Camping is an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors away from the city. Rain and extreme weather, however, can make the camping experience less enjoyable. To enhance your experience, you can use a rainproof camping tent to block out the elements. Tents can be water resistant or weather resistant, but a tent always has the possibility of allowing some water to get inside.
Materials
The main tent material is the number one factor in the tent's ability to be rainproof. Each tent has a specific material thickness that increases the waterproof capabilities, and, as a general rule, the price increases as the thickness increases. The most common materials are polyweave or nylon. Polyweave is a material similar to a boat cover and is effective at repelling water but can be easily torn on sticks or rocks. Nylon material is lighter than polyweave and comes in three basic thicknesses: 3-oz., 70 Denier nylon taffeta and 210 Denier Oxford nylon. The 210 Denier Oxford is the heaviest nylon and is resistant to tears and abrasions.
Seams
Even if the main material is rainproof, water can still enter the tent through the seams. Some tents come with sealed seams that increase the rainproof capabilities, but you can always apply additional seam sealer. To apply seam sealer, start by cleaning the seams with an isopropyl alcohol and then applying a small amount of the sealer along the threaded areas. Let the sealer dry for at least 24 hours.
Floor
Another important area to consider for rainproof camping tents is the floor. Some people consider the floor to be the most important area to keep water-resistant because the pressure on the floor can allow water to soak through the material. Tents built for extreme weather will have "bathtub" floors that wrap up the sides about 4 to 6 in. The bathtub floor can keep water out of the tent during rain storms, but a tarp under the tent is recommended to prevent ground moisture from entering the tent.
Treatments
To maintain the rainproof capabilities of your tent, you need to apply treatments to the floor, material and seams. Urethane is a common sealer for tents with a nylon floor and can make the floor watertight. You can apply urethane by pouring liquid onto the fabric and then spreading the urethane evenly over the surface. You can also laminate a sheet of urethane directly to the tent fabric. Another common treatment is silicone and can be easily applied by spraying the silicone directly on the tent material.
Considerations
You need to consider several features when choosing a rainproof camping tent. Review the overall construction of the tent, including the floor, seams and tent material. Look for bathtub floors, taped seams and thick materials.
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