Tents, like all outdoor gear, begin to loose their waterproof coating over time and this leads to leaks, especially in heavy rain. You might wake up in the night to find your once waterproof tent has let the rain in and soaked all your camping gear, but why and how do you fix it?
If you have used your tent for 2-3 weeks a year for a few years, it’s high time you re-waterproofed it with some tent waterproofing spray. Not only will this extend the life of your tent, but you’ll also avoid the moment when leaks begin to happen by not leaving it too late.
There are hundreds of tent waterproofing sprays to chooses from but which is the best tent waterproofing spray for your tent? That is what we are here to find out. We looked at hundreds of tent waterproofing sprays to come up with this list of the best, so you can be sure you’ve got the best one for you.
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Best Of The Best
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Best On A Budget
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Best Allrounder
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The GEAR AID Tent Waterproofing Spray isn’t just for use on tents, you can use it on nylon and any other breathable waterproof fabric like your rain jacket or backpack. The list doesn’t stop there, it’ll even work on leather.
It’s a water-based waterproofing spray that doesn’t contain any PFC’s or silicone which can be harmful to breathe in while applying it.
The spray is easy to apply, just sent up your tent and begin spraying the rainfly to give it a full coat.
Once applied it retains the fabric’s breathability so you won’t begin to overheat and it also does a good job of repelling any oils or dirt to help keep your tent clean.
It drys quickly, so there is not much waiting around, and it’s odor-free, so no chemical smells for you to deal with during the drying process or on your next camping trip. It drys so quickly, you could even take it in your backpack to use in a waterproofing emergency if you get a weather window.
The only downside of this spray is that it only works on nylon tents, so be sure to check your tent material before you buy it.
Kiwi Camp Dry is a silicone-based waterproofing spray that bonds the fabric of your tent together to form a tough waterproof layer. It can be used on all your outdoor gear (bar performance fabrics), so if your tent is polyester, this spray will be fine, but it works best on nylon.
The spray doesn’t contain any harmful substances that could impair your health like fluorocarbons or VOC’s but it does contain isobutene and propane which aren’t very eco-friendly.
Applying it is easy, just spray it on your tent. You will have to do two coats for it to be 100% effective and the drying smell isn’t very nice, it smells a bit like paint. The good news is that once dry it is odor-free, so as long as you dry it out, you’ll be able to camp without any toxic smells.
Once applied it does soften the tent fabric and it retains breathability so you can rest assured you’re not going to start overheating in the night.
The Scotchgard Heavy Duty Water Shield is an excellent choice if you want a long-lasting waterproof barrier but you’re going to have to sacrifice your eco-friendliness to get it and wait for a lingering chemical smell to pass before using your tent.
You can use this spray on pretty much any tent, from nylon to polyester but its best application is for canvas tents. it also works great on backpacks, umbrellas, outdoor furniture, and more.
Applying it is easy, just spray it on. You only need one coat of this stuff but you will experience a chemical smell that lingers and you won’t want to camp in that. It’s best to let it dry out until the smell is 100% gone.
Once applied it retains breathability and is pretty long-lasting as far as waterproofing sprays go. It does contain some nasty petroleum substances, so by using it you’re not helping the environment very much.
The Nikwax Softshell Proof Waterproofing Spay is one of the best choices for versatility and the environment. It contains no harmful substances, is odor-free and it’s biodegradable too, so as it washes off your tent, it’s not harming the ground it lands on.
Applying it should be easy as it’s a spray-on, but the nozzle is a little tricky and does need to getting used to. Make sure you work it out before applying it so you don’t waste any.
Once applied it dries with no smells and provides an effective water-repellent barrier. It will soften the fabric you spray it on and will also maintain its breathability.
You can use it on any synthetic fabric that has 4-way stretch including polyester, nylon, and Gore-Tex. It might be worth getting a few bottles to do all your gear with.
There are no downsides to the Nikwax Softshell Proof Waterproofing Spay, you just need to get used to the nozzle, and for its eco-friendly properties, we highly recommend it.
Sof Sole Silicone Waterproofer Spray is one of the most affordable waterproofing sprays in the review and it works on any material that isn’t breathable.
In case you’re wondering, your rainfly, whether it’s polyester or nylon is not breathable in order to keep the rain out, but your inner tent is breathable, so do not apply it there.
The spray contains a 12% silicone formula that creates a durable and long-lasting waterproof bond. Not only does it repel water, but also oils and dirt to keep your rainfly clean.
