Aug. 19, 2024
Choosing a tent can be a challenging business. There are a wide range of materials involved, from the fabric on the outside of your tent to the pegs you use to hold it down. This guide looks at some of the materials you are likely to encounter when buying a tent. You can find out more about other things to look for here Choosing a tent layout.
Tent fabrics
Most tents will have two layers &#; an outer cover known as the flysheet and an inner tent for sleeping. In almost all cases, you won&#;t have a choice of fabric for the inner tent, so as long as it is breathable (to prevent condensation building up overnight) you should be fine. However, there is a range of materials available for the flysheet. Read on for more details.
Polyester
Most tents on the market today are made of polyester. This man-made fabric comes in many weights and with a variety of coatings, many of which are given brand names by their respective manufacturers.
Polyester has similar properties to nylon (see below), but it does not stretch or shrink as much and by using specialist coatings can be made to be quite UV stable. Higher grade polyester tents may also have a ripstop weave, this is identified by a cross hatching in the weave and inhibit tearing.
As a result, most tents on the market today &#; especially family ones &#; are made from polyester.
Nylon
Lightweight tents are often made of nylon. This man-made textile is normally coated to make it more durable to both abrasion and UV, with coatings such as acrylic, polyurethane (PU) or silicone.
One disadvantage of nylon is its tendency to &#;ladder&#;, which is when a small hole propagates across the fabric rapidly. Top-of-the-range nylon fabrics include a &#;ripstop&#; mesh of thicker nylon strands that prevent a small tear propogating. However, some cheaper nylon fabrics have a ripstop crosshatch pattern embossed &#; simply to look the part &#; so it's worth checking whether the tent you are looking at is really ripstop fabric.
Composites
The latest generation of expedition tents are using laminated polymer or composite textiles. For example ULTRA from Terra Nova uses an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) mat coated on both sides with a thin polymer film. The result is a very robust and lightweight material, the textile can also be bonded allowing for a greater tensile strength than a sewn join.
Polycotton or coated-cotton
An alternative to traditional 100% cotton canvas is polycotton, or lighter-weight cotton with a weather-resistant coating. These materials have many of the qualities of 100% cotton canvas but tend to be lighter in weight and lower cost. Many family tent manufacturers have polycotton or coated-cotton units in their ranges, such as Outwell, Sprayway and Vango.
Cotton
Before the s, tents were generally made of natural fabrics such as cotton canvas. TheCamping and Caravanning Club&#;s founder Thomas Hiram Holding even used silk for his lightest tents.
Today cotton tents are available from specialist manufacturers like Cabanon, Karsten and Bell Tents. Cotton canvas is a wonderful fabric for tents because it remains cool in summer, keeps the warmth inside in winter and rarely suffers from condensation. One result of this is that you do not generally need an inner tent in a cotton canvas unit.
Canvas is also a better sound insulator, so cotton tents often seem quieter inside than nylon or polyester ones. A cotton canvas tent will normally outlast one of man-made fabric, sometimes by several decades, but it will weigh significantly more and probably cost a fair bit too.
Cotton tents can also require more maintenance than ones of man-made fabric. For example, a new cotton tent will need to be weathered to prevent it leaking. This involves soaking it a couple of times, allowing the threads in the canvas to swell slightly and close any tiny gaps where water can seep through.
Cotton&#;s final winning feature is its smell. You cannot beat the scent of a pure canvas tent to transport you back to childhood days outdoors &#; even if you did not camp then...
Groundsheets
Groundsheets in most tents today are of sturdy PVC. You will probably want a fully-waterproof groundsheet in your sleeping area, but if you have a choice, it is worth considering a breathable one elsewhere because it will keep the grass beneath your tent in better condition for future campers.
If the ground is already particularly muddy, you may want to have a footprint &#; which could be purpose designed or simply a piece of polythene from a DIY store or builders&#; merchant &#; to go under your groundsheet to keep the mud at bay.
Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) &#; also known as fibreglass &#;is a popular material for tent poles because it is relatively cheap to produce, lightweight and bends easily around the curves of a tent. It is often found in small- and medium-sized dome and tunnel units or as extra poles (over a porch or similar) in larger ones.
