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Got given an old North Face Tadpole but it needs some new poles (8.5mm aluminium) and reproofing, seems to be lots of advice online so I'm not sure what is the best stuff to use or where sells decent poles? Thanks in advance.
Is it delaminated or just lost it's water repellancy? If it's the latter I just wash my tent in the nikwax wash in stuff and it works pretty well. If the former then I don't know, I have a phreeranger that is basically dandruff now so reduced to play tent/windbreak duties sadly.
I've always wondered if spraying them with silicone spray would make them waterproof again
It's not delaminated & I've washed it in the nikwax stuff as it was pretty smelly, but I think the seams need sealing. I'll see what the water repellency is like once it's dried 🤔
you can buy seam sealent, ive used the mcnett stuff and its good but fiddly. I think i put the tent up inside out then painted it on.
I also used some stuff from go outdoors but it was a bit rubbish - came in a sort of roll on applicator. It peeled off pretty quick
If the laminate is still there it should be ok and you just want the dwr back so hopefully it's good.
these guys do pole sets but there are others - mate just had some custom poles made up
http://www.scottishmountaingear.com/repair-service/pole-repairs
@kormoran thanks for the pole repair link, so long as I can get it waterproof they sound like a good bet 👍
I just remembered I did the seams with a bit of masking tape either side of the seam so got a good neat line of sealant.