Tent Repair Kits

What a tent repair kit is for

A small tear, a hole from a spark or a peg, or a seam that has started to leak does not mean a new tent. A patch or a strip of repair tape seals it and keeps the tent in use, on the campsite or at home. The repairs in this range are self-adhesive patches and tapes, for flysheets, groundsheets, awnings, tarps and air beds, and hot-melt tape for sewn seams. A roll weighs very little, so it can live in the tent bag.

Clear patches, ripstop, heavy-duty tape or seam tape

• Clear TPU patches and tape come as 7.5cm square patches or a roll, and suit smooth, non-stretchy fabric: tents, raincoats, air mattresses and swimming rings. Being clear, they blend in. See inflatable air tents.
• Ripstop repair tape, 5cm wide and 5m long, is a tear-resistant grid film for tents, kites and sails.
• Heavy-duty tape for canvas, tarpaulin, vinyl and awnings comes in widths up to 18cm and lengths up to 12m, some in colours to match. See car awnings.
• Hot-melt seam sealing tape, 20m long, is ironed onto sewn seams of PU-coated waterproof fabric to stop them leaking.

Making a patch hold

A patch is only as good as the surface under it. Repair the tent dry, and clean the area of dust, sand and grit first. Cut the patch to cover the tear with room to spare all round, and round off its corners, because square corners are where a patch starts to peel. Smooth it on from the middle outwards, then press it hard; one product says to press it under a heavy weight. On a coated fabric, one maker says to lightly roughen the coating first. Where you can reach both sides, a patch on each side makes a stronger repair.

Leaking seams

Many tents have tape over their seams from the factory, and with age it can lift and let water through the stitch holes. Hot-melt seam tape is laid over the seam and pressed with a household iron, with a thin cloth between the iron and the tape so the iron never touches it directly. One tape here gives medium to medium-high heat. Do it at home, flat on a table, not on the campsite.

Questions people ask about tent repairs

Can I repair an air tent or an air bed?

The TPU tapes are sold for air mattresses and inflatables. One tape says it is not for underwater use or every inflatable, so read each product.

Is there a repair for a broken pole?

A new pole of the same diameter and length is the lasting fix. See tent poles.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.

More to look at

• Tent poles
• Groundsheets and footprints
• Guy lines
• Inflatable air tents
• Tarps and tarp shelters
• Car awnings
• Guide: How to pitch a tent, and pitching in wind and rain
• Guide: Tent care: cleaning, drying, storing and repairs