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Camping under canvas - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations

Topic: Leaking seams new tent

leakay

via mobile 28/3/2022 at 1:27pm
Location: tyne and wear
Outfit: outwell \ kampa

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Hi we bought our new Outwell tent back in 2020 and got to try it out last summer and we had a very heavy down pour which is when we realised the tent was leaking seem to be mainly zip area and the seams around the areas where you put your cable for lantern was definitely not condensation we have camped for many years and this was definitely leaks.we tried contacting Outwell but they say to go to retailer but anyway was out of retailers gaurantee by then so we were wandering if we sprayed all of the tent would this be enough to seal the seams or would be better to try and use a seam sealant and just do the seams
Thanks

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DAWN :-}
parkfoot 26th march
easter ?
scratby hall 9th august
inbetweens

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seanfdh

28/3/2022 at 5:00pm
Location: North Devon
Outfit: Robens Fairbanks Coleman Phad X3

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I'd try seam sealant. Back when I first started camping people recommended applying it to a new tent as a matter of course.

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Sean

TimCESmith

28/3/2022 at 5:11pm
Location: London
Outfit: Karsten 350 + SE CA EA RA FW & ZIG

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I understand from far more expert campers on here that it's not uncommon for new tents to leak at the seams in their first downpour because the cotton or polycotton thread needs to swell in its first wetting - a bit like weathering a new cotton or polycotton tent. I've never had a brand new one, so I can't vouch for this, but it might be worth testing it with a hose before doing anything irreversible.

suns

29/3/2022 at 10:16am
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

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You reply is correct if the tent is polycotton or canvas. But if the OPs tent is Outwells own Nylon it should not leak being brand new. Be carefull of the Waterproof sprays as one states on the tin it would interfere with the taped seams. Try the seam sealent first.

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Mitchamitri

30/3/2022 at 2:57pm
Location:
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Even on nylon tents the thread can need wetting so it swells up on first use. For this reason I would avoid proofing wherever possible. Whatever you do try to avoid proofing the whole tent. Maybe use a seam sealant.

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