Seam sealing tents - Is it a con?

Money making scam by manufacturers?

[@DazBurbyUntamedWild]

To seam seal a tent, it needs to be put up and left up while the sealant dries. If the manufacturer is making thousands of tents, imagine the space needed to erect and seal thousands of tents. This is why

[@CliffordShute]

Totally agree , i bought a khyam igloo tent back in the early 90's. Cost best part of 300 quid, leaked first weekend away, took it back to the shop and they gave me a tube of seam sealer 😂 after reading the tent instructions ,lets face it who does its a tent after all ! The manufacturer recommended sealing the seams. Ever since that weekend in my new tent/paddling pool, first thing i do now is seam seal a new tent. The Khyam is still going fantastic touring tent for motorcycles, it's opens up like a big spider. Very quick to put up and take down in the rain.

[@peesua]

I've never understood it either. However, plenty of people are influenced by KZbinrs and certain products seem to become a 'craze.' A point in this case is the Lanshan. Not fully waterproof straight out of the box and appears a little flimsy yet everyone seems to have one. By comparison, the OneTigris Tangram was fully waterproof out of the box, was a little more solid in construction and had a variety of features in the way you could set it up. Weighted slightly more and a bigger pack size - and this may be a reason punters were put off as many are obsessed with shedding grams. The Tangram has not sold anywhere near the amounts that Lanshan has. It's a mystery to me as the Tangram was often around £110 on Amazon at the time the Lanshan was creeping up to the £200 mark. My first tent when I got back into camping 5 years ago was a Robens Starlight for the very reason you highlight. It still performs brilliantly in rain and wind, and that's what you hope for when purchasing a 'shelter.'

[@helenandKatarinjuska-law3351]

Totally agree...to many sheeples following the 'latest', 'best', 'recommended' 'experts' and not thinking for themselves. And 'it's 10 grams lighter so has to be best'. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@peterappleton5213]

Totally agree it should be fit for purpose straight away

[@waitingfortheknock]

Nope, I wouldn't buy one. Completely agree with you. Next, it'll come in several parts, needle and thread not supplied.

[@frogmaster83]

😂👍

[@Stealthoperations]

That's why I always stick with my trusty Dutch army tent. All I do every 6 months is to put a good coating of fabsil gold on it. But you have a very valid point. 😊

[@RealMash]

I just bought a box of Pringles "chips" and set it next to the old one-it was shorter. Checked-the weight was 165 instead of 185 Grams. Same price. Same with the tent-they don't seal it, and you have to do it. They pocket the cost that they don't have to pay and leave seam sealing for the owner. Shrinkflation with Pringles, lowered quality with the tents. Record inflation, company profits soaring. Something tells me they are out of kilter...

[@tamirew9247]

Agree! I bought a Napier SUV tent for $480 US. Got it out of the box and the very first recommendation was to waterproof and seam seal before use. That little tip was no where in the description. I bought it 2 years ago and still haven’t done it. Makes my blood boil every time I look at that tent still in its bag sneering back at me. It’s a damn large tent too. Can sleep 6 to 8 people with its “sun room.” I bought it that big so I could take the grandkids camping. GRRRR.

[@AdventureswithJeffandMeeka]

I have never had an issue with my f2, coleman, or Ozark trail tents. I do take care of them and as most of the are several years old, I do re-waterproof them at the beginning of each season. This, to me, is common sense. I recently have purchased both a OneTigris Tigamen and a Pomoly Chalet 70 pro. Both of them have not leaked. The Chalet has been through some good storms, with high winds and heavy rainfall, the past few weekends, and has held up better than expected.

[@frogmaster83]

Agreed, I dont mind doing maintenance on a old tent. Not doing it on a new one that I have paid good money for.

[@JonStockman82]

I've never had to seam seal Eurohike or Vango tents and I've had a few of those. Sometimes expensive isn't always best.

[@frogmaster83]

Totally agree. 👍

[@helenandKatarinjuska-law3351]

Agree completely - if a tent is likely to leak on the seams (or anywhere else) straight from the box then it is not fit for purpose and should be returned. Surely, in UK at least the Sale of Goods Act must come into play at some point??? Personally we think it is out-doors company's screwing the purchaser's over to make extra profit. The claims of '5000 mm hydrostatic head' should also add 'IF you seam seal' - so,questionable advertising too ?? Take care, Helen and Katarin Juska-Law and Terri with Robyn.

[@frogmaster83]

Spot on. 👍

[@southcoastoutdoorsuk6301]

It’s in the description when you buy a tent , many brands such as 3ful , Tarptent , OEX , Terranova , Weschel it can’t be done by machine , it also allows to use higher quality materials such as double siliconised silnylon which cannot be taped on the seams , it’s not a big deal

[@helenandKatarinjuska-law3351]

@@southcoastoutdoorsuk6301 If the tent is not weatherproof out of the box then it is not fit for purpose...it is that simple. If a manufacturer uses material that does not perform as the end product should then they are either scamming their customers, don't care about customers or are making excessive profits out of customers. In any of the three options above the answer is simple....do not buy their products. Incidentally you instance OEX as a not-taped tent supplier but our Bobcat 1's are all seam taped as delivered. Sadly it is getting more and more prevalent that manufacturers seem to be getting away with selling inferior products - why? because people with your attitude let them - the 'no big deal' attitude simply encourages that mindset..

[@ChrisWoutdoors]

Spot on Allan, watched a video the other day from Outdoor Gear Review and he had to seal it himself....Madness.

