Nikwax SolarProof: geni.us/tqRfPrH Nikwax Solarwash: geni.us/B0ScCaE Seam Sealer: geni.us/6zbWgB0

I like that you didn't try to fake the rip test. You showed the results, as they happened, including your reaction. That speaks a lot to honesty.

You have a gift for making important but sometimes boring topics interesting and entertaining! I hear/see a lot of people thinking their tents are leaking when it is usually just condensation build up!

Once had my tent (not all weather rated) ice over during some unseasonably cold weather as a result of leaking and condensation (I could feel the early stages of hypothermia). My buddy with a much better tent had the exact same issue. Last time I was camping I layed my pretty basic military poncho over my tent. Woke up to a bone dry tent.

Just a little personal insight. I have been hiking since the 1970s, using all of the waterproofed fabrics, and currently use a high end DCF tarp over my hammock. When it comes to moisture under a tarp or tent fly, you will find that, in 100% humidity (fog/clouds) you will have moisture on the inside and outside of your waterproof fabric or laminate (DCF). Your insulation will also absorb the fog. You won't even need to be in your tent or under your tarp to find moisture buildup. Also: Water molecules are cohesive (they stick together), and will form a sheet which covers fabrics and laminates and adds weight. My Hammock Gear Winter Palace Tarp with doors weighs a hair under a pound when dry. After an injury sent me home from the AT a week ago. I forgot to dry it out for 7 days after packing it in the snakeskin after a night of heavy rain. Just for scientific purposes I weighed it, wet. It weighed one pound, 8.5 ounces. DCF does not absorb water, but it doesn't have any treatment that breaks up the water molecules and causes them to bead up and roll off, either.

I’m glad you covered this. A buddy of mine was having issues conceiving that he was causing all the moisture buildup in his shelter just simply by breathing and that you actually have to do maintenance on your gear!

The shower scene was funny!!! Love it!!!

This is the outdoor-content I want more of! Short and informative. I know a fair bit about camping in the rain but I had honestly never heard about the UV-issue before so I'll be picking up some Nikwax asap for our new tent!

Great video, Steven. I really like what you've been doing over the past several months. I love the detail and attention you give and provide on the topics you cover.

Actually made me laugh out loud with the shower scene. “Is somebody in here?” 🤫

Finally someone who makes videos that are simple and short and actually give useful advice

I’m just getting into spending more time outdoors and your videos are proving invaluable sir, helping me make much better purchases armed with the right info! Keep ‘em up 👍

The shower part with justin was hilarious!!!

I just got back from a week in Acadia, there was rain/moisture every day I was there. The tent preformed better than I anticipated, however now I definitely need to retreat it.

45-50 years ago I had a Coleman tent, an 8’X10’ family tent. It was a single wall tent made of Egyptian long staple cotton. Moisture breathed through to the outside. Two adults and 2 grade schoolers, plus wet towels and swim suits were dry and comfortable. But the tent and frame were quite heavy. My guess is that the wool felt yurts in Mongolia are similar. No internal sweating. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

You nailed the issues: site selection and ventilation 100% (and sealed seams, of course)

This is it! This is the first backpacking video I ever saw. I watched this on the 16th of July 2022. After that, the algorithm took over, and only 2 weeks later, I went on my first backpacking trip! Spent the last 45 minutes scrolling down my UKposts history to uncover what it was that started the adventure I've been on for the past year. Sort of anti-climactic that it was just a random video about Nikwax lol. I have no idea why I clicked it. I didn't even own a tent at the time. Anyway, gotta give credit where credit is due. If it wasn't for you Steven, I likely wouldn't be flying to Iceland next week to hike Laugavegur trail. So thanks a bunch!

I always love your videos and while I watch these since I do alot of moto camping and hiking this video inspired me for a completely different reason. When I am not riding my motorcycle or I am up at camp I use a cover for the bike to protect it from the harmful UVs as well as weather and every year I have to shell out around $50+ dollars for a new cover since the UVs make it tear and leak after less that a year. Now that I think about it, it is made exactly out of the same material as a tent and I had never thought of treating it with a product like Nikwax. It may not be the most cost effective since these covers are not expensive like a good tent but it does feel like a waste tossing one a year in the landfills. Thanks for the great work. Not sure if you have ever seen the mind blowing tests on products done by Project Farm and while I don't use a lot of the products he tests I still watch the videos since I am blown away by his simple methodology. I am going to suggest he test these sorts of products on nylon since he takes suggestions and has done one I suggested in the past.

Just found your channel. Gotta say, your audio levels are perfect. Nothing worse than high and low audio when speaking. Really really good content, production - right to the point with no filling. Thanks!

