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Best Tent Repair Kit
Instead of suffering through the rest of the trip with a damaged tent, with a repair kit, you can make quick and fixes on the fly. However, speaking for most repair kits, they will be limited in what they can do. If your tent rips in half, for example, then you will be out of luck either way.
Also, not all kits will be equipped to handle the same problems, for example check the best sewing kits. Either way, all you need to learn (regarding buying them) will be presented to you in this guide.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Accessories
Here is a pop quiz; what good would a tent repair kit without really good accessories?
No matter what type of tent repair you need to be done, the only way you can achieve it is to buy a kit that comes with proper accessories. Now, typically, kits are more than one item. However, you saw some entries on this list that only come with one accessory. That is okay as sometimes that is all you need (others will come with several accessories, however).
And, when it comes down to it, there are two main types of tent repairs. You will either need to repair the fabric or the poles of your tent. For fabric, you will need accessories such as adhesive tape, waterproof sealants, and possibly even brushes or sewing awls (if adhesives are not included).
Meanwhile, when dealing with broken or damaged poles, you may need items such as pole splints, shock cord (and washers to secure the cord). This means you may need to buy more than one kit. After all, it is never a bad idea to have a little variety.
Effectiveness
Even if they are just temporary fixes, you still need them to get the job done for the time being.
It has been alluded to a few times, and it deserves mentioning again, tent repair kits are not going to resurrect tents that are old and worn out. There will come a time where you will need to buy a new tent. But, what they can do is provide you with temporary fixes to make your tent useable. If you are looking for a new tent make sure you check our guide with incredible tent selection.
From kit to kit, though, they will not all work with the same efficiency and effectiveness. For example, think about fabric repairs. If you buy a package that comes with adhesive tape, you want that adhesive to be incredibly durable and long-lasting. The same goes for patches without glue as they need to be durable enough to do their job.
And, even for pole splints and shock cord, they will need to be built well enough to repair your tent poles sufficiently. In specific, you will see pole splints typically made out of aluminum. While not as strong as steel, aluminum is also much lighter.
Versatility
Not all kits are going to be but some of them are quite versatile in their design.
Again, this section needs to be split up into two. First up, let’s talk about fabric repairs. Now, it would seem that patches and adhesives would be pretty one-dimensional in their designs. And, while this is true, they can be incredibly versatile.
First and foremost, most patches and adhesives on the market will bond to a wide range of fabrics. Standard tent fabrics such as polyester, nylon, and canvas will typically be no problem whatsoever. Not only that but fabric repairs will also usually be suitable for some of your other outdoor gear (this could include your sleeping bags, dry bags, etc.).
As for tent pole repair kits, they are not quite as versatile. Whether you buy splints or a full kit with shock cord and washers, these types of accessories will only be suitable for your tent poles. However, even if your tent has fiberglass poles, some aluminum splints will still work just fine (so they are versatile in this manner).
But, again, this is where it comes in handy to buy more than one type of kit. The broader range of accessories you have at your disposal, the more repairs you will be able to make.
Portability
This is a section that is really going to be important for those of you who enjoy hiking and backpacking.
One of the significant reasons to even buy tent repair kits is so you can make repairs to your tent on the fly. Well, naturally, this means that you will need to account for them on your travel (unless you camp in your backyard). In other words, it may be in your best interest to look for portable kits.
But, it goes deeper than that. This can be a more significant issue for those of you who like to hike or backpack. Hikers and backpackers will need to carry every small item that they want to bring. On the other hand, if you are merely just camping, you can easily transport any kit on the market.
Campers can stow away all their kits in a tote bag or something, but that will not work for backpackers. Instead, backpackers need to save every ounce of weight they can. Thankfully, most repair kits will be compact and lightweight enough to be easily accommodated for. But you can never be too sure.
Ease of Use
While your skill will have a lot to do with this section, certain kits will be easier to use than others.