[@frogmaster83]

I am never going to do it Chris, if I pay for a tent I want it to work out the box when new. 👍

[@RootsLion]

totally agree all this seam seal yourself is utter blx price your paying, these things should be ready to use and fit for purpose.... if the floor so flimsy it needs a footprint or tarp under it IT AINT A TENT an if it aint got a decent sized porch with a water proof floor it aint a proper tent... my avon s**ts all over most a these liteweight modern tents,, even if it is twice the dam weight ... a silnylon modern version of the avon 2-3 person would be nice eurohike or watever still do a version of it but very heavy not sil and they added some pretty crap plastic windows n ting mine aint got being 20yr old plus.... . a camo cloudpeak 2 with a decent porch an floor added be gd

[@Billofthenorth1]

Tents, tarps and rain gear all seem to have that problem, well many of them do. But I agree, the manufacturer is in the best position to affect the best seal. Why should we have to do it? They'll probably charge us a lot more for a "professionally seam sealed" bit of kit.

[@stevesmith5717]

Totally agree with you on that. Especially the price of some of them

[@michaelme491]

I agree, if the tent is not sealed against the elements then do not purchase it.

[@johanvanbeek7138]

It would put me off buying it for sure. The Lanshan pros were all like that.

[@johncrouch8988]

I’ve never seam sealed a tent in 40 years and I’ve still not had a problem with leaks through the seams. All inexpensive tents too with seam seal included!🤷‍♂️

[@frogmaster83]

Its all a con I think.

[@benhikescamps]

One simple answer: cost.

[@paulmackenzie1572]

I do agree that it should be sealed in the factory. It does rather feel your getting something that's not finished. Next they'll be giving you a needle and thread and getting you to sow the tent your self 😄

[@frogmaster83]

Well said!

[@Brian_Chambers]

I’m with you on that Allan, I wanted to buy the Lanshan last year until I saw I had to seam seal it myself, when I found that out and saw the price I said they can keep it.

[@southcoastoutdoorsuk6301]

Grab the standard model they are taped as it’s sil/pu coatings 👍

[@Brian_Chambers]

@@southcoastoutdoorsuk6301 I’ll go and check them out, cheers mate 👍🏻

[@southcoastoutdoorsuk6301]

Try Outdoor Gear Essentials Uk based next day delivery 👍

[@Brian_Chambers]

@@southcoastoutdoorsuk6301 I will do, thank you ☺️

[@paganoutdoors3193]

Completely agree, why I don't have any lol, tarps all the way

[@stoatmcgroaty1586]

It depends on the tent really ... some of the more exotic tents can't be taped ... and seam sealer takes a fair while to cure ... so the tent has to be put up somewhere and left up for over 24 hours ... the cost of that space required and the people to do the work would seriously impact the cost of an already expensive tent .... so to a degree it also comes down to what kind of tent owner you are ... if you're an enthusiast and consider some tents to be heirloom pieces then you'll be prepared to undertake the maintenance involved from the start .... it's a bit like don't buy a Harley if you're not prepared to polish the chrome and grease it's balls 😉

[@shez81]

I think they should come seam sealing myself like specially at the prices for tents nowadays

[@michaellaing2067]

Agree totally with you mate

[@owenmorse3136]

If the material is 100% silicon fabric the only way to seal the seams is build the tent and then seal them according to Google. The manufacturer can seal them but at a extra cost .

[@frogmaster83]

Then they should do it an add a few quid to the price.

[@lardyguts2]

apparently you cant seam tape sill nylon . it need seam sealing. that costs too much

[@pjboutdoors3230]

Exactly my thinking Jim bob

[@kennethwilson8633]

Yep just shoddy work if you ask me.

[@H.ArminGilsdorf]

If I am going to buy a tent I want it complete. I also do not buy a rain jacket and I have to add water resitantance by my self......

[@marksadventures3889]

Agreed 100%

[@lewisgardner1660]

I have seen airfix is getting into the tent game be interesting

[@frogmaster83]

Sounds interesting.

[@lewisgardner1660]

@@frogmaster83 yes you get a load of canvas couple of zips needle and cotton and some cord, how hard can it be?

[@southcoastoutdoorsuk6301]

It’s time consuming and has to be done by hand , but why buy a tent you need to put a tarp over to make waterproof 🤷‍♂️

[@MetallicrealitE]

I wouldn't buy a tent that isnt finisheed, what a rip off.

[@leemichel8199]

I've seen some high-end tent companies that are starting to send you a tube of seem seal with the tents, and are expecting you to do it yourself ,considering the prices, it's the least they can do, just lazyness in most cases, in my opinion.God bless you and your family and happy camping 🏕 😀 😊 🙏 😄 😉 🏕. Lee

[@frogmaster83]

Its just increasing the profit margin on a already expensive product. 😒

[@leemichel8199]

@frogmaster83 exactly mate, not fair on the ones buying

[@bc81]

It's simple. It comes down to cost. Materials like silpoly can't be seam taped so adds time and money to making them if they were to seam seal them too. Take the lanshan pros . Personally I was happy to spend £10 to seam seal my 1 and 2 pro instead of paying an extra £35 each. Not to mention I'll happily trust my seam seal job and not worry for there first outing in the rain if I'd of paid for it to be done.

[@ChiefScout_Outdoors]

100% don’t buy if you have to seal it, not acceptable 🤬