Moldy Tents
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by This Month's QuestionQ. I have got a The North Face Mountain 25 Tent which I am really pleased with, can you tell me how to get small [mold] spores out from the fly? I guess this is what they are, just moisture that has stayed from packing the tent after overnighting. I always try and wipe it down in the morning and after the trip is finished let it dry out completely. Any ideas on how to minimize moisture condensation that arises in the morning, seems to saturate the floor and sides.
Thanks,
Harnam
A. Hi Harnam,
Completely drying out your tent is extremely important and harder to do than most folks think. The tiniest bit of moisture can cause mildew and stain, not to mention stink, inside your tent. I try to set up my tent after use and completely dry it out. Indoors, you can use a fan or blow dryer to accomplish this. Outside, I try to do it on a deck, raised off the ground with adequate air flow around and through the tent. This may seem like a hassle but it’s well worth the effort to extend the life of your tent. Keep in mind pretty much all manufacturer’s warranties do not cover mildew or mold spores build up on tent surfaces. We carry an excellent product by McNett Industries called Mirazyme.
Its active enzymes will destroy the mildew, keeping it from further damaging your tent. It may or may not remove the stains; it really depends on how far along the growth is. It will remove any moldy smell though. As far as morning condensation buildup goes, it's all about ventilation. 4 season tents such as your Mountain 25 are notorious for limited ventilation; that's their nature. Full coverage flys and hardly any mesh in the tent body are the main culprits.
Try not pulling the fly completely tight to the ground to allow some airflow
up and around the inner tent body. Besides the two small side vents, leave the
2 doors open slightly at their tops to allow even more air flow—you want
air moving around. Your warmth comes from your pad
and sleeping
bag, not the tent, so let it flow. Good luck and happy camping!
Bob
This month's Gear Guru question was submitted by Harnam from New Zealand. He will receive a Nalgene bottle for his question. Enjoy Harnam!
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