Camping Tents & Tarps, ranked by PFAS safety
24 products graded from Bad to Excellent, safest first. None grade Good or better yet, so we show the full ranking and the least-concerning options first.
Start here
The best non-toxic camping tents & tarps, ranked safest first
Buyer’s guide
What to look for in camping tents & tarps, and which brands grade best and worst
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Skandika
Corsica 10 Camping Tent 10-person Team Tent Large Tent 10 Man
polyester fabric with waterproof coating
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from waterproof coating
Limited concern
Coating degradation and structural integrity loss
Moderate concern
Antimony residues in polyester fiber
Limited concern
High uncertainty; camping tent waterproof coating composition unspecified.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Skandika
dome tent Hammerfest for 6 people camping tent with sewn-in tent base sleeper technology with Black cabins 2 sl
Polyester tent fabric with unspecified waterproof coating and sewn base
PFAS
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Azo dyes in black fabric
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microplastic/particle shedding
Moderate concern
Skip until coating details disclosed; tents commonly treated with PFAS-based water-repellent coating.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Ozark Trail
10-Person Appalachian 4-Season Cabin Tent with Stove Outlet
polyester fabric with waterproof coating, composition unspecified
Flame retardants
High concern
Waterproof coating leachables (polyurethane or PVC)
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Skip until fabric coating details are disclosed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Skandika
Tent Nordisk Svalbard 1 Si
Polyester with silicone-based water-repellent coating
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
water-repellent coating degradation and reapplication toxicity
Moderate concern
Mildew and microbial growth if stored wet
Limited concern
Skip until water-repellent coating treatment details disclosed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Skandika
Hilleberg Staika 2 Person Tent
Polyester fabric with water-repellent coating waterproof coating
Azo dyes or azo dye residues
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
water-repellent coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Moderate concern
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
Limited concern
High uncertainty. water-repellent coating tent coatings often contain PFAS; no disclosure available.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Big Agnes
Copper Spur UL1 Backpacking Tent
ripstop nylon fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
VOC off-gassing from adhesives and coatings
Limited concern
Tent likely treated with water-repellent coating; Big Agnes provides no PFAS disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Big Agnes
Tiger Wall UL1 Backpacking Tent
Nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating waterproof treatment
PFAS
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Moderate concern
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from sealed storage
Limited concern
Tent uses water-repellent coating; Big Agnes discloses nothing about PFAS content.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Big Agnes
Wyoming Trail 2 Person Tent
ripstop nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating
PFAS
High concern
Coating degradation and secondary leaching
Limited concern
Tent likely has water-repellent coating; Big Agnes does not disclose PFAS status.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Big Agnes
Copper Spur UL2 Camping Tent Tent
Nylon fabric with water-repellent coating waterproof treatment
PFAS
High concern
Nylon degradation and microparticle shedding
Limited concern
Tent fabric likely treated with water-repellent coating; PFAS status undisclosed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Ozark Trail
8-Person Clip & Camp Dome Family Tent
Polyester fabric with waterproof coating (type unspecified)
Waterproof coating chemistry (fluorinated or non-fluorinated compounds)
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Antimony catalyst residue in polyester
Limited concern
Azo dyes if fabric is dyed
Limited concern
Tent fabric likely water-treated; coating chemistry undisclosed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Ozark Trail
8P Appalachian Tent
polyester fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
water-repellent coating off-gassing and VOC emissions
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microplastic shedding
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Budget tent; water-repellent coating composition undisclosed, PFAS risk unknown.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Ozark Trail
10-Person Instant Cabin Tent
polyester fabric with water-repellent coating water-resistant coating
PFAS
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Moderate concern
Off-gassing from stored fabric
Limited concern
Budget tent lacks PFAS transparency; water-repellent coating source unknown.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Salewa
Sierra Leone II Tent
polyester tent fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
PFAS
Moderate concern
Microfiber shedding from polyester fabric
Limited concern
Coating degradation and performance loss
High concern
Skip; water-repellent coating composition unspecified by Salewa.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Salewa
Atlas Iii Tent
Polyester/nylon fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
water-repellent coating degradation and leachables
Limited concern
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) off-gassing
Limited concern
Tent with unknown water-repellent coating treatment; PFAS risk unconfirmed, contact brand for details.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Salewa
Litetrek II Tent
Polyester with water-repellent coating waterproof treatment
PFAS
Limited concern
Coating degradation and particle shedding
Moderate concern
Off-gassing of volatile organics from adhesives and seam sealants
Limited concern
Tent fabric likely treated with water-repellent coating; PFAS risk unclear without disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Marmot
Limelight Tent
nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating
PFAS
High concern
Nylon microfiber shedding during use
Limited concern
Coating degradation and re-exposure over time
Moderate concern
Tent uses water-repellent coating; Marmot does not disclose PFAS chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Marmot
Tungsten 2-Person Tent
Nylon taffeta with water-repellent coating waterproof coating, unspecified
PFAS
High concern
Nylon degradation and microplastic shedding
Limited concern
Coating degradation over time
Moderate concern
Popular tent with unspecified water-repellent coating; PFAS status unclear.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Marmot
Tungsten 1 Person Tent
Nylon ripstop with waterproof coating, unspecified water-repellent coating treatment
PFAS
High concern
Coating degradation and reapplication chemical exposure
Limited concern
Mold or bacterial growth from moisture retention
Limited concern
Tent uses water-repellent coating; Marmot does not disclose PFAS status publicly
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Marmot
Tungsten 4P Tent
Polyester fabric with water-repellent coating
PFAS
High concern
Polyester fiber degradation and microfiber shedding
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Azo dyes in colored polyester
Limited concern
Tent uses water-repellent coating; PFAS status undisclosed by Marmot.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Salewa
Sierra Leone III Tent
Polyester fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
PFAS
Moderate concern
Azo dyes in colored fabrics
Limited concern
Tent coating composition not disclosed; water-repellent coating treatment likely but unconfirmed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Coleman
Skylodge Instant Tent
polyester fabric with water-resistant coating
Undisclosed water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
High concern
Azo dyes in polyester fabric
Limited concern
Antimony as polyester catalyst residue
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from coating degradation
Limited concern
Instant tent with unspecified water-resistant coating; no PFAS disclosure available.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Coleman
Skydome Full-Fly Vestibule Camping Tent
Polyester fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
water-repellent coating leachables and volatiles (undisclosed chemistry)
Limited concern
Polyester degradation and microfiber shedding
Moderate concern
Degradation and coating failure over time
High concern
Tent has waterproof coating, Coleman discloses nothing about PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Coleman
Skydome Dark Room Camping Tent
polyester fabric with water-repellent coating waterproof coating
water-repellent coating degradation and secondary leaching
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester fiber
Limited concern
Waterproof tent; coating ingredients undisclosed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Coleman
Montana 8 Person Camping Tent
polyester fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
PFAS
High concern
Coating degradation and leachate migration
Limited concern
Waterproof tent likely uses water-repellent coating; Coleman does not disclose PFAS status.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
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