{"id":3153,"date":"2021-05-26T09:33:28","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T09:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/?p=3153"},"modified":"2021-05-26T09:33:52","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T09:33:52","slug":"how-long-does-a-tent-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/how-long-does-a-tent-last\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does a Tent Last?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Having a good tent can make or break a camping trip. A shiny new high-quality tent can make a night outside feel as calm and restful as a five-star hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, a worn-out, cheap tent at the end of its life can quickly turn a night of camping into a nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s not much worse than taking an inadequate tent on a camping trip, only to find out it&#8217;s not up to scratch when it&#8217;s raining and your tent&#8217;s leaking at two in the morning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every tent has a life span. Your tent will last more time, or less, depending on how you treat it and what you do, or don&#8217;t do, between camping excursions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want your tent to last longer than one season, keep reading to find out how long does a tent last and how you can extend the lifespan of a tent.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1622021099771\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6602001dac42c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6602001dac42c\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/how-long-does-a-tent-last\/#When_should_I_replace_my_tent\" title=\"When should I replace my tent?\">When should I replace my tent?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/how-long-does-a-tent-last\/#How_long_do_tents_stay_waterproof\" title=\"How long do tents stay waterproof?\">How long do tents stay waterproof?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/how-long-does-a-tent-last\/#Do_tents_need_to_be_waterproofed\" title=\"Do tents need to be waterproofed?\">Do tents need to be waterproofed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/how-long-does-a-tent-last\/#How_to_make_a_tent_last_longer\" title=\"How to make a tent last longer\">How to make a tent last longer<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_should_I_replace_my_tent\"><\/span>When should I replace my tent?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>A good rule of thumb is to buy a new tent every five years. Most tents, on average, last five years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, if you spend as little as possible on a cheap two-person tent from a discount store, then take it up a mountain for some backcountry camping, your tent might not last more than one night.<\/p>\n<p>With a little TLC, you can keep your tent going another year or two, maybe even three or four, taking the total lifespan of a well-maintained tent to ten years.<\/p>\n<p>After that, though, even the best tents will start wearing out. Their polyester fabric walls wear thin, and the seams start fraying and letting in water.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Camping is a great hobby, but it can be tough on the equipment. Even the best outdoor gear wears down. Maintaining your kit will elongate its life but, unfortunately, nothing lasts forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When it does come time to replace your tent, try to think about what you liked and didn&#8217;t like about the one you&#8217;re replacing.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Also, try to spend as much money as you can. With camping equipment, there&#8217;s often no upper limit on price, so I say go as high as you can afford and your tent should last that little bit longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1622021166917\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_do_tents_stay_waterproof\"><\/span>How long do tents stay waterproof?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>A good tent should keep you dry no matter how hard it&#8217;s raining. When you&#8217;re camping, you don&#8217;t want the added stress of wondering whether or not the weather is going to start entering your temporary home.<\/p>\n<p>A tent that doesn&#8217;t keep the rain out is useless. It&#8217;s not just annoying, but getting soaked while camping can quickly become a serious problem.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re freezing cold in the middle of the night with no shelter, a leaky tent can quickly become a dangerous potential risk.<\/p>\n<p>So, make sure your tent is waterproof <em>before<\/em> taking it out for a night in the wilderness. A quick once over, checking for holes, worn patches, and frayed seams should be enough.<\/p>\n<p>If you haven&#8217;t used your tent for a while, it&#8217;s a good idea to set up your tent in the backyard and spray it with a fine mist from a hose.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Give it a good spray down, then take a look. If your tent is waterproof, the water should bead and run down the tent&#8217;s outer walls. If it&#8217;s worn out, the water will soak through into the interior.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Once your tent loses its waterproof capabilities, it&#8217;s one of the first indications that your tent is nearing the end of its life.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>You can re-waterproof your tent using waterproof coating and patches, but other things like zips, doors, and mesh windows will likely start deteriorating around the same time.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1622021233207\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_tents_need_to_be_waterproofed\"><\/span>Do tents need to be waterproofed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>One of the best ways to make your tent last another season or two is by waterproofing it. You can get waterproof spray, washes, and other liquid-based coats to apply to the outside of your tent to improve its waterproofing. You can also resew or patch any holes or frayed seams where a worn-out tent might be letting the water in.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Most tents are fully waterproofed out of the box, so you shouldn&#8217;t have to do this immediately. However, the waterproof coating is one of the first places a tent deteriorates, so giving it a wash or spray down with waterproofing can add extra years to your tent&#8217;s lifespan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1622021253119\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_make_a_tent_last_longer\"><\/span>How to make a tent last longer<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Like pretty much everything else in life, tents last longer if you look after them. Without any TLC or maintenance, a hard-worn tent might only last a season or two.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, by properly taking care of your tent, stowing it correctly, cleaning it, and re-waterproofing it regularly, you can almost double its lifespan.<\/p>\n<p>First and foremost, clean your tent. After nearly every camping trip, your tent will have a layer of dirt on the underside, as well as a generous helping of dirt, mud, grass, and other natural elements you&#8217;ve dragged in from outside.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Give it a sweep out and wipe down the walls with a warm soapy sponge. Make sure you clean the bottom of the groundsheet where the tent is in direct contact with the earth, as this is where it gets dirtiest.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The next step is to let your tent dry out completely. You can do this by leaving it pitched up in a backyard, hung on a washing line, or draped over a couple of chairs in your kitchen. Make sure it&#8217;s in a warm, dry place with plenty of airflow.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Never stow your tent wet. If you put away a wet tent, it will grow mildew and mould and seriously shorten your tent&#8217;s life.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Another trick I like to do is to store my tent in a loose cotton stuff sack. When you fold or roll your tent tightly then put it away for six months or a year, these fold lines can turn into permanent creases, which will be weaker than the rest of the tent and prime spots for leakage.<\/p>\n<p>It doesn&#8217;t take long to maintain your tent, especially if you do it right after getting back from your epic camping trip. Skipping a few simple steps could seriously affect your tent&#8217;s lifespan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Having a good tent can make or break a camping trip. A shiny new high-quality tent can make a night outside feel as calm and restful as a five-star hotel. On the other hand, a worn-out, cheap tent at the end of its life can quickly turn a night of camping into a nightmare. There&#8217;s &#8230; <a title=\"How Long Does a Tent Last?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/how-long-does-a-tent-last\/\" aria-label=\"More on How Long Does a Tent Last?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3154,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,4],"tags":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/how-long-does-a-tent-last.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3153"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3153"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3153\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/campingtipz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}