Macpac

Tent Design
Tent Poles
Pitching Systems
Seam Sealing
Tent Fabrics
Cleaning and Care


Tent Design
Essential shelter from the elements requires tents that are waterproof, UV resistant, durable, lightweight and strong. Structural strength is an outcome of the interaction between the poles, fabric and design.
Classic tent design for Macpac means it must also be liveable in expected environmental conditions. Our tents are world-renowned for all of these qualities and our range of tunnel and freestanding tents will meet your specific needs.

Tunnel tents
Tunnel tents excel when compared to freestanding tents on a size to weight basis, that is for a given floor area they are generally lighter. This is achieved because in a tunnel tent the pegs take the place of poles compared with a freestanding system.

Consequently, a well pitched tent with secure pegs is critical to a tunnel tents performance.
Another advantage of tunnel tents is they perform very well in high winds. In high wind conditions they flex with the wind and spring back. When pitched correctly in relation to wind direction the aerodynamic shape of a tunnel tent can withstand extreme winds. Tunnel tents are best suited to trips when the tent is carried daily and encountering high winds is a distinct possibility.

Freestanding tents
Freestanding tents create large living spaces through steep sidewalls and greater head room. Because the structural integrity for the tent comes from the poles, the pegs play a lesser role and in moderate conditions pegging out securely is usually not important. As well, they are easy to move once erected, allowing the perfect sleeping site to be selected.

Geodesic tents are a high performance version of a freestanding tent, where the poles cross many times. This creates a rigid structure, ideal in high snow-loading environments. Freestanding tents are best suited to trips where you are operating from a fixed campsite, or where large snowfall is likely.


Tent Poles
Tent poles form an essential part of a tent. They have to be lightweight and strong; rigid enough to stabilise the tent, but also flexible enough to give in to pressure from high winds. They also need to have a certain recovery to 'bounce' back after being deformed.

Creating the right tent pole means finding the right balance between all these different qualities. Constant research and testing makes DAC Featherlite poles among the best-balanced tent poles on the market. DAC Featherlite SL tent poles are made out of very high quality aluminium in a seamless extrusion process to maximise strength. Macpac uses DAC Featherlite SL 9.0mm and the 9.8mm poles according to the specific requirements for each tent.

In our adventure touring tents we use 9.5mm 7001-T6 alloy poles that are coated with a tough, black finish. These poles are slightly heavier and have a softer temper than the DAC Featherlite poles.

Pitching Systems

Multi-Pitch™
Multi-Pitch™ gives you versatility from your tent
Carry your complete tent (fly and inner) when conditions are unpredictable or carry just the fly and poles for lightweight shelter.

Multi-Pitch™ provides pitching options to suit the conditions
Pitch the fly in the rain and then pitch the inner under the shelter of the fly (keeping you and the inner dry) or pitch the fly and the inner together for fast and easy pitching. A combination of captive pole-sleeve ends and open eyelets make pitching in high winds an easy, one-person task.

Multi-Pitch™ makes your tent structurally stronger
Pole sleeves are sewn into the fly and the poles are held rigidly in place on the inside of the pole sleeves. This reduces the chances of weak spots developing and prevents the fly from deforming in high winds.

Multi-Pitch™ assists ventilation
Unrestricted air movement between the fly and the inner tent. In warm conditions you can pitch the inner on its own and add the fly when rain threatens.

Swift-Pitch™
Swift-Pitch™ tents are fast and easy to pitch The fly can be attached after the inner is pitched, enabling you to choose whether to use the fly on warm evenings.
For greater speed and protection the fly can be attached to the inner and the tent pitched all as one.

Swift-Pitch™ contributes to the overall strength of the tent
Strong alloy poles slide easily into continuous pole sleeves to protect the poles and provide strength.
Velcro tabs connecting the inner tent to the fly are strategically placed to reinforce the optional fly guy ropes giving greater strength in high winds.

