Should you’re in a rush, one of the best tent waterproofing spray is the Nikwax Tent & Gear Waterproofing & Solarproofing Spray.
Anybody who has spent an evening in a storm is aware of one easy fact: you don’t desire a leaky tent.
However the unhappy truth of life is that each tenting tent will ultimately must be waterproofed. That’s the place tent waterproofing sprays are available.
We researched over 20 completely different sprays and narrowed down our selections to those 5:
Nonetheless can’t resolve? Try our Tent Waterproofing Spray Comparability Desk.
Greatest Tent Waterproofing Spray: Our High 5 Selections
Nikwax – Tent & Gear Waterproofing & Solarproofing Spray
Functions: tents, backpacks, awnings | Quantity (fluid ounces): 16.9 fluid ounces | Worth: $18.25
Nikwax’s tent spray is terrific not just for waterproofing your tent however for offering UV safety, as effectively. This spray helps extend the lifetime of your gear whereas additionally reviving outdated tools that you could be not in any other case have the ability to use.
Additionally, this spray cleans grime and dirt off your tent when you apply it. Meaning there’s just one easy step to waterproofing your tent, saving you time. This waterproofing spray covers a big space and could be very simple to use.
Professionals:
- Past waterproofing – this spray sun-proofs your gear, as effectively.
- It really works effectively on tents, rain flies, backpacks, awnings, tarps, umbrellas, and extra.
- As a result of this product is water-based and biodegradable, it’s secure and environmentally pleasant. It incorporates no PFCs, VOCs, optical brighteners, or added scent.
- Simple software – Nikwax removes grime and dirt from the fabric, whereas additionally waterproofing.
- A bottle of this waterproofing spray is sufficient to cowl a seven-person tent, with some to spare.
Cons:
- This waterproofing just isn’t as sturdy as different merchandise.
- May stain mild coloured supplies. Spot examine earlier than utilizing it!
Greatest for: individuals who need sun-proofing and waterproofing in a single environmentally pleasant product.
Kiwi – Camp Dry Heavy Obligation Water Repellent
Functions: tarps, boots, looking attire, outside gear, boat covers, patio furnishings | Quantity (fluid ounces): 10.5 fluid ounces | Worth: $16.70
The Kiwi Camp Dry Heavy Obligation Water Repellent is a stellar waterproofing spray to make use of when tenting. One bundle comes with two cans, so you should have greater than sufficient to waterproof your whole gear. To not point out, one can is sufficient for 2 coats on a seven-person tent.
You’ll be able to waterproof tents, tarps, coats, sneakers, backpacks, and extra with this waterproofing spray. It even has a pleasant mist applicator that makes waterproofing a breeze.
Kiwi Camp Dry makes water wick proper off the floor as an alternative of soaking in. When tenting, this waterproofing spray has the potential to be your most crucial device.
Professionals:
- This pack comes with two cans, so that you waterproof your whole gear and preserve one for backup.
- One can is sufficient to cowl a seven-person tent with two coats or a number of completely different objects of clothes and/or sneakers. It doesn’t matter what you’re waterproofing, you’ll have sufficient available.
- This waterproofing spray retains water out of issues like tents, tarps, sneakers, jackets, backpacks, sleeping baggage, and rather more.
- The mist applicator ensures a good layer and doesn’t by chance drip any spray alongside the floor.
- The efficiency of this spray is top-notch, that means water will get thrown proper off your cloth.
Cons:
- This spray could stain sure materials, particularly if it’s white. Do a spot check earlier than making use of to examine.
- Kiwi’s spray works nice, however it requires you to attend the complete time to realize full waterproofing.
Greatest for: campers who wish to waterproof all of their gear, and ensure it lasts.
GEAR AID – Seam Grip TF Tent Cloth Sealer for Waterproofing
Functions: tents, tarps | Quantity (fluid ounces): 4 fluid ounces | Worth: $13.29
The GEAR AID Seam Grip TF Tent Cloth Sealer for Waterproofing is a superb device for waterproofing your tent and different important gear. With a foam applicator brush tip, it’s simple to unfold the sealer out into a skinny layer that protects the whole lot from water.
Not solely does one tube go a good distance, however this product dries clear so that you gained’t have to fret a few mess. The mix of its clear coloration and foam applicator tip makes this a best choice for repairing current waterproofing.
Professionals:
- A tube of this tent cloth sealer can cowl 85 sq. ft. of fabric. One bottle is all it is advisable waterproofing a complete tent.
- Appropriate with polyurethane coating, so you possibly can shortly repair any current waterproofing that’s fading or chipping away.
