which is the best. we try to figure things out

Cotton and Canvas Tent Fabrics

Canvas is a traditional tent fabric that has many great tent properties.

In the old days, canvas was made of hemp, but now tents are made of cotton. So tents advertised as "canvas" or "cotton" are actually made of the same material.

Why canvas or cotton are the best materials for tents?

Compared to artificial tent fabrics, cotton is very thermally insulating. You won't get as hot on a warm day, and you won't get as cold on a cold day. There are many different tent fabrics, some are much more expensive than others. But are they worth it?

Each tent fabric has its pros and cons.

Which tent material is best depends on your needs. For example, do you need a tent that is easy to transport, or are you looking for a tent as your vacation home for a week or more?

Cotton is a breathable fabric that absorbs water. This means you are less likely to experience condensation problems.

Due to its weight and insulating properties, canvas/cotton tents can be quieter and less noisy if there is a breeze.

This fabric lasts a long time and is more resistant to harmful UV rays.

The Problem of Canvas and Cotton as Tent Materials

Cotton and canvas are very heavy and bulky. This means that transporting the marquee to the campground can be problematic—probably enough to keep you from fitting it in the trunk of your car. It also makes pitching more effective.

You usually need to "weather" the canvas before using it. This includes leaving a new tent in the rain (or under a garden hose) for the canvas to expand and fill in the stitching and holes in the fabric. If you don't, your new canvas tent may leak.

Cotton and canvas require more maintenance. Since it absorbs water, you'll need to let the material dry before putting away the tent, which takes much longer than man-made materials. Don't do this and your tent will get moldy.

It may snag more easily and cause a tear, which can turn into a large tear.

Pros and Cons of Different Tent Fabrics at a Tent Sale

Polyester, Silnylon, DCF or Cuben fiber, Polycotton canvas and PE? Understanding more about tent fabrics will help you make the right choice when looking at tents for sale. It can be confusing with so many different fabrics, coatings and specs. Below are some pros and cons of the most common tent fabrics and what they are most suitable for. Or check out our article for more on tent fabric specs and coatings 

Polyester

Pros – good strength, stretch, and tear resistance, easily maintained, reasonable weight, reasonable cost, good pack size, good mildew resistance, waterproof with applied coatings

Cons – not great UV resistance or heat resistance, low breathability leads to condensation, has a limited lifespan

Great for – small and large dome tents, family camping tents and shelters, camping tarps

Polyester is the most common fabric used in tents. It’s a popular choice as it does well in various weather conditions and is affordable. Polyester doesn’t change shape when wet, is waterproof when coated, performs ok in sunlight, is more durable than nylon, is of a reasonable weight and can pack down fairly small.

Nylon

Pros – very light weight, good strength, waterproof with applied coatings, easily maintained, low packed volume

Cons – higher cost, stretches when wet, susceptible to UV damage, not breathable, can tear

Great for – ultralight and light weight tents, tarps

Nylon is generally stronger and lighter than polyester but can also tear easily (be sure to get Ripstop fabric) so suitable for smaller ultralight and light weight tents and not bigger family sized tents. The fabric must be coated with Silicone (hence silnylon) and/or PU to make nylon waterproof. Nylon can be weakened by UV exposure so limit time in direct sunlight if possible.

Dyneema Composite Fiber (DCF) / formerly Cuben Fiber

Pros – extremely light, extremely strong, waterproof, great UV, tear and chemical resistance

Cons – very expensive, doesn’t stuff (needs to be folded), does not stretch, low heat resistance

Great for - ultralight tents, tarps

DCF is the ultimate light weight tent fabric, Dyneema fibres (15x stronger than steel of same weight) enclosed in a polyester film. It’s the lightest, strongest, and most durable material but unfortunately also by far the most expensive. Weighs less than half of silnylon but costs four times as much, is waterproof and doesn’t absorb water. But there is no ‘give’ in DCF and care is needed when pitching as it won’t stretch into shape and may puncture. Not heat resistant so don’t cook under it. The ‘miracle fabric’ of ultralight lovers – at a price.

Cotton Canvas

Pros – breathable, moisture absorbent, less condensation, good insulation - cool in summer, warm in winter, long lasting, high UV resistance

Cons – expensive, heavy, bulky, mildew susceptibility, needs to be weathered first, requires maintenance   

Great for – cabin family style tents, glamping, bell tents, longer term camping, swags

Cotton canvas is the original tent fabric your grandad probably used - thick, durable, breathable, expands and swells when wet to seal off any holes. May leak the first time in rain as the swelling process takes place so needs to be weathered/seasoned before being used. Canvas is heavy and bulky and requires a lot of effort pitching and transporting.

Polycotton Canvas

Pros – better strength and mildew resistance than cotton canvas, better resistance to UV and heat than polyester, breathable – less moisture and condensation, longer lifespan and better weight than cotton canvas

Cons – high cost, care needed for maintenance, mildew susceptibility, bulky

Great for – family tents, cabins, roof top tents, swags, glamping tents 

Polycotton is a blend of cotton canvas and polyester that makes a lighter, stronger canvas. It can be uncoated but is usually treated with coatings to repel water and improve mould and mildew resistance. Its durability, breathability and weather resistance make it great for family camping tents, swags and roof top tents.

PE (Polyethelene)

Pros – tough, durable, waterproof, inexpensive

Cons – bulky, noisy, non-breathable

Great for – dome and family tent floors, tarps.

Usually black or grey, a thick, tough, durable plastic-like material used for tarps and tent floors. Ideal for floors as its affordable, hard-wearing, waterproof and easily cleaned.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)

Pros – strong and durable, good UV resistance

Cons – heavy and bulky

Great for – heavy duty tent floors, heavy duty tarps, awnings and tent roof covers

Heavy duty PVC is used to meet the most rugged demands of the elements and environment with people constantly walking on it. Tough and durable but heavy and bulky. Commonly used in conjunction with canvas tents.

Mesh

Mesh netting of varying strengths, thicknesses for inner tent walls to keep insects out. Windows and doors often have a mesh layer that is light weight and offers protection from bugs, better ventilation and reduces internal condensation.

Be aware that performance and quality of these fabrics can vary depending on the specifications and coatings applied. If you have any questions then just contact us at Intents Outdoors and we’ll do our best help out.