It is a question that you have probably been holding in for a while, how hard is it to repair a tent? On the surface, this is a simple question but dig a little deeper, and you will find it is a question that has many answers. If you are talking full-fledged repairs, then it will probably be quite challenging.
You already know, however, that is not the purpose of tent repair kits. Now, for first-time users, any repair may seem intimidating. With the proper tools (and well-written instructions to boot), you will find that patching holes in your tent’s fabric are not too tricky at all. To get more comfortable with the entire process, you can also watch online tutorial videos if you would like.
But, what about fixing poles now that is intimidating, right? Some of you may find it to be a little harder but, once again, manufacturers will try to make their kits as user-friendly as possible. Once again, this is where detailed instructions can come in handy.
Also, keep in mind that the more times you perform repairs, the better you will become at them. Ironically, however, the hope is that you never need to repair your tent in the first place.
Our Top Picks for the Best Tent Repair Kits
1. Gear Aid Tape Fabric
This list does not kick off with a comprehensive kit as you are simply provided with some tent repair tape here. However, the aggressive nature of this tape makes it a must-have whenever you will be using your tent.
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What you get with your purchase is a single roll of 20 by 3-inch adhesive tape. But, there are additional color options (outside of black) that are available.
Effectiveness
Due to the super-aggressive nature of the actual adhesive, this tape is going to stick for a long, long time. For tent repairs, this tape is about as good as it gets (except for the clear version).
Versatility
In addition to being suitable for tents, this adhesive tape will also work well for your other backpacking gear such as dry bags and sleeping bags. It can also repair different types of fabrics, vinyl, and even rubber.
Portability
This is just a single roll of tape so, no matter if you are camping or backpacking, it is going to be easy to account for on your trips.
Ease of Use
Because this is a roll of tape, it will be harder to use it if you do not allow it to flatten out beforehand. As such, you can say that there is a bit of prep time with it.
Overall
There just may not be a better solution for repairing the fabric on your tents and other outdoor gear than this. The effectiveness of the adhesive is top-notch and will last for quite a while.
2. Gear Aid Seam Grip Kit
While the items in this kit can account for any ripping and tearing of your tent, they can also account for some of your other outdoor gear, as well. It is an incredibly versatile kit and that is one of its greatest assets.
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To provide you with the items you need to repair your tents and even your outdoor gear, this kit provides you with two peel-and-stick patches, a brush and also waterproof sealant.
Effectiveness
The tough and durable adhesive used to keep these patches attached will bond to most fabrics out there. It is also going to last quite a long time.
Versatility
Granted the fabric you are trying to apply this too has not been silicone treated, it should work just fine. This can include common fabrics such as leather, canvas, nylon, and polyester.
Portability
This is an incredibly lightweight kit that is going to be incredibly easy to transport. It manages to also be compact, which helps quite a bit.
Ease of Use
Alright, so while applying the patches and sealant is not exactly going to be too tricky, the process can take a while. This is due to the slow-drying nature of the sealant.
Overall
Even though this will take some time to perform its magic, the wait will be well worth it. For abrasions and small tears on your outdoor fabrics, this kit will work wonders.
3. MSR Pole Splint
In terms of versatility, this “kit” is not. What you get from MSR is merely just a pole splint. As you may have guessed, this can come in handy if some of your tent poles break.
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While you only get the one splint with your purchase, it is available in different sizes. The 13-millimeter version will work great for standard-size poles, and the 16-millimeter version will tackle larger tent poles.
Effectiveness
This simple little tool does the trick very well. The tube is made out of a single piece of aluminum with no welds in sight. It is both lightweight and incredibly sturdy.
Versatility
No, this splint will do you no good if you need fabric repairs. At the same time, your tent poles are crucial, and you never know when they could end up breaking.
Portability
As noted, this is a lightweight splint, and this makes transporting it all the easier. It can easily be accommodated for in one of your travel bags.
