Tent materials
The choice of material is essential to the product’s performance and lifespan. Helsport has developed a unique understanding and expertise on how to select great tent fabrics with a long lifespan. Here’s some information about the type of materials we use in our tents. Some of it may seem rather technical, but there are a few things that are useful to know when you’re looking for a tent that will last you many years.
Outer tent fabrics
It is a common misconception that so long as a fabric has a high water column, it’s of a good quality. International standard EN 343 defines a fabric as waterproof if it has a water column of at least 800 mm. However, manufacturers use various methods to measure the water column, and results can vary enormously.
Moreover, it is not the water column of a new product that’s important, but the material’s ability to maintain its properties over time. At Helsport we impose strict requirements when testing fabrics, both with regard to water column (ISO 811) and tear strength (ISO 13937-4).
Helsport Rainguard® fr:
Our Trek tents and teepees use a specially-designed polyester fabric — Helsport Rainguard® FR — which has a water column of at least 3,000 mm. The tent fabric is designed to keep the tent taut even in changeable weather and temperature conditions. It is flame-proof and used in tents and teepees where open fires can be lit.
Helsport Rainguard® Superlight:
Our SuperLight tents are made from a polyamide fabric with micro ripstop. The material is woven using a very fine (15D) thread which makes the fabric super light. It is also silicon-coated on both sides, making it highly wear and tear resistant, and has a water column of 2,000 mm.
Helsport Rainguard® Pro:
Our other Pro and X-Trem tents use a solid outer fabric designed by us. It is eight times as wear and tear-resistant as our standard tent fabrics, woven using the finest yarn and silicon-coated on both sides. Naturally, this fabric is also highly UV-resistant (sunlight) and stable in changeable weather and temperature conditions. The water column is at least 3,000 mm. This fabric is also used for the ground sheets of our SuperLight tents.
Inner tent fabrics
Helsport Airflow Fr:
We use polyester for the inner tents in our Trek range. The fabric is water-repellent, flame-retardant and has good breathability. Polyester does not absorb moisture and dries very quickly as a result. The weight is a mere 60 g/m2.
Helsport Airflow Pro:
Our Pro and X-Trem tents use light and strong 30D polyester fabrics. Ripstop technology significantly increases their tear-strength and they have excellent water-repelling and breathable properties.
Helsport Airflow Superlight:
This material is highly breathable, which is important when it comes to minimising condensation. It is also treated to keep out any condensation that may drip from the outer tent fabric.
Ground Sheet fabrics
Helsport Rainguard Pro®:
Used in our Superlight tents and has a waterguard on 3000mm.
Helsport Rainguard® Pro Floor:
Used in our X-Trem and Pro tents and has a waterguard on 5000mm. The ground sheet is an important component of any tent, as it’s the part that is exposed to the most wear. Helsport’s ground sheets are highly wear and tear-resistant. The side that faces the ground is silicon-coated to prevent water from penetrating from the ground, which reduces the drying time.
Helsport Rainguard® Floor Fr:
Used in our Trek tents and teepees and has a waterguard on 5000mm. Here we use polyurethane instead of silicon to make the material more flame-retardant.
