Silpoly vs Silnylon: The Ultimate Showdown for Backpackers 🥾
The Great Debate: Silpoly vs Silnylon for Backpacking Gear
When it comes to backpacking and camping gear, the fabric your tent, tarp, or shelter is made of plays a crucial role. Two of the most popular options are silpoly (siliconized polyester) and silnylon (siliconized nylon). But which one is the better choice for your next adventure?
In this in-depth guide, we’ll dive into the key differences between silpoly vs silnylon to help you make an informed decision. From weight and durability to waterproofing and breathability, we’ll compare these fabrics head-to-head so you can select the ideal material for your backpacking needs.
What is Silpoly?
Silpoly, short for siliconized polyester, is a lightweight yet durable fabric designed for outdoor gear. It’s made by coating a polyester base with a silicone elastomer, creating a waterproof and highly abrasion-resistant material.
One of the main advantages of silpoly is its exceptional durability. The fabric is tear-resistant and can withstand rugged outdoor conditions, making it a popular choice for backpacking tents, tarps, stuff sacks, and other high-stress gear.
What is Silnylon?
On the other hand, silnylon is a siliconized nylon fabric that shares some similarities with silpoly but has its own unique characteristics. Like silpoly, silnylon is lightweight and waterproof, thanks to the silicone coating applied to the nylon base.
However, silnylon has a slightly stretchy quality that sets it apart. This stretchiness can be beneficial for certain applications, such as tent walls or rain flies, as it allows the fabric to better withstand wind and tension loads.
Silnylon is a common material for backpacking tents, rain flies, pack covers, and other outdoor gear where weight and water resistance are priorities.
Silpoly vs Silnylon: Head-to-Head Comparison
Now that we’ve covered the basics of each fabric, let’s dive into a detailed comparison of silpoly vs silnylon across various factors:
Waterproofing
Both silpoly and silnylon are waterproof fabrics due to their silicone coatings. However, there are some nuances in their waterproof performance.
Silnylon typically has a higher hydrostatic head rating, which measures a fabric’s resistance to water penetration. A higher number indicates better waterproofing. Most quality silnylon rates are around 1,500mm to 2,000mm on the hydrostatic head scale.
Silpoly, on the other hand, usually rates slightly lower at around 1,200mm to 1,800mm. So while both fabrics are waterproof, silnylon may offer a slight edge in terms of ultimate waterproof protection.
It’s worth noting that the waterproof coatings on both fabrics can degrade over time due to UV exposure, abrasion, and contaminants. Proper care and reproofing is essential for maintaining waterproofness.
Durability
When it comes to ruggedness and longevity, silpoly tends to have the upper hand compared to silnylon. The polyester base of silpoly is inherently more resistant to tearing, abrasion, and UV degradation.
Silnylon’s nylon base is slightly more susceptible to being damaged by sharp objects or excessive UV exposure over time. The fabric can weaken and develop holes or leaks if not properly cared for.
For backpackers venturing into rough terrain or needing gear that can withstand serious abuse, the extra durability of silpoly could be a deciding factor. However, proper storage and care is still vital for maximizing the lifespan of either fabric.
Breathability
One area where silnylon outperforms silpoly is in breathability and moisture vapor transmission. The nylon base of silnylon allows it to better transfer interior moisture and condensation through the fabric walls.
In contrast, the polyester base of silpoly is less breathable, which can lead to more condensation buildup inside tents or shelters, especially in humid conditions.
For camping in wet, soggy environments, silnylon’s increased breathability could help prevent interior moisture issues and keep your sleeping area drier. But in arid climates, silpoly’s lower breathability may not be as much of a concern.
Packability
Another key consideration for backpackers is how compactly their gear can pack down. In this area, silnylon has a slight edge thanks to its lower weight and slightly stretchy nature.
A silnylon tent or tarp can generally stuff down into a smaller rolled or compressed size compared to an equivalent silpoly shelter. This improved packability can help save precious space in your backpack.
However, the difference in pack size is relatively minor. For ultralight adventurers counting every cubic inch, it could be a factor. But for most backpackers, either fabric should provide a reasonably compact packed size.
Cost
When evaluating silpoly vs silnylon, cost is always a practical consideration, especially if you’re on a limited budget. In general, silnylon tends to be the more affordable of the two fabrics.
High-quality silpoly from reputable brands can cost upwards of $10-15 per square yard, while decent silnylon is often available for $6-10 per square yard.
Of course, pricing can vary based on the specific product, brand, and fabric specs. But if budget is a top priority, you may be able to get more bang for your buck with a quality silnylon tent or tarp versus an equivalent silpoly option.
