Shelter Fabrics & Colors

Ultralight Fabric (Ultralight Kifaru Tipi )
The Ultralights utilize a unique fabric found that has proven to be extremely lightweight and durable.
History: We are enormously pleased with this fabric, and  have had a test Tipi in use for since 1998, and it has held up remarkably well. Our Ultralight Tipis have been in production since summer of 2000.
Durability:   A high thread count makes it  harder to tear, damn near impossible to puncture (it stretches, rather than pops) and is much lighter than Ripstop.
Waterproofing: It is coated on both sides with silicone, making it even more waterproof than Ripstop. A test bag filled it with water hung for several days without  a drip.
The disadvantage is that yes, it contains water -  which means condensation. We do offer liners to alleviate that problem for folks who camp in Alaska or Minnesota where it might be quite humid. If humidity is a factor where you camp, call us about a liner.
Since this fabric absorbs NO moisture, it is much less prone to mildew if stored damp.

Ripstop Nylon (Standard Kifaru Tipi) DISCONTINUED
History: We produced Tipis in Ripstop for about 15 years (standard Tipi) under the Mountainsmith brand. Ripstop is the standard in the industry, and is what most tents on the market are made of. We discontined production in Ripstop due to the many advantages of using our Ultralight fabric.
Durability: It's  lightweight and tough due to fibers that run through the fabric to help  prevent tears and  keep punctures from getting bigger.
Waterproofing: Ripstop is  coated on one side with a UV/waterproof solution.

Colors. All our shelters are offered in either White or Coyote Brown. Older shelters were offered in gold (discontinued).

Coyote Brown was introduced several years ago, and has been extremely popular due to it's easy-on-the-eye earthtone exterior, yet surprisingly it is bright on the inside! Please note: the interior does not have a white coating - this fabric is transparent enough to let in plenty of light, yet offers privacy.