There are many kinds of tent fabric, including polyester, nylon, cotton, poly-cotton, and Dyneema. Each material has its own unique advantages and aspects that can cause distress. We all know that what fits is what is best.
Selection of tent fabrics
A tent is a necessary piece of equipment for outdoor camping and is a long-lasting necessity for individuals/families who camp occasionally or frequently. It provides us with shade. The tent is an item that can be used for a long time, so it is a good decision to gather more information and compare when choosing materials.
Whether this is your first time picking a tent or not, the many choices can be dizzying. This article will help you quickly understand the 5 most common materials and choose the right type of material that best meets your expectations through a comparative analysis of several significant areas.
Introduction of the 5 commonly used tent materials
Among the many materials used to make tents, the most commonly used are the following five, so what are these five materials, what are their respective characteristics and advantages? Which one can best meet your needs?
Polyester Tents vs. Nylon Tents
The vast majority of tents are made of man-made fabrics. Nylon and polyester are both synthetic fabrics. Their commonalities and differences are as follows.
- Commonalities
Nylon and polyester are more suitable for sunny and windless weather because of their lightweight and general wind resistance and will make a sound in windy weather.
Nylon tent fabric and polyester tent fabric compared to natural materials: cheaper; lighter & smaller; fast drying; anti-mildew.
- Differences
Polyester fabric is cheaper and is more commonly used for family tents. Textile fabric in Unisign has better UV resistance. The better the anti-tear effect, the better the strength and durability will be, which can avoid some outdoor factors to destroy the tent and add trouble.
Nylon fabric is a kind of lightweight tent fabric, it is relatively lighter with higher strength, softer, more often used for light backpacking tents. While it can be affected easily by UV rays. The specific degree of impact will also vary by the color of the nylon fabric. Bright nylon colors will degrade quickly in high UV environments, while other softer colors will not be affected so significantly.
Cotton or Canvas Tents
Cotton or canvas tent fabric is actually made of the same raw material, that is, cotton.
Canvas material has good UV protection, windproof, waterproof characteristics, as well as good insulation, the body temperature will be relatively more comfortable for people inside the tent.
You need to know that canvas material will absorb water, so you should keep the tent dry when it is not in use, so as not to encounter the problem of mold. Tear-resistant performance in general. Relatively higher price than the man-made fabrics.
Poly-cotton Tents
Composition: Poly-cotton tent fabric is made from a blend of polyester and cotton.
Advantages: This material incorporates the advantages of canvas material and also enhances tear and mildew resistance.
Disadvantages: Other problems of canvas material that have not been solved.
Dyneema/Cuben Fiber (DCF) Tents
High strength to weight ratio.
Laminated layers provide high water resistance and are even the best material for waterproofing.
Stretch resistance.
Easy to repair. It is easy and fast to repair holes or torn seams.
High price.
Conclusion
These 5 tent fabrics differ in weight, performance (water resistance, insulation, UV protection, mold resistance, etc.), price, maintenance, etc. The criteria for determining which material is the best lies in your needs. Within your budget, choose the material that best meets your needs. I hope the above information will be helpful to you.
