Sticky fly sheet solution?

[Sooper8]

Hi,

I was gifted a very nice tent last month and came to use it last week. I guessed it hadn't been used for a long time as the innner side of the fly sheet was sticking to itself and smelling a bit of parmesan cheese (I had experienced similar with a rain mac that was kept in a very warm loft for years, so was familiar with the phenomenon)

Anyway, I Googled it and read several hiking forum responses saying that it was too tightly packed, in too warm an environment for too long. The integrity of the fabric might be in question.

On those forums there were many conflicting opinions about how you might go about attempting a fix of it.

Bearing in mind I have next to no spare cash and I really don't want to throw away a great tent- anybody here have anything encouraging to say, or is a tent purely for dry, clear summer nights?

Thanks in advance

[meic]

Do you have enough garden to leave it pegged out overnight, if so then do so to see what it is like. Preferably when it is going to rain, it would probably appreciate the wash.

The rest depends rather a lot on what sort of fabric it is.

[Sooper8]

Do you have enough garden to leave it pegged out overnight, if so then do so to see what it is like. Preferably when it is going to rain, it would probably appreciate the wash.

The rest depends rather a lot on what sort of fabric it is.

I left it on the line the other day, but not in the rain. Smells a bit better but still sticky.

It's a modern type nylon fabric with , I presume, some kind of coating
(it's a North Face Tadpole 23)

[VanDeRooster]

I've seen this a few times on TNF tent, each time they've replaced under warrantee.

Where are you based?

[Sooper8]

I've seen this a few times on TNF tent, each time they've replaced under warrantee.

Where are you based?

I'm in the UK. I mailed North Face and they said it needed to be within 2 years of purchase, returned to shop of purchase.
The tent was given to me and I guess it's over two years old as it doesn't have the the colour coded poles.

But, what would your tactic be? Walk in a store with it? Do you think they would help?

[hamster]

I've had a similar thing happen to my Wild Country (now Terra Nova) Voyager. The proofing layer somehow goes off and disintegrates. I suspect that I left mine slightly damp in storage, but have had a couple of friends with identical tents report the same.
I reproofed mine by buying some new seam tape (the old peeled off with the proofing) and then recoating the repellent layer with Fabsil. I've used it a couple of years but have to admit I have not yet had it in a sustained downpour to test if it has been really successful.

[Sooper8]

I've had a similar thing happen to my Wild Country (now Terra Nova) Voyager. The proofing layer somehow goes off and disintegrates. I suspect that I left mine slightly damp in storage, but have had a couple of friends with identical tents report the same.
I reproofed mine by buying some new seam tape (the old peeled off with the proofing) and then recoating the repellent layer with Fabsil. I've used it a couple of years but have to admit I have not yet had it in a sustained downpour to test if it has been really successful.

Thanks for info. My worry would be when it came to a real test of weather, it would be found wanting.
I am getting help to send it to North Face for an assessment , from the kind folks at Cotswold Outdoor!

[b1galus]

had a similar thing some years ago just stuck the flysheet in the washing machine with some techwash and then tumble dried it it was good as new

[PDQ]

If I was the tent maker and you came to me with an old tent that hadn't been cared for, looking for some kind of warranty claim, I would tell you to stop wasting my time. Nanny society.
Just wash it Techwash as someone has said.

[Sooper8]

If I was the tent maker and you came to me with an old tent that hadn't been cared for, looking for some kind of warranty claim, I would tell you to stop wasting my time. Nanny society.
Just wash it Techwash as someone has said.

Funny you should think the tent hasn't been cared for...? Not sure why you would think that?

Also funny that you think I would be bringing the tent back to you...? With a 'warranty claim'?
Good job it's going to a company who care about customer service eh?

Not sure where the 'nanny state' come into this as TNF are a business that make quality product and obviously want to keep return customers, and value their brand reputation?

Thanks for your +1 on the Techwash though.

[VanDeRooster]

On the handful of occasions we have encountered this in store TNF have acknowledged it was an issue with the coating used and replaced the fly sheet.

North Face offer a lifetime warrantee on their products, if you don't want people to claim don't offer it.

[PDQ]

Well if it stinks of parmesan and is sticky then it was put away wet (damp)and left. Golden rule number 1 broken. But common enough.
Then when you(or someone else)has done it in you expect the manufacturer to replace it. Perhaps "nanny state mentality" is what I should have written it would have been clearer .Someone else to pick up the pieces of poor maintenance.
If it came back to my shop I would just laugh. I think it is really taking to biscuit to expect something.
Wash it, air it and it may well come back petty good, but depending how bad it is it may not be the tent it was.

[willem jongman]

Maybe this helps: http://www.sierradesigns.com/t-TentCare.aspx