- The froth applicator brush on the tip permits you to simply brush a skinny coat of product on the floor of your tent.
- This cloth sealer does an outstanding job on tent flooring, rain flies, tarps, and rather more.
- Better of all, these things dries clear. You gained’t have the ability to inform there’s a coating in your tent.
Cons:
- Though the applicator works effectively, these things is thick and takes a bit elbow grease.
- The feel makes it in order that this sealant is best on seams than giant items of material.
Greatest for: individuals who wish to restore outdated or peeling coating, or seal up the seams in your tent.
Atsko – Silicone Water-Guard
Functions: tents, tarps, boots, sleeping baggage, patio furnishings | Quantity (fluid ounces): 10.5 fluid ounces | Worth: $26.70
The Atsko Silicone Water-Guard is a killer waterproofing spray for your whole tenting gear. You should utilize it on tents, rain flies, umbrellas, sneakers, jackets, and rather more.
Because it dries clear, you gained’t have to fret about making a large number or highlighting any errors. To not point out, one can is sufficient to coat a number of pairs of sneakers or objects of clothes. This waterproofing spray can be nice for anybody working on a small finances.
Professionals:
- Simple to use over the whole floor space of your tenting gear.
- It doesn’t produce a foul odor like different waterproofing sprays.
- Dries clear to the purpose the place you possibly can’t even inform there’s a coating in your tenting gear.
- Nice for waterproofing sneakers, tents, rain flies, umbrellas, jackets, and rather more.
- One can is sufficient to coat a number of clothes of garments, a automotive cowl, or a complete tent.
- One layer of coating is all it takes to waterproof your gear. No second coat wanted.
Cons:
- An uneven layer of Atsako may trigger some slight discoloration. Spot examine earlier than utilizing.
Greatest for: individuals who wish to waterproof their clothes like jackets or sneakers.
Scotchgard Heavy Obligation Water Defend
Functions: outerwear, rain gear, umbrellas, patio furnishings, outside gear, backpacks, baggage, canvas tarps, boat cowl | Quantity (fluid ounces): 21 fluid ounces | Worth: $15.99
Whereas all the sprays talked about listed below are wonderful, they do have one main flaw:
Nearly all of them focus solely on waterproofing nylon and polyester tents – and might’t do something for canvas tents.
Fortunately, this spray made by Scotchgard is the reply to each canvas camper’s prayers.
On the plus aspect, it’s inexpensive, non-toxic, and might waterproof each nylon and canvas tents. It’s additionally utterly secure to make use of in your outside patio furnishings, boots, jackets, and plenty of different outside gear.
On the draw back, Scotchgard claims that one canister can present 20 sq. toes of water resistance on heavier materials. This implies you may find yourself utilizing two or extra cans simply to waterproof one tent.
Professionals:
- Funds value makes it an incredible selection for frequent campers.
- The coated cloth maintains its breathability, so there is no such thing as a likelihood of inhaling harmful chemical compounds.
- Versatile – you should use it to waterproof your tent, sure, but additionally your outside furnishings, backpacks, boots, and the remainder of your tenting gear.
- Zero long-term odor – you may really feel one thing for the primary few hours, however the odor needs to be gone utterly afterwards.
Cons:
- It would take two or extra cans to utterly waterproof your canvas tent, so make sure to purchase sufficient.
Greatest for: campers who wish to waterproof their canvas tents.
Evaluating Tent Waterproofing Sprays
Selecting A Tent Waterproofing Spray: A Shopping for Information
With regards to selecting one of the best waterproofing spray, your selection actually comes down to 3 essential issues:
- Aerosol vs spray bottles
- Silicone vs non-silicone sprays
- Sort of tent cloth it’s meant for
Don’t fear if this feels too overwhelming – I’m going to interrupt it down for you so that you’ll know precisely which spray to decide on and why.
Let’s dive in, lets?
Aerosol Vs Spray Bottles
The very first thing it is advisable resolve is whether or not or to not use aerosol or spray bottles – each include their professionals and cons.
| Aerosol Bottles | Spray Bottles | |
| Utility | Click on and spray | Pull the set off and spray |
| Professionals | Simple to make use of, penetrate the material higher | Higher management utilizing the spray |
| Cons | Unhealthy for the setting, should use a number of cans | May find yourself spraying your tent inconsistently |
Aerosol sprays are simple to use – simply click on the button and spray away. Additionally they penetrate the material a bit higher. On the draw back, they aren’t actually nice for the setting and also you may find yourself utilizing much more spray than you deliberate on.
