Sierra · Camping Tents & Tarps
Sierra Designs High Route 1P Backpacking Tent
Skip until Sierra confirms water-repellent coating chemistry or discloses PFAS absence.
Sierra Designs tents use conventional water-repellent coating coatings, historically reliant on PFAS or fluorochemicals for water shedding. The brand makes no public disclosure about PFAS content or testing.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon/polyester fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
Aqua Pure
3M Aqua-Pure AP802B Whole House Filter Housing
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
What Sierra Designs High Route 1P Backpacking is made of, ingredients and materials
The High Route 1P uses nylon and polyester fabrics with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating applied to shed water. water-repellent coating coatings historically relied on long-chain PFAS chemicals like PFOA, which persist in the environment and human tissue. Sierra does not publicly disclose whether their water-repellent coating uses legacy PFAS, modern fluorine-free alternatives, or a proprietary formulation. The base fabrics themselves (nylon and polyester) are chemically stable and pose minimal risk during normal use, but the coating chemistry remains opaque.
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 does not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry. Long-chain PFAS (PFOA-type) and newer short-chain PFAS are common in tent coatings but not confirmed for this model. The coating may shed microparticles containing PFAS under wear and laundering.
Source, ATSDR ↗Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from coatings
Water-repellent coating coatings can release low levels of solvents when new, especially if stored in warm, poorly ventilated spaces. Off-gassing typically diminishes after the first few uses and airing. No specific off-gassing data is available for Sierra's formulation.
water-repellent coating degradation and reapplication uncertainty
Water-repellent coating coatings lose effectiveness after multiple washes and UV exposure. Reapplication products vary widely in safety; fluorine-containing sprays perpetuate PFAS exposure, while data on alternatives is limited. Sierra provides no guidance on reapplication methods that would reduce PFAS exposure concerns.
What’s reassuring
Nylon/polyester degradation and particle release
Base fabrics are stable under normal camping use and do not off-gas or leach monomers at ambient temperatures. Degradation risk is minimal unless the tent is exposed to UV or heat for extended periods.
Antimony in polyester fibers
Polyester fabrics may contain trace antimony as a catalyst residue, but it is chemically bound and does not leach or off-gas under normal use. No public data suggests elevated antimony in Sierra tents.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Sierra Designs has not published substantive information about PFAS avoidance or water-repellent coating chemistry on their website or product documentation. The brand maintains no visible certification from organizations like bluesign or Fair Trade programs that would signal chemical transparency. Without direct confirmation of fluorine-free water-repellent coating or PFAS absence, Sierra's silence on this issue reflects an industry-wide lag in voluntary disclosure rather than a unique failure, but it does prevent informed assessment.
How it compares in its category
Most backpacking tent brands use similar PFAS-containing or undisclosed water-repellent coating coatings; this is a category-wide problem rather than Sierra-specific. A small number of manufacturers (notably Hyperlite Mountain Gear and some cottage brands) advertise PFAS-free or fluorine-free water-repellent coating, but these remain niche options. The High Route 1P is competitively priced and performs well in its class, meaning you face a choice between documented water-repellent coating chemistry elsewhere or accepting uncertainty here.
If you buy it
Store the tent dry and well-ventilated to prevent mold and off-gassing accumulation in enclosed spaces. Avoid exposing the tent to direct flame or excessive heat (above 70°C/160°F), which can degrade the water-repellent coating and potentially release coating particles. Reapply water-repellent coating treatments with products that disclose their chemistry, or choose fluorine-free options like wax-based or silicone-based products. Wash the tent only when necessary using mild soap and cool water; do not use detergents that strip the water-repellent coating, and allow it to air-dry completely before storage.
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.