FAQ

Our tents are made from the best materials available and are constantly being updated. Our buyer’s guide discusses the details of what we use, and you are always welcome to contact us if you have a specific question(s) on our materials.

We choose slightly heavier and more durable materials than most lightweight tent companies, as we strongly believe that tents should not be disposable.

Tarptent products are made across the globe. Our tents are sewn in the USA, China, and Vietnam, and our materials are produced in various locations.

USA-made tents will have the following note on their pages: 🇺🇲 This tent is sewn in Seattle, WA, using U.S. and imported materials.

Notes:

• Dyneema® materials are made in the USA 
• Our Lithium and Ultra seires tents are constructed in China at a factory specialized in the advanced construction methods needed.
• Easton® poles are made in the USA
• DAC poles are made in Korea
• Nearly all of our woven fabrics (sil-poly, sil-nylon etc) are made in Korea

Every Tarptent comes with a tent bag, stakes, and a stake bag. Arch pole tents also include the arch pole(s), but trekking pole-supported tents do not come with trekking poles. We also include pre-attached apex guy lines on all of our trekking pole tents.

Yes, we use 100% waterproof fabrics with high hydrostatic head ratings and super fine “no-see-um” mesh that keeps out even the smallest gnats and midges.

Our sil-nylon and sil-poly tents do need seam-sealing to fully waterproof the seams. (refer to the seam sealing FAQ section)

There are a few basic questions you should ask to narrow down your choices:

• How many people does it need to fit, and how much extra space do I want inside?
  • Many users choose a tent with room for an extra person tent for extra space and versatility.
  • Most of our tents accommodate fairly tall people and we list a recommended max user height with each.
• Do I want a double-wall or single-wall tent?
  • Double wall tent are heavier and more complex but provide better condensation management for wet environments.
  • Double wall tents offer more features like multiple interior options and “stargazing” modes.
• What is my target weight range?
  • Keep in mind 8oz is a cup (240ml) of water and lighter materials like DCF 0.55 or 15D fabrics are less durable.
• Do I want a freestanding, semi-freestanding, or non-freestanding tent?
  • Freestanding and semi-freestanding tents are typically easier to pitch but heavier.
  • All tents need to be well staked to perform well in wind (and not blow away) so a completely freestanding pitch is often not advisable.
  • Non-freestanding tents can be pithed using alternative anchors such as rock piles in difficult to stake places.
• What conditions will I be using the tent in?
  • We use 3 season to designated tents designed for use in moderate conditions such as a thru hike of the PCT.
  • We use 3+ season to designated tents that are primarily designed for use in moderate conditions but are capable of still being comfortable in conditions such as light snow and higher winds.
  • We use 4 season to designated tents designed for use in winter and high alpine conditions.

You can filter through our products based on the answers to the above questions on our Tents page, and more technical details are available on our Buyer’s Guide. You can also visit our YouTube page for videos on shelter comparisons and features, or just contact us for help deciding.

• Full solid interiors are recommended for colder conditions. Solid interiors block wind and trap warm air, but obscure the view from inside the tent. 
• Full mesh interiors are recommended for warm and/or humid conditions. Mesh interiors allow for maximum ventilation, which helps minimize condensation. The mesh is also transparent and allows you to see out of the tent. 
• Partially solid interior allows for venting while blocking some wind. We recommend a partial solid interior for users who primarily need good venting but want protection from cold winds while lying down.

• Easton 3.9 carbon fiber poles are exceptionally light but are also the most flexible and least durable of our pole options.
• Syclone poles are made from a carbon and glass fiber blend. They are stiffer and heavier than 3.9 carbon and can flex extremely far before breaking. Making them great for preventing accidental breaks in gusty conditions.
• DAC 9.3 NFL poles are slightly lighter and stiffer than Syclone poles, but cannot bend as far before breaking. Aluminum poles have much better long-term durability than carbon or glass fiber composite poles. We recommend DAC 9.3 poles for most users as they are a good balance of weight, cost, stiffness, and durability. 
• DAC 10.65 PL poles are the heaviest, but stiffest and strongest poles we offer. They are recommended for users who expect extreme wind or snow loading.

It depends on the exact tent.

For our woven fabric tents: probably not. 30D sil-nylon is very durable compared to most ultralight floor materials, and in most conditions, a groundsheet is just additional weight. A groundsheet is recommended for use on highly abrasive and/or sharp ground, such as on sandstone or when pitching on sharp rocks/sticks.

For our Dyneema® composite fabric or Ultra TNT tents: maybe. Use of a groundsheet will depend on the ground conditions and floor type selected. Our 15D nylon floors are more durable than 0.96 Dyneema® composite fabric, but both are reasonably tough and do not usually require a groundsheet. A groundsheet is recommended for use on highly abrasive and/or sharp ground, such as on sandstone or when pitching on sharp rocks. 0.96 Dyneema® is more prone to both punctures and abrasion than nylon, and regular use of a groundsheet can greatly extend the lifespan of Dyneema® floors in moderately abrasive environments. (0.96 Dyneema® composite fabric is much more durable than lighter versions such as 0.67 which has both less Dyneema® fibers and less film thickness)

In a single-wall tent, a liner clips underneath the canopy panels, mimicking the extra layer of material you would have in a double-wall tent. It separates you from condensation that forms on the underside of the canopy and is recommended if you expect lots of condensation and/or just prefer to have an extra barrier.

Permethrin will not damage the materials, but we recommend only treating specific areas, like the mesh doors, to reduce the amount of permethrin that can run off into the environment during use. Waterproof material will not absorb the permethrin well.

Condensation is a result of humidity and temperature and will occur in any tent if the condition are right. Humans also breath out 15-30ml of water per hour when sleeping and this warm water vapor will condense on a cooler tent canopy. Double walled tents and condensation liners help separate you from wet condensation covered tent surfaces but do not prevent its formation. The best way to prevent condensation is though campsite selection (see below) and maximizing ventilation.

Campsite selection:

• Try to avoid camping overnight in cool, damp environments such as river valleys, meadows, marshes and next to water. If possible, choose an elevated campsite with a bit of a breeze and preferably under a tree canopy.
• Please refer to the site-selection video to better understand how to avoid condensation.
• Dew point temperature increases as the humidity goes up. Surfaces can actually be colder than the surrounding air—note frosty roofs and windshields on mornings when the temperature never hits freezing—due to radiational cooling. That’s why it’s often best to camp under trees since the foliage traps heat and keeps your tent canopy warmer. Here’s a fun little tool for playing around with dew point: http://www.dpcalc.org.

Management:

• When condensation occurs, the best you can do is to dry off the inside of your shelter as thoroughly as possible before you take it down–a sponge or pack towel is useful for that. Give your shelter a good shake before you pack it up and use snack/lunch breaks in the sun to drape the fabric over a bush, especially if you can take advantage of breezes to accelerate the drying process.