Interesting perspectives. I use a polyester tent (TNF Trailhead 8) for family camping. Main reason is I'm primarily a backpacker & my other tents are either polyester, silnylon or PU nylon for the real oldies so I don't look on polyester with such negativity. In fact I know from reading posts on these forums that even family camping we are relatively lightweight in our approach compared to many members here. Different mindset I guess. I still consider weight & bulk even though the cars taking the strain. I like to be comfortable but I don't want all my home comforts with me.
just to add my experience - i have various tents as you can see from my signature and have just bought the bear lake 4 with a brand new front extension.
whilst i like outwell tents, i am keen to acquire a Karsten tent. - they can be forever tents - id be very surprised if an outwell lasted more than 10 years.
the vango i had before my 1st polycotton got hot in the mornings when the sun came up - my polycotton tents do get warm but not hot.
the main thing i find appealing with polycotton is how quiet it is in the wind. no crisp packet rustling sounds and if you get an airframe polycotton - then no pole creaking sounds either - they are very quiet.
i will still buy a polyester tent - the polycotton is nice - and pure cotton even nicer.
i wouldnt worry about drying them off - as long as you ve got the space to lay them out - i found the time difference minimal between the different fabrics drying time.
------------- Facebook:- Tent Camping group
Living the Dutch Dream - Karsten 300 pod + extns in Sea Green and Pure Cotton
After recovering just from Muckers outrageous alpha male outburst and realising I may suffer from the trauma caused by said outburst in later life, or in my case much later life, I feel I must state some facts about the Outwell Regency tents again in a non alpha male way
While most of us are used to our polycotton tents being a mix of around 65% cotton 35% polyester in an aim to make polycotton more affordable to the masses and therefore less elitist the Regency range which includes the Kensington have a lower cotton content the mix now being 35% cotton 65% polyester.
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
And just to add my two penn'orth for the OP, as it's her post
*Polyester, all other things being equal, will be lighter
*Ditto, cheaper
*Might better suit a new camper starting out, in case it's not for them
*Has a shorter life span as eventually the coating fails
*Is noisier, and reacts more quickly to temperature
*35% cotton/65% polyester will be a bit heavier, pricier, cooler in the heat, warmer in the cold, and with care, last longer
*65% cotton/35% polyester, all the above, plus a bit more
*100% cotton, very heavy, very pricey, with good care will last a lifetime.
We started with an old school canvas frame tent 20 years ago. It took two of us to lift the tent bag, then again with the steel pole bag. No alloy poles then. It cost £800. And no groundsheet, sewn or otherwise.
We part-exed it for a folding camper, then went back to tenting 4 years ago with a polyester 6 berth Vango. That tent had more living space in it than either of the previous two units, and cost £160. That's the effect of modern materials, and modern factory construction for you. Plenty bang for the bucks, but not a tent for life.
Many keen tent campers will have a mix of units, some better suited to the quick week-end getaway, or touring, some more suited to the conventional 2 weeks in one place.
The airbeams are changing the possibilities, due to their speed of pitching, but for the OP's "forever" tent, a cotton or high cotton mix tent would seem to be the way to go.
Good luck Moll. Let us know what you end up with.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
We switched to cotton last year after seeing a tent we really liked the layout of. And we are so pleased we did as the benefits are amazing. I like the fact that if we look after it, it really will last.
Having had a look at the Outwell Kensington, I think it is very similar to the tent we got- a Eureka N!ergy. We saw this brand at a Yeoman's show and really liked it (and it must have been to get my husband to switch from wild country tents). After a bit of research we picked up this one which was the last year's model for £640, as we preferred the layout to the more recent Eureka models. Having the 2 rooms for living works well for us as it not only makes it cosy on colder nights, but the 'inner' part we use for storage and a little dvd area for the kids.
I've had a quick look and the polycotton is still available online at a similar price- just something extra to help you compare brands/tents.
Sat in my tent, (Kampa Frinton 4 classic) doing absolutely naff all, as dark kicked in on Friday evening, when LO! Quite by pure coincidence, I spotted something I hadn't noticed before...
Sewn into the stitching to the side of the side door, just inside the tent, was a label....
I can only presume that is outer fly, inner bed pods, then SIG, in that order.
Don't know why, but I always presumed it was 65/35 in favour of the cotton, but I suppose this goes some way to explaining why these Kampa Classics are seen by some as a little more VFM than than say, a similar sized Outwell Polycotton.
I certainly won't look upon our tents in a lesser light. (I presume our Filey is the same 35/65, as it seems identical). I've always been delighted with the material, and have no reason to think any differently now I've found this. Surprised none of us haven't noticed/mentioned this previously, though.
If the OP is still looking at that Outwell Kensington, I certainly wouldn't let the 35/65 (as opposed to a 65/35) sway your decision in any negative way!
I really don't think you'd notice any difference between 35/65 and 65/35 on fabrics the same thickness. You're more likely to notice the difference on varying 'weights' of fabrics.
I'd owned my ex army ridge for three years, presuming it was cotton canvas...before seeing it online described as polycotton!!! It looks and feels and smells like canvas...so don't look at the label...just enjoy
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Polycotton or Polyester
and realising I may suffer from the trauma caused by said outburst in later life, or in my case much later life, I feel I must state some facts about the Outwell Regency tents again in a non alpha male way 
We've often surprised how windy it is when we step out of it.
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