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The whole purpose of going camping is to get closer to nature, to relish in the beauty of our natural environment. So it’s really disturbing that most of the tents we camped in as children were made with flame retardant chemicals that are bad for both the environment and our health. Outdoor companies didn’t even start making non-toxic tents without flame retardants until fairly recently.
Flame retardants, the primary culprits in this story, have been a staple in tent manufacturing for years. These chemicals were introduced with good intentions—to keep us safe from potential fire hazards during our camping adventures. Yet as research emerged about their environmental and health implications, it became clear that while they might prevent one form of harm, flame retardants introduced many other risks.
Today there’s a growing demand for tents that align with the very essence of camping: harmony with nature. Luckily, outdoor equipment companies are starting to respond to our concerns as consumers. Recent years have seen the production of more non-toxic tents without flame retardant chemicals.
What’s The Problem With Flame Retardants?
Going camping exposes us to various fire-related dangers, such as cooking over open flames or using portable camping stoves. Considering the potential for fire related accidents while camping, companies have historically added flame retardants to camping tents to make them less flammable.
Health hazards
However, the use of certain flame retardant chemicals has raised a lot of concern over the past few years due to their potential health hazards. Some chemicals, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), have been linked to severe risks to human health.
Many studies have established links between exposure to these chemicals and developmental problems, hormone disruption, and even cancer. Any time you or a family member comes into contact with the sides or bottom of a tent that’s been treated with flame retardants, you’re exposing your skin directly to these chemicals. You can also be inadvertently exposed to flame retardants through inhalation and ingestion, in addition to coming into contact with them through your skin.
Ecological concerns
There are serious environmental concerns regarding the breakdown of flame retardant-treated products over time as well, as these chemicals release toxic particles into the environment. These particles pose some significant environmental hazards, and are known as “forever chemicals” because of their very long decomposition process. They pollute our groundwater and our drinking supplies, and they present a serious threat to our ecosystems and the wildlife that live within them.
Read more: Best Water Purifiers for Camping and Backpacking
Safer Alternatives to Flame Retardants
Luckily, there are now alternative ways to make camping tents suitably flame resistant without using chemical flame retardants. Manufacturers are able to make their tents with very tightly woven fabrics that don’t catch on fire easily, and they now also know to avoid the highly flammable materials commonly used in the past to coat tents, like paraffin wax.
Modern tents are therefore able to pass flammability standards without needing to apply toxic flame retardant chemicals to their fabrics. That said, many tents today are still made with flame retardants, so you need to be careful to check specifically that the tent you’re considering doesn’t have them.
14 Best Non-Toxic Tents Without Flame Retardants
Here are some of the best non-toxic tents without flame retardants for the campers in your life.
1. Nemo Aurora Backpacking Tent ($253)
Nemo is a New Hampshire company that has dedicated itself to making high quality camping equipment without flame retardants and other toxic chemicals. This means that you can rest easy under the stars knowing that you’re not exposing yourself or your family to potentially harmful substances while enjoying the great outdoors in one of Nemo’s tents.
In addition to its health benefits, the Aurora is also a spacious and comfortable tent that is ideal for backpacking and camping trips. It features a two-person design with plenty of headroom and ample storage space compartments and pockets. The tent is also easy to set up and comes with a convenient carrying bag for easy transport. This tent weighs 4 pounds, 9 ounces, so it won’t weigh you down too much on the trail.
2. Nemo Hornet OSMO Tent (from $399)
Nemo also makes one, two, and three-person ultra light backpacking tents without flame retardants or PFAS (forever chemicals) that still meet fire resistant standards. Their water repellant tent fabric is made from 100% recycled yarns that are free from any and all PFAS.
Nemo also makes an “Elite” version of the Hornet, which is even lighter (.78 kilograms vs the regular Hornet’s .95 kg). Both of these are great tents for the camping minimalists out there!
