Egyptian cotton

[ianhj]

Hello everyone, I'm new to winter camping and new to Canada, does anyone know a source for Egyptian cotton tent material?

[HOOP]

Hi Ianhj,

Welcome!   

You are asking the eternal holy grail type question to which there is no answer...(yet!).   This question has been discussed on discussion forums for nearly 10 years now that I am aware of.  It remains a mystery.

For many years the material has apparently disappeared.  There is lots of "egyptian cotton" on the internet, but its not tent grade.  Its for bed sheets and dress shirts, and things like that with not enough strength or water repellancy.

There is only one person on the planet who seems to have it on a reliable basis:  Craig MacDonald.  He only sells manufactured wall tents.  He does not sell material off the bolt.  I suspect he got the last of it before the last mill in the world stopped making it.....however....

I have a theory that Ventile (made by Ventile in the UK), is maybe the same stuff, but with a camouflaged name.  Its actually been around since WW2.  They have several weights, and one of them may be a possible light tent grade.  They have a heavy duty tent grade that I think is too heavy for trekking, so the question is there about their mid weights.

Rumour is that our good friend, the intrepid Kevin Kinney (Empire Canvas Works), is researching Ventile for garments, and no doubt is looking into thread count, strength, and water repellancy.....we wait to hear more.  

Meanwhile, I think the treated 6 1/2 oz material that Snowtrekker tents uses is fantastic and the best out there for winter cotton tents.  Very light, supple, and highly water repellant.   But I don't think Snowtrekker sells their fabric - gotta buy a tent!  

[ianhj]

Thanks Hoop,
I've worn ventile for a long time now and it is fantastic, very breathable very strong but also very pricey (£17.50-28.75 per metre) that works out to 30-50 $cdn a metre.
I bought a tent here in Canada which is made of 10 oz canvas, it's a very good tent but  heavy and bulky.
I'm on a make your own kick now, I've made mukluks, snowshoes,toboggans, moose hide mitts and an anorak so I really want to have a crack at tent making.
I was hoping there was a secret stash somewhere of Egyptian cotton going for a song but it seems not.

[Pawistik]

I'm on a make your own kick now, I've made mukluks, snowshoes,toboggans, moose hide mitts and an anorak so I really want to have a crack at tent making.

Welcome to Wintertrekking.com (and Canada). With those crededntials, you'll be a valuable asset around here!
Cheers,
Bryan

[mikemxyzzy]

Tentsmiths claimed to be getting some in earlier last year, due last fall. I don;t know what happened, but now they just say they are out:

http://www.tentsmiths.com/egyptian-cotton-tents.html

I don't know what happened. It is a shame there is not a more consistent supply.

[ianhj]

I suppose there's no option but to invest in ventile, mind you ventile is known in the UK for its longevity so I suppose the years of ownership have to be factored into the initial cost.
Thanks for your help.

[jaunty]

I see that Point North in the UK currently has "waterproof loomstate cotton" in a 154 cm width for £7.39 +VAT per metre.  

http://www.profabrics.co.uk/shop/show_product_info.php?id=ELV15

They give its weight as 0.330 kg per linear meter, compared to 0.210 kg for their 4 oz. uncoated nylon of a similar width.  They describe it as similar to ventile.  

Possibly of interest is their "light weight tent canvas."  Accounting for the difference in width (100 cm vs. 150cm), it seems similar in weight to the uncoated nylon and it costs £3.83 +VAT per metre:  

http://www.profabrics.co.uk/shop/show_product_info.php?id=T5

They say that the waterproof loomstate cotton is windproof, but make no such claim for the lightweight tent canvas.  They don't say anything about its breathability, either.  

You can see all of their tent fabrics here:  

http://www.profabrics.co.uk/snap_product_search.php?search=true&category=Fabrics%3E%3ETent%20Fabrics

[ianhj]

Quite ironic really as I used to live not too far from where this company is in the UK.
Thanks Jaunty.

[jaunty]

You're welcome, Ianhj.  Please let us know how things work out. 

[ianhj]

Have been in touch with Point North and they no longer stock the ventile like material, back to the drawing board.

[jaunty]

That's too bad.  They used to carry seconds-quality ventile at reasonable prices, as I recall.  But they don't seem to have any of that in stock either.