What is Polycotton Tent Fabric : Benefits, Advantages & Disadvantages
In the good old days, choosing a tent was a simpler affair – you got a canvas tent, and that was it. Despite its weight and the time it took to set up, at least you knew what you were dealing with.
Fast forward to today, and the tent market presents a complex array of fabrics and materials, making it challenging to navigate the trade-offs and compromises involved in choosing the right one. The Polycotton vs Polyester debate has become a central question for campers, raising the dilemma of whether paying extra for a polycotton version is justified. In this article, we'll delve into that question.
Polycotton is a blend of natural cotton and synthetic polyester. These two yarns are woven together, typically in a ~65% cotton to ~35% polyester ratio, aiming to combine the best properties of each material. While many may think of old canvas tents as being made from cotton, historical canvas was hemp-based – derived from the cannabis plant (best not to smoke it, though).
In later years, canvas evolved into cotton or linen-based materials, finding uses from painting to yachting sails.
Cotton, hemp, linen, and canvas share the crucial characteristic of being natural, not concocted in a laboratory. They offer excellent breathability, natural insulation, and warmth, qualities challenging for man-made materials like polyester and nylon to replicate.
Breathability is vital for tents to avoid condensation, a potentially unpleasant experience of being dripped on by your own liquid breath in the morning. Cotton and canvas tents adapt well to changing weather conditions, providing coolness in heat and warmth in cold weather. They also possess a tactile quality and durability that synthetic fibers lack.
Despite their advantages, cotton and canvas tents fell out of favor for a few reasons. Their insulating properties lead to bulkier and heavier tents, making transportation more challenging. They demand more maintenance due to moisture absorption, requiring thorough drying to prevent mildew and mold. Additionally, they are prone to ripping if accidentally snagged. Moreover, these natural materials are relatively expensive, resulting in higher-priced tents.
Polyester, a synthetic polymer, forms continuous, uniform fabric sheets with a repeating chemical structure. It is lightweight and can be made highly waterproof by coating with water repellent chemicals. Polyester tents are cost-effective, offering affordability to buyers.
However, polyester does have drawbacks. Its breathability is limited, unless woven into technical fabrics like Gore-Tex, which is uncommon for tents due to cost constraints. Longevity is another concern, as prolonged exposure to UV rays can degrade the bonds between polymers, causing discoloration, weakening, and tearing. In contrast, cotton does not suffer the same degradation and can last a lifetime with proper care.
Incorporating both polyester and cotton into the same tent is an attempt to harness the best qualities of each material. But does it succeed?
In our opinion, the answer is a resounding yes. We have directly compared several polycotton tents with their polyester counterparts, While polycotton tents may weigh more and occupy slightly more space when packed, the overall feel and usability of polycotton far surpass pure polyester.
The polycotton material exudes vitality! It's challenging to articulate, but it imparts a more homely, warm, and inviting ambiance. We've been thoroughly impressed with polycotton and believe it justifies the additional expense, especially if you're camping in colder months or facing extreme summer heat.
The acronym that initially left us perplexed when used to label polycotton tents—TC—actually stands for "Technical Cotton" and is essentially synonymous with polycotton. These terms can be used interchangeably.
While polyester tents are typically coated with a waterproof chemical to prevent water penetration, polycotton tents also receive a waterproof coating but lack taped seams. This means there might be a potential route for water ingress between the stitched seam and the needle hole in the tent.
To prevent water ingress through seams, you need to 'weather' your polycotton tent. This straightforward process can be done at the campsite during your initial use or in your garden before your first trip:
Pitch the Tent: Set up your tent.
Wet the Tent: Thoroughly wet the tent using rainwater or a hosepipe spray for approximately 10-15 minutes.
Let It Dry: Allow the tent to dry completely. This enables the thread to expand in the seams, filling the stitch holes and blocking potential water ingress paths for your next camping adventure.
Pack the Tent Away: Once the tent is dry, pack it away for your next use.
