Seam sealing your tent, the why and how. 

Hi Dave, I was looking for you to say about silicone making the fabric stronger and you eventually did so well done... I see this as a key point and the way I also see it is that if the fabric is coated on both sides then its stronger still. I then personally prefer this option of the best fabric strength to weight ratio... Back in the 90s North Face expedition tents all had to be seam sealed like this so I kind of grew up with it and dont see it as too much of a chore.... Great video once again thank you.. Tom

Hey Dave awesome to see someone approach this subject and demonstrate how to seam seal... I'll have another look at the video later.. Tom

I found this discussion of seam sealing, taping, and fabrics helpful. Many utubers cover this topic superficially or with anecdotes, whereas Fellmandave here has tried to get inside it and see what deductions can be made. I still worry about the possibility of what used to be called 'folklore' and inconsistencies of belief, but this was a serious attempt at approaching seam sealing and taping rationally. Thx for posting.

Thanks for this. I'm just about to re-seal my old Moss Stardome which is still going strong after 28 years of use (including a 5-month camping trip in Canada). My thankless task is to get the old seal (which is flaking) off before re-applying. I'm using alcohol and a rag to try to get as much of it off as possible-the hardest part is to not drink all the alcohol while doing this. Third time I've had to do this over the years. Thanks again for the video.

Thank you for the video. I also have to seam seal my tent. Cheers from Canada!

Ive never heard of sealing both inside and out, i usual just do one or the other. With my Macpac tents they recommend sealing on the inside but this is purely for the aesthetics of it. Its easiest to do this is by pitching the tent inside out.

I must say, it disappoints big time realizing that a brandnew tent, such as the one by Nortent as you demonstrated, requires resealing/sealing at all, upon purchasing it - what the heck? I am glad I went for the leading manufacturer of tents instead.... thanks for your great and equally instructive contribution though.

Great video, i've just got a scarp. it's been done at the factory. Was just wondering how often should you do this?

I have a French F2 military surplus tent that I just received. You are the first to advocate seam sealing inside and outside. I always thought the same. I’m 72 and going to undertake a 4,000 mile motorcycle adventure with my dog in the spring. Camping not by choice but necessity. 5 month odyssey demands cost cutting. Should I treat the entire exterior or add a tarp fly? Will the “dead” air space between the tent roof and a tarp fly help with summer heat? Thank you.

I use standard bathroom silikon , diluted with white gas 1:4. White gas is chemically pure Benzine, ”Heptane” or Wash benzin in German, I think. 😅 it works perfectly, and dries much quicker than white spirits. 2h for the whole tent. I do it on rain gear and backpacks as well.

Dave, why inside first. I thought outside first, seems logical?😊 Was the seam sealant from nortent enough for inside and out? I've never had to seam seal my Hilleberge Akto and they use the same process as Nortent in the stitching process.

@Fellmandave1 I am going car camping in Ocala National Forest the end of January and the weather should be in the 40s at night and 60s during the day. It may even get a little cooler than that. My 8-year-old tent leaks not only from the top but also from the window areas. I was thinking of getting a 4 mil extra large tarp and covering the tent with it (top and even the windows) and then putting the rainfly on top of that with most likely no Gap. I would raise the tarp above the windows when it's not raining. It rains pretty much every time we go there. Is this a really bad idea? I don't think there will be trees in the spot that we're at so I can't hang it above and too much work to seal this 8 man tent. Should I just buy a new tent? I'd rather go the tarp route because it's so much less $ and the tent still is holding up otherwise. I'm not too concerned about the temperature during the day inside the tent. I'll have the windows open. More concerned about night time temperature and the condensation.

Fellman your an expert 😊.. no doubt but the inner Mastic man in me says that since its the sewing and holes we want to penatrate aswell vitalise the nylon seam tape then two decent and runny coats of the thinned down premium you use judiciously externally applied should do the job..The mastic man in me reckons you çould skip the inside this way until or unless it's found necessary.. What do you think?

If you don't mind me asking, how long does it take to dry? Do you leave it out overnight or do you take it inside before nightfall?

1) Every tent ever made needs seam sealing, in addition to additional waterproofing on the fabric. You might think you get a lot of rain in the U.K., but you ain’t got nothing on us in South Florida and the Everglades…where the water comes down in buckets…for hours. 2) Seam sealers are a total waste of money. You’re better off buying large canisters of silicon (putting them in a gun) and mixing with mineral spirits to thin. 3) Silicon is NOT good for many materials. Won’t work, and will damage the material. 4) ALL seams need additional waterproofing because of the needle holes, and only the exterior of the tent matters. Inside sealing means nothing and is a waste of time.