Eastern Mountain Sports · Camping Tents & Tarps
EMS Sagamore 6 Person Tent
Skip until brand reveals waterproof coating chemistry.
This tent needs waterproof treatment, likely water-repellent coating. Mountain Warehouse provides no PFAS disclosure for the model, leaving coating chemistry unknown.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester fabric with unspecified waterproof coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What EMS Sagamore 6 Person Tent is made of, ingredients and materials
The Sagamore 6 uses polyester fabric with an unspecified waterproof coating. Polyester itself is stable in normal use, but the coating chemistry is the critical unknown, waterproofing typically relies on fluorinated compounds (PFAS) or alternative binders. Without disclosure, you cannot assess whether the coating will degrade into smaller particles or leach during storage, especially in humid or warm conditions. The 6-person capacity means larger surface area and more coating material in contact with your living space.
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.
Polyurethane or PVC coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Unspecified waterproof coating on polyester tent fabric degrades under UV, heat, and humidity. Degradation can produce microplastics or coating fragments that settle on gear, clothing, and sleeping areas inside the tent.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from coating and adhesives
New polyester tents with synthetic coatings frequently off-gas formaldehyde or other solvents, especially in warm conditions. Confined 6-person sleeping space may concentrate airborne chemicals without adequate ventilation.
Mold and bacterial growth if stored damp
Polyester fabric and coatings are susceptible to mildew if stored wet or in high humidity. No brand-specific recalls found, but field reports of mold in budget polyester tents are common; this creates respiratory irritant exposure, not chemical toxicity.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester tent fabrics sometimes use formaldehyde-based finishing resins to improve water resistance and wrinkle recovery. No formaldehyde statement from Mountain Warehouse; presence cannot be confirmed or ruled out without testing.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Lead
No specific test results or recall history found for Mountain Warehouse tent dyes. Standard polyester fabric dyes are regulated in most markets, but low-cost manufacturers sometimes use older azo dye chemistries that may contain heavy metal traces.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Mountain Warehouse has not published waterproof coating chemistry or PFAS statements for this tent line. The brand does not appear on major transparency registries (Cradle to Cradle, OEKO-TEX, Bluesign). No public recalls or complaints specific to coating degradation or chemical off-gassing have been reported for this model. The silence on chemical inputs is typical for budget-tier outdoor brands but limits informed choice.
How it compares in its category
Budget camping tents rarely disclose coating chemistry; premium brands (MSR, Big Agnes, Nemo) increasingly publish PFAS-free or low-PFAS alternatives at 2-3x cost. The Sagamore sits in the untransparent middle market. Polyester base fabric is standard; the gap is in coating accountability. Many competitors at similar price points also withhold this data, making differentiation difficult.
If you buy it
Store dry and unrolled in cool, dark conditions to slow any coating degradation. Inspect seams and fabric annually for whitening, flaking, or brittleness, which signal coating failure. Do not store while damp; mildew and chemical breakdown accelerate together. Replace within 5-7 years of regular use or sooner if waterproofing visibly fails. Ensure good airflow during use to minimize inhalation of any volatile off-gassing, especially in the first few camping trips.
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
- Eastern Mountain Sports 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.