To summarise, and help you choose your new tent, a general rule is that
a good quality tent with a 1500 – 3000mm waterhead rating on the tent fly
, along with a 6000mm+ rating on the floor or one made from durable polyethylene or PVC, is going to keep you sheltered and dry in all but the absolute worst of conditions.
How do you read a tent waterproofing?
The tent waterproof rating, also known as the hydrostatic head (HH), dictates just how waterproof the tent is
. The hydrostatic head shows the depth of a column of water the tent can withstand before it starts to leak through. For example, a tent with a 4,000mm HH would be able to keep a column of water 4,000mm deep.
Is 1500 mm waterproof good?
There’s no internationally recognised standard of what specific rating ‘waterproof’ is, but
1500mm is widely accepted as being the minimum to be deemed waterproof and able to handle most rain conditions
.
Is 4000 mm waterproof good for a tent?
Waterproof ratings for tents are measured in millimetres and will usually be
between 1000mm (the lowest level considered waterproof) and 10,000mm
. The higher the rating, the more waterproof a tent will be.
What does 3000 HH mean?
The unit is displayed in millimeters and refers to the volume of water that can be held in a column before it breaks the seal. For example,
a tent with a HH of 3,000 mm will hold a column of water that is 3,000 mm tall before it is breached
.
How much HH do you need for a tent?
Hydrostatic Head of a Tent
In order for a tent to resist light showers the HH needs to be
around 1000mm
, heavy rain and driving wind will create more pressure on the fabric and require a higher HH – around 2000mm.
What does hydrostatic head 3000mm mean?
A tent made from 3000mm HH (Hydrostatic Head) can keep you perfectly dry for most camping in the UK
. You could buy a tent that has 10,000mm HH though but still get wet. That’s because Hydrostatic Head is only one factor in a tent’s design. The seams where the tent fabric has been stitched together need to be good.
What is tent waterproof rating?
Waterproof ratings for tents are measured in millimetres and will usually be
between 1000mm (the lowest level considered waterproof) and 10,000mm
. The higher the rating, the more waterproof a tent will be. Ratings are measured using a hydrostatic head test but these ratings don’t take into account wind driven rain.
What is 1000mm waterproof rating?
| Rating Resistance Weather | 0 – 1,500mm Water resistant / Snowproof Very light rain | 1,500mm – 5,000mm Waterproof Light to average rain | 5,000mm Very Waterproof Moderate to heavy rain | 10,000mm Highly Waterproof Heavy rain |
|---|
Is 10000 mm waterproof enough?
| Waterproof Rating (mm) Level of Water Resistance | 6,000-10,000mm Some resistance | 11,000-15,000mm Normal resistance |
|---|
Is 2000 mm waterproof good for a tent?
Waterproof ratings are measured in millimetres (mm) and usually fall anywhere from 800mm to 10,000 mm. These figures indicate the amount of water pressure a fabric can withstand. That means
a tent with a 2,000mm rating will endure a 2,000mm or two metre column of water bearing down on it before it starts to leak
.
How many mm waterproof is Gore Tex?
Gore-Tex®, for example, has a waterproof rating of
28,000mm
.
Is 4000mm waterproof enough?
If you are buying a waterproof coat for walking about town or dropping the kids to school,
a waterproof rating of 2,000-5,000mm will be more than enough
. If you were planning a weekend in the mountains, we would advise a rating of 5,000-8,000mm as the conditions can be much harsher.
Is 5000 mm waterproof rating?
5,000mm Very Waterproof
Coats with this waterproof rating are
designed to withstand moderate to heavy rain for more extended periods of time
, and will often feature multiple layers with a fleece or softshell inner to keep the wearer warm, such as the RG085 (below).
Is 3000 hydrostatic head good?
As a rule of thumb guide an hydrostatic head of 3000 is
decent waterproofing
, however if the jacket is used with a rucksack a much higher value will be needed. e.g. Gore-tex which has a minimum rating 20,000 when the jacket is new.
What is tent HH?
Hydrostatic Head (HH) is
a way of measuring how waterproof a piece of fabric is
. It’s usually used in marketing for tents and waterproof jackets, but some bag-makers use it.
Is Gore Tex 100% waterproof?
No. GORE-TEX INFINIUMTM products are not waterproof
and are not covered by the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® promise.
Is 2000mm waterproof enough?
The minimum standard for a jacket to be waterproof is 1,500mm so a jacket with a waterproof rating of 2,000mm would be
suitable for moderate rain
.
What waterproof rating do I need?
A rating of
5,000mm-10,000mm
is ideal for spending long days on a mountain in all weather conditions, while 10,000mm-20,000mm is best for much wetter climates.
