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Hi, I pitched my new bell (5m hybrid genie) in the garden 2 weeks ago before we took it away for 4 days.  When it was in the garden we didn't sleep in it and nor did I use heat in it, so there should not have been condensation build up.

After its first day up, I noticed some small puddles of water in the tent (approx 2pm, 4pm and 8pm positions).  Not just one or two drops of water, but small little puddles which required a cloth to soak up.  I noticed also that day (it rained) that water trickled down the a-frame but could not see the source (note that i did have the plastic cap inserted correctly on the outside of the canvas where the pole pops thru, so it could not have been that).

I took the tent away as planned for 4 nights and we had a considerable amount of rain, however the tent didn't seem to let in water on this occassion.

What do you think of this situation?  Is it normal for a tent to leak a bit during its first soaking by rain?  Should the fact that it didn't leak the second time mean that the problem (whatever it was) has fixed itself?

As stated, I definitely don't believe it was a slight build up of condensation that caused the leaks at the first pitch, it was too much water. Views?  Thanks.

Humbird

If canvas has been stored for a while in dry conditions the canvas can dry out and need "weathered" to fluff it out again and seal any leaks,but ,I think you need Val to answer this about Bell tents as I was lead to believe by their websites that no "weathering" would be required...ready to use so to speak...does sound as if your problem is sorted...just as well you pitched it before you used it though.

Hi thanks for the replies.  I will pitch it in the garden again, tomorrow, to see how it does.  It rains daily where I am so it won't take long to see if the problem still exists.  I have given Soulpad a heads-up on the issue before I go outside the 28-day period from delivery date.  (I was caught out in 2010 because I received my Outwell during winter 2010 and didn't pitch it within the first 28 days, I happened to wait 5 weeks after purchase before I pitched it - it leaked badly - and they would not refund me my money because I was outside the 28 day period.  Instead they ultimately gave me a replacement, but the process was a slow and painful one).

Thanks for the tip about the plastic cap going between the canvas and the pole.  I thought it was for the outside, so that it kept the rain frm leaking thru the hole that the pole went through and that the plastic would make the rain fall away ....?

Thanks.  If my leaking problem persists I'll be back here!

Humbird

I have recently come back from a camping trip in Cornwall where it rained a couple of days.  The first day it rained I had the exact problem you had, I.E small puddles in the corners, the second day it rained though this cleared up.  So i'm guessing the canvas required eathering.

The water running down the A frame was also a problem, however I think I worked out where and why its getting in.  Basically I didnt erect the Soulpad correctly (it was raining and windy so I just got it up as quick as possible) and noticed the groundsheet wasnt taught.  I believe because of this the A frame was actually pushing against the canvas at the front, which as we all know if you touch a tent wall it pulls water through.

Also about the little plastic cap, it definately goes on the outside of the tent, I checked the instructions twice and even looked on the Soulpad website and in the pictures you can just about see the plastic cap on the outside of the tent.