3. Nemo Dragonfly Tent ($495)
Like the Hornet, the Dragonfly tent from Nemo is one of the best ultralight tents without flame retardants that you can find. It’s made of the same high-strength OSMO poly-nylon ripstop that is both water repellant and fire repellant, but without PFAS or added chemicals, and is designed specifically for bike-packing.
This tent has larger doors and asymmetrical vestibules for campers that make it easier to get inside the tent and move around. Its poles are extremely lightweight and increase the volume of the tent at the peak when you’re inside it.
This tent weighs 3 pounds (1.3 kilograms), so it’s a little bit heavier than the Hornets, but still very lightweight for backpacking. It also comes in both one person and two person bike-packing options without flame retardants that pack down even smaller than its back-packing version.
4. Nemo Aurora Highrise Family Tent ($399-$470)
Nemo also makes two larger family-sized tents, sized for four and six campers, respectively. The Aurora Highrise is nice and roomy for four people and it’s very easy to set up (even by yourself) compared to many other family sized tents. Its walls are very steep, so you get more interior volume and standing height throughout the tent.
The Aurora Highrise comes with two doors, easy to use door clips, and additional room for storage. It’s made of durable fabrics and sturdy aluminum poles, and it has large side windows with mesh and built-in rain covers for ventilation. I’m a big fan of the unique colors and prints that you can get with this family friendly tent!
5. Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Ultralight Tent ($270)
The Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Ultralight Tent is a lightweight and spacious shelter designed for backpackers and hikers. This company uses silicone nylon for their waterproofing materials, so they stay clear of waterproofing forever chemicals as well as flame retardants in their tent fabrics.
This tent weights only two pounds, so it’s one of the lightest one-person tents you can find. It has a single pole design that makes it easy to set up and take down, as well as a vestibule for storing gear and getting in and out of the tent. Its peak height is 48 inches and it features a large mesh panel for ventilation without the bugs. The tent features a ripstop nylon canopy and waterproof floor.
If you’re looking for a tent for multiple campers, this company also offers a few larger non-toxic camping tents. Read on for more on those…
6. Six Moon Designs Haven Ultralight Tent ($375)
The Haven Ultralight Tent from Six Moon Designs is a versatile and lightweight shelter system that provides a spacious and comfortable sleeping area for two people, with the added flexibility of being able to configure it as a standalone tarp or bug shelter. As with the other tents from Six Moon Designs, the Haven is made without flame retardants.
The Haven has a waterproof canopy and can be set up in under two minutes. It can fit two people, along with a furry friend, and has two side entrances you can get in and out of the tent from. Its total weight is 34 ounces, or 2.1 pounds.
7. Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo ($210)
These two-person camping tents from Six Moon Designs are both lightweight and easy to set up. The tent is made from ripstop nylon and features a large vestibule for gear storage. The materials used in the Lunar Duo are free from the toxic chemicals typically used in fire retardants. This tent comes in two styles: the Explorer ($395) (which has room for two plus gear) and the smaller, budget oriented Outfitter ($210).
All Six Moon Designs tents are designed to be lightweight, durable, and easy to use, and the company is committed to using non-toxic materials in their products whenever possible.
8. Big Agnes (from $449)
Please note that Big Agnes says they do not use flame retardant chemicals in the fabrics of their non-toxic tents, but they are still using some PFAS (forever chemicals) in their tents. Here is what they told us when we reached out: “We removed flame retardants from all tents in 2022, and we are still in the process of removing PFAS from our line. Currently the only tent in our line that is free of PFAS is the Crag Lake SL 2- or 3-person tent.”
Big Agnes states that their tents meet the flammability requirements set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) without the use of chemical flame retardants. As for waterproofing, they use a non-toxic silicone nylon material. In addition, Big Agnes has a sustainability program that aims to reduce the environmental impact of their products and manufacturing processes.
As part of this program, Big Agnes uses eco-friendly materials and manufacturing methods whenever possible. They also make an effort to minimize waste and reduce their carbon footprint. Big Agnes makes a wide variety of flame retardant free tents, from lightweight backpacking tents to larger family sized tents.