I've been using a North Face Lunarlight for 30 years. I finally decided to retire it. I can only remember one occasion when I had a problem with heavy rain in the foot area. And the last ten years I was leaving the tent up in the bush for 4 months covered with a tarp to protect it from the sun. Never had a problem with rain or water inside the tent. What I had a problem with was my siltarps. After years of exposure to sun the wind finally ripped through them and tore them to shreds. Now I stay away from siltarps and I'm ready to replace my tent with an old MSR Fusion 2 that I've been keeping for many years.

Nice review, skinny! I Nikwax Solar Proofed my beloved Moss Outland. At home I hang my tent up loose.

The production value on this is topnotch!

This channel is a gold needle in a haystack of boring channels 30x bigger. I always enjoy your videos to the fullest, so a big thank you is in order!

Avid hiker, camper here growing into backpacking. Your videos are so informative and real. Seriously appreciate your content. Thank you.

I love seeing how hard you really tried to pull the second one lol. Thanks for the video!

I always know every video put out on your channel will never waste my time. Topics are calculated and condensed into entertaining and thoughtful episodes.

I like that the test was honest even though not really useful...

Very informative & love the cameo by Justin! 🤣 🚿

I Have Been Camping Once However This Videos Are Entertaining And Informative.

I was troubled by condensation dropping down on me as tiny ice crystals when I camped in below-zero conditions. The fix was to turn an old cotton sheet into a tent liner. Unlike nylon, cotton absorbs water and won't drip. The downside is that it was heavy.

Thanks for letting me know early this was an ad 👍

I have just started following your content... it's really great. Thanks a lot for doing it. May also be worth mentioning seam sealing. I've had some tents (tunnel type) that got elongated needle holes, that eventually needed seam sealing.

Very much find your content very solid with good breakdowns and examination of issues. You tent fabric test clearly demonstrates your honesty, very much appreciate your channel. Subscribed.

I love your brevity and information density!

Great Video.. I have a question: Why not solar proof both sides of the rainfly?

One way to totally avoid condensation is to use a double skinned tent - ie one which has tent material on the inner tent instead of the mesh. My tent is a Tarp tent Stratospire 2 - the 4 seasons version that has a solid inner with only has some mesh on 2 vertical faces of the inner tent. Another bonus id your tent doesn't fill up with water when pitching in the rain before the fly is throw over. My previous tent also didn't has mesh - never had condensation dripping on my sleeping bag. There is of course condensation on the inside of the vestibule - leaving it partially open helps here.

For tents with vestibules, moisture from the ground can also cause/add to condensation inside your tent

Pull test reminded me of Uncle Ricos customer trying to tear the polymer bowl in Napoleon Dynamite

Very good, very helpful as have been flummoxed by the condensation/ventilation issue

Love the cameo from Justin!!

I take the dehumidifiers you can buy in most general stores. They really help for condensation

Very helpful video as always! That shower scene totally caught me offguard. I was cracking up!

I loved how the CC depicted "tint" every time he said tent 😆

nice testing. The scientific torque value you displayed on the screen made me forget that this video was a paid ad.

Nice. In future videos you can try to bend tent poles

I love the scientific method. well done. actually a very good presentation. yabadaba doo

Cool tips. My tents are all pretty old and could probably use some conditioning.

Thanks for the tip about Nikwax! I've just ordered some. A question - can it go on bug screen?

Even in the winter, I still sleep commando ☺️.

Great content; valuable, yet insightful information. Keep it up, my friend and you will see your channel grow! 👍

I love your videos, all straight to the point! subbed!

FYI as someone who sews, most fabric will rip along the grain if you tear it like that (even brand new) you can use it to find the straight grain.

If it's sunny around lunchtime (=breaktime) I usually unpack my tent and my sleeping bag / quilt and let them sun dry. Then I have a dry tent at night and a dry (=warmer) sleeping bag at night ;) This obviously works best if there's a spare bench/picnic table setup where you have lunch, because otherwise ground moisture may condensate on the bottom of your stuff, like it does if you try to sun dry a ground sheet on grass in the morning...lol, the wet bottom side is dry but the formerly dry top is now moist :-( (Yes, I know, UV damage, but it's only for a short period of time until they are dry)

Do you recommend treating brand new tents before use? I just got a Seek Cimmeron for backcountry hunting, and a Nemo Wagontop 8p for family trips. Should I use the Nikwax before using them?

this video is great. the reason i like this video is because of how great it is.

Quick tip for condensation. Use a tiny battery operated fan to circulate air inside the tent. Hang near top. Godspeed!

yeah, these kind of materials are meant for tensile capability instead of shear. so if you tear it instead of pulling, it rips apart. in the outdoor scenario wind stretches the tent, it doesn't spear/poke through.

