Why don’t all tents have Hydrostatic Head (HH) ratings to show their water resistance?
Hydrostatic Head is a good way for suppliers of tents and awnings to offer an indication of the water resistance of a textile by using a standardised water-column test. Some tent makers choose to use other measures that are not recognised by the tent standard making direct comparisons tricky. It is also worth noting that cotton canvas and polycotton fabrics will not have a meaningful HH rating as they keep water out in a different way from nylons and polyester. We have lots of information about tents and their materials here. Read more »