In the event you’ve by no means skilled a tear in your tent, you’re fortunate!
That’s why we’re going over the way to patch a tent and take care of it when it will get broken.
Whereas fairly frequent, tears within the cloth of your tent can take a toll on its efficacy – and wreck your campout in case you’re not in a position to repair it.
Let’s dive into the way to patch a tent when the worst occurs!
On-The-Path Fast Fixes
You’ll by no means desire a tear or gap to mess up your campout or make you permit early.
While you’re on the path, it’s greatest to have an choice for restore tape with you.
After I’m on the market, I typically deliver duct tape as a result of it has a multipurpose use.
If there’s a gap you may’t ignore, use restore tape or duct tape to seal it for the rest of your campout.
If the outlet or tear is small, this could be all of the fixing you want, which means you received’t must do an intensive restore if you get dwelling.
Nevertheless, if the outlet is greater, you may gently take away the tape if you get dwelling and full the restore technique we element under.
Pre-Patch Preparation
The method that we’ll describe under is for a tent restore that happens after your journey is over, and you might be again dwelling.
This sort of restore is reserved for extra in depth tears that may’t be fastened with tape on the path.
Assessing The Harm
In any case, if you suspect (or see) harm in your tent, the very first thing it’s best to do is attempt to establish the place the outlet is, the place it begins, what elements of the tent are concerned, and the way massive it could be.
This may decide what sort of provides you’ll want to make use of to patch it up, and the way in depth your restore could also be.
Gathering The Proper Patching Provides
While you buy a tent, it’s essential to additionally buy a tent restore package.
These kits will embody nylon patches, nylon thread, a heavy-duty needle, and seam sealer – all the things you want to repair up your tent if the material tears.
In the event you don’t have already got a tent restore package, you should buy one at your native open air retailer.
Tent restore kits are NOT the identical as a daily stitching package.
As an alternative of cotton supplies, tent restore kits use materials comparable supplies to the tent’s unique cloth (like nylon).
Moreover, the needle in a tent restore package ought to be giant sufficient to deal with nylon tent supplies.
Needles included in a daily stitching package will possible break if used in your tent.
Step-By-Step Information To Patching A Tent
Getting ready The Broken Space
While you’re going to repair the broken space, the very first thing you’ll must do is clear it.
Use rubbing alcohol to cleanse the world across the tear, in addition to any elements of the tent concerned within the harm.
Permit a couple of minutes for the rubbing alcohol to dry earlier than shifting on to the subsequent step. If the world isn’t dry, the patch is not going to work as successfully.
Making use of The Patch
When you’ve cleaned and dried the broken space, apply a patch to the rip.
When creating the patch, it’s greatest to make a patch that’s barely greater than the rip itself.
This fashion, the patch will each cowl the rip and help the world round it.
Sealing The Patch
After you’ve positioned the patch, you’ll must let it sit for a time period – typically as much as 24 hours – to totally treatment.
When setting the tent out to treatment, be sure that the tent cloth is free, and the encircling surroundings is cool and dry.
Moist and scorching environments can delay or inhibit the curing course of – as can tightly packing up the tent earlier than it’s dry.
Submit-Patch Care & Upkeep
Caring For The Patched Space
When you’ve cured the world, it’s best to be capable of use the tent simply as you’d have earlier than.
Nevertheless, just remember to test on the patches each few months or so to make sure they’re nonetheless in good situation.
Tent Longevity Ideas
The easiest way to make your tent final a very long time is to take excellent care of it!
Cleansing your tent when wanted and storing it loosely folded in a cool, dry house if you’re not utilizing it’s one of the simplest ways to maintain your tent from gaining an excessive amount of pointless put on and tear.
Good upkeep, mixed with tent restore when wanted can actually make a distinction in preserving your tent in nice situation.
Errors To Keep away from When Patching A Tent
There are a number of frequent errors folks make when patching a tent.
On this part, we’ll go over these errors, and how one can keep away from them.
Not Cleansing The Space Earlier than Restore
One of many errors folks make when patching a tent isn’t cleansing and drying the broken space earlier than making use of the patch.
