Tent Fabric

Do Tent Materials Actually Matter?

• 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.

Commercial Tent Fabrics
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.

Polyethylene (PE)

• 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.
• 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.

PVC

• 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.

Poly/PVC

• 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.

Ripstop PVC
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.

Canvas
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.

Which Fabric To Choose?
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.

PVS or Ripstop PVC
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.

PE Fabric
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.

PVC Fabric
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.

Lets take the myth and confusion out of Tent Specifications and jargon! It's important that you choose the best tent for your needs so lets quickly look at the terminology you will find in Tent specifications from manufacturers.

When looking at tents for sale, reputable brands and retailers should provide tent fabric specs so you can work out a tent's performance capabilities and suitability to handle different conditions. Here's an introduction to different tent fabric specifications.

Hydrostatic Head (HH), water column or 'waterproof' ratings (measured in mm)

Polyester and nylon fabrics are not waterproof and so silicone or PU coatings are applied to give waterproof properties. The amount of water that they can 'hold out' is tested using a high column of water which is measured in mm. Ratings range from 800mm up to a max of 10,000mm with ratings of 1500mm and higher generally considered 'waterproof'.

All our tents have a rating of 3,000mm so are extremely reliable in bad weather!

What is Denier?

• Denier (D) is the unit measuring the weight and thickness of the individual threads used in the fabric. Fabric with a higher Denier will be thicker, stronger and more durable than the same fabric with a lower Denier – 40D Nylon will be stronger than 15D Nylon and 70D Polyester stronger than 50D Polyester. Remember that different fabrics have different strengths. Lower Denier is common in ultralight nylon tents and tarps where low weight is paramount.
• All Kelly Kettle camping tents are Polyester 70D. Something like a heavier duty event shelter may be in the region of 150D as thicker material would be required to deal with greater stresses and longer exposure to the sun and elements.

What is Thread count?

• The thread count (T) is the number of threads used horizontally and vertically per square inch of fabric ... 190T means a total of 190 threads. A higher thread count represents a greater density and tighter weave in the fabric. For this reason you will often find lower Denier fabrics (with a 'thinner' thread) have a higher thread count.
• All Kelly Kettle Tents have 190T whereas our standard Tarp has 210T.

What is Ripstop?

• Ripstop tent fabrics are those with a special reinforcement to increase resistance to tearing and ripping. When weaving, a stronger thread is used at regular intervals to form a crosshatching, grid pattern visible in the fabric. This improves strength of the fabric and makes any tears or holes less likely to spread and become bigger.
• We use the Ripstop fabric in ALL our Tarps & Tents to give you the best product available.

What are fabric coatings?

• Chemical coatings are applied to tent fabrics to increase their performance, especially resistance to water. What is a silicone coating? What is silnylon? A silicone coating is usually applied to nylon, hence 'silnylon'. The coating 'permeates' the nylon fabric creating a stronger silicon 'reinforced', waterproof nylon fabric with better stretch and tear strength. Silicone repels water and so it's easy to shake off excess water and dries quickly. On the down side silicone coatings are more expensive, stop 'breathing' in the fabric which may lead to greater condensation, and result in a very slick and slippery surface meaning that tent seams cannot be taped - Silnylon seams require manual application of a liquid seam sealant.
• Our Ultralight Tarp is made from Ripstop Silnylon fabric and waterproof to 3000mm & UV50 to protect you from the suns harmful rays.

What other fabric coatings are there?

• A number of other coatings can be applied to tent fabrics to improve UV resistance, water resistance (allowing water to bead and roll off), rot and mildew resistance and to add fire retardant properties to fabrics.
• Kelly Kettle Tarps & Beach Shelter provide UV50 protection.

What is Fire Retardant CPAI-84

• CPAI-84 is a testing method used specifically for confirming the flame resistance of fabric used in manufacturing camping tents. Suppliers must submit the various tent materials (ceiling, walls, and floor) to a third-party organization licensed to perform the required CPAI-84 flame retardancy testing. Suppliers of the tent materials that meet these standards are then awarded an official laboratory approved certificate that can be shared with their customers.
• History of the Test: In 1976, the CPAI (Canvas Products Association International), now known as the International Fabrics Association International, set the flammability standards for camping tents as means to help protect consumers by limiting accidents caused by flames near the vicinity of camping tents. The test does not declare that the material if fire proof if exposed to a continuous flame. Rather the CPAI-84 test confirms fire resistance after the material is exposed to a flame.

What to look for in your next tent fabric specs?

• Generally, the higher the denier count the stronger and heavier the fabric will be, and the higher the mm rating the more 'waterproof' it will be. Have a look at the following ... 70D 190T Polyester Ripstop 3000mm CPAI-84 – a high quality polyester, fire-retardant tent fabric suitable for bad weather that is rip resistant. Perfect for camping tents. All our tents have this high specification.
• 40D Ripstop SilNylon 3000mm – a light 40 Denier nylon fabric suitable for ultralight tents or tarps, ripstop so has better tear resistance, silicone coating topside and underside, good waterproof rating at 3000mm should be able to deal with most rain. Our Ultralight Tarp is made from this material.