GRP is made from thin glass strands held in a resin. Some such poles are surrounded by an outer wrapping and appear under a brand name, such as Durawrap or Dynaflex. One disadvantage of the material is that when a pole breaks or fractures &#; and they can do, especially if they are accidentally mis-threaded in a sleeve &#; the break can have sharp glass splinters.
Steel
Steel tent poles are generally painted, plated or coated to prevent them rusting, and need to remain that way. Steel is a strong, heavy material, so you will normally find these poles in larger tents, and they are not designed to bend around the curves of a tent.
If your chosen tent has steel poles with angled corners, check the thickness of the material at these corners because they can be weak points. An accidentally-bent steel pole can often be straightened, but it will never have all the strength of its condition before the incident.
Aluminium alloy
Aluminium is a much lighter metal than steel and it can bend around curves like GRP. For extra strength aluminium is combined with another metal to form an alloy.
These materials are more costly than GRP but the strength and weight saving (over steel) mean they are often sold with lightweight, backpacking tents.
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At the top end of the market, you willfind poles in hi-tech materials. Carbon fibre ones, for example, are incredibly light, strong and perfect for the curving structures of many tents, but command a high price.
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One advantage of buying a slightly more-pricey tent from a well-known supplier is that you are likely to be able to buy a replacement part if you accidentally break or tear something. During our tent testing at the Club we expect to break at least one pole every season &#; so it is not as unusual as we may hope!
Replacement poles, pole sections and end caps (known as ferrules) are normally available from your local camping equipment retailer, or a specialist spares stockist such as www.tentspares.co.uk.
If replacements are no longer available for your particular tent model, you can normally buy a standard piece of pole with the correct diameter and cut it to length.
When you buy a tent it is likely to be supplied with standard, straight steel pegs with a circular cross-section, sometimes called pins. If conditions are good, these may be sufficient, but in many cases it is worth investing in some additional pegs to keep your tent securely on the ground. Pins can be easy to put in the ground, but they often bend if they hit something hard in the ground and they are also easily dislodged.
Some campers with many years&#; experience will carry a selection of pegs, each suited to different ground conditions. It is always worth having a few spares &#; even of the most basic pins &#; to replace any broken or lost ones.
Pressed steel or alloy
Pegs with a shank with a flat cross-section generally give better grip than standard steel pegs.
Lightweight pegs
If you are carrying your kit yourself, you may consider alloy pegs or titanium ones to reduce weight. These need to be used carefully as they are more likely to bend under the mallet. You also need to be sure they will be good enough to stay in the ground keeping your tent down in the wind.
Moulded plastic
There are many shapes and sizes of moulded plastic pegs on the market. Many are remarkably strong, even though they are light in weight. Some larger tents are sold with moulded plastic pegs for the main guylines and steel pins for the remaining guys.
Rock pegs
Rock pegs are designed for especially hard ground &#; perhaps stony or frozen. They are normally made from toughened steel and generally have a head to take the guyline, perhaps made of plastic.
Screw-in pegs
These pegs have a strong grip and are designed to stay in the ground unless you unscrew them. Many people use a cordless drill to put them in place and extract them.
Groundsheet pegs
Groundsheet pegs normally have flattened tops so you can stand on them without spiking your feet.
And the rest
You will find a wide range of pegs on sale at your local camping retailer or online, with extra features such as glow-in-the-dark heads or extended tops to anchor them to the ground. After a few camping trips, you will soon decide whether you would like to splash out on a different type. Many enthusiasts on camping forums are happy to discuss the options.
Putting in and removing pegs
Unfortunately there are too many campsite accidents when a peg breaks through the sole of a shoe or boot. So it is worth investing in a rubber-headed mallet to help push your pegs into the ground (unless you are only using screw-in ones). You may also like to buy a peg extractor for the end of the holiday &#; it is a good way to save your hands and prevent pegs being left in the ground.
No tent fabric is fireproof. Many fabrics will be fire retardant but all tents will burn and most will burn remarkably quickly.
