Cotton tent and waterproof
Are cotton tents waterproof? We often get asked this question and we understand very well why it is a sticking point for many. Who wants to sleep in a leaky tent?
Many also ask why our cotton tents are not listed with a water column specification.
In this article, we explain the connection, because it is a bit complicated.
Water column specification and tents
To find the answer to why cotton tents are waterproof but not labeled with a water column specification, we need to look at the material from which the tents are made.
Tents in the classic sense, such as igloo tents, are made of polyester - the same material as most rainwear.
Water column test
A water column test is conducted by clamping the material into the bottom of a box or cylinder and then filling it with water until the water begins to flow. You then read how many millimeters of water column the cylinder has reached and thus obtain the water column.
Although polyester is very waterproof, as you have probably already noticed, it is also not breathable. That's why you quickly get clammy when you cycle to work in classic rainwear, and that's why condensation forms on the inside of your igloo tent.
Today, all polyester tents are subjected to a water pressure test to determine how waterproof the tent is. The higher the number, the more water the tent can withstand.
The water pressure test
In a water pressure test, the material is clamped to the bottom of a box or cylinder and then filled with water until the water flows through. When this happens, you read how many millimeters of water the cylinder has reached, and you have your water column pressure.
Glamping tents and their material
Unlike "normal" tents, glamping tents are made of cotton. Cotton has little chance of passing a water pressure test because it is a material that "works with water" and does not repel it like polyester.
When the cotton gets wet, the cotton fibers expand. As it expands, the cotton becomes more compressed and thus waterproof.
If you pour a bottle of water directly onto a cotton cloth, it causes a shock to the cloth and does not give the cotton a chance to expand.
Waterproofness and water column specification of cotton tents
Fortunately, rain does not fall like columns, so a water column test is an unfair method to assess the waterproofness of a cotton tent.
But how waterproof are cotton tents? Even though we do not have a water column specification, cotton tents are still waterproof and withstand heavy rain for days without any problems - we guarantee that.
Our tents, like most other cotton tents on the market, are not made of 100% cotton, but a cotton blend (in our case 35% cotton, 65% polyester), which combines the best of both materials.
You get a waterproof tent that is also breathable. Additionally, our tents are splash-proof and have a water-repellent coating that provides additional waterproofing and protection against dirt, thus preventing mold.
Like everything else, cotton tents need to be maintained. You don't need to treat it multiple times a year, but we recommend cleaning it regularly from dirt and servicing it once a year to maintain the tent's optimal performance.