Finally figured out why my tent kept leaking after 4 trips

I kept blaming my rainfly for getting wet inside until I noticed I was pitching it too tight against the tent body. Last weekend at Indian Creek, I gave it some slack and kept the vestibule open a crack for airflow. No condensation at all the whole night, even with heavy dew. Does anyone else fight with tent setup tricks this much, or is it just me?

2 comments

2 Comments

betty_shah5d ago

...yeah that tension thing is a killer, I did the exact same thing with my first tent for like two years before I figured it out. I started leaving my rainfly a little loose too, and it made such a huge difference. Also found that cracking the vestibule even just an inch lets way more moisture escape than you'd think... I actually started using little sticks to prop the vestibule open on calm nights so it doesn't flap. The whole "seal everything tight" instinct is wrong for most three season camping. Once you get that airflow figured out, the tent stays so much drier inside.

the_karen5d ago

Totally feel you on this one. I went through the exact same struggle for way too long, thinking I was just bad at camping or had a defective tent. The whole "keep everything tight" mindset is so drilled into us from day one, it feels wrong to leave anything loose. That vestibule trick with the stick is genius, I've been using a small rock to prop mine open on calm nights and it works perfectly. It's wild how much a tiny bit of airflow changes everything inside the tent, especially with morning dew. So glad you finally cracked the code, it makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable now doesn't it?