If you happen to’ve by no means skilled a tear in your tent, you’re fortunate!
That’s why we’re going over learn how to 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 spoil your campout in the event you’re not capable of repair it.
Let’s dive into learn how 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 allow early.
Whenever you’re on the path, it’s finest to have an choice for restore tape with you.
Once I’m on the market, I usually carry 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, which means you received’t need to do an intensive restore once you get house.
Nevertheless, if the outlet is larger, you’ll be able to gently take away the tape once you get house and full the restore technique 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 might be again house.
Such a restore is reserved for extra in depth tears that may’t be fastened with tape on the path.
Assessing The Harm
In any case, once 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 components of the tent are concerned, and the way huge it is likely to be.
It will 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
Whenever you buy a tent, it’s necessary to additionally buy a tent restore equipment.
These kits will embrace nylon patches, nylon thread, a heavy-duty needle, and seam sealer – every thing it’s worthwhile to repair up your tent if the material tears.
If you happen to don’t have already got a tent restore equipment, you should purchase one at your native outdoor retailer.
Tent restore kits are NOT the identical as an everyday stitching equipment.
As an alternative of cotton supplies, tent restore kits use materials related supplies to the tent’s authentic cloth (like nylon).
Moreover, the needle in a tent restore equipment needs to be massive sufficient to deal with nylon tent supplies.
Needles included in an everyday stitching equipment will doubtless 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 must do is clear it.
Use rubbing alcohol to cleanse the realm across the tear, in addition to any components of the tent concerned within the harm.
Permit a couple of minutes for the rubbing alcohol to dry earlier than transferring on to the following step. If the realm 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 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 realm round it.
Sealing The Patch
After you’ve positioned the patch, you’ll need to let it sit for a time period – generally as much as 24 hours – to completely treatment.
When setting the tent out to treatment, be sure that the tent cloth is free, 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.
Put up-Patch Care & Upkeep
Caring For The Patched Space
When you’ve cured the realm, it’s best to have the ability to use the tent simply as you’ll 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
One of the simplest ways 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 once you’re not utilizing it’s the easiest way 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 retaining your tent in nice situation.
Errors To Keep away from When Patching A Tent
There are just a few widespread 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 realm 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 realm with rubbing alcohol earlier than in depth patch repairs and be sure that the realm is completely dry.
Not Utilizing A Large Sufficient Patch
Whenever you’re patching up your tent, it’s necessary 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 may be compromised within the affected space.
Due to this fact, utilizing a patch that’s simply barely larger than the outlet will patch up the outlet and reinforce the realm across the tear.
Not Ready The Full Remedy Time
The most important mistake campers make when patching a tent isn’t permitting for the complete curing time after the restore is accomplished.
Not ready the complete 24 hours may cause the patch to be weaker – which means that your restore isn’t fairly as reliable as you want it to be to your subsequent campout.
To keep away from this error, just remember to pass over your tent in a cool, dry house for at the least 24 hours after patching.
Widespread Sorts Of Tent Harm
The commonest tent harm is tearing across the zippers and pole shoots.
It is because these are the components of the tent that get probably the most put on and tear.
Nevertheless, holes within the sides of your tent can completely occur!
Such a harm doubtless 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! If you happen to’re on the path and don’t have your tent restore equipment (or the situations 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 equipment once you get house 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 house.
If you happen to’re on an extended trek and wish to repair the outlet, I like to recommend you utilize a relaxation day to restore your tent and go away the material out to treatment
Whereas it is likely to be irritating to lose a day of climbing, it’s extra necessary 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 technique to keep away from the common put on and tear they expertise by that use.
Nevertheless, retaining your tent correctly clear and saved will maintain your tent in good situation for longer.
And, once you’re out on the path, avoiding pitching your tent beneath massive 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 immediately 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.
Nevertheless, as soon as the 24-hour “curing” interval is over, it’s best to have the ability to wash and keep your tent as you’ll 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 here are some widespread 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.
It is a nice technique to repair a caught zipper on the path. Then once you get house you’ll be able to all the time apply a zipper lubricant to the realm 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 huge, you’ll be able to completely repair it with a tent restore equipment as described above.
The necessary factor to recollect with burns is that the waterproof coating doubtless melted off with the warmth.
Due to this, you’ll want to use a water-proof coating after you restore the realm.
Ultimate Ideas
Now that you understand how 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 information, you’ll have the ability to repair tears – and use your tent to your subsequent campout!