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That time my 'waterproof' tent failed during a surprise storm in the Smokies
I was on a three-night trip and got hit with heavy rain on the second evening. My tent, which I'd trusted for years, started leaking right at the seam over my sleeping bag around midnight. I spent the next few hours trying to mop up with a camp towel, and everything was damp by morning. Has anyone else had a specific brand's 'waterproof' claim totally fall apart on them?
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daniel3911mo ago
Sounds like a seam seal issue, not the fabric.
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wood.jana1mo ago
My buddy's new rain jacket leaked at the seams in a drizzle, which totally backs up what @daniel391 said. The fabric was bone dry but the seals failed.
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A seam failure is still a waterproofing failure in my book. If the whole system can't keep water out, the claim is broken. Daniel391 makes a fair point about the seal, but a tent is more than just fabric. I had a similar thing happen with a well-known brand's fly. The fabric was fine, but the zipper leaked like a sieve in a light drizzle. That's a design flaw, not user error. When you pay for waterproof, you expect the whole thing to work.
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