Should you’ve by no means skilled a tear in your tent, you’re fortunate!
That’s why we’re going over how one can patch a tent and take care of it when it will get broken.
Whereas fairly widespread, 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 how one can patch a tent when the worst occurs!
On-The-Path Fast Fixes
You’d by no means desire a tear or gap to mess up your campout or make you permit early.
Whenever you’re on the path, it’s finest to have an possibility for restore tape with you.
After I’m on the market, I typically convey duct tape as a result of it has a multipurpose use.
If there’s a gap you’ll be able to’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 is likely to be all of the fixing you want, that means you received’t should do an in depth restore while you get dwelling.
Nonetheless, if the outlet is larger, you’ll be able to gently take away the tape while you get dwelling and full the restore methodology we element under.
Pre-Patch Preparation
The method that we are going to describe under is for a tent restore that happens after your journey is over, and you’re again dwelling.
One of these restore is reserved for extra intensive tears that may’t be fastened with tape on the path.
Assessing The Injury
In any case, while you suspect (or see) injury 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 huge it is likely to be.
This can decide what sort of provides you’ll want to make use of to patch it up, and the way intensive your restore could also be.
Gathering The Proper Patching Provides
Whenever you buy a tent, it’s essential to additionally buy a tent restore package.
These kits will embrace nylon patches, nylon thread, a heavy-duty needle, and seam sealer – all the pieces it’s essential repair up your tent if the material tears.
Should you don’t have already got a tent restore package, you should purchase one at your native outdoor retailer.
Tent restore kits are NOT the identical as an everyday stitching package.
As a substitute 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 an everyday stitching package will possible break if used in your tent.
Step-By-Step Information To Patching A Tent
Making ready The Broken Space
Whenever you’re going to repair the broken space, the very first thing you’ll have to 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 injury.
Enable a couple of minutes for the rubbing alcohol to dry earlier than transferring on to the following step. If the world shouldn’t be 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 finest to make a patch that’s barely larger than the rip itself.
This manner, the patch will each cowl the rip and assist the world round it.
Sealing The Patch
After you’ve positioned the patch, you’ll should let it sit for a time frame – typically as much as 24 hours – to totally remedy.
When setting the tent out to remedy, ensure that the tent cloth is unfastened, and the encircling setting is cool and dry.
Moist and sizzling environments can delay or inhibit the curing course of – as can tightly packing up the tent earlier than it’s dry.
Publish-Patch Care & Upkeep
Caring For The Patched Space
When you’ve cured the world, it’s best to be capable to use the tent simply as you’d have earlier than.
Nonetheless, 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 area while 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 protecting your tent in nice situation.
Errors To Keep away from When Patching A Tent
There are a couple of widespread errors individuals 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 individuals make when patching a tent shouldn’t be 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 intensive patch repairs and ensure that the world is completely dry.
Not Utilizing A Large Sufficient Patch
Whenever you’re patching up your tent, it’s essential to make use of a patch that’s barely larger than the outlet itself.
Each a part of a tent issues for its structural stability. When it will get a gap, that structural stability could be compromised within the affected space.
Subsequently, utilizing a patch that’s simply barely larger than the outlet will patch up the outlet and reinforce the world across the tear.
Not Ready The Full Treatment Time
The largest mistake campers make when patching a tent shouldn’t be permitting for the complete curing time after the restore is accomplished.
Not ready the complete 24 hours could cause the patch to be weaker – that means that your restore isn’t fairly as reliable as you want it to be in your subsequent campout.
To keep away from this error, just remember to omit your tent in a cool, dry area for at the least 24 hours after patching.
Widespread Varieties Of Tent Injury
The most typical tent injury is tearing across the zippers and pole shoots.
It’s because these are the elements of the tent that get essentially the most put on and tear.
Nonetheless, holes within the sides of your tent can completely occur!
One of these injury 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’ll be able to! Should you’re on the path and don’t have your tent restore package (or the circumstances to repair your tent), you need to use duct tape to fix any holes that happen.
Nonetheless, duct tape shouldn’t be fairly as efficient when in comparison with tent restore kits – particularly for bigger tears.
If the outlet is extra intensive, it’s best to just remember to deal with the tear with a tent restore package while 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.
Should you’re on an extended trek and want to repair the outlet, I like to recommend you utilize a relaxation day to restore your tent and go away the material out to remedy
Whereas it is likely to be irritating to lose a day of mountaineering, it’s extra essential to have a tent that works properly and protects you from the weather.
How Can I Keep away from Tent Injury In The First Place?
Tents are meant for use, so there’s no nice method to keep away from the common put on and tear they expertise by that use.
Nonetheless, protecting your tent correctly clear and saved will hold your tent in good situation for longer.
And, while you’re out on the path, avoiding pitching your tent below giant branches or on tough floor can stop any holes from occurring.
Can I Wash My Tent After Patching It?
Sure and no. Don’t wash your tent straight after patching it. You’ll want to attend at the least 24 hours after patching earlier than you’ll be able to wash and pack up your tent.
Nonetheless, as soon as the 24-hour “curing” interval is over, it’s best to be capable to wash and keep your tent as you’d usually.
What If The Broken Space Is Close to A Seam Or Zipper?
It’s fairly widespread 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 widespread damages and methods to repair them:
- Lengthy and slender 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 can be coming aside).
- Caught or broken zipper – use candle wax to lubricate it.
It is a nice method to repair a caught zipper on the path. Then while you get dwelling you’ll be able to all the time apply a zipper lubricant to the world as properly to completely repair the problem.
Can I Patch A Tent That’s Been Burned Or Melted?
Sure! So long as the burn isn’t too huge, you’ll be able to 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-resistant coating after you restore the world.
Closing 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 best instruments and data, you’ll be capable to repair tears – and use your tent in your subsequent campout!