Ease of Use
Based on user feedback, there has been nothing but positive remarks regarding how this splint works. Pretty much no one has complained about it being too difficult to work with.
Overall
This is an excellent precautionary item that you can tag along on your camping adventures. It works extremely well and will not take up that much room. What more could you ask for?
4. Outfitters Supply Repair Kit
Now, if you are looking for a comprehensive tent repair kit then you need to look closely at this option. Do be aware, though, that it comes with a sewing awl and will require some manual labor.
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Indeed, this kit is loaded with accessories. Outside of the sewing awl that was just alluded to, it also comes with a six-ounce bottle of adhesive, over 30 yards of thread, and several pieces of 10-ounce canvas.
Effectiveness
Everything in this kit works incredibly well, to be honest. Most noteworthy are the sewing awl which will penetrate heavier materials and the adhesive which is UV-resistant, non-toxic, and waterproof.
Versatility
Speaking for the adhesive alone, it is suitable for a wide range of uses and materials. It can be used on clothing, tents, upholstery and even home décor if you would like.
Portability
Though this kit has more items in it to account for than others, nothing is going to be too taxing to transport.
Ease of Use
Some instructions come with this kit, and they are pretty easy to follow overall. However, do be aware that the adhesive is somewhat messy to work with.
Overall
This will be one of the most compelling tent repair kits you will ever see. While some sewing work will be involved, the effectiveness of the contents will be well worth it.
5. Coghlan’s Repair Kit
For the most part, this kit comes with just about everything you will need to make repairs to your nylon tent on the fly. While it is not going to create miracles, it will produce temporary fixes.
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In terms of accounting for different types of accidents, this is one of the better kits out there. It includes shock cord, ferrules, a needle, nylon and mesh patches, and also seam sealant.
Effectiveness
Overall, many of you will be happy with the quality of the items that are included. With that being said, this kit is also not going to be able to repair a tent with loads of damage.
Versatility
This can fix a plethora of issues such as broken tent poles, snapped shock cord, and even abrasions that develop in your tent.
Portability
The packaging that this comes in is reusable. You can always stow away the contents of this kit in one of your carrying bags, though, if you wanted.
Ease of Use
What is nice is this comes with suggestions and tips for common tent repairs. However, for the screen patches to be applied, they will need to be sewn on (they are not adhesive).
Overall
Though no miracle worker, this kit is convenient and will come in handy out in the field. It is also one of the more versatile options on the market, which helps.
6. Triwonder Repair Splints
With this kit, you are provided with four individual aluminum alloy pole splints. While these will not help you mend damaged fabric, they will allow you to quickly repair broken tent poles.
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The cat was let out of the bag as, indeed, you are provided with four aluminum alloy splints. As for their physical size, they measure 13 centimeters in length and 11 millimeters in diameter.
Effectiveness
As these are aluminum alloy splints, you can take comfort in knowing that they are tough and sturdy. Additionally, they will also resist corrosion very well.
Versatility
As is noted, these are suitable for tent poles that sport diameters between 7.9 and 8.5 millimeters. Also, to note, they will work fine with fiberglass poles, as well.
Portability
These are both compact and lightweight, and this makes them rather easy to transport. Even backpackers will have little difficulty accounting for them.
Ease of Use
For the record, you are provided with instructions. You may want to take a look at them beforehand to ensure that you at least vaguely understand how the process is going to work.
Overall
This here is an excellent alternative to packing extra poles (especially if you do not have any extra). They do their job of quickly repairing broken poles. Is there anything else that needs to be said?
7. Stansport Tent Pole Repair Kit
Indeed, this is a tent pole repair kit and it is one of the better ones available. But, if you pack a larger tent with you, you may need two of these to err on the side of caution.
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What you get with this kit is 30 inches of the guidewire, six washers and 45 feet of elastic shock cording. For larger tents, however, you may not be left with that much material afterward.
Effectiveness
Even though there is nothing too special about this repair kit, it does what it needs to do with high effectiveness. It is just stellar, and that is all there is to it.
