The Importance of Tear Strength in Tents
The Importance of Tear Strength
“Higher tear strength equals higher safety.” It’s that simple! The stronger your outer tent fabric is, the better it can withstand harsh weather, rapid setup, or accidental tears.
Hilleberg tents use the incredibly tough Kerlon fabric. For example, our Black Label tents use Kerlon 1800, which has a minimum tear strength of 18kg; Blue Label tents use Kerlon 2000, with a tear strength of 20kg; and Kerlon 1200 is used on our Red Label tents, providing 12kg of strength. Kerlon 1000 and Kerlon 600, with strengths of 8kg and 6kg respectively, are used in Hilleberg’s lightest Yellow Label tent series, most of which are designed as three-season tents.
The incredible strength of Hilleberg’s fabric is also a huge advantage for weight reduction. In fact, most common tent fabrics on the market, especially those with polyurethane coatings, only have a strength of 2 to 3kg.
On any journey, having an outer tent fabric with high tear strength is like having an extra “insurance policy.” This is especially true if your trip takes you far afield or to harsh environments, such as Queen Maud Land in Antarctica.
Silicone Treatment
Kerlon fabric was born in 1975, when Hilleberg founder Bo Hilleberg received a sample of a very light, highly waterproof fabric. When Bo tried to pull at the edge of the fabric, he found it extremely difficult to tear. This silicone-coated fabric was very different from standard polyurethane-coated fabrics, as it was lighter and possessed superior tear strength—and thus, Kerlon fabric was born.
Not all silicone-coated fabrics on the market are the same. Our Kerlon fabric features three layers of 100% silicone coating, which is completely waterproof and lighter than polyurethane-treated fabrics. The Kerlon fabric we process has a higher tear strength than other silicone treatments (which usually refer to a blend of silicone and other compounds).
This means we can start by reducing the weight of the tent fabric while producing many high-strength materials. Kerlon 1800, 1200, and 2000 are stronger than the expedition-grade tent fabrics on the market (even our lightweight Kerlon 1000 and 600 are tougher than them). The result is that if your tent gets a hole, it will not expand under external pressure.
High tear strength is like insurance—you don't necessarily need to use it, but it’s good to have. This kind of insurance adds no extra weight to your pack while increasing the durability and lifespan of your tent.
“Higher tear strength equals higher safety.” It’s that simple! The stronger your outer tent fabric is, the better it can withstand harsh weather, rapid setup, or accidental tears.
Hilleberg tents use the incredibly tough Kerlon fabric. For example, our Black Label tents use Kerlon 1800, which has a minimum tear strength of 18kg; Blue Label tents use Kerlon 2000, with a tear strength of 20kg; and Kerlon 1200 is used on our Red Label tents, providing 12kg of strength. Kerlon 1000 and Kerlon 600, with strengths of 8kg and 6kg respectively, are used in Hilleberg’s lightest Yellow Label tent series, most of which are designed as three-season tents.
The incredible strength of Hilleberg’s fabric is also a huge advantage for weight reduction. In fact, most common tent fabrics on the market, especially those with polyurethane coatings, only have a strength of 2 to 3kg.
On any journey, having an outer tent fabric with high tear strength is like having an extra “insurance policy.” This is especially true if your trip takes you far afield or to harsh environments, such as Queen Maud Land in Antarctica.
Silicone Treatment
Kerlon fabric was born in 1975, when Hilleberg founder Bo Hilleberg received a sample of a very light, highly waterproof fabric. When Bo tried to pull at the edge of the fabric, he found it extremely difficult to tear. This silicone-coated fabric was very different from standard polyurethane-coated fabrics, as it was lighter and possessed superior tear strength—and thus, Kerlon fabric was born.
Not all silicone-coated fabrics on the market are the same. Our Kerlon fabric features three layers of 100% silicone coating, which is completely waterproof and lighter than polyurethane-treated fabrics. The Kerlon fabric we process has a higher tear strength than other silicone treatments (which usually refer to a blend of silicone and other compounds).
This means we can start by reducing the weight of the tent fabric while producing many high-strength materials. Kerlon 1800, 1200, and 2000 are stronger than the expedition-grade tent fabrics on the market (even our lightweight Kerlon 1000 and 600 are tougher than them). The result is that if your tent gets a hole, it will not expand under external pressure.
High tear strength is like insurance—you don't necessarily need to use it, but it’s good to have. This kind of insurance adds no extra weight to your pack while increasing the durability and lifespan of your tent.
