Sierra · Camping Tents & Tarps
Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 Person Backpacking Tent
water-repellent coating finish chemistry not stated, category with historical PFAS use.
Sierra has no PFAS statement on record for this tent. The nylon fabric has a water-repellent coating finish, but its chemistry is not stated. Fluorinated water-repellent coatings have been historically common in backpacking tents.
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Material
Nylon fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 Person is made of, ingredients and materials
This tent uses nylon fabric treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish to shed water without pooling. Most commercial water-repellent coating coatings are fluorochemical-based, meaning they likely contain long-chain or short-chain PFAS compounds, though Sierra Designs does not publicly specify their water-repellent coating supplier or chemistry. The nylon substrate itself is chemically stable and non-toxic under normal use; the risk profile centers entirely on the coating and its potential breakdown or migration during use, washing, or extended UV exposure.
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
Standard fluorochemical water-repellent coating treatments on nylon tents contain long-chain or short-chain PFAS. Sierra Designs does not disclose their water-repellent coating chemistry, so exact PFAS type and concentration are unknown; environmental and health concern remains regardless.
Source, ATSDR ↗water-repellent coating degradation and leaching
Washing, UV exposure, and mechanical wear degrade water-repellent coating coatings over time, potentially increasing migration of fluorochemicals into water or soil, especially if the tent is used in wet environments repeatedly.
Nylon fabric microfiber shedding
Nylon tents can shed microfibers during use, washing, or packing. While not unique to this brand, backpackers should rinse tents in contained water and avoid aggressive cleaning that accelerates fiber release.
Mold or bacterial growth if stored wet
Nylon is susceptible to mildew and mold if packed or stored damp. This is a maintenance issue rather than a manufacturing hazard, but prolonged mold exposure poses respiratory risk, especially in enclosed sleeping spaces.
What’s reassuring
Adhesive or seam-seal toxicity
No public reports of harmful off-gassing or chemical leaching from tent seams or sealing tapes on Sierra Designs models. Standard polyurethane seam sealants are considered low-risk if not ingested.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Sierra Designs has not published transparency statements about PFAS in their water-repellent coating treatments or manufacturing processes. No public recalls or safety advisories specific to this tent model are on record. The brand does not advertise PFAS-free or fluorine-free alternatives in their tent lineup, suggesting no proactive reformulation effort at this time. This silence on a known industry hazard is typical for the outdoor gear sector but represents a missed opportunity for consumer trust.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream backpacking tents (Big Agnes, Marmot, REI Co-op house brand, Kelty) use similar fluorochemical water-repellent coating coatings; PFAS-free nylon tents are available but less common and often more expensive (examples, some Hyperlite, Zpacks, or specialty cottage brands). The Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight sits in the mid-market segment where water-repellent coating coatings are standard and rarely disclosed. If PFAS exposure is a priority, seeking an explicitly PFAS-free or wax/silicone-treated alternative is the better choice.
If you buy it
Store the tent dry and avoid machine washing, which can accelerate coating breakdown and potential leaching. Do not tumble-dry or expose to high heat. Hand-rinse with cool water and mild soap only, then air-dry fully away from direct sunlight to minimize UV damage to the water-repellent coating layer. Inspect seams and fabric annually for tears or peeling; a compromised coating increases PFAS migration risk if repairs or rewashing are needed. Replace the tent if the fabric is punctured or if delamination is visible.
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
- Sierra 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.