How Waterproof is Your Waterproof Tent?

Anjana Malhotra
2 min readNov 20, 2018

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Imagine a family camping where the weather ditches you and decides to behave otherwise, the first thought that crosses your mind would be “Will this tent leak?” We have a few pointers that will help you asses your waterproof tent.

Seams of the Tent — The seams are the first to initiate leakage, if the stitches are not proper and fail to withstand the weather change then you are sure to encounter shower inside your waterproof tent. To avoid such situations double check the seams, toggles and ties for waterproof coating.

Zip it Up — Zip is the doorway to your tent and the potential entrance for rain. Ensure that all the zips are protected from rain. Check cable entries as well because these can also invite leak if not proper.

Hydrostatic Head — Hydrostatic head decides the waterproofing capability of the tent. Generally tents are checked with 2000 mm Hydrostatic Head. This seems fine for moderate weather conditions, this might not be the best choice for heavy downpour. A high hydrostatic head is required to combat heavy rain.

Waterproof Treatment — Manufacturers also apply waterproof treatment to their tents, it provides double protection and ensures that the water runs off the tent and doesn’t seep in.

One must keep in mind that features are directly proportional to the cost. The more the features the higher the price. So, the next time you buy an outdoor tent, keep these points in mind to ensure protection from rain.

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