waterproofing a tent?

Jason M

I got a tent from walmart and have only used it a handful of times well this weekend dew came through the tent pretty bad we did have the rain guard on also. Would scotchguard work or is there anything else u recamend or should i just get a new tent ?
does Camp Dry work good , do i use the hole can at one time or do i need to put it on the tent everytime i go camping or what

Answer
Save the tent. Look for a product called Camp Dry. It's a spray for treating tents, clothing, shoes, etc. Make sure the tent is dry, then spray the outside of the tent and rainfly completely. Spray it outdoors though, the stuff really stinks, until it is dry.

Reviews on tents?

Drew32

I just bought a Quest eagles peak 4 (9x9) dome tent for 59.99 from Dick's sporting goods. They also had a coleman around that was a little bit bigger on sale for 79.99. Has anyone used either tents, and what is your opinion on which one is better? I really appreciate your help. It's my first tent purchase and I dont want to be surprised when I go to \use it. I dont want to ruin a nice weekend camping with a junky tent. Thanks.....Drew
This is for camping @ a campground in RI. Just for the weekend nothing heavy duty. Just for me and my girlfriend to get away from it all!

Answer
First of all a 9x9 is a huge tent for two people that like each other.Go to one of the smaller and better made Eureka tents and rather than have the disposable item you have now you can have tent that will give some service for a while
http://www.eurekatent.com/filterTool.aspx?cID=6
Then there's the guys over at campmor who everybody that does this long enough will eventually do business with
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=45760&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=250
Then there's the nice folks over at EMS who I have been doing business witth for the past 35 years or so and have never had a bad thing to say about them Theres one in Cranston RI
Regardless of what you will ultimatley buy , you will need to pitch at least 10 -15 times in your backyard in order to familairize yourself with how it all works
Take the time to have somebody hose it down while you're inside of it and see where and if it leaks and and then either return the tent or solve the problem if it does leak
Good luck

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What qualities and features should I look for when shopping for a tent?

best tent image

Mrs.Fine

I love to camp, but my poor old tent has worn out and it is time to purchase a new one. There are alot more features available now, and I want to know which ones are worth the extra money, and which ones just add more weight to my gear. It was a little overwhelming shopping at the Bass Pro shop last weekend.

Also, where is the best place to find a good deal on these tents? I only have a family of four, so an extra large tent is not needed. Just one that is relativley simple to set up.

Thanks for your input!

Answer
First, get a name brand tent. Almost everyone I know who has purchased a tent from a discount store has had problems with it very soon. Not only is this bad economics but can ruin a camping trip.

The tent that is right for you will depend on your own use and priorities. If you are car camping, you will likely accept weight and volume to have a comfortable tent. If you are bike touring, you probably want as small a tent as you can get.

Here's a few things to consider:

Self supporting - The more self supporting a tent is, the less you have to rely on stakes, but the more likely it is to have more poles and more weight. A classic pup-tent for example is simple, has only basic center poles, but needs good ground to steak it down.

Ventilation - Very important if you will be in warm weather especially. I find that having cross ventilation (two opposite doors for example) give much better ventilation than the percent of the tent body that is netting. ( I find that if the netting is completely surrounded by the fly, you won't get much wind movement anyways)

Mosquito netting - get the smaller no seeum netting. It's helpful if you can adjust this and the door rainflies without having to open the tent door (thus letting all the bugs in)

Zipper - get one with a substantial zipper on the doors. This is a point of failure on many bargain brand tents.

In my outdoor program I purchase Eureka Timberline Tents which are the mainstays of many outdoor programs. I think they are one of the best values you will find in a tent. They are well built, have good zippers, have excellent cross ventilation and are easy to set up with poles that are unlikely to break. You can adjust the ventilation from inside the tent. They are great for most general needs, but would not be my choice for activities where light weight is needed such as bike touring or light-weight backpacking. They will make more noise than a dome tent in a wind. A good source is Campmore. They also stock spare parts such as poles should you ever need them. Personally, I find myself using this tent most of the time unless I'm in the wind or snow I use a Eureka dome tent, and if I want to go light, I use a small
Sierra Designs hoop tent instead.

Help preserve your tent by shaking or sweeping out all the debris each morning when you take it down. This will make the floor last much longer. If you are not overly concerned about weight, cut a plastic ground cloth to fit, which you can always leave out if you don't want it. (Campmore sells these very cheaply to fit the timberline)

P.S. - the Timberline has a 4-person version, but it is room for sleeping only. If you are car camping for long periods of time, you may want something more roomy for a family of four.

What is a good tent/canopy to use for continuous use at flea market?

CC 9/24/11

I keep seeing nice tents but the reviews are not that great. Saying the tent is good if you use it for just one family event (for example) and then take it down.

I'm looking for a 10x20 tent that I can use and leave at an outdoor flea market. A tent with walls and zipper closing so my stuff can always stay there. I do not want to take it down everytime i leave the fleamarket.

Any ideas? thanks.

Answer
Look into a brand called SHELTER-LOGIC. The one I have is 12' x 24'. It's like a portable garage. There is also another brand I believe that goes by the name of GARAGE IN A BOX. They come in a multitude of sizes and styles with different arrangements for doors, windows, etc. But BEFORE you go and spend the money for one of these, there are two things you need to seriously consider. By NO means is a canvas tent a safe sanctuary for your products. It is VERY easy to access and there is NO way to lock of secure it or its contents from vandals. Second, and probably MOST important, you might want to be Absolutely certain the folks who own or operate the flea-market are willing to allow you to set up such a large tent, and how far they will go to assure you of its safety. Most of the markets I have ever sold at would never allow a structure of this type and if they did, would NOT offer you any warranty regarding it safety and well being. Better to know before you go. Know what I mean? Good luck.

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