Here are some great tent care tips from Eureka!

Cleaning

Clean the tent by setting it up and wiping it down with a mild soap (liquid hand soap) and lukewarm water solution. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely. Never use detergent, washing machines or dryers because they can damage the tent's protective coating and seams. After cleaning, be sure the tent is completely dry, especially the heavier, double-stitched areas such as the seams, before storing or mold and mildew are likely to grow.

Clean the tent poles with a soft, dry cloth. This is especially necessary after oceanside camping trips to remove salt spray so the poles don't corrode or stay gritty.

Clean the zippers with a quick dip in water and then dry them off. This is especially important if you've been camping in a location with sand/dirt. If you don't clean the zippers, the sliders will wear out and eventually the teeth will become inoperable.

Seam Sealing

We recommend use of a sealer such as Kenyon Seam Sealer 3 or McNett Outdoor SeamGrip. Be sure to check directions on the side of container for specifics before beginning the seam sealing process.

Seam sealing should be done in a fully ventilated area. Set the tent up or lay the tent out flat. Taut seams allow for even application and penetration of the sealer.

Decide which seams need to be sealed. For example, seams that will be exposed to rain, runoff, or ground level water are a must for sealing, while seams on uncoated nylon or mesh panels won't need treatment. You won't need to seal the seams in the roof or the factory taped seams either. We recommend sealing both floor & fly seams and reinforcements.

Apply sealant to the inside and outside of all exposed seams. Draw or brush the sealant along the seam, spreading it evenly and liberally into all of the needle holes. Several thin layers will work better than one thick layer. Allow 30 minutes to 1 hour for the sealant to completely dry before storing the tent. Twelve hours for SeamGrip®.

Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet damage to tent fabric is caused by excessive exposure to sunlight. While our fabrics are UV resistant, any synthetic fabric is susceptible to ultraviolet degradation. UV damage will cause nylon and polyester to become brittle and tear easily. Once your tent has UV damage, it is non-repairable, but damage can be minimized by erecting tents on sites where exposure to direct sunlight can be avoided. We also recommend that you use the rain fly even on clear days. It acts as a sunscreen to the tent. A rain fly is both easier and less expensive to replace if damaged.

Color Transfer

Due to the nature of tent fabrics, color can transfer from darker fabric to lighter fabric if two colors are in contact over time when wet, damp, or exposed to the combination of moisture and high heat. This does not effect a tent’s performance. To prevent/minimize color transfer from occurring, always make sure that your tent is completely dry prior to packing and storage.

Storage

Make sure the tent is completely dry, then store loosely rolled, in a dry, cool place. To prevent dust from collecting on the tent, cover it with a cloth. This allows the nylon/polyester fabric to breathe.

Ideally, the tent poles should be stored in their fully assembled state. This reduces the tension on the shock cord, prolonging its life.· We recommend that the tent bag be used only as a carry sack and not for storage.

GENERAL TIPS:

Use a ground cloth under the tent whenever possible. If you choose, Eureka! has pre-cut sizes. If not, trace the tent on the ground cloth and cut smaller than the tent footprint to avoid having it act as a water collector. Ground cloths are easier and less expensive to replace than torn tent floors.

Try not to wear shoes inside your tent.

Bring a small rug or mat to put inside the tent door to wipe off mud and catch sand.

Sweep the tent floor daily to prevent damage from stones.

Do not keep food inside the tent. Hungry critters will chew through the tent fabric in search of a snack.

Whoever you are, whatever your walk of life, camping is a brilliant way to spend your weekends and vacations. After all, camping truly does let you get away from it all. When you are hiking deep in the forest, or fishing by a lake, there are no phones ringing off the hook, or deadlines to meet. On a camping expedition, you are totally free of the pressures and stresses of modern life.

Whether you are a newcomer to camping, or a seasoned ‘old hand’ having the right equipment is critical to enjoying your time in the great outdoors. Choosing the right tent is one of the most important decisions you can make when outfitting yourself for camping.

Before you shop for your new tent, there are a number of things to consider. Firstly, the type of tent you will need varies according to the number of people you are planning to house, and what activity you are involved in. Tents come in a range of sizes, from single person tents, to very large multi-person varieties. If you are planning to hike, you will need to carry your tent whilst you walk, so a small, light weight tent will be required. If you intend to pitch your campsite at a fixed location accessible by car, you could opt for a larger, heavier weight model.

Another consideration will be the season and weather conditions that you expect to encounter. Each tent is designed to maintain a high level of human comfort in a specific type of environment, so you need to be clear whether you will be camping in the winter or summer, mild or inclement weather.

Other factors to consider are the strength of both the structure and the material of your tent. For instance, you can opt for cotton, polyethylene, nylon, rip-stop nylon, double sewn seams, and heavy-duty zippers. Whatever the fabric, your tent must be fit to stand extreme weather, even if you are not expecting to encounter poor conditions. Be sure to buy one that is totally seam taped to avoid leaking in the rain.

Ideally you should select a tent that meets all these requirements, and is easy to erect and deconstruct as well. After all, you want to spend your time enjoying the wilderness, not spending hours pitching a tent!

Talking to staff at your local outdoor outfitting store is a good start to finding the perfect tent for you.

How to Pick Your Next Camping Tent.

About the Author
If you would like to learn more about how to select camping tents, click here. Marc learned about quality gear just after his pup tent flooded forcing him to sleep in his tiny 2-seat Honda CRX. His hiking equipment & camping gear guides & reviews save you time & money. Subscribe to his camping & hiking newsletter & get the most usable info. FREE! © Marc Wiltse. Reprint permission if author, copyright, links & this notice are intact.