Winter Tent Waterproofing tricks anyone?

Hey Guys, I've got tips, but suggesting that they might be good stretches the defintion of the word a bit. I've tried a number of different products.

PolyCote is a polyurethane based product that can be used to ‘waterproof’ tent floors. I found it only moderately successful in that regard, plus it adds a modest amount of weight, and makes the fabric quite stiff too. Re-application keeps adding more weight. I’ve stopped using it.

For my tent floor I now use Nikwax Tent and Gear Proof, and find that it works fairly well. (They may have re-named the product now.) I wash my tent twice a year and re-apply it to the tent floor only at that time, when the tent is damp. Don’t put too much on in the spring because if too much it will remain tacky, and attract a lot of dirt in the summer.

I’ve given up on trying keeping my tent bottom watertight such that if it were a boat it would not leak. Eventually there will always be a leak. Instead I concentrate on setting up so that if water comes in, it will drain to a point where it does not matter. I also make sure that the ground cloth is not exposed at the sides of the tent so it does not just funnel water under the tent floor. My ground cloth does however extend in front of the door (so I can sit there, get in without getting dirty or full of snow) but the ground cloth has a little rib sewn in with a series of small holes just outside the rib so as to stop the water from running under the tent and allow it to drain out. It took me until two years ago until the solution finally dawned on  me, but it works great.

I have not been that impressed with Nikwax on the rainfly however. In the winter nothing seems to work as well as silicone. Seattle Fabrics sells a high quality product for the commercial market that lasts me for 2 years between applications; AquaTite (I think that’s the name). It’s expensive, maybe $25 a bottle, but well worth it. The other silicone products I’ve tried just don’t last.

I don’t use AquaTite for my summer rainfly however. It can be ever so slightly tacky and can attract very fine dust. In summer I use Techron (sp?) also sold by Seattle Fabrics. It’s a spray on DWR. It does not do well for wet snow/rain, but it’s fine in the summer. You can apply it annually if you want.
Hope this helps,

Link to parachute tipi details

www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=9562&highlight=tipi

you are the man, larry. i'll stop by seattle fabrics the next time i'm up there. thanks for the ideas and feedback- they are most certainly 'tricks'!

tipi tents are awesome- lovin' it david!

Right on Larry!! Thanks for posting!
You da'man!

A link to the stuff from Seattle Fabrics. I guess I have not paid attention to the prices.
Oh, and when all else fails, follow the directions for use. And while your are there, pick up a handful of mitten hooks. You can never have too many. (They have little tiny legs and they run away when you are not looking.)

www.seattlefabrics.com/waterproofing.html

David_Lowry:

Great link, thank you!