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Let It Rain: High-Tech Tent Textiles for Festival Goers and Glampers

Photo courtesy Getty Images.

The camping area at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel, NY, USA, August 15-18, 1969 Image courtesy of Dr. Neal Hitch, Senior Curator and Director of the Museum at Bethel Woods, Bethel, NY, USA

From August 15-18, 1969, attendees at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, NY, USA, camped out in what a referred to as a “temporary tent city of 450,000,” the site crowded with portable shelters that provided little protection from the drenching rain and muddy ground. In 2026, big-crowd, multi-day festivals are big business and include events like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA, USA (April); the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, TN, USA (June) one of the rainiest states in the US; and in Cadott, WI, USA (July), described on its website as “the largest rock and camping event in the US.”

Across the globe, the is a billion-dollar industry, projected to increase from US$1.82B to $2.54B from 2024-2032, according to Data Bridge Market Research in October 2024. Contributing factors include an increased interest in eco-tourism and —for example, nostalgists booking reservations on the original Woodstock site today can stay in basic, deluxe, or luxury accommodations equipped with beds and other amenities.

In the twenty-first century, high-tech fabrics can help festivalgoers and glampers remain comfortable, dry, and safe even when Mother Nature decides not to cooperate.

Camping Tent Fabrics and Finishes

According to Neal Hitch, senior curator and director of the in Bethel, NY, USA, “Many of the tents at Woodstock looked very modern, like you would expect to see today. In the collection at the museum, we have a Thermos Pop-Up Tent, which&/2026_aatcc-news_04a/8230;[as the name implies], popped up with the push of a hand using built in fiberglass poles. But most [attendees] had army surplus tents, like the old-style olive drab canvas tents that included long wooden poles. People have stories of having to carry those poles for miles, only to get soaking wet when the rain [passed] through the canvas.”

Canvas King-Seely Thermos Pop-Up Tent designed by Bill Moss, an American textile artist and designer
Image courtesy of Dr. Neal Hitch

Canvas King-Seely Thermos Pop-Up Tent designed by , an American textile artist and designer
Image courtesy of Dr. Neal Hitch

A half century after the iconic music festival, are still made from cotton canvas, in addition to nylon, polyester, and polyester-cotton blends. While cotton canvas and polyester-cotton blends are more breathable than nylon and polyester, they can develop mildew and mold when exposed to moisture—that’s why they need a “coat.”

, as described by Roshan Paul, Platform Leader of the Smart Finishing Group at the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) at RWTH Aachen University in Germany, “are a special category of textile finishes that can transform a traditional textile fabric, such as cotton, into a technical textile. They can improve their comfort, performance, or protection properties.”

Examples include synthetic organic polymers like polyether urethane (PE), polyester urethane (PU), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plus synthetic polymer hybrids, which have an inorganic base and an organic coat, or vice versa, such as:

• Silicone (sil/sil)
• Silicone/polyester (sil/PU)
• Silicone polyether (sil/PE)

One down side to the much-used finish is that it may eventually fall victim to hydrolysis, a chemical reaction between a surface treatment and water that breaks down the polymer chains in the former. The result is a cracked, droopy, and flakey tent at risk of tearing.

A basic understanding of product descriptions and specifications are key when choosing a festival or glamping tent. Geography and regional climate patterns are also critical factors for festivalgoers determined to beat the heat and escape the rain.

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Cool Tents for Hot Festivals

As stated in “,” published in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services, “Only 57 patients were treated for heat exhaustion” at the original event in the Catskill Mountains. In more arid regions, however, like Coachella in the Colorado Desert, CA, USA, inadequately sheltered attendees may experience , due to high daytime temperatures and intense sunlight.

The����in sunlight can compromise not only campers’ health but also damage the fibers and finishes in camping tents made from natural and synthetic organic polymers, resulting in decreases in tensile strength.��“UV-resistant textile finishes” explains Paul,��“work by either an absorption or a reflection mechanism and include both organic and inorganic UV blockers. Organic blockers are known as UV absorbers as they take in UV rays; whereas, inorganic blockers, such as nano titanium oxide (TiO₂) and zinc oxide (ZnO), can efficiently scatter both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. That said,��heat-reflective coatings can reflect the radiant heat away from tent fabrics and help campers��stay cool, with silver- and aluminum-based coatings reflecting a significant portion of infrared radiation.”

