Canvas is one of the most hardwearing materials used in the camping world which is what makes it such a good thing to make camping gear out of, but it can also be affected by the elements over time. Whether it’s a tent pole rubbing in the corner every time you setup wearing the canvas thin, or the infestation of mould from not setting your tent or swag back up after a wet trip – if you’re using your tent or swag regularly, it’s going to wear. However there’s a difference between your camping gear wearing through normal use, and it wearing out un-necessarily fast!

The good news is that you don’t need to throw out your canvas camping gear when it suffers issues like these. There are a few really simple fixes that will see your camping gear back to top notch condition for many more camping adventures. Here are a few tips to not only help you get your canvas products back to 100% — we’ll teach you how to keep them forever ready for adventure.

SEASONING YOUR CANVAS

Many of us have made the mistake of purchasing a brand new bit of camping gear like a tent, chucking it in the shed, and not giving it a second thought until it’s getting packed into the 4WD for its first camping trip. While most of the time this won’t present an issue, using an un-seasoned tent or swag during heavy rain could mean you’ll wake up with a waterlogged sleeping bag and an unhappy family.

The reality is that by seasoning your canvas you’re effectively killing two birds with one stone. You’re not only extending the useable life of the camping gear, you’re making sure that it stays watertight the whole camping trip.

HOW TO SEASON YOUR CANVAS

1. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and choose a sunny weekend to set up your new camping gear in the backyard.

2. Make sure all the doors and windows are properly closed so you don’t end up with a pool of water inside your new tent or swag.

3. Grab the hose and wet down the entire tent. It’s a good idea to try and replicate a heavy rain shower, so set the spray pattern on your hose nozzle to a coarse, rain-like spray. Hose the roof, walls, doors and windows for at least half an hour.

4. During the seasoning process, pay special attention to the seams

5. Leave your tent or swag to dry for around four hours, or basically until it’s obviously dry.

6. Repeat this process another three times right across the entire outside of your camping gear. If water is still creeping through the stitched areas, rub some wax over the seams. Plain white candle wax is ideal for this purpose. Avoid using coloured or scented candles.

7. Once you’re satisfied that the tent is keeping out all water, apply a coat of waterproofing spray over the entire surface of the tent, paying special attention to the seams. We chose to use Selleys Water Shield, but there are many other suitable products. Once completely coated, allow the tent to dry.

8. Hose the tent down thoroughly once more. If the water is beading off your new canvas camping gear, then you’ve succeeded in seasoning and waterproofing your tent. If not, allow it to completely dry once more, and apply another coat of waterproofing spray.

WHAT NOT TO DO

While canvas camping gear is one of the toughest materials around, it’s also very sensitive to chemicals and heat. First and foremost, it’s vital that during the seasoning process you allow the canvas to dry naturally rather than applying heat to speed up the process. Heating the canvas not only renders the seasoning process irrelevant, it also makes the fibres of the canvas brittle and weak meaning that the process you’ve just undertaken to extend the life of your tent has had basically the opposite effect.

Keep detergents, cleaning fluids, solvents, and even other simpler, everyday products like hairspray, deodorant and insect repellent well away from your new camping gear. These items can all be harmful to your canvas, and severely reduce the lifespan of your investment.

RIPS AND TEARS

Canvas like many other materials can fall victim to wear and tear, and over time you may see your canvas getting thin or even tearing, especially in high wear areas such as entrance ways or the ends of your camping gear (the bits exposed even when rolled up). If you do find a tear in your canvas, the best solution is to use a canvas repair kit to fix it.

Most canvas camping gear repair kits will come with a pair of canvas patches, a tube of canvas cement and a needle and thread. Some even come with flyscreen repair parts also. The first step is to use the needle and thread to mend the tear as best as possible. Stitch the canvas at close intervals remembering to start and finish the repair with either a knot in the thread or by stitching back and forth in the same place a few times so the thread cannot be pulled through. Then cut your canvas patch so it covers the tear, overlapping by at least 3-4cm on each side, this is important so as to create a good waterproofing seal.

Next, cover the patch you’re making on your camping gear in canvas cement, edge to edge, corner to corner and press down firmly. Allow at least two hours to dry. For an even better finish. patch both the inside and outside of the tear. For repairs larger than 10cm its best to take the tent to a canvas repairer to be machine stitched.

Quite often these fixes are only in an emergency – if you’re wanting to ensure the longevity of your canvas, take it to a reputable canvas worker to get it sewn up and fixed with the industrial gear.