Backpack Tents are becoming more and more sophisticated every single day.
How they are designed, what they are made of, and how they are actually made are all evolving processes.
The question is, how do each of these things apply to you as the backpacker and camper as you make your decisions and as you utilize your own backpacker tent.
Let's take a look at a few of the fabrics used and how they apply to you.
If you go Google "What tents are made of" you will find a plethora (yes, I said plethora) of articles and pieces written about the basics of tent construction.
Most of them will cite the fact that most tents are made of cotton, canvas, nylon, polyester, or felt and will tell you how cotton is one of the best waterproofing fabrics when wet.
They will then proceed to tell you that the degree of water resistance is rated by what's called the hydrostatic rating.
This is the amount of pressure needed for water to penetrate the material.
Having said all that, for the average backpacker looking for a tent for camping, most camping retailers and many online backpack tents retailers have what you need.
Which fabric is good for what in which situation? - Cotton: Cotton is a heavier fabric and is considered a good water repellant tent when wet.
Cotton tents are generally used for wall tents are can be reinforced with paraffin to enhance durability and water resistance.
- Canvas: Considered one of the ultimate fabrics for a tent, Canvas is a great water resistant fabric and is often used for the flooring of many nylon and polyester tents.
While heavier and very water resistant, canvas may not always offer the best insulation from heat and cold but is better than the wetter alternative.
- Nylon: Nylon tents are exactly what you would think: light and breathable.
Nylon makes great lightweight tent material sacrificing only water resistance to be one of the better materials for backpack tents.
- Polyester: What kind of world would we live in if Polyester wasn't in everything? Polyester serves as one of the premier fabrics for backpack tents offering a balanced approach to tent construction being sturdy, yet lightweight and highly water resistant, yet breathable.
Are these the only fabrics used to make tents? Of course not.
Many emergency tents and other specialized tents are made of cloth, plastic, and many other materials.
There is definitely more to consider when purchasing a tent for camping, but few are as important as the type of fabric and the benefits of each particular fabric.
So which fabric is the best for you? Assess your situation, see what is available and evaluate.
It's always a good idea to ask a pro, but sometimes the best thing is to try one and see how it works out.
So get yours and get going.