Core Equipment · Camping Tents & Tarps
6-Person Instant Cabin Tent
Tent uses unknown waterproof coating; skip until brand discloses.
Core Equipment does not disclose PFAS status or coating chemistry for this instant tent. Polyester fabric typically receives water-repellent coating treatment, often PFAS-based, but no confirmation available from the brand.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polyester fabric with unspecified water-repellent coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent is made of, ingredients and materials
This tent is constructed from polyester fabric, a synthetic petroleum-derived polymer chosen for its durability, affordability, and inherent resistance to moisture and mildew. The manufacturer has applied an unspecified water-repellent coating to meet performance requirements, but has not disclosed whether this coating contains PFAS, silicone, or other chemical families. Polyester itself does not off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) significantly at normal outdoor temperatures, but the coating formulation and adhesion quality directly determine leaching and fume risk during heating or UV exposure.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Water-repellent coating (unspecified chemistry)
Manufacturer has not disclosed whether coating is PFAS-based, silicone-based, or alternative; risk of leaching into soil or contact with skin cannot be assessed without this information.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester textiles are sometimes treated with formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance or dimensional stability; no evidence confirms or rules this out for this product.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in colored polyester
If the tent fabric is dyed, azo dyes (some of which can cleave to toxic amines) may be present; no color-safety testing is disclosed by the brand.
Coating degradation and microparticle release
Water-repellent coatings on outdoor textiles degrade over time from UV, flex, and abrasion; shedding particles and exposure of untreated polyester increases over the tent's lifetime.
What’s reassuring
Flame retardants
No flame-retardant specification is published for this tent; if halogenated or phosphorus-based flame retardants are used, they would not off-gas significantly at ambient outdoor temperature but would persist in landfill at end of life.
Source, EPA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Core Equipment maintains no public transparency regarding the chemical composition of its tent coatings, water-repellent treatments, or flame-retardant additives (if any are present in the polyester). No third-party certifications (such as GOTS, Bluesign, or similar textile standards) are evident in available product documentation. The brand has not issued position statements on PFAS or harmful chemical restrictions, leaving consumers unable to verify compliance with safer alternatives.
How it compares in its category
Instant cabin tents typically rely on water-repellent coatings because of their large surface area and extended outdoor exposure. Core Equipment's lack of disclosure is common among mass-market tent manufacturers, but brands like REI Co-op and some premium outdoor brands now specify coating types or restrict PFAS. Budget-tier tent producers rarely publish this information; purchasing without coating chemistry known is a trade-off between cost and transparency.
If you buy it
Air out the tent fully in sunlight and fresh air for 24 to 48 hours before first use to allow any residual volatile compounds to dissipate. Avoid direct contact of skin or food with the interior fabric, especially for children, until you are confident off-gassing has ceased. Inspect the coating annually for peeling, cracking, or white powdery deposits (signs of degradation); replace the tent if structural waterproofing is visibly compromised. Never use the tent in direct high heat or place it over a heat source, as this may accelerate coating breakdown and potential leaching.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Core Equipment has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More camping tents & tarps grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.