Outdoor Living Glossary Terms
2 terms related to outdoor living, explained in plain English.
What Does Hydrostatic Head Rating Mean for Tents?
Hydrostatic head, measured in millimetres, indicates how much water pressure a tent's fabric can withstand before it starts to leak — the higher the figure, the more waterproof the material. Budget tents for fair-weather UK camping may sit at a lower rating, while tents built for exposed sites or prolonged wet weather use higher-rated fabric on the flysheet and groundsheet.
What Does Denier Mean for Camping Gear?
Denier is a unit measuring the thickness (and rough durability) of the fabric fibres used in tents, sleeping bags and other camping gear — the higher the denier number, the thicker and generally tougher the fabric, at the cost of extra weight and pack size. Lightweight backpacking gear often uses a lower denier fabric to save weight, while family/festival tents built for durability over portability typically use a higher denier.