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My old tent finally gave out during a storm in the Blue Ridge Mountains
I was camping near Asheville last month when a heavy rainstorm rolled in overnight. My trusty 10-year-old tent, a basic model I got on sale, started leaking at the seams after about two hours of downpour. I ended up with a wet sleeping bag and had to pack up early. Has anyone else had a tent fail on them, and what did you replace it with?
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caseythompson1mo ago
Actually, a ten year run for a cheap tent is pretty good. You got your money's worth. Maybe the problem was expecting too much from basic gear in a serious mountain storm.
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martin.riley1mo ago
Remember my old rain jacket that turned into a sponge? Same deal, trusted it for years until a sudden downpour on a hike. Was soaked to the bone in minutes, water just beading up and then soaking right through. That cheap fabric had given up the ghost without any warning. Now I keep a cheap poncho rolled up in my bag as a backup, learned that lesson the hard way.
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hollywhite1mo ago
Oh man, that's the worst kind of campsite promotion... Mother Nature giving you a free, unwanted shower. My old tent did the same thing, but at least it waited until I was back home to fully give up the ghost. It's like they have a secret pact to fail at the most dramatic moment possible. I'm now using a tent I borrowed from my brother and honestly, I'm scared to ask for it back.
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Ugh, that secret pact is SO real. Been there with a tent that turned into a personal rain cloud. My advice? Test your brother's tent in your backyard with a hose BEFORE you take it anywhere. Find the weak spots and hit the seams with some seam sealer from the camping store. It's a cheap fix that buys you peace of mind. Also, never trust a borrowed tent without a practice run.
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