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Quote: Originally posted by raf48 on 11/8/2011

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I have read the life span figures quoted by manufacturers, so assume they know what they are talking about, and this is what I quoted recently. I thought I read it on Albion Canvas site, but can't find it now. It was definately on a canvas tent site, and listed the figures for various types of synthetic fabrics, as well as canvas/cotton. I have also read ( and I know I am now talking canvas ) that canvas tents are waterproofed with a coating, (Albion Canvas & Soulpad) which is what I have always understood to be the case. My first cotton tent was sold at two prices, depending on if it was proofed or not. That was back in the fifties. I have cotton shirts  and jackets, that are not waterproof.

 Sorry, I know this is off topic, back on topic

As I have posted a couple of times before, there was a Khyam Rigi Dome pitched on a local camp site continuously spring summer and autumn, that still looked to be in perfect condition other than one torn guy line that had been allowed to flap in the wind.

ps dezzie, I have not assumed that your posting was aimed at me in any way, but I have recently posted regarding this question, and quoted a short lifetime.

 

Post last edited on 11/08/2011 09:38:44

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We had a polyester (I believe) ridge tent among our previous tents, which in its life probably only saw about 2 month's total camping and was treated with proofing before each trip in latter years. It died after this - the flysheet gave up the ghost. Even though about 15 years old its actual use was limited (given our other tents). We put its limited life span down to being stored in the garage loft for several years - with the extremes of heat and cold, which wouldn't have done the fabric any good. BTW - waterproofing regularly seemed to make no difference. We keep all our tents in the much more stable conditions of the bedroom wardrobe now...

There is only one problem with comparing older tents with current products - fabric quality and denier, given that an increase from the standard modern 75 denier flysheets to Kampa's 100 denier is a potential doubling or more of the UV resilience of a flysheet. Our 75 denier modern tent fabric feels far thinner than that of our old tent. I wonder if others believe that fabrics are lighter-weight today, potentially contributing to concerns over the life of a tent...?

I remember a similar thread a month or so ago, in which Gary from Cross Camping and Leisure said that they sold off 75 denier display tents after only 2 months (I believe it was) so they still had some life in them (at much reduced prices), while they sell off the 100 denier Kampa tents after 6 months without concern...

Not sure this is entirely relevant as it relates to a display tent in a certain outdoors shop in Shiremoor. I can't say how long the Gelert tent had been on display but I know I last went in there before our June camp and it wasn't there then but obviously they could just have redisplayed an old stock model as an example.

However, to get to the point, the tent was quite faded and a hand sized patch had torn loose from above in the living space. It didn't feel too crispy but the texture was not as good as an obviously newer five berth model of the same tent.

So, I wouldn't expect a polyester tent to fade so badly in only a few months but I wouldn't expect a showroom to put up a bad tent for demo. Would they? However, they did have new stock of this model which weren't there on my last visit.

The reason I am concerned is of course because it is the same Atlantis 4 model I purchased from another source. At least I now know what to watch out for!