Blacktail 2 Backpacking Tent vs Limestone 6 Person Tent: which is safer?

Marmot Limestone 6 Person Tent 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

Marmot Limestone 6 Person Tent

Marmot

Limestone 6 Person Tent

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 8/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Polyester/nylon fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating

Confidence

42%

PossiblePFAS in water-repellent coating

PossiblePolyester fabric degradation and microfiber shedding

PossibleOff-gassing from new polyester and coatings

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 Marmot.
  • We flag PFAS in DWR coating, Polyester fabric degradation and microfiber shedding and Off-gassing from new polyester and coatings on the Marmot and not on the Big Agnes.
  • The Big Agnes is Nylon ripstop with DWR coating (type unspecified) where the Marmot is Polyester/nylon fabric with DWR (durable water repellent) coating, 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