Blacktail 2 Backpacking Tent vs Front Porch: which is safer?

Jack Wolfskin Front Porch is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Big Agnes Blacktail 2 Backpacking Tent

Big Agnes

Blacktail 2 Backpacking Tent

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 2/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating (type unspecified)

Confidence

55%

PossibleFluorinated water-repellent coating residues (PFOA/PFCs in historical treatments)

PossibleMold and bacterial growth in stored damp fabric

ReportedHeat sensitivity of water-repellent coating-coated nylon near fire or stove

Our pick

Jack Wolfskin Front Porch

Jack Wolfskin

Front Porch

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 16/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 1

Material

synthetic outer shell with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment

Confidence

45%

Possiblewater-repellent coating chemistry (PFAS status unknown)

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Fluorinated DWR coating residues (PFOA/PFCs in historical treatments), Mold and bacterial growth in stored damp fabric and Heat sensitivity of DWR-coated nylon near fire or stove on the Big Agnes and not on the Jack Wolfskin.
  • We flag DWR coating chemistry (PFAS status unknown) on the Jack Wolfskin and not on the Big Agnes.
  • The Big Agnes is Nylon ripstop with DWR coating (type unspecified) where the Jack Wolfskin is synthetic outer shell with DWR water-repellent treatment, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More camping tents & tarps: see the full ranking