Lend your Tent

To lend your tent or not to lend your tent. Is that your dilemma?

I have allowed friends to borrow my tents on two occasion and in both cases, the tents were returned damaged from neglect Tents seem to have very little tolerance for abuse when it comes to the sun, wind and moisture.

You might ask, I thought tents were water resistant and made to be exposed to rain and all kinds of moisture. That may be true but they are not made to be exposed to moisture for long periods of time, especially in their stuff sacks.

My first destroyed tent occurred before I started hiking. I lent the family tent to friends for their camping trip to the beach. When returned the tent was packed away nicely in it's stuff sack and all looked well. So I stored it away. When I came to use it again, I discovered it had been packed wet and that mildew had seriously damaged it beyond repair or use.

My second lesson came when I loaned a backpacking tent to a friend for about three months because he had planned several outings. Over the weeks he shared his great weekend winter campout experiences as they occurred. Upon returning the tent it was wet because he had just washed it. I wondered why my tent needed washing because over the years I had never washed a tent other than washing it off with a hose. I soon learned he had washed it in an attempt to clean off the mildew. Once a tent has mildewed, I know of no way to get rid of the stains and smell. Who wants to sleep in a mildewed tent?

My new Rules for lending a tent.

1. Don't Lend (If you do not believe me read on)

2. Do not allow your tent to be used and kept by the borrower for more than one trip.

3. Require your tent to be returned within a couple of days after the trip.

4. When you receive your tent unpack it, that night, and check the poles for damage and lay it out for a complete drying.

Yosemite National Park

Clouds Rest

Cathedral Range

Mount Conness