My old tent's rainfly went from fine to useless in one season

I used it for a week in the Oregon coast rain last year and it was perfect, but after storing it in my garage over winter, the waterproof coating totally peeled off. Has anyone else had a coating fail that fast, and is there a good fix besides buying a new one?

4 comments

4 Comments

craig.alex2mo ago

My gear seems to know the exact moment I put it in storage so it can start falling apart. I swear my old rain jacket disintegrated out of spite.

pat7812mo ago

Honestly, that's the story of my life with outdoor gear. Why does everything seem to fall apart right after you put it away? I had a jacket do the exact same thing, the lining just turned to sticky dust in the closet. For the tent, you can try a spray-on waterproofing sealant from a camping store. Clean the fly really well first, hang it up, and spray it evenly. It's a messy job and won't be as good as new, but it might buy you another season or two.

shane_hayes1mo ago

Pat, how long did that jacket sit in your closet before the lining gave out? I'm wondering if there's some kind of shelf life for those waterproof coatings that nobody talks about when you buy the stuff. The spray-on sealant is a mess like sagecooper said but I've had decent luck with the wipe-on kind for tents, less dripping everywhere. Did you try scrubbing the fly first with a mild soap or just hose it off?

sagecooper2mo ago

Yeah, pat781 is right about the spray, but that stuff is a total pain. It never goes on even and makes a huge mess. Honestly, for the time and money, you might just be better off looking for a new fly.

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