Outfitter · Camping Tents & Tarps
Sportsman's Warehouse Rustic Ridge Outfitter Dome Camping Tent
Skip unless you confirm coating chemistry with seller.
This dome tent features polyester with an undisclosed water-repellent coating. Budget camping tents often rely on Teflon-family coating for water resistance.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polyester fabric with unspecified water-repellent/water-repellent coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Sportsman's Warehouse Rustic Ridge is made of, ingredients and materials
This tent uses polyester fabric, a synthetic polymer that is chemically stable and does not leach in normal conditions. The critical unknown is the water-repellent (water-repellent coating) coating applied to the polyester. water-repellent coating coatings are either PFAS-based (fluorinated) or non-fluorinated alternatives like wax or silicone. The product label does not specify which type Rustic Ridge uses, making PFAS exposure a real concern. Polyester itself is not hazardous when intact, but degradation from UV or mechanical wear could theoretically expose coating chemicals over the tent's lifetime.
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
Water-repellent finishes on budget polyester tents frequently contain PFAS chemicals (Teflon-type coating or fluorotelomer-based). The Rustic Ridge product does not disclose coating chemistry, making PFAS presence unconfirmed but typical for the price tier.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and chemical exposure
Water-repellent coating coatings degrade over 2-5 years with UV exposure and mechanical wear (friction, flexing). As the coating breaks down, any PFAS or other monomers in the resin may leach into contact surfaces (skin, water pooling inside tent).
Polyester fiber shedding and microplastic release
Mechanical wear and UV degradation of polyester fabric itself can generate microfibers. While not inherently toxic, microplastic shedding from synthetic textiles is increasingly documented in outdoor gear.
Adhesive or seam-tape off-gassing
Tents use polyurethane or solvent-based adhesives on seams and tape. New tents may emit low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for 24-72 hours. Airing the tent outdoors before use minimizes inhalation exposure.
What’s reassuring
Flame retardants
No fire-retardant chemicals are commonly added to camping tent polyester fabric under normal manufacturing. If the product includes flame-retardant additives, they would be disclosed on the label or tech specs; none are listed here.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Rustic Ridge is a Sportsman's Warehouse house brand with minimal public safety transparency. No published material safety data sheets, coating certifications, or PFAS commitments are readily available for this product line. The brand does not appear to have issued public statements on water-repellent coating chemistry or phasing out PFAS-based treatments. This silence is common in budget camping gear but leaves consumers without verification of coating safety.
How it compares in its category
Budget dome tents from house brands typically use conventional PFAS-based water-repellent coating coatings to meet water-resistance specs at low cost. Mid-range and premium brands (e.g., Coleman, REI Co-op, MSR) increasingly disclose non-PFAS or PFAS-free options. This Rustic Ridge tent occupies the price-sensitive segment where PFAS-water-repellent coating remains the manufacturing standard. Competitor alternatives with confirmed PFAS-free coatings exist but cost 20-40% more.
If you buy it
Before purchase, email Sportsman's Warehouse customer service with the product SKU and ask specifically whether the water-repellent coating is PFAS-free or PFAS-based. Store the tent dry and avoid prolonged direct sunlight exposure, which accelerates coating breakdown. If the coating begins to flake, peel, or show white residue, replace or professionally retreat the tent rather than continue use. Do not use the tent as a tarp or ground cover for extended periods, as direct soil contact and UV exposure increase chemical migration risk.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Outfitter 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.