Bogley

jimflint1 · Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 510 Location: Kearns

I have a rain fly (nylon) with several small tears in it. Do they sell kits to repair these things? If so, where? If not, how do you repair holes in nylon tents so that the repair job holds?

tatwood · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 99 Location: Midvale, UT

REI sells some tent repair kits that include some adhesive nylon patches. I haven’t used them, but I'd imagine that if the holes aren't to big, they would work pretty well.

Cirrus2000 · Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 1027 Location: Vancouver, BC

Here's a repair method from Mountain Equipment Co-op. (Canada's member-owned co-operative version of REI)

Way too long to show onscreen - just click here

I fixed a rip in the side of my tent beside the peg loop (lots of pressure on it) using this method and "Shoe Goo". Works great.

jimflint1 · Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 510 Location: Kearns

Thanks for your help. That will really help out with the tears. I have a hole caused by a runaway campfire ash about quarter sized. I guess those kits from REI etc., will work for that kind of repair? And does anyone know how to repair zippers that have gotten separated? You know, the teeth no longer interconnect?

accadacca · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 7035 Location: The Interwebs

If you have a zipper issue or anything for that matter. I take my stuff down to Kirkhams on State and have them sew a new one on for me. They do a great job. I have had them sew straps, zippers, velcro. :2thumbs:

jimflint1 · Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 510 Location: Kearns

accadacca wrote: If you have a zipper issue or anything for that matter. I take my stuff down to Kirkhams on State and have them sew a new one on for me. They do a great job. I have had them sew straps, zippers, velcro. :2thumbs:

How much do they charge? It seems like I've called them and it was pretty expensive--then again, I have fairly cheap tents so spending $50 or more to get them fixed doesn't seem worth it. One of these days, when I'm not sending my tents off with Boy Scouts to get abused, I'll have to get a really nice tent and keep it nice. :haha:

accadacca · Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 7035 Location: The Interwebs

I haven’t had any tents repaired. Only a strap here and there or a short zipper. Like on a backpack or a pair of pants. On those items they have seemed pretty reasonable to me.

jimflint1 · Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 510 Location: Kearns

accadacca wrote: I haven’t had any tents repaired. Only a strap here and there or a short zipper. Like on a backpack or a pair of pants. On those items they have seemed pretty reasonable to me.

I think the last time I called around, Kirkham's wanted somewhere around $15 to $20 per foot for zipper replacement. Some of my tents have the big half circle zipper that's probably five feet long, so that adds up fast. Most of my other tents zippers are around 3-4 feet long, so again, I'm looking for someone who knows how to get the teeth on those zippers matched up again, so I can do it myself. I mean, they don't really seem to be broken, just not connecting. There's gotta be a way.

Shan · Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 784 Location: Cache Valley

We have repaired rips in tents using a tent repair patch kit, maybe a Coleman brand? It was easy.

TreeHugger · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 897

I bought a repair kit years ago, dont remember what it was, but I repaired two holes in my thermarest with it and a pair of rain pants of my sister's. This kit is pretty nifty, and can be used easily out in the wilderness. You cut the patch the size you need it, then you boil some water and press the hot pot on the patch. It adheres very well and you're good to go. I repaired my thermarest about 6 years ago and it's still good!!

Sometimes Kirkhams can fix the zipper instead of replace it - they did that for my tent, dont remember how much, sorry, but it didnt strike me as being expensive, that repair job is still good as well.

jimflint1 · Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 510 Location: Kearns

Quote: Sometimes Kirkhams can fix the zipper instead of replace it - they did that for my tent, dont remember how much, sorry, but it didnt strike me as being expensive, that repair job is still good as well.

Yeah, I'm sure to repair is cheaper than to replace. By the way, I used to work at Kirkham's back in the 1970s. In their tent repair department, no less. However, most of the tents back then that I worked on were canvas and easy to glue a patch onto. I was a bad employee back then which I regret to this day--and they fired me as I deserved. Of course, it didn't help that the guy they had training me expected me to learn by osmosis--I don't think he ever showed me how to do anything.