Tents
Your tent was designed to protect you from the elements, but throughout its life, your tent will need some care & repair to keep it going strong. The repair information, tips & tricks in this section will help keep you dry through the storms, keep insects out & keep your tent firmly staked to its site. When the time comes for retirement, we'd encourage you to pass your old tent down to help a new user discover the wilderness.
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Seam Sealing
Tent Seam Sealing
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Step 1:
Apply Seam Grip® Seam Sealer & Outdoor Repair to the inside of the perimeter floor seam; this seam is often not taped at the factory. Draw seam sealer across threads and under folds. For 2 hour cure time, mix Seam Grip with Cotol-240TM before applying. Allow tent to dry overnight before using or storing.
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Step 2:
Use Seam Grip® to seal areas that regularly leak, such as stake-out points at corners.
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Step 3:
After years of service, seam tape on tents and outerwear can peel or pucker and the seam will begin to leak. If a small section has peeled, use Seam Grip® to re-attach it. If the tape seems to be failing everywhere, remove and discard it, then clean the seams with rubbing alcohol and re-seal with Seam Grip or Seam SureTM.
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Step 4:
Seam SureTM Water Based Seam Sealer is the easiest formula to use on large family style tents. Apply Seam Sure as you would Seam Grip. Once dry, Seam Sure is nearly invisible.
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Step 5:
To seal the seams on your rainfly, set it up inside-out for easier application. Attach the rainfly to the tent so all seams are taut.
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Silicone Tents
Silicone Treated Fabrics
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Step 1:
If you have a tent, tarp or pack made from silicone coated fabric, seal with SilNet™. SilNet is the only seam sealer that will bond to silicone treated fabric.
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Step 2:
Sil-Fix™ Adhesive is ideal for repairing pinhole leaks in silicone-treated nylon tents, backpacks and outerwear. Apply a small dab to the hole and 1⁄4” (5mm) beyond. Dry level for 2 hours before using or storing.
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Step 3:
To repair larger holes and tears, create a backing with the included “peel and stick” patch (Fig. 1).
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Step 4:
Turn fabric over and prep surface. Trim sil-nylon fabric swatch to size to cover 1⁄4“ (5mm) beyond damaged area (Fig. 2).
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Step 5:
Apply Sil-Fix over damaged area and 1⁄2“ (10mm) beyond on all sides. (Fig. 3 & 4).
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Step 6:
Center and apply the trimmed sil-nylon patch (Fig. 5). Allow to dry flat for 2 hours. Remove the “peel and stick” patch (Fig. 1) when repair has dried.
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Step 7:
Repair guy-out points by working Sil Fix into webbing with brush. (Step 1). Attach webbing to tarp. Press to bond all areas. Apply coat of Sil-Fix over strap and out onto tarp 1⁄4” (5mm) (Step 2).
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Deodorizing
Deodorize a Tent
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Remove Odors
To eliminate odors, mold and mildew from tents and other gear without damaging the waterproof coatings or fabrics, use MiraZyme™ enzyme-based odor eliminator:
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Fill a tub with just enough cool water to submerge item. For tents and packs add 1-2 oz of Mirazyme (depending on odor strength). Stir to mix.
Unzip all zippers, open flaps, etc. Submerge item in solution saturating inside and out. Soak for 10 minutes then remove. Do not rinse, the enzymes do much of their work while the item dries. Hang to air dry in the shade. Do not machine dry.
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Tent Pole Repairs
Fix A Broken Tent Pole
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Step 1:
Slide the two broken ends of the tent pole into opposite ends of the pole splint.
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Step 2:
Hold pole sleeve firmly in place and wrap duct tape around each end of the pole splint. Make sure tape overlaps the pole and the pole splint
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Zipper Repairs
Replace A Broken Zipper Slider
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Step 1:
Select a slider that matches the one you are removing. The letters that are printed on the slide tell you what size you need. With a seam ripper, carefully remove stitching around lower ends of zipper tapes. Pry off metal stop at bottom of the zipper, careful not to tear the tapes at the base of the zipper teeth
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Step 2:
Remove old zipper foot. Take new zipper slider and guide track tapes into the top grooves of the slider, pushing them through to the bottom. Use a pin if needed to work the track tapes through. Pull tapes gently to make sure slider is sitting evenly on tracks. With both tapes threaded through slider, gently pull slider up until locked track teeth appear at bottom.
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Step 3:
Sew a new stop at bottom of the tracks with needle and thread. Sew zipper back onto garment where stitching was removed for repair.