Another chefs kiss. Great video

Love your videos!! Always!! Boy you are good! 😊🤗 superb video!!

Good Video. Helpfull and on point.

Loved the guest cameo 😂🤣

Hey Thanks great video and info

Nice Steven! For the environmentally conscious, Nikwax Solarproof is composed of zirconium acetate. Non-adsorbing thru skin and gastrointestinal track. The only exposure to control is to Avoid breathing the mist during application, as that likely deposits zirconium on lung tissue. If you want verification, read the MSDS (material safety data sheet) for the product.

Great advice for the homeless

Super easy fix...TARP! LOL, just messing, I'm a tarp and hammock guy but used a tent for years. But it was a double walled tent and never had an issue.

Just got my first sleeping bag with a dwr coating and now I embrace the condensation.

I live and hike in Scotland so doesn't matter where you go, condensation follows you everywhere you go 😂

Can you tell me your opinion of the big cut out in the fly on the back of tents like the hornet and the dragonfly? Doesn't that make it effectively a single wall tent in the back? More prone to condensation on the inside?

Wonderful information.✌

3:00 back to the gym Steven. OK seriously now, great vid!

I bought a decathlon trek 900 and when I used it for the first time in light rain it really got condensation buildup

I am a taller hiker and I have been paranoid about getting the footbox of my down quilt wet from condensation when I naturally rub against the wall of the tent while sleeping. A recent hack has helped minimize condensation dramatically to where I no longer have to worry about my foot box. I have used it on a few very humid nights and I have not had any water on my footbox when the primary tent wall did have substantial condensation. I put four velcro tabs on the lower part of my inner tent wall at my foot end placed in a rectangle about 15 inches tall and across the width of my single person tent. The matching pieces of velcro are then used to attach a small piece of polycryo to act as a second tent wall. I left the polycryo a little loose so that the piece sags slightly in the middle and allows any condensation that does fall onto the outer side of the polycryo to drain down and out the mesh liner outside of my bathtub floor. This adds just about an ounce to the weight of the tent.

thank you

I wonder if a large rice and silica bead pack would help with condensation.

Is the nikwax also the good product for a silicone based impregnated tent? Thanks

Good stuff. Loved the cameo.

My Gortex shell is no longer waterproof. Can I use this same technique to waterproof my jacket?

It was very helpful. Too bad I just threw my old tent away after finding few leaks :(

Hello from România, good video ,big like !

I've been thinking about using a USB PC fan and a USB battery bank and rigging them up so it blows out out the vent on the tent to help improve airflow and combat condensation.

Would have been nice to see the seam sealer applied.

Thanks I never heard of cleaning the tent first. I will throw it in the washer..............made you think. 😁 Seriously though I just got a used tent in very good condition but I want to waterproof it just the same. Tnx again.

countless nights i have exposed myself to the forces of nature and finally i have found you and your channel to erase the last traces of my unknowingness.

I have solarwash and solarproof my tents isn't leaking do I have to wett twnt before I reproof it?

"Even in dry climates you will deal with condensation". Laughs in southern Californian/Arizonan. I have literally never experienced tent condensation in my life. Guess that's the trade off for having constant chapped lips and dry skin.

Nice save bro cool video

Hmm, have you ever seen condensation in an empty tent? I mean if there was nobody for some time. I am tying to say, condensation in tent is not related to humidity outside of the tent. It is the moisture from breath and from the body condensating on the wall when the temperature outside is lower then inside - the wall is the coolest part in the tent then and triggers the condensation. I don't think the plase can help... Unless it is related to outside temperature. It is always lower temperature near the water :) so in the end your advice can help.

I'm curious is it the same wax ingredient with the car wax and wash ?peace

The condensation issue is why when backpacking i runs a hammock and fly setup

SolarProof: Great for when the sun comes along and tries to rip up your tent with its bare hands! 🤣

That Nemo is a sweet tent

which brands are good ? 300 Aed - 500 Aed Budget

Where did you hear the 1 liter of vapor per person?

Wild going into someone's shower room to make a point... 🚿

I had better results with the cheaper sprays from Walmart than I did with Nikwax; which actually smelled terrible and seemed sticky.

you really said, ok it teared fast also :))))

I'd add one thing. don't camp by water sources, full stop. I know it's very instagrammable but it's not good for other water users or sometimes not that safe, flash floods and tides are things. Nearby, yes, but the general rule in the UK is to camp no nearer than 200m to a water source to avoid cross contamination/pollution of the source. Leave No Trace.

Are you using a new audio setup? The audio seemed a little more sharp and "poppy" than usual.

Has anyone tried using a battery-operated fan to help push air out of the top of a dome tent to reduce condensation?

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