What an Oxford fabric tent is
Oxford is a woven fabric made with thicker yarn than most tent fabrics, usually polyester, and coated with PU on one side to keep water out. It is heavier than taffeta or nylon, and much harder to wear through. A tent is filed here when its maker names Oxford anywhere in it, and in most of them that is the floor: Oxford is what you kneel and lie on. Some tents are Oxford all over.
The kinds in this range
- Inflatable family tents are often Oxford all over. One here has a 400D Oxford tent on a 210D Oxford groundsheet, rated PU3000mm, and weighs 6.8kg. See inflatable air tents.
- Bell and yurt tents in 900D Oxford, the thickest here, on a steel or galvanised iron frame. See bell tents.
- Motorbike and bike shelters in 600D and 300D Oxford, or 210D silver-coated Oxford rated PU4000, made to sit out in all weather. See motorbike tents.
- Backpacking and family tents with an Oxford floor, such as a 2-person double layer tent with a 210D Oxford bottom rated PU4000mm. See double layer tents.
- Car tailgate tents and awnings, mostly 210D Oxford. See car awnings.
What the D number means on Oxford fabric
The number before the D is the denier, the thickness of the yarn. In this range it runs from 150D and 210D, used for floors and lighter tents, through 400D to 600D for inflatable tents and shelters, up to 900D for bell tents. Each step up is tougher, heavier and slower to dry. A 210D floor is plenty for a tent you carry, while a 900D bell tent is built to stand on a field for weeks. The coating, not the yarn, does the waterproofing, so read the millimetre rating as well as the denier.
Why an Oxford floor is worth having
The floor takes more wear than any other part of a tent: knees, boots, stones and grit. A thick Oxford groundsheet, often rated higher than the walls, lasts longer and lets less damp through. A footprint under it protects it further and keeps it clean. See groundsheets and footprints.
What the waterproof rating means on an Oxford tent
The rating in millimetres, the hydrostatic head, is the height of a column of water the fabric holds back before it leaks, tested to BS EN ISO 811. About 1,000mm is the lowest rating usually called waterproof, most lightweight flysheets are 1,500mm to 3,000mm, and more is worth having for long wet trips or a heavy tent left up for days. The groundsheet is often rated higher, because you kneel and lie on it. Several Oxford groundsheets here are rated PU4000. Taped seams matter as much as the number. Shop by rating: to 2,000mm, to 3,000mm and 5,000mm and over.
Questions people ask about Oxford fabric tents
Is Oxford fabric waterproof?
The coating is. That is why the descriptions give a PU rating beside the denier: read both.
Can an Oxford tent go mouldy?
Any tent packed away wet can. Dry it fully at home, even if it came down dry on site.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.
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