I got this tent that I bought mid-2020 and left it in my shed for a while. When I finally pulled it out for a trip, the thing’s all sticky. I think the heat in my attic made the seams or coating kinda melt. Anyone know how to fix this? Don’t wanna ruin the material more.
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Lol, seems like sticky tents are like a rite of passage for hikers 
. Had a Marmot do the same. You can also try baby powder or talcum powder after cleaning it, helps reduce the tackiness.
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It could be time to upgrade, tbh. Once that coating starts to break down, it’s hard to fully fix. Maybe look at something like the REI Half Dome series—better ventilation so it won’t get as sticky if it sits for a while
Before you do anything crazy, try vinegar mixed with water. It breaks down the sticky residue without damaging the fabric. You can follow up with soapy water to get rid of the vinegar smell.
Man, I had that happen with my ALPS tent last year. It’s probably the waterproof coating breaking down. Someone told me about rubbing alcohol on a cloth and gently wiping the sticky parts off. Worked pretty well.
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Oh, that’s the worst😩 You could try just rinsing it with warm water and mild soap, then airing it out outside.
That sounds easy enough, how careful do I need to be? The last thing I want is to wreck the fabric even more man…
Yeah, just don’t soak it. Lightly dampen a rag with the alcohol and dab away. Start small and see if it’s working. Should be fine as long as you don’t go overboard.
I’m sorry for that, but humidity will wreck anything. My advice… I’d recommend you start storing your tent somewhere drier next time if you can, like a closet. I keep silica gel packs with mine to help absorb moisture.
I’ll give that a try before I go alcohol-wiping everything. Did it make the tent smell bad afterward, or was it easy to rinse out?
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Nah, the smell fades quick. I rinsed it out with a hose after letting it sit for a bit. You’ll be good. Just don’t go overboard with the vinegar
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Honestly, once you clean it, keep an eye out for how it holds up next season. If it starts peeling again, might be time for an upgrade. I’ve gone through enough sticky tents to know when to cut my losses😂
Thanks, y’all. I’ll try vinegar and alcohol first and see how it goes. If it’s still sticky after all that, I’ll just roll with the baby powder idea and keep my eyes open for a sale on a new one. Appreciate all the help.
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Good luck. If all else fails, at least you’ll smell like a clean, powdery camper 