Spray bottles work like a spritzer – it’s important to manually pull the set off and the spray comes out. On the plus aspect, you get a lot better management over how a lot spray you’re utilizing. On the draw back, you may find yourself spraying your tent inconsistently.
Silicone Vs Non-Silicone Primarily based Sprays
I’ll make this straightforward – you wish to use silicone-based sprays.
Whereas waterproofing sprays have a tendency to come back in many alternative styles and sizes, silicone is by far one of the best.
Silicone is used to seal bathtubs, sinks, and in different circumstances the place no water is allowed to leak by. In comparison with PU or acrylic coating, it utterly penetrates the tent cloth and it can’t peel off.
All in all, relating to sturdiness, security, and waterproofness, you possibly can’t go incorrect by selecting silicone-based sprays.
Sort Of Tent Cloth
Lastly, now we have the selection of tent materials.
Typically talking, most tents in the marketplace right now are made out of three primary cloth varieties:
That is another excuse it’s best to use silicone-based spray because it’s utterly secure to make use of on all of the above-mentioned varieties.
In case your tent is already coated or laminated, then you definitely wish to go for a water-based spray – they gained’t mess your tent up.
How you can Waterproof Your Tent
You’ve bought the waterproof spray, now what?
Effectively, waterproofing a tent is a reasonably easy process.
It’s a easy 3-step course of that goes like this:
- Wash your tent first
- Spray the tent
- Let it dry
Earlier than you start, it’s important to do some prep work.
Begin by washing your tent to get grime and dirt off of it. Should you place the spray on high of grime and dirt, it should result in a foul seal and won’t work accurately.
As soon as your tent is clear, arrange the tent (if you happen to haven’t already) and start to spray the tent down. Ensure to spray each sq. foot that you would be able to. Achieve this as evenly as potential and pay additional consideration to waterproofing the seams. After a couple of minutes, wipe the surplus off and now all it’s important to do is let it dry. Treatment the tent for the size of time the directions inform you earlier than you pack it up or use it.
At this level, you could wish to contemplate a further layer (or sealant) to guard your seams, however that’s not at all times vital.
Congratulations – your tent is now waterproof!
How you can Make Your Waterproofing Final
Now that you simply’ve waterproofed your tent, you wish to ensure it lasts. You don’t wish to must undergo this complete course of each time you wish to use your shiny new waterproof tent. So, after you have let it dry and remedy correctly, ensure to retailer it correctly.
Hold your tent in a cool, darkish place, like a closet. Keep away from leaving it out in direct daylight. And if you happen to go a very long time with out utilizing it, ensure to examine it often for mould.
To actually care to your tent, by no means put it within the washer. Be sure you restore any harm to the waterproofing as quickly because it occurs earlier than issues worsen. Hold observe of your tent’s situation, and your waterproofing will final.
It’s additionally a good suggestion to maintain a spare can of waterproofing spray available always, so that you gained’t have something to fret about!
Additionally See: Tenting in a Thunderstorm (How To Keep Secure)
FAQ
Since I wrote this text, I’ve acquired a bunch of emails asking me concerning the specifics of the tent waterproofing.
Plenty of the identical questions pop up repeatedly, so I wished so as to add this FAQ part to reply the commonest ones.
Does a brand new tent even must be waterproofed?
The brief reply?
It relies upon.
Whereas most tents that have been made up to now few years are presupposed to be waterproof proper out of the gate, some cheaper ones aren’t.
Once you mix that with the truth that these sprays are actually low-cost and straightforward to use, you don’t actually lose lots by waterproofing your tent with them.
How typically do you have to waterproof your tent?
Once more, all of it relies upon.
Should you’re residing in wet elements of the nation like PNW and also you’re tenting incessantly (each month or so) you may have to do it on an annual foundation.
However, if you happen to’re an off-the-cuff camper who camps a number of occasions per yr in truthful climate situations, then it’s best to have the ability to make your waterproofing final a number of years a minimum of.
What’s the distinction between seam sealing and waterproofing?
It’s fairly easy:
You employ tent waterproofing as a safety measure earlier than you go tenting.
You employ seam sealing to shut a leak that already exists. A seam sealer is a glue-like substance that’s absorbed into tent cloth and improves its water repellency.
Our Verdict
Be sure you’re by no means caught off guard within the rain once more with one of the best tent waterproofing spray: Nikwax Tent & Gear Waterproofing Spray. It does an incredible job at waterproofing quite a lot of supplies together with tents, tarps, sneakers, jackets, and rather more.
Think about by no means having to fret about getting moist whereas tenting once more. Sounds nice to me!
Be proactive and use this waterproofing spray earlier than you permit and preserve an additional can available always for emergencies.