If the world continues to be soiled (or clear and never dry but), the adhesive of the patch is not going to work as successfully.
To keep away from this, just remember to clear the world with rubbing alcohol earlier than in depth patch repairs and be sure that the world is completely dry.
Not Utilizing A Large Sufficient Patch
While you’re patching up your tent, it’s essential to make use of a patch that’s barely greater than the outlet itself.
Each a part of a tent issues for its structural stability. When it will get a gap, that structural stability might be compromised within the affected space.
Due to this fact, utilizing a patch that’s simply barely greater than the outlet will patch up the outlet and reinforce the world across the tear.
Not Ready The Full Treatment Time
The most important mistake campers make when patching a tent isn’t permitting for the total curing time after the restore is accomplished.
Not ready the total 24 hours could cause the patch to be weaker – which means that your restore isn’t fairly as reliable as you want it to be on your subsequent campout.
To keep away from this error, just remember to omit your tent in a cool, dry house for no less than 24 hours after patching.
Widespread Varieties Of Tent Harm
The most typical tent harm is tearing across the zippers and pole shoots.
It’s because these are the elements of the tent that get probably the most put on and tear.
Nevertheless, holes within the sides of your tent can completely occur!
This sort of harm possible happens from publicity to the weather, in addition to sticks and rocks in excessive winds.
FAQs
Can I Patch A Tent With Duct Tape?
You may! In the event you’re on the path and don’t have your tent restore package (or the circumstances to repair your tent), you should utilize duct tape to fix any holes that happen.
Nevertheless, duct tape isn’t fairly as efficient when in comparison with tent restore kits – particularly for bigger tears.
If the outlet is extra in depth, it’s best to just remember to deal with the tear with a tent restore package if you get dwelling out of your campout.
What Ought to I Do If My Tent Rips Throughout A Tenting Journey?
In case your tent rips throughout your tenting journey, I like to recommend utilizing tape to patch up the outlet till you get dwelling.
In the event you’re on an extended trek and wish to repair the outlet, I like to recommend you employ a relaxation day to restore your tent and go away the material out to treatment
Whereas it could be irritating to lose a day of mountaineering, it’s extra essential to have a tent that works effectively and protects you from the weather.
How Can I Keep away from Tent Harm In The First Place?
Tents are meant for use, so there’s no nice strategy to keep away from the common put on and tear they expertise by way of that use.
Nevertheless, preserving your tent correctly clear and saved will hold your tent in good situation for longer.
And, if you’re out on the path, avoiding pitching your tent below giant branches or on tough floor can forestall any holes from occurring.
Can I Wash My Tent After Patching It?
Sure and no. Don’t wash your tent immediately after patching it. You’ll want to attend no less than 24 hours after patching earlier than you may wash and pack up your tent.
Nevertheless, as soon as the 24-hour “curing” interval is over, it’s best to be capable of wash and preserve your tent as you’d usually.
What If The Broken Space Is Close to A Seam Or Zipper?
It’s fairly frequent for a tent to get broken close to a seam or zipper since they’re excessive use, and due to this fact, excessive put on and tear areas on the tent.
Listed below are some frequent damages and methods to repair them:
- Lengthy and slim tear (like close to the zipper) – use tape alongside the tear to maintain it collectively.
- Giant tear/gap – patch it up with duct tape or a tent patch, as described above.
- Ripped/broken tent seam – use seam sealer (a particular product that repairs seams which might be coming aside).
- Caught or broken zipper – use candle wax to lubricate it.
This can be a nice strategy to repair a caught zipper on the path. Then if you get dwelling you may all the time apply a zipper lubricant to the world as effectively to completely repair the difficulty.
Can I Patch A Tent That’s Been Burned Or Melted?
Sure! So long as the burn isn’t too massive, you may completely repair it with a tent restore package as described above.
The essential factor to recollect with burns is that the waterproof coating possible melted off with the warmth.
Due to this, you’ll want to use a water-proof coating after you restore the world.
Ultimate Ideas
Now that you know the way to patch a tear or gap in your tent, it’s no biggie in case your tent will get a gap on the path.
With the correct instruments and information, you’ll be capable of repair tears – and use your tent on your subsequent campout!