Compass: Charting the Evolution of Outdoor Gear

Noall Profile

        Home Brands History Firsts Classics Logos Links Books News Action About

History

Images

Excerpt from Noal Mounataineering website, circa 1999

Our Way Of Making A Breathable Tent

The challenge? ...to develop a coated, single wall waterproof tent.

After experimenting with breathable waterproof tents in the early '80's I found them to be ineffective as far as the breathable function was concerned,

except in a bivy style design. Unless major ventilation features were included in these designs, condensation still occurred.

So, in my opinion, it is the ventilation system that keeps condensation from forming inside the "waterproof-breathable fabric" tents. After testing

urethane coated fabric on several single-wall waterproof designs, I found that having the uncoated surface on the inside allowed the rough texture of the

fabric weave to trap humidity so it could be dissipated through adequate ventilation. Also, having the coated side out, the fabric has greater Ultra violet

protection due to the UV inhibitors added to the coating. This also improves water-shed ability due to the smoother surface being outside.

While working with Gregory Mountain Products in Temecula, California, I was able to utilize this philosophy with the development of both the Equinox and

Solitary Base Tents. With this experience we have taken the process one step further by providing the Trekker line which features coated, single-wall

tents which use your hiking poles for the tent supports.

It is the development of concepts like this that allow us to provide what I consider very affordable lightweight tents that can provide excellent protection

and breathability through adequate ventilation.

So why pay more for a "waterproof-breathable fabric" tent when you can get the same results with a well-designed, coated waterproof tent

Tents That Are Easy To Set Up

Noall Tents has been pioneering the development of an effective foul weather set-up system. While researching tent construction and design, we came

across a method of building a shelter that over time had proven very effective for people in rugged Australia. They found that by putting up a large tarp,

they could then get underneath it while setting up an interior "tent" of mesh that then kept out the insects and snakes.

It was from this concept that Noall tents developed the design of a free standing dome where you could clip the tent into while not exposing the tent to

the outside elements like rain or snow.

The result: The Harmony, and Tranquility Base tents.           

First, poles and a "Rainfly-Dome" are quickly set up on a ground cloth, then the tent easily clips in, and voila! the tent is up!

The Harmony and Tranquility both use a four way hub-pole system that with locking end tips attach to the ground cloth. This allows the rainfly to be set

up without the tent. The result is a free standing dome structure we call the " Mini-Dome" and the "Mega-Dome". It is under this that the tent is clipped

in, never having been exposed to the elements. With this "Quick-Attach System" you are able to disconnect the tent floor from the pole as you open the

rainfly to get in, moving the tent floor back out of the weather, creating an adjustable vestibule to sit in while you close the rainfly. Inside the tent you

can reattach the floor to the pole connection, reclaiming the adjustable vestibule as tent space, offering one of the best foul weather set up systems

available.

We Build Tents That Work

At Noall tents we listen to our customers. We wanted to make a tent that meets your shelter needs. Also, a tent that was lightweight, yet was also

durable and strong.

So, from the start we added two doors for cross ventilation and side vestibules, with hooded vents to allow for "Chimney ventilation", and mesh pole

sleeves that allow for greater air circulation between the tent and the fly