That&#;s one of the reasons you should never use any equipment with open flames in a tent and, however romantic you think it may be, never use candles in or near a tent.
If your tent does catch fire there is only one thing to do. Get everybody out and get clear of the tent as quickly as possible. Save yourself and worry about the tent later.
Traditional tent campers adopt an excellent habit &#; they all keep a fire-bucket full of water or sand outside their tent. Nothing is more effective if a tent does catch fire than half a dozen good neighbours each throwing their own bucket of water on the blaze.
The Club has a rule that units should always be 6m apart from each other. The law states that all units should be pitched at a distance to prevent the spread of fire and the outdoor industry has agreed to a minimum of 3m between tents
What are tents made of is a common question many customers are asking before they buy their own tents. After all, the type of tent material will factor heavily into the type of use they&#;ll have for it.
This is the reason why choosing the right material for your commercial tents is more important than you realize. Most tent materials are stronger and sturdier than the classic camping tent fabric, but they all have different qualities that make them better for different tasks. Here are what fabrics commercial tents commonly use, and which one you should pick for your event.
There&#;s more choice than you&#;d think for your tent fabric. Here&#;s what you&#;ll normally find on offer from your commercial tent supplier.
Now, if you want to talk to the experts and have them help you decide which tent to buy, contact us at +.
This is probably the most common tent material you&#;ll see on offer, as it has a wide range of uses. It has a weight of around 240gsm, making it a tough, heavy-weight fabric. You&#;ll see it&#;s hard to damage, so it can be used over and over again.
With competitive price and timely delivery, Qicai sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
PE is usually plastic coated on both sides. This stops tears and damage and makes it easy to clean. It&#;s a good option if you&#;re on a budget as it&#;s one of the cheaper options on the market.
100% PVC is another good option for tent fabric, as it&#;s one of the most durable options out there. These have a weight of 650gsm, making them very heavy duty. Tents using these fabrics attach by using Dutch lacing and heavy-duty Velcro, in order to hold them together.
PVC has a high gloss look to it, so it&#;s the perfect fabric to choose if you want something that looks slick and professional.
This fabric is a blend of polyester and PVC, giving you some of the benefits of both. Typically, the fabric is polyester coated in PVC. It&#;s not as heavy as other types of fabric, but the PVC coating does give it some protection from the elements.
It&#;s a good option to choose if you want something that will resist the elements but don&#;t want to spend more on the 100% PVC fabric. It will resist water and UV rays, so it works well for most events.
This fabric uses a cross-hatch weave and a PVC coating to make it one of the toughest on the market. It&#;s an excellent choice if you&#;re intending to use your tent regularly, as it&#;s tough and can stand up to a lot of use. If you&#;re going to buy this fabric though, you will need to remember it&#;s going to be more expensive than other options.
This is the fabric most people think of when they think of tents. It&#;s popular as it offers a rustic charm that you won&#;t get with other fabrics. If you&#;re going to use it though, be aware it&#;s not going to offer the same weather-resistant properties as others give you. If it&#;s not properly cared for, it can start to rot too. If you&#;re not sure, it&#;s best to ask the commercial tent manufacturer what they recommend.
There are probably more tent fabrics out there than you realized. Which one is the best one to choose? It very much depends on you, the event you&#;re using the tent for, how often you&#;ll use it, and how much you want to spend.
If you&#;re using the tent often, you&#;ll want to choose a tougher material, like PVS or ripstop PVC. These can take a lot more use, and you&#;ll have to do less repairs when you own them. Remember, you&#;ll be putting that tent up and taking it down often, so you don&#;t want to put it at more risk of damage. It&#;s often a good idea to get a hardier fabric if you&#;re going to leave the tent up for an extended period of time.
If you&#;re using the tent in a domestic setting, or will only be using the tent for a limited period of time, then a lighter fabric like PE is going to be perfect for you. It&#;s a lighter fabric, but it still offers water and UV resistance so everyone is protected as they use it.
