Tent Care

There is an old saying that if you keep your tent dry then it will return the favor.  A good tent will serve you for many years, provided that it is properly cared for.  Here are a few suggestions that will help you maximize your investment.  Tent care begins before you ever hit the trail.

Set up your tent immediately after you get it home - 
Make sure that nothing is missing.  It is not uncommon for a tent to have been assembled on the showroom floor several times for demonstration purposes before you decided to buy it.  It should have all necessary parts.  You should have more than enough stakes and guy lines.  Check to make sure that the stakes are strong enough and that the poles are not damaged and that they seat snugly together.

Seam seal your tent - 
Unless the manufacturer specifically says not to do it, seam seal every weather exposed seam that does not have tape on it.  This especially includes the rain fly.  If your tent is single wall, you'll want to seal the taped seams too.  I would strongly recommend using a product called Seam Grip for this purpose.  It works far better than anything else out there.  Allow the seam sealer to dry for 24 hours and give the dried sealer a light dusting of talc or baby powder.  This will keep it from sticking to itself or to the tent fabric the next time you set up the tent.  A small paintbrush works well for dusting purposes.  

Mildew is bad!
Mildew does several things to a tent; none of them are pretty.  Besides making the tent smell horrid, it will also destroy the waterproofing, degrade the fabric, and void the warrantee.  As bad as mildew is, it is really easy to prevent.  As soon as you get back from a trip, set your tent up in a dry location and let it air out until it is completely dry.  While the tent is drying is a good time to check and repair and holes, wear spots, and zippers.  For stains, some mild soap and water is all you should really use.  Never put your tent in a washing machine.  Not only can a washing machine tear fabric and weaken seams, but it can also degrade waterproofing.

Use a ground cloth - 
A ground cloth goes a long way to keep the floor of your tent in good shape.  These can be made of any one of many materials.  Many people like to use the "space blankets" available from outfitters.  You can also use a tarp, piece of Tyvek,  any other lightweight waterproof material, or even a premade manufacturer's footprint.  Whatever you use, make sure that it fits just inside the boundary of the tent floor.  If it hangs out beyond the tent floor, it will channel water under the tent and force it up through the floor.

Sunlight - 
Although it is important to dry your tent completely after each use, don't set it out in direct sunlight.  Most tents today are made of nylon and the sunlight will quickly breakdown the fabric.  Make sure that even when using your tent that you try to keep it in moderate shade.  

Waterproofing - 
Eventually the waterproofing on your tent will degrade.  Make sure that the product you use to refurbish the coating is compatible with the manufacturer's recommendations.