AMC Outdoor Magazine
September, 2000
Tents cost too much not to take care of them. Follow these tips for a long,
healthy life and plenty of comfortable nights:
- Use a ground cloth to protect the floor.
- UV rays fade and weaken nylon. When possible, camp in a shaded place, set up your
tent late in the day, and take it down early. A rainfly shields the tent and is
cheaper to replace than the whole thing.
- Store the tent and rainfly in a sack that breathes, like cotton, so that no moisture is
trapped inside. Some tents come with a storage sack. Storing a tent in its
stuff sack creases the fabric, causing leaks. Keep it in a cool, dry place, away
from sunlight and heat.
- Stuff your tent instead of rolling it up, which creates creases.
- After every trip, dry out your tent indoors to prevent mildew, which breaks down the
waterproof coating.
- Connect shock-corded poles gently rather than letting them snap together, and dismantle
them from the pole's center to reduce stress on the cords during storage.
- Keep zippers clean and avoid using a lubricant on them, because dirt will stick to it.
Never yank on zippers; that can tear seams. If a zipper isn't sliding
smoothly, hold the fabric around it while manipulating the zipper.
- Wash dirt off tent fabric with nondetergent soap (no dishwashing liquid or spot
remover), water, and a clean cloth. Never stick a tent in the washing machine or
dryer.
- Most new tents are factory seam-sealed - if yours isn't, do it before your first trip.
Seam-seal once a year or when you notice leaks. Make sure the tent is dry, then seal
only the seams on the rainfly and floor. Apply sealer on the non-coated side of the
fabric; the coated side is shiny and water beads up on it.
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