Versatility
This kit is optimized to secure tent poles back together. But, at the end of the day, it is not going to provide much more usefulness to you.
Portability
All the contents do come packaged for you. But, you may want to store all the accessories in a separate carrying bag to make things easier for you.
Ease of Use
For anyone curious, there are enclosed instructions in this kit. Regarding how long it will take you to thread the shock cord through your poles, it should not take longer than 30 minutes.
Overall
When your tent poles go, that is going to be all she wrote for your tent (unless you have back-up poles). Or, you could just buy this repair kit to be ready for such an instance.
8. Tear-Aid Fabric Repair Kit
Are you looking for quick and temporary fixes to holes and tears? Well, this kit may be just what you are looking for. However, as with most patch kits, this will not work the best on seams.
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This is not a comprehensive kit or anything like that and comes with a five-foot patch roll (that is three inches in width) and alcohol prep pads.
Effectiveness
Here is the deal; the patch roll you are provided with is UV-resistant, cuts easily and will not turn gummy in the heat. With that said, if you treat your canvas with a water repellent afterward, the patch is not going to stay on.
Versatility
Though the patch roll is semi-transparent (so it will be noticed when it is applied), this can still work on a wide range of fabrics. However, as mentioned, it does not work the best on seams.
Portability
The box that this comes in may be a bit cumbersome and awkward for backpackers to pack. Thankfully, you can pack the prep pads and roll individually.
Ease of Use
One thing is for sure; this kit provides a reliable and secure method of patching holes and tears that are present on your tent.
Overall
As there is no such thing as the perfect tent repair kit, this is another excellent choice. Granted you do not mind the somewhat unpleasant look of the patches; you should get great use out of this.
9. Texsport Tent Pole Kit
As the poles of a tent are literally the foundation, it makes sense for you to have some variety in regard to the excellent kits that are available on the market. This is another one of those cases.
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The accessories that are included with this kit are as follows. You receive four fiberglass pole sections, 10 feet of shock cord, 29 inches of leader wire, two vinyl poles caps and zinc-coated steel ferrules.
Effectiveness
Just to note about the fiberglass poles, they tend to be a little inconsistent with their quality. The other accessories are a bit more consistent, however.
Versatility
Look out for other options as this kit is available with three different pole diameters. Either way, the contents included allowing you to repair your tent poles on the fly.
Portability
The packaging is excellent and all. But, once again, shoot to store this kit in a separate carrying bag (or even a backpack).
Ease of Use
To note, you will need to cut the poles to the length at which you need them. As for the entire process, it is a bit time-consuming but nothing fantastically tricky or anything like that.
Overall
You take a slight chance with this kit just due to the inconsistency of the fiberglass poles. A majority of them will work as intended, however, so do not be too nervous or anxious about it.
10. Texsport Shock Cord Kit
Specifically, this kit is going to work with tents that sport shock-corded fiberglass poles. As you can see, it is not the most versatile option out there. But, it does its job rather well.
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Provided for you will be six washers, 30 feet of installation wire and also 45 feet of elastic shock cord.
Effectiveness
While the shock cord may be thinner than you realize, it still works well regardless. However, admittedly, some users have complained about the usefulness of the installation wire.
Versatility
This kit was designed to work with shock-corded fiberglass poles, as was mentioned.
Portability
The actual shock cord itself will take up the most room in your pack. Still, this is another kit that can easily be deemed portable.
Ease of Use
Again, the installation wire does not precisely make threading the shock cord through your tent poles very easy. It is somewhat of a pain to do.
Overall
Yes, this is not the most user-friendly kit on the face of the earth, but few will argue against its results. It is an excellent solution if you need shock-corded fiberglass tent poles repaired.
Sources
- , How to Repair a Tent, Article
- , The Best Gear Repair Kits, According to You, Review
- , Best Tent Repair Kits, Review