9. The North Face Stormbreak Tents (no flame retardants option) (from $149)
The North Face has finally begun removing flame retardant chemicals from its tents, as recently as last spring. Its latest “easy pitch” models are are advertised as being free from flame retardants. (Note that you will see two options when you shop- make sure to click on the “no flame retardant” one before buying!).
This non-toxic tent also comes in larger sizes for two ($185) and three ($329) campers. Way to go, North Face! This is a much needed change.
10. The North Face Wawona Tent ($400)
The North Face also makes the larger Wawona tent, which sleeps four people and is also free of flame retardants. This tent weighs 14.5 pounds, so it’s best used for car camping. It comes with a spacious vestibule for gear storage that can also be used as an extra seating area.
The Wawona is fairly easy to set up, given its color coded poles and trims. It also offers organizational pockets that make it easier when you’re camping with younger kids who can’t seem to go anywhere without all their stuff. It’s tall enough to stand up inside it, and it has great ventilation due to its large mesh doorway.
11. REI Half Dome Tent Flame Retardant Free Series ($349-399)
REI Co-op’s Half Dome is another non-toxic camping tent that is designed with a focus on lightweight construction. With a trail weight of 3 pounds, 15 ounces, this tent is engineered to withstand 3-season weather conditions. The floor plan provides ample livable space for two people, along with their gear and a spot for a furry camping companion.
The tent’s architecture enhances the usable space inside and ensures vertical side walls that offer a good amount of head and shoulder room. The upper portion of the tent features mesh panels, which ventilate the tent and give you panoramic views. The lower portion is made of ripstop panels that offer privacy, reduce drafts, and protect against blowing particles from dust and dirt.
The tent includes two dual-stake vestibules which provide additional covered storage for gear and convenient access to your belongings without cluttering the interior space of the tent.
The REI Half Dome tent comes in two sizes, sleeping either two campers or three. REI does not add any flame retardants to these tents.
12. Mountain Hardware (from $400)
As of 2019, Mountain Hardware has stopped using any flame retardants in its non-toxic tents. They have several options, including the two person Nimbus tent which is made out of nylon ripstop material. Mountain Hardware uses a silicone coating to waterproof its tents so you’ll stay nice and dry. I’ve camped in this awesome little tent with my kids. It’s easy to set up, and it offers the best star gazing views around!
13. Hyperlite Unbound 2 Person Tent ($699)
Hyperlite is a Maine company that makes, as the name suggests, extremely lightweight non-toxic tents without flame retardants that are ideal for three season camping. The Unbound is ideal for protecting 1-2 campers from the elements.
These tents are made from a high-tech material called Dyneema, which is ideal for backpacking use due to how lightweight it is. This particular tent weighs a ridiculously light 1.5 pounds! It’s also notable for its easy to use zippers and water resistance.
14. Fjallraven Dome 2 ($999)
One of the pricier options for flame-retardant and PFC-free tents out there, this roomy 2-person tent has a three-pole construction that makes it easy to pitch on almost any surface. The guylines anchor it in place and help it stay stable in the wind.
The Dome 2 is large enough to sit up and hang out in with your camping partner. It has a detachable mesh shelf and several pockets for stashing your gear. The entrances are large and feature mosquito netting, so you can enjoy the view without the bugs.
The Dome 2 is made without PVC plastic and toxic flame retardants, and it is also fluorocarbon free, so it’s good for the environment as well as for enjoying the outdoors.
Make Way for Non-Toxic Tents without Flame Retardants
Although it’s been a long time coming, outdoor gear companies are finally hearing our concerns about the toxic chemicals that have long been used in camping tents. Hopefully within a few years, our options for non-toxic camping tents will continue to grow rather than being the exception.
You can learn more about the best non-toxic camping gear in our other camping guides to sleeping bags and camping pads made without flame retardants, as well as the best non-toxic camping coffee makers. While you’re at it, check out our guide to the best air mattresses without PVC.
Happy camping, folks!
