How to Waterproof the Wall & Seam of a Tent

Keeping your camping tent waterproof is no small feat. Due to the rugged conditions these shelters endure, the waterproof coating from the factory often gets compromised, necessitating the need to reactivate the tent's waterproofing. Luckily, products are available for just this purpose. By seam sealing and waterproofing the tent fabric seams and walls, the structure gains new life. An obvious benefit of this is a dry tent, something to look forward to after a day of backcountry adventuring.

Things You'll Need

  • Tent waterproofing-detergent
  • Seam sealer
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Instructions

  1. Seam Sealing

    • 1

      Set the tent up and set the rain fly to the side. Open the seam sealer and crawl into the tent.

    • 2

      Point the tip of the seam sealer tube onto the tent seams. Run the seam sealer tube along each seam like you are drawing a line. Let the liquid seep into the seams.

    • 3

      Seam seal the seams on the entire rain fly.

    • 4

      Let the seam sealer dry in the set-up tent and rain fly for several hours. Make sure the tent is inside or outside on a day when no rain is predicted.

    Waterproofing

    • 5

      Zip up all windows and doors to the tent. Take the tent down and remove the poles or any guy-out lines on the tent.

    • 6

      Fill a sink full of cool water and add the waterproofing detergent to the sink. Agitate the water to stir up suds and activate the waterproofing detergent. Place the tent into the sink. Stir and agitate to work the detergent and waterproofing agent into the nylon. Remove the tent and place the rainfly into the sink. Agitate and work the rainfly through the water so it absorbs the waterproofing agent.

    • 7

      Drain the sink and turn the cold water on, rinse the tent and rainfly by hand to remove excess suds.

    • 8

      Hang the tent and rain fly out to dry on a laundry line.

    • 9

      Pack the tent away once dry.