Polycotton Tents

What is a Polycotton Tent?

Just as the name suggests, polycotton is a manmade mix of polyester (also a manmade fabric) and natural cotton, usually in the ratio of about 35% polyester to around 65% cotton in tents. Because of the higher cotton content, they look and feel more like a traditional canvas tent, however the idea behind technical cotton is that it obtains the best qualities of both the polyester and cotton materials, crafting a super fabric that works exceedingly well for tents. TC tents come in many different shapes and sizes. If you are looking for a small more traditional polycotton tent, the Vango Mokala TC technical cotton 4 man tent, may suit you perfectly. If you have a bigger family or just like more room, there are bigger options, like the Vango Lismore Air TC 600XL Family Tent. Alternatively, you could plump for a more unorthodox choice, like the Robens Aero Yurt Tent or the Robens Klondike Grande Tipi Tent. With these alternative designs, you will really stand out on the campsite.

What advantages does a polycotton tent offer?

So, if you are looking to upgrade your tent or just want to start your camping adventures in true style, what benefits do TC tents have that will make them stand out as premier tents?

Breathability and adaptability of polycotton tents

Probably the biggest value polycotton presents is its breathable nature. This makes the tents very adaptable, meaning they stay cool inside in warmer weather, but also keep the heat in, during colder weather. With the unpredictability of the weather in the UK, especially with the hotter summers and then heavy down pours, a TC tent will enable you to keep a happy, more constant medium in your home away from home. It will also allow you to comfortably camp earlier on and then also later in the season, giving you way more opportunities to create those all-important family memories.

Do polycotton tents have condensation problems?

Another benefit of technical cotton’s breathability, is condensation on the inside wall of the tent is highly reduced, as moisture can pass through to the outside, making the internal environment a lovely comfortable place to be.

Longevity - how long does a polycotton tent last?

Technical Cotton is an exceedingly durable fabric and doesn’t get as faded as other fabrics do in UV sunrays. This fabric does not degrade nearly as quickly as polyester alternatives, so with your TC tent you will be the envy of the campsite for many years to come. This feature makes polycotton tents ideal for foreign camping trips, where the sun shines more strongly and for longer periods, but also very relevant for UK campers as in the coming years temperatures are set to only keep on rising.

Some campers are put off Polycotton tents because they are a bit pricier. However, if you take into account the TC tents last a lot longer, this means long termly, this isn’t the case.

Strength of polycotton tents

Polycotton is much stronger than polyester, meaning TC tents are more robust and resilient, especially in stormy, windy conditions, meaning you can camp earlier in the UK season and later as the temperature gets cooler and the weather conditions are more unpredictable. It is also worth mentioning that polyester tents can be quite noisy (crunching/crinkling) in high winds, however TC tents are much quieter, meaning you can all get a much better nights sleep.

Do polycotton tents present any disadvantages?

Here at Leisureshopdirect, we believe it is our duty to give you as much information as possible, so that you can make an informed choice when buying your next tent. With polycotton there are a few minor points worth mentioning. Firstly, probably the most noticeable feature is that polycotton is a heavier fabric, meaning the tent can be harder to move from storage to vehicle to pitch. Also, you may need two happy campers to quickly pitch up when you arrive at your chosen campsite. However, there are definitely way to overcome this issue, like unzipping the sides, windows and doors when packing away and putting them in separate bags will really reduce the carry load. This also means that the pack size can be a bit bigger, taking up more storage space and more room in the boot.

As we have already discussed polycotton tents tend to be a bit more expensive that their polyester counterparts, but it is really worth consider the higher performance of TC tents and the fact they last for much longer periods of time, if correctly looked after.

Does polycotton absorb water?

Staying on this point, before using your TC tent for the first time, it is important to 'weather’ it. This is quite simple………pitch up in your garden, use the hose pipe to wet it all over and then let it dry out completely. The reason for this is that polycotton swells when it gets wet and then tightens more strongly as it dries out. Both polycotton and polyester tents are treated with waterproof coating and polyester tents have seam tape across all seams, but polycotton tents do not. During the manufacture of polycotton tents the stitching causes a space between the hole and thread to be unprotected, so rain water could theoretically get into the tent. During the drying of the weathering process, the thread within the stitch holes expands and totally fills any holes where water could get through.

Do Polycotton tents need waterproofing? How do you look after a polycotton tent?

It is a good idea to apply waterproofing products on your tent, probably every two years, to keep the fabric performing to the best of its ability. For a great range of products, check out our section Tent Waterproofing.

What is the difference between a tent made from polycotton vs polyester? What is the best fabric for tents?

Due to the high cotton content, polycotton tents are heavier with a bigger storage pack, so if you are backpack camping then a polycotton tent wouldn’t be the best idea and a polyester tent would be more fit for purpose.

Polyester is a less expensive material to manufacture than polycotton, meaning that polyester tents are not as expensive. However, if you take longevity of polycotton into account, then maybe polycotton tents are more cost effective.

Polyester tents are less breathable than their polycotton counterparts, so you will find them hot in warmer weather and colder in cool conditions. There is also a greater possibility of condensation forming on the inside walls of polyester tents.

Polyester tents will degrade and fade more quickly in the UV rays than polycotton tents, meaning they won’t keep their colour or strength as long. They do not have as much longevity.

What is the best fabric for tents? Are there any other considerations with polycotton?

In the past polycotton tents were mainly considered by campers who liked to travel abroad in warmer climates. Think back to last summer though….very sunny months with many dry spells. In fact, according to the BBC Met Office, four of the five warmest summers on record for England have occurred since 2003. It is very scary seeing the effects of global warming occurring and we can only expect warmer summers in the years ahead. Therefore, would it make the breathability of polycotton tent fabric more and more important in the coming camping seasons if you want you and your loved ones to stay comfortable and cool?