Waterproofing my new tent

“I got a new Eureka "Backcountry 2" (2) man tent for Christmas.

It is currently set up in my dining room as I prepare to seam seal it. But I had a quick question.

I have some Scotch-Gard "Heavy Duty Water Repellant - for outdoor fabrics" and was thinking about spraying it on my tent (or at least the rainfly).

Is there a problem doing this that I dont know about? Interfering with how the fabric breathes or how water runs off, etc?”

“that tent's fly does not need that.

just seamseal the seams, if they are not already taped.”

“I wouldn't. If it's a new tent, the factory water repellent should be fine for a long time - just seal the seams. After that I'd only use a treatment made specifically for tents.”

“Thanks for the input guys!”

“I don't know why I am having a brain fart on this..probably from a argument with someone I had about this topic.

Just to doublecheck - I should seal from the inside of the tent right - not outside?”

“some do either, some do both.

most folks i know do the inside. i have always done the inside, too. i believe that most instructions recommend sealing the inside.”

“so, uhh.... do the inside.”

“hey, some of us ar hiking your first trip path, this weekend!

tonight i'm heading to springer and we're all hiking to woody gap. join us, if you want!”

“Unless you like the buzzzz, be sure to take breaks to breath (outdoors)...last time I did my tent indoors I got major flash backs to the 60s.......


Kinda cool, if you still like that sorta thing......



Not recommended for the few brain cells most of us have left......”

“Dont forget to dust the seams with talcum powder after the seam sealer is touch dry. 'Cos as soon as you roll it up and stuff it back into it's bag the seams will stick to the fabric and it could wreck the coatings.

I would only re-waterproof a tent fly with a water based proofer, some chemicals in aerosols can dissolve any existing coatings left on your fly. I would only re waterproof a fly if it's very old, or leaks or because I'm too tight to buy a new fly. Ususally if the fly is had it, the rest of the tent has had it.

Anyoyne care to comment on this?”

“you shouldn't have to do anything to it.”

“Before I realized that much seam-sealing takes place after you get the tent home I gave my fly a good run in the rain - it leaked - I called up the outfitter and they agreed, somewhat begrudgingly, to seal the seams for me. Only now do I realize how generous they were. At the time I thought "I just paid $157 for a tent that has leaky seals?"”

“I have a Eureka tent that I took upon myself to add waterproofing to the fly. Boy, what a disaster. Now the fly sticks together, and everytime I put it up I have to peel the fly apart, hoping that I don't tear it.

With that said:
Do the seam sealing thing.
Leave the fly alone!”

“What mtnsteve and Bunyip said; if you are indoors with the furnace on, then turn the heat down, open a few windows/doors, attach the fly inside out to the set up tent and seal away.”

“How about re-sealing the underside of the floor of an old tent? (> 15 years)

Or the top and sides of a single-wall tent?

I hose-tested an old single wall tent that I had inherited. My son was inside and after several minutes of intense hosing, he said there was water coming in. I wish I had tried harder to see WHERE it was coming in...”

“Does anyone know what will remove that sticky mess on our tent from the waterproofing???”

“Rain, maybe?”

“Maybe mineral spirits.”

“Spray nothing on a new tent. Scotch Guard will destroy the seam stitches and harm the existing treatment. Eureka tents are taped and do not need sealing. They will tell you if seams need sealing and which ones.

On an old tent sealing can be useful.

To re-coat the floor of an old tent, the best product I found is Recoat 3, available from Campmor. It doesn't last long and won't bring back original performance. It will work for a season, but you need a new tent. Apply it on the inside.

Make sure everything is absolutely dry before you store the tent.

Have fun.

Good luck.

Doug”

“i wouldn't worry about it too much, it'll likely wear off the first couple of times you use it.”