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Saw a huge difference in tent waterproofing after using seam sealer vs not using it over 2 years
I got this Kelty tent about 3 years ago and the first year I just set it up without doing anything extra. It leaked bad during a night rain at Red River Gorge, just a slow drip right above my face. So last year I finally broke down and spent $12 on a tube of seam sealer and went over every stitch on the rainfly and floor. Total game changer. That same tent got hammered by a storm last month up in Hocking Hills and stayed bone dry inside even when water was pooling on the fly. But here is the thing - I also heard people say modern tents don't really need seam sealer from the factory. So is it really worth the hassle and the mess of applying it, or did I just get lucky with a bad batch of factory tape? Has anyone else seen a clear before and after like that with their own tent?
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willow40715d ago
Did you check if yours was factory taped before you sealed it? Honestly, a lot of the budget Kelty tents just have that cheap tape that peels off after a season. Ngl, seam sealer is a pain to apply and it smells like a chemical lab, but it totally saved my tent too. I'd rather do a messy hour of sealing than wake up with a wet sleeping bag again.
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reesemoore15d ago
My buddy bought a Kelty tent last year and didn't even think to check the tape. First rainy trip he woke up with a puddle in his sleeping bag, not fun. He called me all frustrated and I told him to just grab some seam sealer and do it himself. Took him maybe 45 minutes in his garage, said the smell was awful but at least his next trip was bone dry. You ever have to dry out a wet bag on a trip, that's the worst.
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