Applying it is easy, just spray away but you will need to do 2 coats to ensure it’s effective. While applying, you’ll want to cover your mouth and nose so as not to breathe in the intense odors, plus we’d recommend drying it outside and make sure the odor has gone before your next camping trip.
It doesn’t retain breathability, so make sure you don’t use it on any performance gear like Gore-Tex or it will ruin its valuable properties.
Atsko Sno-Seal Water-Guard is simply one of the best tent waterproofing sprays around. It’s so versatile that you can pretty much spray it on anything from Gore-Tex to nylon, polyester, and canvas.
Not only does it create a durable and long-lasting water-repellent coating but it will also protect your gear from fungus, UV damage, dirt, and oils. And since it’s breathable, you could literally cover every part of your tent with it to give you complete protection. Plus you can spray your backpack, rain jacket, shoes, anything.
It is pretty easy to apply, just spray but you’ll have to keep on shaking the can to keep the spray flowing. While applying it there are some odors but once dry there is no smell whatsoever.
Once applied and dried correctly, this spray should last at least two seasons or more, so you won’t have to re-apply so often.
If you’re looking for some seriously tough tent waterproof spray then 303 Aerospace Fabric Guard Water Repellant might be right up your street. It’s designed for use in the harshest environments, like at sea where salt and UV damage fabrics quickly.
It’s certainly not eco-friendly, it cant be be that powerful. You should take caution not to breathe any of it in, and beware of the odors while it is curing.
It comes as a spray but not an aerosol, so you can avoid being fogged while applying it. The application is easy, just be sure to wear a protective face coating.
Once applied and dried fully, which takes 6-12 hours, it provides an excellent water-repellent coating that also repels dirt, oils, fungus, and protects from UV damage too.
While it is powerful, it’s not good for you or the planet, so bear that in mind. It is also pretty expensive compared to the others.
There are quite a few things to consider when buying a tent waterproofing spray and you’re going to need to get them all right to be a happy camper in the end.
As you can see from the products above, no two sprays are exactly the same and you’ll need to match your materials and personal preferences to the right spray for you.
Some sprays work on all materials, whether they are breathable or not. Other sprays work just on nylon and others on anything that is not breathable.
The first thing you need to do is confirm what your rainfly is made of. Is it nylon, polyester, or canvas and is it breathable or not?
Once you know the answer to these questions you can narrow down the search to a few different sprays.
Some Tent Waterproofing Sprays are eco-friendly and bio-degrade, others contain harmful substances for the environment and as they shed off your tent over time, will go into the soil and water table. This is of course a personal choice to make, but if being ECO is important to you, there is only one choice, Nikwax Softshell Proof Waterproofing Spay.
Some of the Tent Waterproofing Sprays in the review are odor-less while applying and others are odor-less once dried. Make sure to read the reviews carefully and always make sure that any odors are fully gone before you go on your next camping trip, as some will be harmful to your health.
Some of the sprays will also require two coats to be fully effective and some dry faster than others, these are all personal choices that you need to make decisions around before you buy.
When we talk about the versatility of Tent Waterproofing Sprays, we mean two things. Does it just repel water or more? And, how many fabrics does it work on?
Some sprays in the review just repel water, others repel water, dirt, and oils, and some even more than that. It;’s worth opting for one that repels more than just water because why wouldn’t you?
You should also think about what else you might want to waterproof like your Gore-Tex jacket, boots, or backpack. Some of the sprays are so versatile that they almost work on everything. If you’re looking for a waterproofing spray that works on pretty much every material out there and repels dirt, oils, UV, and fungus, then the Atsko Sno-Seal Water-Guard is the one for you.
The best tent waterproofing spray is the Nikwax Softshell Proof Waterproofing Spay. Not only does it provide a breathable, softening, water-repellent layer on a lot of fabrics but it is also eco-friendly, odor-free, and biodegradable. By choosing this product you’re choosing to protect the environment and waterproof your tent at the same time
The best tent waterproofing sprays if you’re looking to save a few bucks is the Sof Sole Silicone Waterproofer Spray. It’s easy to apply and can be used on all tent rainflys that aren’t breathable (most aren’t). You’ll need to use 2 coats but once it’s dried, you’ll have long-lasting water, dirt, and oil-repellent coating. Beware of the intense odors on this one.
The all-round best tent waterproofing spray is the Atsko Sno-Seal Water-Guard. Not only does it give you an effective water-repellent coating that lasts longer than most others, but it also protects against fungus, oils, stains, and UV. You can use it on pretty much anything, from Gore-Tex to canvas, polyester, and nylon, covering pretty much all your outdoor gear with one product.