Sierra Designs · Camping Tents & Tarps
Sierra Designs High Side 1-Person Tent
Wait for Sierra Designs to share their waterproofing formula.
Sierra Designs keeps silent on whether the tent's water-repellent coating contains PFAS or PFAS alternatives. Three-season backpacking tents typically rely on Teflon-family coating treatments for durability. Without brand transparency or testing, PFAS risk can't be ruled out.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon ripstop with unspecified waterproof coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Sierra Designs High Side 1-Person Tent is made of, ingredients and materials
The High Side 1 uses nylon ripstop fabric, a densely woven polyamide that resists tearing and provides structural durability. Sierra Designs does not publicly specify the waterproof coating chemistry, which is the critical unknown, water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finishes on outdoor textiles have historically relied on PFOA and PFAS compounds, though some manufacturers have shifted to coatings not linked to PFAS. Without disclosure, you cannot determine if this tent uses legacy fluorocarbon coatings or newer chemistries. Nylon itself is stable and non-toxic under normal use, but the coating's identity matters for both safety and environmental persistence.
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
Sierra Designs has not disclosed the chemistry of the waterproof coating on the High Side 1. Nylon ripstop tents from this era and price tier frequently used PFOA or other legacy PFAS compounds; newer alternatives exist but are not confirmed here. Off-gassing during setup or storage is low-level but accumulates with frequent use in poorly ventilated spaces.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and nylon fiber exposure
As the water-repellent coating wears over seasons, water absorption increases and interior condensation can promote mold growth. Degraded coatings may flake into gear stored inside the tent. Nylon fibers themselves are inert, but the integrity failure creates secondary moisture and contamination risks.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from fabric finishing
Nylon ripstop production involves dyeing and coating with various solvents and resins. New tents typically emit low levels of VOCs, especially after a few days of outdoor airing. Indoor storage without ventilation may concentrate vapor in enclosed spaces, though health risk in typical use is minimal.
Seam sealing adhesive or tape off-gassing
Seams are typically sealed with polyurethane or acrylic adhesive tapes. These may emit low-level VOCs or isocyanate vapor during or shortly after manufacture. Proper airing and outdoor storage mitigate this, but indoor use immediately after purchase in poorly ventilated spaces could elevate exposure.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon ripstop is generally not dyed with problematic azo dyes if dyed at all, and formaldehyde cross-linkers are not standard in nylon processing. No reports of formaldehyde or azo contamination specific to Sierra Designs tents.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Sierra Designs has not published a transparent statement on PFAS use or elimination timelines for their tent lines. The brand does not advertise PFAS-free certification or water-repellent coating chemistry details on product pages or technical specs. This silence is typical of mid-market outdoor gear brands but stands in contrast to companies like Patagonia and The North Face, which have committed to PFAS phase-out or provide coating transparency. Without pressure or third-party certification, Sierra Designs' coating source remains opaque.
How it compares in its category
Budget to mid-range solo tents commonly use nylon ripstop with unspecified coatings; this product is representative rather than an outlier. Premium brands (Big Agnes, MSR) and sustainability-focused makers increasingly disclose or certify PFAS-free waterproofing, but they command higher prices. Ultralight and budget alternatives often make the same disclosure trade-off. The High Side 1 is not worse than typical competitors but offers no competitive advantage in safety transparency.
If you buy it
Store the tent dry and well-ventilated; off-gassing of waterproof coatings is minimal after manufacture but improves with time. Use it outdoors and avoid prolonged indoor storage in sealed spaces, particularly in warm conditions, to reduce vapor exposure. Do not apply additional PFAS-containing water-repellent coating treatments; if coating fails (beading stops), consider replacing the tent rather than retreating, as reapplication multiplies PFAS contact. Inspect seams and fabric annually for wear; once degradation begins, replacement prevents water leakage that could compromise the structure's integrity.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Sierra Designs 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.