Does Kelty camping tents & tarps have PFAS?
We graded 11 Kelty camping tents & tarps products, averaging Bad (20/100). None of them grade Good or better. Against the other 54 camping tents & tarps brands we grade, where the middle brand sits at 20/100, Kelty is about typical, scoring above 50% of them.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Kelty
Sportsman's Warehouse Kelty Ashcroft 2 Person Tent
Polyester tent fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
Kelty does not disclose whether the Ashcroft 2 uses PFAS-based fluorocarbon…
Coating degradation and durability
High concern
Skip until Kelty reveals water-repellent coating chemistry, waterproof tents commonly use PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Late Start 1P Tent
polyester ripstop fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
Polyester tents typically use PFAS-based water-repellent coating; Kelty has not disclosed…
Degradation of water-repellency and mold risk
All polyester ripstop tents lose water-repellent coating effectiveness with age and UV…
Skip or contact Kelty directly, waterproof tent coating raises PFAS concern without disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Wireless 4 Person Tent
Polyester ripstop with water-repellent coating treatment (type unspecified)
PFAS
Polyester tents almost universally use fluorinated water-repellent coating coatings…
Polyester fiber shedding and microfiber release
Polyester ripstop degrades over years of UV exposure and mechanical stress (pitching…
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from coatings
Tent coatings (water-repellent coating and any polyurethane or silicone underlayers) may…
Skip unless Kelty reveals water-repellent coating chemistry, tent waterproofing commonly uses PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Discovery Element 4-Person Tent
Polyester ripstop fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
Kelty does not disclose whether the water-repellent coating uses PFOA, Teflon-type…
Polyester fiber degradation and microfiber shedding
Extended weathering and mechanical wear can cause ripstop polyester to shed microfibers…
Coating delamination and unknown repair products
As the water-repellent coating ages (typically 5-10 years), it may crack, peel, or flake…
Skip until Kelty reveals or tests for PFAS in tent coatings.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Sportsman's Warehouse Kelty Ashcroft 1 Person Backpacking Tent
Polyester/nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating (type unspecified)
PFAS
Kelty does not disclose water-repellent coating type or fluorine chemistry. Legacy and…
Coating degradation and particulate release
water-repellent coating coatings degrade over time and can shed microparticles…
Tent with undisclosed water-repellent coating and no brand PFAS statement.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Far Out 3 Backpacking Tent
polyester with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
Kelty does not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry. Polyester tent coatings…
Mold and bacterial growth on fabric
Polyester tents stored damp or in humid conditions develop mildew that can cause…
Degradation of water-repellent coating over time
All water-repellent coating coatings degrade with use, UV exposure, and washing. As the…
Polyester microplastic shedding under stress
Polyester fabric can shed microfibers when washed or damaged. While tent use does not…
Skip or inquire directly, Kelty doesn't reveal water-repellent coating chemistry, a common PFAS source in tents.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Ashcroft 3 Person Tent
polyester fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
Kelty does not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry; standard industry practice…
Polyester fiber volatilization and off-gassing
Polyester itself is stable, but residual monomers and spin-finishes applied during…
water-repellent coating degradation over time
Fluorocarbon-based water-repellent coating treatments degrade with UV exposure, washing…
Mold and microbial growth if stored damp
If the Ashcroft 3 is stored wet or in high humidity, polyester fabric provides no…
Higher PFAS risk from waterproof treatment; Kelty does not reveal water-repellent coating chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Discovery Basecamp 6 Tent
Polyester tent fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
Kelty has not disclosed whether the Basecamp 6 uses legacy fluorinated water-repellent…
Mildew and bacterial growth in fabric
Polyester fabric itself does not support mold growth, but moisture trapped in seams or…
Wait for Kelty to share their water-repellent coating formula, as traditional tent coatings often have PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Rumpus 4-Person Tent
polyester fabric with water-repellent coating waterproof coating (type unspecified)
PFAS
Kelty does not disclose whether the water-repellent coating uses PFAS (legacy C8, GenX…
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing
water-repellent coating-coated polyester fabrics may emit low-level VOCs (including…
Coating degradation and performance loss
User reports and product reviews indicate that Kelty tent coatings can degrade after…
Tent waterproofing likely has water-repellent coating treatment; Kelty won't disclose it, so skip if PFAS concern is key.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Bodie 6 6-Person Camping Tent
Polyester fabric with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating
water-repellent coating durability and off-gassing
Fluorocarbon water-repellent coating coatings do not measurably off-gas under normal…
Mold and microbial growth on fabric
Polyester tents stored wet or in damp conditions can develop mold, mildew, and bacterial…
Skip or request PFAS-free certification; standard tent water-repellent coating coatings often have PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Kelty
Grand Mesa 2 Person Tent
Polyester fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
Standard fluorocarbon water-repellent coating coatings on polyester tents frequently…
Degradation of water-repellent coating over time
All fluorocarbon-based water-repellent coating treatments degrade with heat, UV exposure…
Mold or bacterial growth if stored wet
If the tent is packed away damp or in humid conditions, polyester fabric can harbor mold…
Avoid or contact Kelty directly, as tent waterproofing rarely gets tested for PFAS content.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
See every Kelty product we grade on the Kelty brand page, or the full camping tents & tarps ranking.