Denier
Denier is a unit that describes how heavy a yarn is. It is the weight in grams of 9,000 metres of yarn, so a higher denier number means a heavier, thicker yarn. It measures the yarn, not the finished fabric.
Where you'll see it
You will see a denier figure in the fabric line of a tent, groundsheet, sleeping bag or pack, usually written as a number followed by a D. Because the figure describes the yarn, two fabrics with the same denier can be woven and coated differently and perform differently. Use it alongside the weave, the coating and the maker's wider specification.
What to check
- Which part of the product the figure applies to, such as the flysheet, the floor or the stuff sack.
- Whether the maker also lists the fabric type, weave and coating, since denier on its own tells you little.
- Whether the maker gives a water resistance figure, such as hydrostatic head, for the fabric.
- The weight the maker lists for the whole product, which reflects every part together.
Related terms
- Ripstop: a weave that adds reinforcing threads to a fabric.
- Hydrostatic head: a water resistance measure for a fabric sample.
- Polycotton: a fabric blend used in some tents, with different properties.
Read more: tent types explained and the camping kit weight calculator.