sealing/waterproofing a new tent

[robertaw]

We bought a new tent recently that we may or may not ever use but I can't pass up a good deal at Costco. Plus I have a weakness for anything Jeep.



Anyway, in the past when we've gotten a new tent I've set it up and lightly misted the entire thing with plain water. I was told once (decades ago) that this helps close up the fibers in the new fabric.

I tried to Google this just to see if methods have changed over the years and couldn't find anything about it.

Has anyone else ever heard of this? I'm wondering if it's a waste of time. I will set it up eventually to put seam sealer on anyway but now I'm just curious if I was the only one on the planet performing this bizarre ritual on my new tents.

I have absolutley no clue where I originally heard of doing this but it was definately pre-internet days.

[Micro469]

If your talking pre-internet... your probably talking canvass tents. I can't see this working on a nylon tent......

[robertaw]

If your talking pre-internet... your probably talking canvass tents. I can't see this working on a nylon tent......

We were aleady into the nylon tent era when I heard this but perhaps the source I heard it from was refering to canvas tents. We used my parent's old canvas tent ONCE over 20 years ago but decided it was too heavy and too much of a pain so we went nylon.

[caseydog]

I have been tent camping for my whole life.

Misting your tent to close the fabric, or whatever, is an old wive's tale, at best.

Now, on a top quality new tent, there is no need to seal it, because it will have permanent seals.

On a cheap tent, you need to seal the seams, or they WILL leak.

If you look at the seams on your tent, and see something that looks like a clear plastic tape, then you have a seam sealed tent. If not, you need to get some seam sealer and wipe it over the seams, or they will leak.

If you have a cheap tent, with that tape-looking seam sealer, then you should buy some liquid seam sealer, just to have on hand if the seams leak.

Do not waste your time "misting" your tent, unless you also want to go on a snipe hunt while camping. Both endeavors will be equally productive.

If you want to hose down your new tent to see if it leaks, then that is a worthwhile endeavor. That is called "being prepared."

But, watering down your new tent will not make it any more watertight.

CD

[robertaw]

If you look at the seams on your tent, and see something that looks like a clear plastic tape, then you have a seam sealed tent.

Okay, so things have come a long way since I bought a tent. This tent is made by Columbia so I guess they know what they're doing.

I'll still set it up just to make sure all the parts are there and intact. Plus it will be fun.

Even if we don't ever use it, I'm sure some of our kids will.

[caseydog]

If you look at the seams on your tent, and see something that looks like a clear plastic tape, then you have a seam sealed tent.

Okay, so things have come a long way since I bought a tent. This tent is made by Columbia so I guess they know what they're doing.

I'll still set it up just to make sure all the parts are there and intact. Plus it will be fun.

Even if we don't ever use it, I'm sure some of our kids will.

Yes, that is what a permanent seam seal looks like.

It is still good to keep some seam sealer with you -- it is good for little pinhole leaks.

Make sure to get a tarp or "footprint" to go under your tent to protect the bottom from rocks and sticks.

Enjoy!

[Larwyn]

I have been tent camping for my whole life.

Misting your tent to close the fabric, or whatever, is an old wive's tale, at best.

Now, on a top quality new tent, there is no need to seal it, because it will have permanent seals.

On a cheap tent, you need to seal the seams, or they WILL leak.

If you look at the seams on your tent, and see something that looks like a clear plastic tape, then you have a seam sealed tent. If not, you need to get some seam sealer and wipe it over the seams, or they will leak.

If you have a cheap tent, with that tape-looking seam sealer, then you should buy some liquid seam sealer, just to have on hand if the seams leak.

Do not waste your time "misting" your tent, unless you also want to go on a snipe hunt while camping. Both endeavors will be equally productive.

If you want to hose down your new tent to see if it leaks, then that is a worthwhile endeavor. That is called "being prepared."

But, watering down your new tent will not make it any more watertight.

CD

Some of them "old wives" knew exactly what they were talking about in their day. Most if not all tent manufacturers recomended setting the tent up at home and evenly wetting the canvas. But I'm not sure it was ever intended to aid in waterproofing the tent so much as pre shrinking the fabric. If the tent is first set up at a campsight and there is a light rain or a heavy dew the canvas could shrink unevenly because of uneven wetting. I know for sure that the two Wenzel wall tents that I had did tighten up considerably after the initial hosing down in the back yard.