This last weekend I got out into the dirt for a couple days. While trying to blend in to the environment I felt stymied by the noisy synthetic material that made up my tarp, tent, clothing, etc.

Is there some stealthy stuff being made that an ordinary person can hope to afford and is somewhat comparable in performance and weight to the space-age wonder synthetics?

Thanks.

I know there is hunting camo clothing available with quieter material - kind of fleece-like stuff.

Non synthetic kit will be much heavier but can perform as well or exceed synthetic materials.

For a quiet non synthetic tent there is the Force Ten Classic STD Mk3 4 Season 2 man tent - Although heavy can be a very comfortable tent being very breathable. I remember these tents from about 25 years ago and they were excellent, giving a very quiet and peaceful nights sleep, but they are in reality just to heavy to carry if carried individually.

http://www.vango.co.uk/products/f10tentsInfo.aspx?productid=12&modelid=16

For quiet clothing, cotton Ventile is very quiet compared to synthetic materials. But there are some reasonably quiet Goretex fabrics made called Goretex Saturn. I have a Berghaus Trek Jacket which is almost as quiet as Ventile.

Tatonka make a range of quieter polycotton Tarps.

Who or what are you trying to sneak up on?

Unless it is really loud, loud enough to distract or mask the surrounding noise level, I wouldn't worry about it. The woods aren't all that quiet. The idea you should make no noise is simply false.

Even sneaking up on people in a military situation it is more about the kind of noise than the perceived loudness. The slight tinkling of a keychain can alert every deer and human within a hundred yards.

Breaking glass is automatically associated with alarm for humans. Screaming fire is not as effective in raising alarm as breaking glass.

Walking through dried leaves may sound louder and more obvious but the sound blends with the other sounds in the woods. A person even ten yards away may very well not hear it simply because it blends into the background. And ten yards is usually too close. On the other hand a snapping twig is a sound universally associated with something heavy enough to snap it.

Two aspects: when I move around in a tent, sleeping bag, or just through brush, (1) my synthetic stuff is very loud in my ears and prevents me from being able to listen as I wish, and (2) trying to closely observe wildlife, etc. I do not like my noise to intrude on the environment.

You can always try canvas. It will still snap in the wind, but it won't crinkle the way sythetics will. But it will also be heavier and less weather proof.

Again, not the lightest or the cheapest, but it should perform well.

Ventile Poncho

Only US maker of ventile clothing found so far: Orvis. Shirt $225; pants $279; and jacket $695. Ouch!

Look at the hunting clothing from Cabelas. That should help mask your sight, sound, and scent without being outragiously expensive. Not cheap, but not outragious.
No idea on the tent though, but that shouldn't be as big of a problem. Tents don't often snap in the wind, at least in my experience. The loose ends are usually tied down.

It is usually the weave or knit rather than the material that determines noisyness.

A flannel shirt or T shirt is quieter than a canvas shirt.

A fleece jacket is quieter than a woven ski parka.

Nylon soft shells are quieter than Nylon hard shells, etc.

I like knits and flannels for clothing for quietness, but for tents, shells and
sleeping bags I use the hard finish wovens due to weight.