My $40 tent failed in a rainstorm last weekend near Lake Tahoe

Last Saturday night I was camping up near Emerald Bay and the forecast said light showers. I figured my cheapo tent from Target could handle it since I had used it maybe 4 times before. By midnight the rain was coming down steady and I woke up with water pooling in the corner near my sleeping bag. The seams on the rainfly just weren't sealed right and the floor had a slow leak right where my head was. I spent the rest of the night sitting in my car watching the tent sag. Has anyone else had a budget tent fall apart on them during a storm like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

paul_taylor211mo agoTop Commenter

Man that sucks, I feel your pain lol nothing worse than a wet sleeping bag at 2am.

quinncarr1mo ago

Did you check the tent's seam tape before you set it up, or did you just assume it was good since it was new? I've had similar disasters with budget tents, and I swear the seam sealing on those things is hit or miss right out of the box. I'm wondering if you gave it any kind of once-over, or if you just rolled the dice and trusted the packaging. Because I've learned the hard way that a quick rub with some seam sealer before a trip can save you a whole lot of misery.

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