Q. Dear Gear Guy, I have a tent with a waterproof fly, but I still get wet. Why is that?
—Soggy Samuel, Morristown, Ind.
A. Hey Soggy Sam. Thanks for the question. There are a couple reasons you’re getting wet. First off, if you’re not staking out your tent and fly correctly, water will definitely find its way into your tent. You need to make sure the rainfly’s lines are taut and that it keeps the fly off the fabric of your tent. It’s also possible your rainfly isn’t waterproof. Over time the tent’s factory-applied waterproofing can wear off—and then you get wet!
Here’s how to re-waterproof your rainfly and tent. Start with a tube of Monet’s Seam Grip (about $7; mcnett.com). Put your rainfly on top of your tent inside out and carefully reseal all the seams (those are the parts where there’s stitching and the fabric is sewn together). Also apply Seam Grip along the perimeter of the floor inside your tent. Next, flip your rainfly over, pitch it properly andspray it with a silicone waterproofer like McNett’s Thunder Shield (also about $7). That should keep you dry for a good long time.