Seam Sealing
UV30™ SI is coated with a silicon elastomer on both sides. This makes the fabric stronger and also gives it a very high water repellency meaning water runs off the fly easily.
A silicone coated fabric can not be factory taped because no tape will stick to the coating. Therefore inside seams of the fly need to be sealed manually with the SilNet™ seam sealer you will find enclosed with your tent. This will make the seams of your tent waterproof. Before you seal the seams practice pitching the tent first so you know how it works. Pitch the fly inside out. Apply a thin film of seam sealer to the fly seams on the inside of your tent paying particular attention to 'high stress areas' such as exposed seams, guy line attachment points and the connection tabs between inner and fly.

Tent Fabrics

UV30™ Fabric
Highly waterproof
The combination of lightness, strength and waterproofness makes UV30™ the premium performance fly fabric designed for use in severe cold, wet and windy conditions. UV30™ is proven as a real performer through constant testing and use in New Zealand's Southern Alps and damp Fiordland Valleys.

Composition
UV30™ is a 30-denier double rip-stop nylon fabric with a high thread count. It is waterproofed with multiple coats of silicone elastomer on both the inside and outside of the fabric.

Lightweight
The use of 30 denier nylon yarns in UV30™ fabric means it weighs in at less than 60g/m2 – it is a very lightweight tent fabric.

Strength
Using double ripstop nylon makes UV30™ very strong and the silicon coating on both sides of the fabric acts to increase the tear strength of UV30™. The silicon coating doesn't bind or lock the weave but allows a certain amount of give in the weave increasing its capacity to absorb tension. This means the fabric has significantly higher tear strength than a similarly constructed fabric with polyurethane coating. Furthermore, the coating is applied without the use of heat and therefore does not weaken the natural strength of the fabric. There's less chance of ripping your fly on that epic journey where a tent with a gaping gash will cost you safety and security.

UV resistant
The multiple silicon elastomer coating means the fabric maintains it strength when exposed to UV radiation over long periods. This will significantly extend the life of your tent when exposed to sunlight.

Waterproof
Testing of UV30™ (to British Standard 3424) found that UV30™ is waterproof to 3500mm of hydrostatic head – more than enough to keep out torrential downpours. The silicon elastomer coating creates a highly water-repellent finish that stimulates a high degree of water shedding and keeps you dry.

UV75™ Fabric
UV75™ is a durable fly fabric for those who do not require the extreme performance of UV30™. Used on all our adventure camping tents, UV75™ will provide weatherproof protection for trampers and campers seeking independence without wanting to head into severe climates and environments.

Composition
UV75™ is a 75 denier, single-ripstop polyester with a high thread-count. It has a silicone elastomer coating on the outside and polyurethane coating on the inside.

Strength
Ripstop threads and silicone coating on the outside increase tear resistance.

UV-Resistance
The polyester composition of UV75™ combined with the silicone elastomer coating make this fabric durably resistant to damage from UV radiation.

Waterproof
UV75™ is a weatherproof fabric with a hydrostatic head of 1500mm (to British Standard 3424); enough to keep you dry during prolonged rainfall. The silicone elastomer coating on the outside creates a highly water repellent finish that stimulates a high degree of water shedding.

Reflex® UV
Reflex® UV is formed by a nylon face fabric with a hydrophilic PU membrane. It offers plenty of protection with a hydrostatic head of 20,000mm while maintaining a very high level of breathability. Reflex UV is also very light weighing in at no more than 85gr/m2.

Torrentwear™ XP
Macpac tent floors are tough and waterproof. Torrentwear™ XP is a densely woven nylon with a polyurethane coating for maximum durability and outstanding waterproofness (hydrostatic head of 10,000mm).
Torrentwear™ XP weighs only 104 gr/m2 and provides an extremely high level of durability (abrasion and tear strength). The tent floor fabric wraps up the sides of the tent and all floor seams are sealed in our factory with special waterproof seam sealing tape.

Torrentwear™
Torrentwear™ is the classic version of our floor fabric: a nylon fabric with a robust Torrentwear™ coating for durability and outstanding waterproofness (hydrostatic head of 10,000mm). The fabric is heavier than Torrentwear™ XP, but offers the same durability for our tents in the touring range.