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Tent Hole Repairs
Tent Hole Repairs
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Step 1:
Seam Grip® permanently repairs common pinholes and tears in the tent floor. Apply just enough Seam Grip to cover the hole and spread 1/4” (5mm) beyond. Allow to dry level overnight. For 2 hour cure time, mix Seam Grip with Cotol-240™ before applying.
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Step 2:
The Field Repair Kit includes both adhesive and patches. To use the tent immediately, simply cover the pinhole with a Tenacious™ Brand Clean Tape™ peel-and-stick patch.
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Step 3:
For larger holes and tears, use a patch as a backing then apply Seam Grip. Remove patch in a few days when the Seam Grip has fully cured.
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QUICK FIX - Hot Melt Glue
Hold Hot Melt Glue stick 2-4 inches above the repair area. Use a match or lighter to melt the glue stick and cover hole or tear with melted glue.
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Repairing Mosquito Netting
Cut the Tenacious Tape to the desired size and shape. Remember to round the corners of your patch. Patches with rounded edges are less likely to come off accidentally. Make tent netting taut by zipping closed to an assembled tent. Un-zip a small area, just large enough for your hand to go through.
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Remove backing paper and place patch over repair area. Apply pressure to the patch with fingers. Start at the center of the patch then work out to the edges to avoid bubbles.
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PERMANENT REPAIR - No-Seeum Netting
Sew No-Seeum Netting to area around the damaged netting. Sew small stitches 1/4” inside the edge of the No-Seeum netting patch.
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Tent Floors
Re-Coat Tent Floors
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Step 1:
Re-coat worn areas on your tent floor with Tent Sure™ Tent Floor Sealant. Apply to the coated side of the fabric (the inside) using a foam paintbrush. For best results apply Tent Sure in a thin film, using even, sweeping motions to avoid puddles. A single thin coat works best.
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Sewing Repairs
How to Thread A Needle
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Step 1:
Cut the end of the thread at a 45 degree angle. Stiffen the thread with saliva or bees wax. It will be easier to control through the eye than a limp thread. Hold up the needle so the eye of the needle is open toward you. If you are unable to see the eye of the needle, place a contrasting color behind the needle.
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Step 2:
Slip the thread into the needle and pull the thread until ends are even. Knot the ends of the thread together (see Knotting The Thread). Straighten the threads and begin sewing. Pull the thread after each stitch to prevent the thread knots.
Knotting the Thread
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Step 1:
After threading the needle, wrap the ends of thread around the pointer finger. Make an “X” whith the tread.
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Step 2:
Place your thumb over the “X”. Roll the thread back and forth a couple of times between you pointer finger and thumb.
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Step 3:
Slide the knot off your finger with your thumb, rolling the threads together towards the end of your pointer finger while pinching the thread.
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Step 4:
Slide the knot to the end of the thread using the end of your pointer finger and thumb.
Basic Sewing Stitches
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Running Stitch
The running stitch is used to make simple seams in fabrics. It is easily completed by passing your needle in and out of the fabric at equal distances of approximately 1/4”. The stitches on the topside of your fabric should be the same length of the stitches on the underside of your fabric.
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Backstitch
The backstitch is one of the strongest types of hand-sewn stitches. The back stitch is used for making small, tight seams that will not leak filling (sleeping bags).
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Step 1:
Start out by sewing a couple of stitches over the same spot, and then sew a stitch with a space. Insert the needle from the underside of the fabric layers 1/8” to the left of where your stitching will begin. Pull the thread through to the knot.
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Step 2:
Insert the needle 1/8 inch behind where the thread emerges (where your stitching will begin). Bring the needle up 1/4” beyond this insertion, and pull the thread snugly. Bring the needle up 1/4” beyond.
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Step 3:
Viewed from the top, backstitching appears as a continuous line of even stitches; viewed underneath, the stitches are twice as long as those on top and they overlap at the ends.
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Tent Tips
Tent Stake-Out Tip
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The Trucker’s Hitch is one of the easiest methods to tension guy lines. Set up as illustrated above. Create the upper loop by using an overhand on a bight or a slip knot. Tie off with a looped half hitch which is easy to untie and adjust.
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On snow or rocky ground set tent stakes “deadman” style. Tie into the center of the stake then bury it horizontally in snow or under rocks. The line and stake together should make a “T”. Be sure to bury the stake several feet deep or the stakes will melt out! When using rocks, be sure to use enough to handle the strongest winds you expect to encounter.
Tent Guyline Tip
Stove Tip
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If your butane stove is struggling in cold weather, set it in a pot lid and add 3/4” (15mm) of cool water. The stove will roar to full power (the fuel is now at least 32˚ F, 0˚ C). Do not use hot water in the lid.
Keep the Bugs Out!
Tent Condensation Tip