For festivalgoers attending events in hot, sunny locations like , where temperatures can soar into the triple digits, the 125-year-old Coleman Co. offers their trademarked Skydome series equipped with their aptly named Dark Room Technology. These models are designed to reduce the amount of sunlight breaching the outside of the tent, which in turn, can help to lower the temperature inside the tent.

For example, the 3-season, polyester (~11 lbs.) described as being “perfect for music festivals” on the company website, “blocks 90% of sunlight” and has a PU coating, one component of its trademarked .��Another option is FestPro’s heat-reflective, polyester (~17.6 lbs.). Both the 150-denier Oxford polyester floor and 75-denier polyester rainfly have a 5,000mm PU finish. The tent interior is made from 210T ripstop polyester, or threads per square inch. Here, refers to the mass measured in grams for a 9,000-meter (m) strand of a fiber or yarn.�� To support its product information, the Coleman Co. uses standard industry tests, including those for colorfastness, UV-resistance, and water repellence developed by AATCC.

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Dry Shelters for When It’s Raining Toads

In an article authored by for Rolling Stone magazine, (the founding member and rhythm guitarist for the Grateful Dead) reminisced that, “It was raining toads when we played [at Woodstock]. The rain was part of our nightmare.”

When it’s raining toads, “a durable water repellent is the first line of defense,” according to Diana Wyman, a senior test engineer for Co-op Brands and Shared Services at . “Most of the rain beads up and rolls off the tent, so it never has a chance to soak through a tightly woven fabric. Those parts of a tent that have a water-resistant coating ensure that, even if water soaks into the face fabric, it won&/2026_aatcc-news_04a/8217;t get inside the tent.”

��ɫֱ��TM22 Test Method for Water Repellency: Spray Test, where the pattern produced indicates the water-repelling abilities of a fabric, as compared to the accompanying chart.
Image courtesy of AATCC

Although sometimes confused, water repellence and water resistance are not the same thing. Wyman clarifies: “Water repellency is about keeping water off the surface of a fabric. Ideally, rain should bead up and roll off [the material]. Water resistance is about keeping water from soaking into and through a fabric. The two work together to keep the inside of a tent dry.”

Contemporary tents, usually manufactured from lightweight nylon or polyester, notes Wyman, can be transformed into high-performance shelters by applying water-repellent finishes and coated backings to tightly woven textiles, while canvas tents usually have a water-resistant silicone or wax finish. “Synthetic fibers are common,” Wyman confirms, “because they’re less absorbent than cotton and can be produced in consistent, fine deniers for a smooth, void-free fabric.

“A [fine] denier means yarns can be packed very tightly together, with less space for rain to pass through. Of course, there are always tradeoffs. A finer denier can [effect a] lighter weight, which is great for the person carrying the tent. But it can also [result in] a more delicate fabric that&/2026_aatcc-news_04a/8217;s more likely to be punctured or torn if the party gets too wild.”

Other considerations when researching camping tents for rainy destinations include a fabric’s��, expressed in millimeters (mm), which reflects the amount of pressure a material can tolerate before a water column finally penetrates its exterior. Although not as representative of a downpour, the textile industry has agreed upon the use of AATCC’s for assessing fabrics.

Like all REI tents, the Westward 4-Person Tent is tested for water repellency and water resistance not only in the original state but after simulated &/2026_aatcc-news_04a/8220;use and abuse,&/2026_aatcc-news_04a/8221; according to Senior Engineer Diana Wyman. Image courtesy of REI

“Durable water repellents (DWR)” Paul says, can help facilitate a high HH rating. “Moreover, superhydrophobic finishes () on the outer side of a tent fabric are very effective, as they’re highly resistant to water, making it extremely difficult for water droplets to wet them, which in turn helps attendees��stay dry.”

