Salewa · Camping Tents & Tarps
Salewa Sierra Leone II Tent
Skip; water-repellent coating composition unspecified by Salewa.
Salewa does not disclose water-repellent coating treatment chemistry for this tent model. Traditional tent waterproofing often uses PFAS; without brand transparency or third-party testing data, risk cannot be ruled out.
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Material
polyester tent fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
clothing is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Salewa does not disclose whether the water-repellent treatment uses fluorocarbon-based (PFAS) chemistry. Industry standard suggests likely PFAS presence; graded separately as 'Bad' (20/100). This is the primary non-structural hazard.
Source: ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding from polyester fabric
Polyester fabric naturally sheds microfibers, especially when abraded or washed. Tent setup and takedown, rubbing against gear, and washing accelerate shedding. Environmental and ingestion risk is low for the user but noteworthy for aquatic ecosystems if rinse water is disposed near streams.
Coating degradation and performance loss
water-repellent coating coatings degrade predictably within 2-5 years of use, especially with washing or UV exposure. As the coating breaks down, water-repellency is lost; tent performance may decline before structural failure, requiring retreatment or replacement.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Formaldehyde is not a typical component of polyester or water-repellent coating coatings. No evidence of formaldehyde treatments in Salewa's tent fabrics; this hazard is not established for this product category.
Source: ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in fabric coloring
Polyester can be dyed with azo dyes, which may release carcinogenic amines under certain conditions. Salewa does not disclose dye chemistry; however, no recalls or regulatory findings exist for this tent. Risk is minimal for outdoor exposure and dermal contact.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Sierra Leone II uses polyester fabric as its primary material, which is inherently stable and does not leach BPA, phthalates, or other common plasticizers under normal outdoor conditions. However, the tent's water-repellent (water-repellent coating) coating is the concern: Salewa does not publicly specify whether this treatment uses PFAS-based chemistry (legacy fluorocarbon repellents) or newer alternatives like wax or silicone. Polyester itself is resistant to degradation in sunlight and moisture, but coating integrity declines with age and washing, potentially shedding microfibers into water or soil.
The brand's record and disclosure
Salewa (owned by Pentland Group) does not maintain public statements on PFAS avoidance or water-repellent coating treatment composition for this product line. No third-party certifications (Bluesign, GOTS, or Cradle-to-Cradle) are listed for the Sierra Leone II, which would otherwise signal stricter chemical controls. The brand has not faced major recalls or public safety controversies related to this tent model, but the silent stance on water-repellent coating chemicals reflects an industry-wide lack of transparency in outdoor gear.
How it compares in its category
Most three-season backpacking tents in this price and weight class use polyester with water-repellent coating coatings; Salewa's approach is standard, not distinctive. Competitors like MSR and Big Agnes similarly do not disclose water-repellent coating composition. Premium alternatives (e.g., Hyperlite, Zpacks) use higher-end polyester or proprietary fabrics sometimes with non-PFAS repellents, though these command higher cost. This tent is middle-of-the-road for material safety transparency.
If you buy it
Avoid machine washing; hand rinse with cold water and mild soap to preserve the water-repellent coating and minimize microfiber shedding. Do not heat-dry or expose to prolonged direct sunlight, which accelerates polyester degradation and coating breakdown. Reapply water-repellent coating treatment every 1-2 years of regular use using commercial products (note: most recoatings also contain PFAS unless explicitly labeled otherwise). Store dry in shade; inspect seams and fabric annually for tears, which compromise waterproofing and may require patching.
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
- Salewa 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.