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Hi

After much deliberation have just bought a Bearlake.

Will I need to "weather" (ie hose it down in garden and let to dry) the tent before using it in anger?

Andy

No - It is Polycotton.

Canvas frame tents need to be 'seasoned' - hosed down and left to dry - so that the canvas shrinks onto the frame and also it makes the fibres swell and fit together so that it becomes waterproof.

Polycotton tents don't shrink - just as well as there is no frame for them to shrink onto - and the Outwell Polycotton tents are treated to make them waterproof.

Enjoy your Bearlake

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Brainhertz (clique of 1) 

you cold hose it down but our tent weatherd its self in the recent down poor of rain

Hi

I'm thinking of getting one too.  I was wondering about the weathering too so thanks for asking/answering that Q for me.  on a similar note, could I assume then that you don't need to erect the tent to dry if you put it away wet, as you do for the frames?  Can you just lay it out in the house (big room - but could separate off the porch)?  Would be a big advantage for me if you didn't have to do that.

thanks.

HappyCamper, the same principles apply-

Canvas tents should be dried on the frame othwies they could lose their shape and not fit the frame properly.

Polycotton can, in theory, be dried anywhere.  I would still put mine up outside to dry off as you get maximum surface exposure to the air allowing it to dry quicker and more evenly -

(yes, I do realise that if I had done this 3 weeks ago I would still be waiting for it to dry.)

Whatever you do don't pack it away wet - (Turkish Wrestlers and all that)

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Brainhertz (clique of 1)

Thanks Brainhertz.  Im going camping for a week in August, then away without the tent the next day, and will have to dry the tent in a flat if its wet.  I could spread it out in a room over the table, sofa and TV.  No outside space.  It will have to do.  So not ideal, but at least it shouldn't shrink.  I know nylon/polyester or whatever they make 'normal' tents in would dry quicker, but I can't stand the sauna effect in the morning.  But Im sure we'll have a fantastic August and I wont need to worry. 

I'm working on the theory that there can't be much more rain in the sky and if it continues for another 2 weeks then we are in for a terrific August when we are camping for 3 weeks in France.

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Brainhertz (clique of 1)