How to weather your new Outwell polycotton tent

Have you bought a new polycotton tent? Then you should weather it before your first trip. Weathering is also called seasoning. Set up the tent, soak it with a garden hose and let it dry. Do this 1–2 times. The cotton fibres swell and close the tiny gaps in the fabric, so your tent is ready for both rain and sun.

Why does a polycotton tent need weathering?

Our polycotton tents are made from Outtex® Airtech, a blend of polyester and cotton. The polyester makes the fabric strong and light. The cotton gives a comfortable climate inside the tent.

When cotton gets wet, the fibres swell and close the small gaps between the threads. Rain stays outside, but moisture from inside can still escape. This means there is less condensation in a polycotton tent than in a fully synthetic tent. It also stays cooler when it is hot and warmer when it is cold.

A brand-new polycotton tent has never been wet, so the fibres have not swelled yet. If you skip weathering, a little water may come through the first time it rains. This also applies if the tent has been in storage for a long time.

How to weather your polycotton tent: step by step

1. Choose a dry day. The tent must dry completely between each soaking. Plan for about one day.
2. Set up the tent completely. Use all pegs and guy lines so the fabric is tight and has no creases.
3. Loosen the guy lines a little. Polycotton shrinks slightly when wet. If the fabric is too tight, it can put stress on the seams and poles.
4. Soak the whole tent with a garden hose. Use clean water and a gentle spray. Soak the roof, the sides and especially the seams. Do not use a pressure washer, soap or cleaning products.
5. Let the tent dry completely.
6. Repeat once more if needed. In most cases, 1–2 times is enough to make the fabric watertight.
7. Look for drips. Go inside the tent while it is wet. Look for places where water comes through, especially along the seams.
8. Tighten the guy lines again when the tent is dry.

Tip: Use weathering as a test run. You can practise setting up your tent without stress and check that all parts are included before your trip.

Small drips along the seams – is this normal?

Yes. When a tent is sewn, the needle makes thousands of tiny holes along the seams. In a polycotton tent, almost all of them close by themselves when the thread and fibres swell during weathering.

If one spot still drips after 1–2 soakings, you can seal it with a little seam sealer, for example Outwell Seam Grip. Apply it when the tent is completely dry.

Always dry your polycotton tent completely before packing it away

This is the most important advice for anyone with a polycotton tent. Cotton that is packed away damp can start to grow mould within a few days. Mould stains are often impossible to remove and can damage the fabric.

• Let the tent dry completely, both after weathering and after a trip in the rain.
• If you must pack the tent away wet, set it up again and let it dry as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours.
• Store your tent in a dry place with good air flow, not in a damp basement or storage room.

Read more in our guide to tent care and storage.