Evaluation & development of family-size tent suitable for the summer time of Hong Kong

Abstract

The use of tents is widespread worldwide, serving various purposes such as shelter for hiking, trekking, disaster management, and amusement. The new-age generation’s enthusiasm for outdoor pursuits has led to a significant surge in demand for tents. The structural parameters of tents are contingent on the climate in which they are to be used. This study endeavours to explore the physical attributes of family-size tents suited for Hong Kong’s tropical climate. Four different tent fabric materials were tested for their physical and mechanical properties to evaluate their efficacy. The results revealed that polymer-coated fabrics performed better overall than uncoated ones. Based on these findings, lightweight prototype tents were designed to prioritize thermal insulation, waterproofing, and air permeability. Infrared thermographic analysis and feedback from six individuals who practically used the tents were considered to evaluate comfort performance. The polyurethane-coated nylon fabric tent was deemed to have the most satisfactory performance.

Keywords:

• Tent
• camping
• thermal insulation
• coating
• nylon fabric

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the School of Fashion and Textiles L & T Development Grants—2023/24, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and express gratitude to the LTC(TDG) 2022-25 Projects fund (Project Code: TDG22-25/R2/SMS-16), Hong Kong Polytechnic University.