Tent Fabrics: Nylon Vs. Polyester

Tent Fabrics: Nylon Vs. Polyester

Camping tents are usually used by tourists and enthusiastic travelers for travel outdoors with the main purpose of camping. There are multiple variations in tents, and the most important decision comes down to choosing the fabric of your tent. 

You will find tents made of various fabrics. They can be natural or human-made. However, two synthetic materials are the most common in tents, and they are Nylon and Polyester. If you are planning to buy a brand new tent, you must consider options made of either of these materials. 

Both of these waterproof nylon tent fabric have their own set of pros and cons, and choosing one out of the two will lead to making compromises. Let’s talk about these fabrics in detail and map out their advantages. 

Nylon Fabric

Image from: Illumina X Tent

Nylon is the most common material that is used in making tents. It is a standard fabric for the production of outdoor products, be it tents or even parachutes. Nylon is famous because of its strength, abrasion resistance, and because of its low price.

Pros 

• Nylon Fabric is highly flexible. Its ability to stretch is what makes this fabric so strong. The flexibility offered makes it less likely to tear while the camp is being set up. However, this flexibility can also result in the wrinkling of the fabric in the future, thus limiting the lifespan of the tent. To overcome this limitation, we also offer ripstop nylon, which is a great choice for backpacking. It is the lightest and the most convenient material available. It’s the best hiking tent in Australia. You can check out the model we offer, Illumina X -1.35kg Ultralight Hiking Tent. It is lightweight and made of ripstop fabric. It is available in Amber and Forest Green colors and is a waterproof nylon tent fabric. The fabric has multiple advantages and will be a great choice for you as it is suitable for sun, mild snow, and rain. 

• Nylon is the most abrasion material that one can find. Therefore, it does not wear out as other fabrics do; it is very useful for places where the pole meets the tent floor. In most fabrics, under such circumstances, these areas begin to weaken and tear. However, nylon fabric manages to stay strong throughout this. 

• Nylon fabric is the lightest material one can find. This advantage makes it popular amongst minimalist campers and backpackers. In addition, nylon is very easy to maintain and doesn’t require much preparation for setting up camp. 

Cons 

• Another issue arising is related to the fact that nylon absorbs water. However, there are waterproof coatings to avoid this issue as well.

Where to use it? 

Overall, nylon is the best material when it comes to ultralight tents. However, it is the best fabric for minimalist campers, and its strength is a great advantage. Our Mongar 1.9kg Ultralight Tent is made of nylon fabric and will be a great choice.

Polyester

Polyester Fabric has its own set of pros and cons as well. 

Image from: Cloud Up 2 Tent

Pros

• Even though polyester has less strength than nylon, the newer textiles have lately improved their strength and are even getting more lightweight than before. 

• Polyester has less stretch than nylon which acts as an advantage because it manages to have higher stability. 

• Polyester will retain its shape even after getting wet. It is more aesthetically appealing as compared to nylon tents.

• As it is thicker and heavier than nylon, it becomes more durable. It is a better choice as hiking tents in Australia when the weather is rough. So if you’re an all 4 season camper, then this might be a great choice for you. 

• Unlike nylon, polyester is more resistant to UV rays. Because of its thickness, polyester can manage harmful rays better.

Cons

• The major downside of polyester fabric is the lack of breathability due to its thickness, leading to condensation in the tent. Hence, many of these tents come with windows. 

• Ultimately, polyester is famous because of its high resistance to water and UV rays. It is even cheaper than Nylon and should be a great choice if you are a 4-season camper.

The best options available in Polyester with us are:

The Speedy Series

Pros:

• It is the most basic range and has the best strength to weight ratio. Made with Polyester Fabric, this weighs around 2.8 kgs and has exceptional headspace and an easy setup. 
• It’s waterproof, windproof, and comes with a scientific ventilation system as well. It is a superb choice for hiking, trekking, backpacking, etc. 

The Cloud Up series 

Pros 

• It is lightweight, weighing only 2kgs, and is a 4 season tent. 
• The Cloud Up series are waterproof tents with double layers and is easy to pitch as well.
• It is suitable for sun and rain and is best used during cycling, base camping, backpacking, etc. 

Nylon vs. Polyester tent - Where to use this product?

As it is a 4 season tent, it can be used under all weather conditions. The fabric. It has amazing waterproof that makes it fit during summers. Cycling, overnight hiking, base camping, all can be done with this tent.

Overall, we can say that nylon is an excellent choice because of the flexibility it offers and its strength-to-weight ratio. And polyester is best known for its waterproof ability and its resistance to rough weather. 

Both these fabrics are cost-effective and should definitely be considered when looking for camping tents. Some nylon tents might even be stronger than Polyester and vice versa. It all comes down to personal taste and customized needs to help you decide which one suits you best. Hence, it is recommended to look at their specifications and reviews to learn about the reliability of those tents. Many might consider nylon to be better because of its lightweight and convenience, while others prefer polyester for group camping and colder months. 

Both these fabrics are true of high quality. You can decide which one you want based on the pros and cons, and once you do, you can happily look forward to exciting camping adventures.

Conclusion

Both these fabrics are cost-effective and should definitely be considered when looking for camping tents. Some nylon tents might even be stronger than Polyester and vice versa. It all comes down to personal taste and customized needs that will help you decide which one suits you best. Hence, we recommend you to look at their specifications and reviews to learn about the reliability of those tents. Many might consider nylon to be better because of its lightweight and convenience, while others prefer polyester for group camping and colder months. 

Both these fabrics are genuine of high quality. You can decide which one you want based on the pros and cons, and once you do, you can happily look forward to exciting camping adventures! 

What were your thoughts on our article? We had be delighted to hear from you. Let us know what you think in the comments section below! Are you itching to go camping? Check out our Sleeping Bag Care: How to Wash a Sleeping Bag? You can also browse our store for more camping supplies!