Kelty Late Start 1P Tent
Skip or contact Kelty directly, waterproof tent coating raises PFAS concern without disclosure.
Polyester ripstop with undisclosed water-repellent coating typical of budget tents. Kelty doesn't publicly reveal PFAS use or avoidance in their water-repellent coating treatments without lab testing or commitment.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester ripstop fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Kelty Late Start 1P Tent is made of, ingredients and materials
The Late Start 1P uses polyester ripstop fabric, a synthetic that resists tearing and is inherently water-resistant. The water-repellent (water-repellent coating) finish applied to this polyester is the primary concern, most tent water-repellent coating coatings historically used PFAS-based chemistry (perfluorocarbons), though some manufacturers have shifted to non-fluorinated alternatives. Kelty has not publicly disclosed which water-repellent coating formulation this tent uses, leaving the PFAS status unclear. Polyester itself is chemically stable and does not off-gas formaldehyde or significant volatile organic compounds under normal camp conditions.
What’s concerning
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Polyester tents typically use PFAS-based water-repellent coating; Kelty has not disclosed the formulation used in the Late Start 1P. Risk is mainly to environment and manufacturing workers, not user exposure during normal camping.
Source, ATSDR ↗Degradation of water-repellency and mold risk
All polyester ripstop tents lose water-repellent coating effectiveness with age and UV exposure. As water-repellency fails, moisture can accumulate, promoting mold growth if stored damp. This is a durability and maintenance issue, not a direct chemical hazard, but poor ventilation indoors can exacerbate mold.
What’s reassuring
Microplastics
Polyester ripstop does shed microfibers over time with abrasion, but no studies document significant release during typical tent setup or use. Risk is highest during laundering and at end-of-life.
Source, EPA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester fabric and water-repellent coating coatings do not typically off-gas formaldehyde. Any temporary chemical smell on new tents is usually residual solvent from manufacturing and dissipates with airing; no ongoing hazard.
Source, ATSDR ↗Lead
Polyester ripstop used in outdoor tents is not known to contain regulated heavy metals. Kelty is a reputable maker and no testing has flagged lead in their tent fabrics.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Kelty, owned by Johnson Outdoor Inc., is a long-established outdoor gear maker with a generally solid safety track record but limited public transparency on chemical inputs. The company has not issued statements about PFAS phase-out, non-fluorinated water-repellent coating adoption, or third-party testing of tent coatings. No major safety recalls specific to chemical hazards in recent Kelty tents appear in public databases. For a water-repellent coating-heavy product like this tent, the lack of disclosure is notable and suggests contacting Kelty customer service directly about coating chemistry.
How it compares in its category
Single-wall tents with polyester ripstop and water-repellent coating are standard across budget and mid-range camping; the Late Start 1P is typical in material choice, not differentiated on safety grounds. Some competitors (e.g., Big Agnes, MSR higher-end models) have begun marketing PFAS-free or fluorocarbon-free water-repellent coating, though verification is inconsistent across the industry. Most tents in this price and weight class still use legacy or undisclosed water-repellent coating formulations. Kelty's silence on this front places it in the middle of an industry-wide transparency gap.
If you buy it
Store the tent dry and well-ventilated indoors to avoid mold and material degradation; polyester ripstop loses water-repellency over 3-5 years of use and UV exposure, necessitating periodic water-repellent coating reapplication (which reintroduces the same chemical concern). Do not expose to sustained heat above 65C (150F), as some synthetic coatings may soften. Before purchase, email Kelty to request the specific water-repellent coating chemistry; if they cannot confirm non-fluorinated formulation, weigh that against your PFAS sensitivity and intended use frequency.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Kelty has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.