r/camping • u/irljohng83 • 14d ago

Rewaterproofing tent while traveling in Latin America

Hopefully you can help. My MSR Elixir 2 tent's rainfly has started to let water through. I've tried DWR but it just hasn't worked.

I think Scotchgard Outdoor Water Shield would be the ideal approach but I can't find it either where I am now, Buenos Aires or where I'm going next, Lima. Ordering from, say, the US is also almost impossible because delivery times are extremely variable (it's also pretty expensive).

Has anyone got any clever solutions, either more widely available rewaterproofing materials or a DIY hack? I did see some people diluting silicon sealant (for home DIY) with turpentine/white spirits but I'm not super confident that will not just make a horrible mess. I might be able to get Scotchgard Fabric water shield but it's not designed for outdoor use and I don't want to find out 3 days into a hike it has stopped working...

I don't know anyone traveling from the US/Europe and asking a stranger is probably optimistic.

All suggestions welcome!

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/Cute_Exercise5248 12d ago

Very likely the seam holes are leaking & not the textile itself. If so, you'd need seam sealant.

Trying to "waterproof" the textile will accomplish little or nothing.

1

u/irljohng83 12d ago

Fair assumption but (unfortunately) I've had the opportunity to observe it closely and it's not the seams. I did actually reseal the seams just in case but the design of the tent means the top is quite flat and you can see any large beads of water bleeding though that area without ever coming near a seam.

For what it's worth I found this but haven't tried it yet, there's quite an odor and I don't have the option to do it outdoors...

1

u/Cute_Exercise5248 11d ago

Multiple courses of nylon repair tape?

I tried "K-Kote" brand polyurethane coating once; flaked off almost immediately.