When it’s raining toads, Megan Behrbaum from REI Co-op Communications recommends the company’s easy-to-pitch, freestanding (~15+ lbs.) or (~20 lbs.) tents. Festival-goer-friendly features for the former include 68 square feet of flooring area and 69 inches of standing room at the peak, plus an electrical cord pass-through. The canopy components are made from 75D polyester with a DWR and/or PU finish. Additionally, the 75D-polyester rainfly and 150D-polyester flooring are finished with DWR and PU.

Also notable for ease of set-up and transport and waterproofing abilities are the cabin-shaped (~22 lbs.) and A-frame (~15lbs.) tents. Both are 3-person, with polyester exteriors and interiors and PU-backed rainflies that provide protection against rain and UV light.

A Word about Breathability&/2026_aatcc-news_04a/8230;

Paul says, “In general, any finish or coating can reduce the breathability of a fabric. However, DWRs can provide the outer surfaces of tent textiles with water-repellent properties without affecting their breathability. These finishes keep the pores of the fabric open, allowing internal moisture vapor to escape, while simultaneously preserving breathability. And, Paul adds, “As the name suggests, durable water repellents��can extend the useful life of a camping tent. Point to be noted here is that it’s important to use only those fabrics that are tested and certified for their durability.”

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Back to the Garden—In Style

Exterior of Tent Masters�� Safari Woodsman Tent for glampers
Image courtesy of Steven Woodburn, Sales Director for Tent Masters

Interior of Tent Masters Safari Jr. Tent for glampers
Image courtesy of Steven Woodburn, Sales Director for Tent Masters

“It’s kind of ironic,” Hitch observes, “that the Glamping Safari Tents at Bethel Woods, manufactured by a company called Tent Masters, look a lot like the canvas tents you saw at Woodstock. Today, however, our [luxury] tents are totally waterproof, sit on an above-ground deck, have 300-thread count linens, and include a fully plumbed bathroom. A far cry from conditions at Woodstock—but you get the same sunrise.”

uses two types of flame-resistant, protective canvas sourced from TenCate for its luxury glamping products: FR-1 Campshield and KA-46 polycotton.��Campshield canvas is composed of four different fibers: fire-retardant pre-carbonized polyacrylonitrile (PPAN), a modacrylic; cellulose viscose (CV), fire-retardant polyvinyl alcohol (FR-PVA), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).��The KA-46 canvas has a fiber content of 50% polyester and 50% cotton. Both fabrics have a dirt- and water-repellent finish.

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Avalon Bell Tent is a festival tent manufactured by White Duck Outdoors
Image courtesy of White Duck Outdoors

Glamping options also include the from , named the “Best Canvas Tent Brand” by Wilderness Times for 2025. Made from Dynaduck, a 10.10-ounce army duck cotton canvas, it has a 16-ounce PVC floor and a perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemical (PFC)-free finish that repels water through the use of silicone-based agents without the need for a synthetic backing, thereby allowing the canvas to remain breathable. It’s resistant to mildew and mold, the kinds of fungi that flourish under moisture-rich conditions, and ultraviolet rays, in which UV-stabilizers help colors remain fast and reduce photodegradation during prolonged exposure to the sun.

Rover Scout Tent, manufactured by White Duck Outdoors Image courtesy of White Duck Outdoors

The , reminiscent of the kinds of temporary shelters found in photographs of the original Woodstock Music and Art Fair, is fabricated from Dynatek, a blend composed of cotton and polyester fibers adhering to the standards and sourced from recycled ocean-bound plastic (OPB) waste, respectively. The flooring is made from biodegradable PE.

While the lifespans of tents, be they made from natural and/or synthetic materials, are approximations only based on factors like exposure to the elements, maintenance, and proper cleaning and storage, a well-cared for canvas tent may last as long as , and that’s a lot of music festivals.

The Finishing Touch

The chemicals and textiles used in the manufacture of camping tents for festivalgoers and glampers have advanced significantly since the iconic Woodstock Music and Art Fair of 1969, whereby fiber content, denier, and finishes work in concert to keep users cool and dry. So, instead of battling with or trying to escape from Mother Nature, campers can spend more time enjoying and immersing themselves in the natural world.

��ɫֱ�� the Author

, a freelance writer and graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s textile design program (concentration in woven design), has more than 12 years of experience in e-learning and information services.