Caring For Your Waterproof Tent: Tips and Tricks

Ensuring your tent has a long life depends mostly on what happens when you are not in the field. Whether you want to prolong the life of the waterproofing on your tent, or you want to make sure it will serve you for many seasons, here are the ultimate waterproof tent care tips.

Caring For Your Waterproof Tent During Setup

Choose A Good Campsite

A great campsite adheres to the ,,Leave No Trace” principle. Find spots that have very little vegetation, are free of rocks and on a level ground. Clear away pebbles, small branches that may poke a hole in the floor of your waterproof tent.

Use A Footprint Under Your Waterproof Tent

The best waterproof tents reviewed by us come with a special, cut to size footprint. It protects the bottom of the tent from excessive abrasion, while keeping it dry. During torrential downfalls the footprint is a key layer of defence between the dry inside of the tent and the soaking wet ground.

Never Stress The Poles

While assembling the frame try to prevent the ends of the pole sections from banging together. Cracks in the poles can lead to breakage and compromise the whole structure. Similarly don’t overstretch the structure. This can lead to permanent deformation. When pulling apart the chords, start from the centre and move outwards to evenly distribute the tension.

Sun Exposure – Not A Big Deal

There are two schools of thought when it comes to waterproof tents and sun exposure. One group of people believes extensive sun exposure damages the colour and the waterproof coating of the rainfly. However I believe you need weeks of prolonged exposure to heavy sunlight for this to occur. If you are a regular camper, you don’t need to worry about exposure to heavy sunlight. Try to enjoy the good weather instead of worrying!

Caring For Your Waterproof Tent In The Wild

Keep Your Shoes In The Vestibules

The easiest way to keep the inside of the tent clean is to leave your shoes in the vestibules or outside. Don’t bring the dirt inside. Most waterproof tents recommended here come with double vestibules, so you have plenty of space for storing your gear in a dry, clean space.

Avoid Condensation

Condensation can be an issue in waterproof tents. If you pack it up while the inside is wet, you are guaranteed to unpack a tent with mildew and mould come camping season.

Go Easy On The Zippers

Great quality waterproof tent have well designed zippers that barely get stuck. However tent flies are designed to be taut when set up, so you can expect some tension on the zippers. Go slow, or even assist the zip with a second hand. This way you reduce tension on the metal slider and make the zip run smoothly.

No Animals Inside

The claws of your dog can do some real damage to the tent footprint. Avoid eating inside the tent if you can. This goes for bugs too! Here are some tips on keeping bugs away while camping.

Caring For Your Waterproof Tent While Packing

Take Care of The Poles

To tell you the truth, properly storing your tent poles can make a big difference in how long they last. Here are a few tips to keep your poles in tip-top shape: First, make sure to clean them thoroughly before storing. Pay special attention to cleaning the intersections! You would not believe how stubborn the dirt in those areas can get! Dirt and grime can cause wear and tear over time. Then, break them down carefully and store them in a dry, cool place, out of direct sunlight. Consider wrapping them in a bandana or cloth to avoid scratches and damage.

Clean The Stakes

Getting dirt off the stakes is key. Most tents come with a designated small stash for the tent stakes. Always use this, never let the stakes touch the tent fly while stored in the bag. This could easily rupture the fly.

Never Pack Away Your Tent Wet Or Dirty

Storing a waterproof tent wet is the cardinal sin of tent maintenance. Storing your tent wet can lead to a breakdown of its fabric and waterproof coating.

Make sure your tent is completely dry before packing it away. Storing a wet tent can lead to mould and mildew, damaging the waterproof coating.

Should you roll up or stuff the waterproof tent?

There is no definitive answer. Personally I prefer rolling my tents, I believe it is easier on the fabric and creates less fault lines. I have many tents who fold their tents though. Choose for yourself.

Off Season Waterproof Tent Maintenance

Cleaning Your Waterproof Tent

It’s recommended that you clean your tent after every camping trip. A gentle scrub with a soft-bristled brush, some mild soap, and lukewarm water is all you need to get the job done. Do not to use any harsh detergents as they can damage the waterproofing! Never put your tent in the washing machine or dryer, as this can cause irreparable damage. Once you’re done cleaning, be sure to dry it out completely before packing it away to prevent mildew and odor buildup.

Sealing The Seams

I suggest seam sealing your waterproof tent at the beginning of every new camping season. With time the seams might loosen up or tear, which is a major leak on the defence against water. Seam sealing ensures maximum waterproof defence and creates a tent with exceptional longevity.

Don’t Store Your Tent In A Damp Place

I will always remember one year when I put away my … next to a radiator in my garage. When I unpacked it again the waterproof coating was a sticky, wet damp liquid on the inside. Basically the continued exposure to heat destroyed the waterproof coating on the tentfly. To put it shortly, store your waterproof tent in a cold, dry place during the offseason.

Reapply Waterproof Coating

Making sure the waterproof coating is intact has to be one of the staples of caring for your waterproof tent. How do you know it is time to reapply waterproof coating on your waterproof tent? The inside or outside starts to peel. You might clean the peals off and reapply the waterproof coating. I recommend using Nikwax waterproof spray.