How to Repair a Torn Nylon Tent

Torn tents must be patched to preserve their working qualities.

At first glance, repairing a tear or a hole in the fabric of a nylon tent seems as easy as stitching the fabric back together. Merely stitching a tear in a tent's fabric, however, leaves the tent's water-resistant or waterproof qualities damaged and its insulating qualities compromised. To truly repair a torn nylon tent, you must patch the tear with a nylon tent-patching kit.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Bowl
• Rags
• Patching kit for nylon tents

Instructions

1. Clean both sides of the fabric around the tear in the tent with rags, soap and a bowl of water. Allow the nylon to dry.

2. Trim the nylon fabric from the patching kit into an interior patch. It must extend around the perimeter of the tear by at least 1/4 inch.

3. Peel off the adhesive cover from the exterior, circular stick patch, hold the torn fabric flat, and apply the patch to cover the outside of the tear.

4. Coat the area around the inside of the tear with adhesive sealant from the kit. Coat an area extending at least 1/2 inch from the edges of the patches to fully seal the tear. Hold the fabric flat and apply the interior patch of nylon fabric to the tear.

5. Allow the adhesives to dry for at least two hours before doing anything that might fold or bend the fabric, such as striking the tent and packing it up.

Tips & Warnings

• For stubborn stains in the nylon fabric, use rubbing alcohol from your camping first aid kit.

• Some tent patching kits for nylon tents do not use sticker-like patches. Instead, you must apply the adhesive sealant to the patches manually.

• Patching kits for canvas tents should not be confused with kits for nylon tents.

References

• Backpacker: Fixing a Tent Tear