Having just spent two weeks with the family in northern France in a new Vango Zanzibar 800 polycotton tent I feel like an authority on polycotton’s advantages.
Let’s start by saying it is in own right the Zanzibar is a cavernous tent, sleeping up to 8 which it did on the first night during a torrential downpour (well it would not be camping otherwise).
The main advantage from a practical point of view is unlike polyester tents, condensation is virtually eliminated especially whilst sleeping. You wake up feeling fresh not the normal clammy sensation, and if proof was needed the air beds which normally in a polyester tent show moisture on them were bone dry.
Poly cotton tents are generally recommended for warmer climates, however the weather system frequenting our location gave us pretty much all conditions, blistering sunshine to rainstorms and gales of near biblical proportions! Even in heavy driving rain the poly-cotton held up not allowing any water through.
There is one draw back though, the material is considerably heavier, I would estimate it to be three times the weight of a polyester equivalent. On smaller tents this would not be a problem, however on an 8 man tent, should a forklift truck not be readily available you will need some assistance – on our tent the manufacturer included a great DVD showing two people erecting the tent (well you don’t actually see it going up with the two people thanks to some clever editing).
Polycotton may be more expensive but it should last considerably longer than a traditional polyester tent, which is good for the environment and in the long run your wallet.
Would I buy another? Without a doubt, once you have had a polycotton tent you won’t go back..
To see Simply Hikes range of Polycotton tents click here
