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Water-proofing a tent.
Yo all
I took my Blacks Stormshield tent to the HU meeting last weekend. Its 10 years old but hardly used. Cost about £200. Anyway, it became quite apparent that the waterproofing has well worn off. I coated it with a teflon spray 3 seasons ago but it hasnt been much use. It let water through the fly sheet and the base let damp through. Can anyone recommend a good reproofer for tents ??? |
is it worth the effort?
Ted,
Blacks tents; love them, but I haven't used my "Good Companion" in many years either. Their manufacturing in Scotland was taken over by North Face, the US company. You don't say what the materials are, but if the base is leaking I am not convinced that it can be re-proofed; may be worth trying a separate groundsheet under there (but it all adds to the weight and bulk on the bike). A cotton tent can be re-proofed but I don't know about the more modern materials; have you been to the good camping shops for advice? (they tend to have stuff such as Nikwax - haven't personally used it). Option B is put the cash toward a new tent; lots of competition nowadays and the costs are relatively less than a few years back. Dave |
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The tents a nylon tunnel tent. Think its nylon , deffo synthetic stuff. Iv just done a bit of research and Nikwax make somethng called "tenttex" (or something like that) Should do the trick, even on the base. Cheers |
Waterproofing
'Tis a rude shock when it rans inside when it's raining outside :)
I am picking up a 'footprint' for my tent, as the camping in Ripley seemed a challenge to my lovely travelling home. I found this too - Oggies Tent Reproofer It's biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and is suppoosed to also protect the tent from stains and grease marks. Win win :thumbup1: £8,95 or £9.95, depending on where you look. Perhaps Blacks have a home brand that is recommended for their tents (although the website doesn't offer anything up)? *Here's to camping in only Tropical climates* |
HD Scotch-Gard might be worth taking a look at.
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Ted,
I always carry one of those blue tarpaulins with the brass eyes. Very useful when taking your bike to bits on in the middle of no where - but also extremely useful for putting over your tent in very wet conditions (much more waterproof than most tents) or making a sun shade in hotter climates. :) As you know, down here on the south coast of Spain it doesn't rain much; but when it does it pours. Not sexy, adds extra weight - but very useful. |
Have you tried 'Fabsil', I have done tents with it and it works:thumbup1:
I just did a quick 'Google' and came up with this Surplus and Outdoors - Grangers Fabsil - Fabsil - Waterproofing - UK Shopping I have used the aerosol with good results. Trophymick |
I took a "Tarp" to cover my tent at the HU UK meet, worked very well, only cost £15 from Decathlon.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk |
Hi Ted,
You might have noticed my groundsheet strung over the top of my tent! I have the same problem, water seeps up through the groundsheet when the ground gets wet enough and comes through the fly when it rains hard. Here's an important point: As a tent gets old the stitch holes get bigger with all the stretching and flapping about in the wind. This obviously lets water in. I'd definately 'seam-seal' your fly when you re-proof it. You can get seam-seal in any decent camping shop. On another note, I find that 6' x 4' groundsheet one of the most useful bits of kit I've ever bought. Over the tent in thunderstorms, under it in mud, lie on it when working on the bike, use it as a bike cover when staying in hotels and want to make the bike as inconspicous a possible (who would put an expensive bike under a filthy old groundsheet?), even strung it up from trees to cook under in rainy places. It was about five quid from Millets, is very robust and actually packs down quite small. Matt :) |
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this is a bit off subject, but ive got a footprint for my khyam and if the forecasts good and the evening warm i sometimes string it up between my bike and a tree or post or whatever and kip under that, a la ray mears. ive huddled under it fixing the bike at the side of the road in the rain, its a very useful item of kit. sometimes i even use it as a footprint for the tent!
ted, the nikwax tent/kit proofing spray is ok but it sometimes takes a few goes. dont keep your tent for long periods rolled up, it can let water in where the creases were. store it (assuming the poles can come out!) in a big cotton bag or pillowcase and keep it dry so mould doesnt get hold of it. or mice! give it a shake when you remember to, so it doesnt crease in the same places all the time |
Just came across an interesting company that offers nano solutions for pretty much everything. I've listed the link at the bottom but it's in danish and I haven't been able to find an english site offering the same products.
Supposedly they offer solutions for both textiles as well as harder surfaces (metal, plastic, tile, etc). It is supposed to make water bead on pretty much any surface and make them "filth resistant". Kind of like a teflon treatment. A couple of weeks ago they ran a comercial campaign on TV where they submerged a fibertextile couch in red dye. And sure enough, you could brush off the red die with your sleeve (if that was treated with nanosolution too :) ). I know I know...TV comercials and the truth. I must say however that it looked pretty convincing. I browsed their website and kind of got taken in by it all and ordered a small bottle for treating helmets and visors. It was only 15 Euros, so I though what the heck. Anyone know of an english website or simillar product? Anyway Ted, just a "waterproofing" solution that you might look into. I haven't tried it myself (yet) but just thought I'd mention it. |
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Nice info, but maybe you could get back to us when you've actually tried the product ? That would be really useful! Keep us informed...? Good man! Thanks anyway. you meant well..... |
options
As stated a new tent would be a good investment. However, a tarp over it in wet weather is a lot less expensive. I have used Tectron on some of my old tent flys and it has worked well. I also use the Tectron on all my luggage. Nikwax makes a good product too. Just be sure to get the right stuff for nylon/polyester. Also, if you are using a ground sheet make sure it is slightly smaller than the tent floor or doesn't stick out from the fly, so rain will not drip from the fly onto the ground sheet and get between it and the tent.
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tent
last summer i spent 2 months in a useless tent in northern norway no fun so it went in the rubbish b4 coming home it had little use but was old,apparently uv rays break down the fabric and waterproofing,still leaked with a cover over it.now i've got a kiwi tent outer limits rated at one and a half metres of rain an hour,tested it out on the west coast half a metre of rain overnight dry as a bone so a bloody good tent ron.:thumbup1:
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Im with TROPHMICK and the FABSIL
FABSIL is wicked stuff! NOT JUST FOR TENTS!!!!
It waterproofs riding gear too! but bear in mind it is called "FAB-SIL" because it gets its name from FABulous SILicone.......which is slipperier than a greased pig! so no waterproofing the palms of your gloves! its dangerous..:oops2: ( DONT ask me how i know :eek3:) |
The bad news with tents is that applying a DWR (durable water repellant-the durable part for nikwax and fabsil doesn't really apply. The most "durable" water repellant treatment is by grangers-but (like your waterproof & breathable jacket) requires light ironing/low dryer to set the water repellant. Since you cann't do this to a tent -if the pu coating on the base is gone a tarp footprint is the only work around. (The angle of the flysheet and DWR will only slow down the water coming through.) Have a look at Gelert.co.uk if in the Uk they do some really good and cheap solo/2 person tents. (£25 for a 1.5kg solo tent!)
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An alternative -if you have a sewing machine around- is to replicate the flysheet. Ray Jardine's website-http://www.rayjardine.com/ is a great site for making your own gear walking or biking. Also quite inspirational for those bitten by the adventure travel bug!
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up hill battle
Unfortunatly making a ten year old tent water proof would be like getting butter up a porcupine's a*#e with a red hot neddle....
Go to any outdoor store and they'll have a few "brews" to put on it but it won't work very well or at all. Like some of the others have suggested sling a tarp over the top woulb be your best not-buying-another-tent option Problem with synthetic fabrics is the very limited life regardless of the use... aound 7- 10 years. After this they start breaking down and also delaminting |
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