Pros and Cons of Silpoly
To summarize the key advantages and drawbacks of silpoly:
Pros of Silpoly:
– Exceptional durability and tear resistance
– Better abrasion and UV resistance than silnylon
– Highly waterproof protection
– No stretching under tension loads
Cons of Silpoly:
– Slightly heavier than silnylon
– Less breathable than silnylon (more internal condensation)
– Often more expensive than quality silnylon
– Not as packable as stretchy silnylon
Pros and Cons of Silnylon
And the main pros and cons of silnylon:
Pros of Silnylon:
– Lighter weight than silpoly
– Increased breathability and moisture transfer
– Better packability due to stretch
– Generally more affordable than silpoly
Cons of Silnylon:
– Not as durable or abrasion resistant as silpoly
– More susceptible to UV degradation over time
– Slightly lower waterproof ratings than silpoly
– Can stretch under tension which may be undesirable
Silpoly vs Silnylon for Specific Gear
Now that we’ve thoroughly compared the fabrics, let’s look at which material may be preferred for different types of backpacking gear:
Tents: For backpacking tents, either silpoly or silnylon can work well depending on your priorities. Silnylon’s breathability is nice for preventing condensation buildup. But silpoly’s increased durability protects against accidental tears or punctures.
Tarps: For basic rectangular tarps used as minimal shelters, the lighter weight and packability of silnylon is often preferable. But for larger tarps that may face abuse, the toughness of silpoly is beneficial.
Stuff Sacks: When it comes to stuff sacks and storage bags for your gear, silpoly is an excellent choice. Its high durability helps prevent accidental tears or punctures from sharp objects inside your pack. The lack of stretchiness is also beneficial to maintain the shaped structure.
Rain Gear: For items like pack covers and rain jackets/pants, silnylon’s increased breathability gives it an edge. The slight stretch allows better freedom of movement while the waterproofing keeps you dry. However, silpoly rain gear will likely be more hardwearing over years of use.
Proper Care and Maintenance
Regardless of whether you choose silpoly or silnylon gear, proper care and maintenance is crucial for maximizing its performance and lifespan. Here are some essential tips:
Cleaning: Use a mild soap and lukewarm water to gently hand wash silpoly or silnylon items. Avoid machine washing, which can degrade waterproof coatings faster. Let items air dry completely.
Reproofing: Over time, the durable water repellent (DWR) coating on both fabrics will wear off, reducing water beading. Revive this by applying a wash-in or spray-on reproofing treatment every couple seasons.
Seam Sealing: Check seams regularly and reseal any areas where the seam tape or seam sealer has come loose or degraded. This prevents water leaks at vulnerable areas.
UV Protection: Minimize prolonged UV exposure, which can break down the fabric coatings. Store gear in an opaque sack or stuff it loosely to avoid creasing.
Repairing: Patch any holes, tears, or punctures with a silicone-based repair tape or liquid sealer to restore waterproofing and structural integrity.
By taking good care of your silpoly or silnylon backpacking gear, you can ensure it lasts for many adventures to come!
Top Silpoly and Silnylon Gear Recommendations
To help you get started, here are some excellent silpoly and silnylon product recommendations from quality outdoor brands:
Top Silpoly Gear:
– Six Moon Designs Haven Tarp Tent
– Hyperlite Mountain Gear Stuff Sacks
– Granite Gear Crown2 60 Pack
– ZPacks Vertice Rain Kilt
Top Silnylon Gear:
– Tarptent Notch Li Tent
– Sea to Summit Nano Tarp
– Zpacks Dry Bags
– Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
Conclusion: The Versatile Fabrics Fueling Adventures
As you can see, both silpoly and silnylon bring unique strengths to the table for backpacking gear. Silpoly excels in terms of ruggedness, tear resistance, and waterproofing. Its lack of stretch can be beneficial in some gear applications.
On the other hand, silnylon’s lighter weight, better breathability, and stretchiness have made it a longtime favorite for ultralight tents, tarps, and wet weather protection.
Ultimately, the “best” fabric comes down to evaluating your specific needs and priorities. If you prioritize durability and waterproofness above all else, silpoly may be the way to go. But if you want to shave weight and maximize breathability, silnylon could be the preferred choice.
Many backpackers actually use a combination of both fabrics for different gear pieces based on their intended uses. A silnylon tent paired with a silpoly stuff sack allows you to leverage the advantages of each material.
No matter which fabric you choose, the most important factor is selecting quality, well-constructed gear from reputable brands. With proper care and maintenance, both silpoly and silnylon can provide years of incredible adventures on the trail!
So get out there, explore those remote peaks and valleys, and put these versatile technical fabrics to the test. The wilderness is calling!