If you’ve ever been camping, you know that accidents happen, and therefore no camp gear checklist is complete without a DIY tent repair kit. Though every tent is a little different, the same basic essentials can be used to make necessary repairs on the fly so you don’t end up with inadequate shelter. Here are just five items that your DIY tent repair kit shouldn’t be without!
Tape
McNett Tenacious Clean Tape – $2.85
The brand isn’t important, but heavy duty nylon or other type of sturdy tape can be utilized quickly to repair small tears in your tent until you can apply a more long term solution.
Seam Sealer
McNett Seam Grip & Seam Sealer Outdoor Repair – $4.95
If the repairs aren’t sealed, they won’t be rainproof. In order to completely repair your tent, you need to rainproof it with a good sealant.
Needle and Waxed Thread
Gear Aid Outdoor Sewing Kit – $6.75
Perhaps one of the most important items in your DIY tent repair kit is going to be a needle and waxed thread. If any large tear takes place, it will have to be sewn together and later sealed with the seam sealer. The wax will help further seal the tear you’re trying to repair. If you’re unable to find waxed thread, you can use dental floss.
Patches
Tear-Aid Original Type A Fabric Repair See-Thru Patches – $8.95
When a tear is too big to be handled with strips of tape, patches are going to save the day. Repair patches are generally available in a variety of materials so you can patch virtually anything in the field when needed, not just your tent.
Ferrules and Shock Cords
Coghlan’s Tent Pole Repair Kit – $3.49
If the ends of the poles supporting the tent break, they need to be replaced quickly. Having replacement ferrules on hand can easily prevent a shelter disaster. The poles are quite literally the skeleton of the tent and without being secured properly, your tent will fall apart.