Posted on 2 Comments

Explore the best tent fabrics for your next backpacking adventure

backpacking trekking pole tent outer shell set up near water

There are so many fabrics out there, it’s hard to decide which one will be best for your next backpacking adventure. We’re going to help make that easier for you. First, we’ll suggest what fabrics probably won’t work. Then, we’ll tell you what we use for our tents. And then we’ll wrap up with the near future of tentmaking.

First, unless you are glamping and backpacking in the same trip, you will want to avoid any natural (i.e., plant or animal) fabrics. Cotton, wool, and hemp materials all have their benefits, ranging from breathability and aesthetics to durability and sustainability. But, they are so incredibly heavy that only strongman competitors dare carry them with their pack, so we’re not going to review them here. They also tend to soak up moisture at an incredible rate. On to the synthetic fabrics we use for our tents.

Top synthetic fabrics

Polyester, nylon, and silnylon are all synthetic fabrics that we have used for River Country Products tents. Polyester has been the primary choice for our intro line of Trekker tents, and silnylon has been the primary choice for our intermediate line of Trekker tents. Here are the main differences between them:

Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from petroleum-based materials. It is known for its durability, wrinkle resistance, and resistance to UV rays. These characteristics make it an excellent choice for outdoor clothing and gear. Polyester is also relatively affordable and easy to care for. However, it is not as breathable as natural fibers like cotton, and it can be prone to pilling (little lint balls) over time.

Pros: Waterproof, inexpensive, light, durable

Cons: Needs good ventilation

Nylon

Nylon is another synthetic fabric made from petroleum-based materials. It is known for its strength, abrasion resistance, and water resistance. These features make it an excellent choice for outdoor gear like tents and backpacks. Nylon is also lightweight and quick-drying. However, it can be less durable than polyester and can break down over time when exposed to UV rays.

Pros: Same as polyester above, but more breathable (less moisture in the tent)

Cons: Not as durable as polyester, not as much UV protection or UV durability

Silnylon

Trekker Pyramid in the Enchantments

Silnylon is a type of upgraded nylon that has been treated with a silicone coating to make it even more water-resistant. It is commonly used in outdoor gear like tents and tarps, because it is lightweight, strong, and highly waterproof. Silnylon is also less prone to stretching than regular nylon and has a slippery surface that makes it easier to pack up. However, it can be more expensive than regular nylon, and the silicone coating can wear off over time with use.

Pros: Same as nylon above, but more waterproof and easier to pack

Cons: More expensive and less durable

Other fabrics

Polyurethane-coated nylon and cuben fiber, also called Dyneema, are alternative fabrics for those wanting ultralight tents. Cuben Fiber is much lighter than most PU-coated fabrics, making it a popular choice for ultralight backpacking and other weight-sensitive applications. However, Cuben Fiber can also be more expensive and more prone to abrasion than PU-coated fabrics.

Most people prefer plain polyester fabric for backpacking tents because it is the most affordable and is fairly durable. But the newest market research is showing that silicone-coated polyester, or silpoly, could beat each of the fabrics above because it is more durable, more affordable, and is more UV-resistant than silnylon.

River Country Products is currently testing silpoly fabric for use in current and upcoming lines of Trekker tents.

Which material do you prefer and why?

Posted on 5 Comments

Trekker Tent 2.2 Update

trekker tent 2.2 backpacking tent

We are excited to release the newest iteration of our Trekker Tent 2.2! The updated tent is now for sale on our website. We have worked hard to improve this tent to meet your, and our own, expectations for quality. While we have maintained the design and size of the tent, with internal mesh walls and side vents, we have improved the quality of the seams and overall weather-proofing of the tent. We redesigned almost every seam on the tent. Thank you for your patience as we have worked to improve this tent and bring it in line with our vision to provide high quality and budget friendly backpacking gear.

We are also working hard on new tent designs building on the changes that we have made to the Trekker Tent 2.2 and combining them with new features such as a detachable rain fly and the frequently requested 2 person tent with a vestibule. Keep an eye out as we hope to release new tent designs later this year.

Happy hiking,

River Country Products

Posted on Leave a comment

Trekker Tent 3, Our Best 4-Man Backpacking Tent Yet

4 person trekking pole tent

After designing and testing this tent out ourselves we are excited to introduce you to our new favorite 4 man backpacking tent, the Trekker Tent 3.

Despite being a 4 person tent, the Trekker Tent 3 has one of the easiest set ups of all of our other backpacking tents, simply stake down the four corners, attach our trekking poles together (an extension is included if the tent is bought with poles) and then extend the single resulting trekking pole in the center of the tent.

We are also excited about this tent because of its weight. At 4lb 10oz, with stakes, it is one of the lightest per person 4 man tents out there. Only 1lb 2.5oz per person.

Lastly we love the vestibule, large mesh door and 6′ 8” peak height. We think you’ll love this 4 person trekking pole tent too.

Check out the Trekker Tent 3 here.

Posted on 1 Comment

Trekker Tent 1A, our lightest one person trekking pole tent.

ultra-light one man tent

We are excited to announce our lightest tent yet. 2 lbs and 7.5 feet long so you can fit with your gear, includes an awning. On sale for the next 3 days, just $19.95. For this reduced price we would really like your feedback on this new tent.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GY22398

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Winter Camping in our trekking pole backpacking tent

Backpacking Tent in the Rockies

Brandyn from Denver Used our trekking pole backpacking tent this last weekend camping in the Rockies and sent us some photos and posted this review:
“I just wanted to let you know I received the tent and it is awesome. I attached some pics of my camping trip this weekend in the Denver foothills. It kept me comfortable in 25 mph wind and an 11 degree, snow stormy night. I also can’t believe how much weight it cut from my pack. Thank you.”
Thank You Brandyn, we love the pictures and the positive feedback!

Backpacking Tent in the Rockies
Backpacking Tent works for winter camping in the Rockies.

Backpacking Tent in the Rockies
Backpacking Tent in Snow Storm.