The event does play a part in deciding the fabric. For instance, wedding tents are usually made of PVC, as it&#;s going to keep the whole party protected as they use the tent throughout the day. Keep your event in mind as you&#;re picking out your tent fabric.
It&#;s easier than you&#;d think to take care of your tent fabric, especially if you know what materials tents are made. Spend a little time when putting the tent up and taking it down to look after it, and it will last for years to come.
When you put the canvas tents up, look for any tears in the fabric. With some types of fabric, this can be easily mended with a liquid vinyl solution that you can buy from your supplier. If you inspect it regularly, you&#;ll catch those tears before they get bigger, and require you to replace the fabric entirely.
When you take the tent down, again, look for any tears in the fabric and repair them as needed. If you don&#;t have a tent that&#;s been specifically designed for winter camping, make sure to store it in a place where it won&#;t get wet. Waterproofing your tent will help extend its lifespan. Be sure to clean your tent before putting it away for the season. Clean And Brush With Soapy Water
You&#;ll also need to clean it before you can store it away. This is very simple to do. Spread the fabric out, and use a brush and soapy water to gently wash the fabric down. It&#;s important to do this every time, as debris can fall onto the fabric while it&#;s in use and stain it. This is especially true of leaves falling from trees.
Once it has been washed, hang the fabric over a washing line and rinse it off with a hose. Let it dry thoroughly, and then roll it up to be stored somewhere cool and dry. This keeps it in the best possible condition.
There&#;s a lot to think about when picking out a tent fabric for your commercial tent. You&#;ve got to consider how long you&#;ll have it up for, how much protection you need from the elements, and of course, your budget. This guide should help you pick the right tent fabric for you.
When it comes to camping, one of the most important decisions you&#;ll make is what kind of tent to buy. Tents come in all shapes and sizes, and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
For example, a pop-up tent is easy to set up and takedown, but it doesn&#;t offer much in the way of protection from the elements. Conversely, a heavy-duty canvas tent can withstand high winds and heavy rains, but it&#;s much more difficult to set up.
Ultimately, the best tent for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Do some research before you make your purchase, and don&#;t be afraid to ask an experienced camper for advice. With a little effort, you&#;re sure to find the perfect tent for your next camping trip.
When choosing a tent, it is important to consider the type of material. Tents made with nylon are lightweight and waterproof, while those made with cotton are breathable and durable. Each type of material has its own benefits, and the best tent for you will depend on your individual needs.
For example, if you are planning to backpack in wet weather, a nylon tent would be a good choice. However, if you are looking for a tent that will last for years of use, a cotton tent might be a better option.
With so many different materials available, it is important to do your research before making a purchase. By considering the benefits of each type of material, you can find the perfect tent for your next camping trip.
When choosing a tent, it&#;s important to consider your needs and preferences. Do you need a tent that&#;s large enough to accommodate your family? Are you looking for a tent with a built-in screened porch?
Do you need a tent that&#;s light enough to pack on a backpacking trip? Once you&#;ve considered your needs, be sure to read reviews from other campers before making a purchase.
Not all tents are created equal, and it&#;s important to choose a tent that&#;s well-made and will stand up to the rigors of camping. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know where to start. But by taking the time to do your research, you can be sure to find the perfect tent for your next camping adventure.
There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a tent, but it&#;s worth taking the time to find one that&#;s right for you. The first thing to think about is what size tent you need.
It should be big enough to comfortably fit all of your gear, but not so big that it&#;s difficult to carry. Next, consider the type of weather you&#;ll be camping in. If you&#;re expecting rain, make sure the tent has a waterproof canopy.
If you&#;re planning on camping in hot weather, look for a tent with good ventilation. Finally, think about which features are most important to you. Do you need a tent with a built-in rainfly? Do you want one with a spacious vestibule? Once you&#;ve considered all of these factors, you&#;ll be able to find the perfect tent for your next camping trip!
If you are still unsure what tent material is best suited to your needs, please don&#;t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to discuss the options with you and help you make a decision.
We know what are tents made of. We are experts in it. Contact us at + and we&#;ll be happy to help.
For more tent material fabric manufacturerinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
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