Whether you are a casual camper or a weekend warrior, it's important to learn about your gear. For example, it's a good idea to know what the tent you're sleeping in is made of. Different fabrics have different characteristics. So here's a breakdown of what those differences are:

Nylon's an excellent tent fabric because it's so strong and durable. But it's lightweight, too. And it's also easily waterproofed. However, if the nylon isn't waterproofed, it stays very breathable, which lets moisture (in the form of water vapor) pass through. Nylon can easily be dyed, and it holds even the most vibrant colors well.

Nylon doesn't rot, either. So if you pack up a wet nylon tent for six months or so, the nylon itself will still be fully functional, although the tent will undoubtedly be severely mildewed. Mildew can eat away at the waterproof coating, though, which will make it useless.

Uncoated nylon is water-resistant. It's man-made and doesn't absorb water. But it's not waterproof, because water can pass through gaps between the woven fibers. To prevent that, nylon material is coated in large spools with polyurethane. The polyurethane coating seals out most water, making nylon tents weatherproof. It also effectively seals the material, greatly reducing the breathability of the fabric. To make the inside of the tent more comfortable, most designs, especially dome style tents, have large windows and large panels of untreated nylon to increase breathability.

Rip-stop nylon has the same characteristics as regular nylon. The one main difference is a heavier fiber woven into the fabric every dozen or so stitches. The idea is that if a tear starts, the resistance that the heavier fiber provides will stop the rip sooner. Rip-stop nylon is recognizable by its prominent grid pattern on the fabric.

Features of polyester are nearly identical to nylon, but it resists Ultraviolet (UV) damage better. All materials experience a loss of strength when exposed to UV rays. When you set up your tent, you should choose an area that doesn't get direct sunlight. Fortunately, UV degradation happens slowly, so if you only use your tent a few weeks every year, it won't experience any substantial UV damage for many years.

Cotton canvas used to be the material of choice for tents. This was before nylon was even invented. It was favored because of its durability and all-weather protection. The canvas used in tents back then had an oily or waxy coating so it didn't absorb water. The coating didn't seal the fabric, so the tent could breathe. That way water vapor could escape, which prevented the clammy feeling that early nylon tents had.

Since canvas tents weren't weatherproof, they relied on rain water's surface tension between the cotton fibers to keep the tent from leaking. Nylon tents don't have this problem.

Because of the extra weight of canvas, and the advances of synthetic fabrics, canvas isn't often used in tent construction anymore.

As a new polyester fabric that has a strong UV light inhibitor, this fabric provides a much greater resistance to UV degradation than a standard nylon tent. It also offers more resistance than a standard polyester tent. Its other characteristics are identical to those of polyester.

Polyethylene is typically used for the floor of cabin tents. The main reason for using polyethylene is that it's waterproof. Water won't pass through it unless there's a hole in it. Polyethylene is quite durable, but there are disadvantages. It weighs more than nylon, and it's bulkier. Once unfolded, it's difficult to get polyethylene back to its original shape.

Many smaller tents have floors made of treated nylon. Treated nylon is water-resistant. However, a waterproof barrier of some type still needs to be placed under nylon floor tents. Polyethylene or vinyl tarps provide an excellent waterproof barrier and help protect the floor of the tent from damage from rocky ground or debris.