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Gear Rx: Tents

Mildew. Torn mesh. Broken zippers and poles. Is it worth fixing your home away from home? Find out for yourself.

by: Dan Nelson

Can Fix

Broken tent poles. A repair shop can usually replace an old, broken pole or fix just the busted section. See Gear Works, September 1996.
Bad shock cord. Most outdoors stores carry shock cord, and repair shops can easily replace a broken or worn-out section.
Torn mesh or fabric walls. Repair shops can stitch in a patch over a hole burned into a tent wall or replace an entire mesh panel.
Broken zipper. One of the most common repairs for tents is zipper repair or replacement.
Broken hardware. Lost grommets, ripped guy anchors, and unraveled seams are all easily repaired. See Gear Works, May 1996.
Mildew. Repair shops can clean mildly-effected tents.
Delaminated seam tape or durable water repellent (DWR). Repair shops can retape seams and reapply DWR finish on most fabrics. See Gear Works, September 1997.

Can't Fix

Heavy mildew. Extensive mildewing can't be removed without damaging the tent itself. Brittle tent or rainfly. Ultraviolet light breaks down fabric structures irreversibly.

Click here, for a guide to repair shops nationwide.

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