Tents

What are the correct storage and maintenance procedures for tents and tarps?

During the trip

Where possible, choose a shady pitch, as this is better for the tent fabric. Extensive exposure to UV rays can lead to deterioration of the fabric over time. Use an underlay tarp or footprint (FLOORSAVER) to protect the groundsheet from dirt and damage. With our FAMILY tents, such tarps are supplied as standard. FLOORSAVER for our other tents can be found here.  

Care and Storage:
After use, clean your tent using a soft cloth and a little warm, soapy water. The tent should never be machine washed, dry cleaned or treated with an aggressive stain remover as this could cause irreparable damage to the coating of the tent fabric.

To prevent the formation of mildew and mould it is crucial to ensure that both the tent and the pack bag are completely dry before packing and storing. If the tent is to be unused for long periods, it should be stored in a dry, dark, dust-free environment (preferably loosely packed in an air-permeable cotton bag).

The zips of the tent are subjected to considerable wear and tear and should be checked regularly to ensure that they function correctly. Zips that no longer run smoothly can be treated with silicone spray to improve performance, while those that fail to bite correctly can still be repaired – simply squeeze the slider carefully with a pair of pliers to restore the grip. The trick works equally well with any type of zip and can often save you a complete repair job.

Before storing the tent, make sure you also check the integrity of the seams and seam seals. Treat with a seam sealant compound if required. These are available at all good outdoor stores, but take care to select the appropriate sealant for your tent fabric (i.e. silicone or PU coated fabrics). The tent should be pitched before treating and the sealant left to dry for approx. 10 hours (see instructions for use). When dry, it forms a flexible seal over the seam.

Re-impregnation
Over the course of time, and after extensive use, the outer surface of the tent fabric may become rough, which means that droplets of water do not pearl up and run off the fabric as readily.  The effect can be counteracted by treating with an impregnation agent, available in all good outdoor stores.

What is the correct way to pack and store my tent?

If your tent does not have CORNER EDGES you can basically pack it how you like. When packing for a trip, one option is to stuff the inner and flysheet compactly into their pack sack and lash the pole bag separately to the outside of your rucksack.

If you want to pack the whole tent away neatly in its packsack, follow this procedure:
Spread the tent out and fold in the sides so that only the groundsheet section is in contact with the ground. Fold the tent into three crossways, place the poles in their bag and roll the tent up tightly around the pole bag towards the entrance to expel the air. Slip the packsack over the rolled up tent and drop the peg bag in on top.

The tent can be stored rolled up for long periods of time.
However, please ensure that it is totally dry! If you want to be sure, store your tent loosely packed in a large, air-permeable bag.
Packing a tent up wet when on a trip is not normally a problem (apart from the extra weight you have to carry) if it will be pitched again the following night.

 

Pack procedure for REAL TUNNEL tents

If you have a REAL TUNEL tent, pack it in accordance with the diagram, making sure that the CORNER EDGES always lie at right angles to the direction in which the tent is rolled up.
Fold the tent in two lengthways, lay it flat on its side (1)
and fold in the vestibules (2).
Next, fold it lengthways into three (3)
then crossways (4).
Finally, roll the tent up around the pole bag (5).

 
 
 
 
 

Pack procedure for FAMILY tents

Due to their size and the CORNER EDGES, the procedure for FAMILY tents differs slightly:
Lay the tent on its side (1),
arrange the CORNER EDGES as above and fold it into three as shown (2).
Fold in the vestibule sections (3)
and then fold the tent lengthways into six (4).
Finally, roll the tent up around the pole bag (5).

Can I get replacement parts for my JACK WOLFSKIN tent?

Yes. We maintain a stock of replacement parts for all our current models and some of our older models, including spare pegs, pole sections, complete pole sets and fabric swatches. To order, simply contact your local JACK WOLFSKIN STORE or retailer. When placing your order for replacement parts, please remember to include the name of the tent, the age of the tent and the length of the poles.

Please note that replacement parts are not always available from the STORE or retailer on demand and may have to be specially ordered from customer services.

The groundsheet of my tent is wet inside. Is there a leak in it?

Not necessarily! The occupants of a tent produce a great deal of water vapour during the night simply by breathing. This condenses on the cold fabric of the tent. Dampness beneath the sleeping mat can also be caused by condensation.

Should you suspect that the floor of the tent has developed a leak, your local JACK WOLFSKIN retail can arrange for a permeability test to be conducted.

Protective underlay tarps (FLOORSAVERS) are also available to fit our current range of tents. More info here.

How waterproof are Jack Wolfskin tents?

The use of waterproof coated materials and waterproof covered zips, etc. means that all Jack Wolfskin tents are totally waterproof at the critical areas (groundsheet, flysheet). 

A material achieves the DIN standard of waterproofing if it is capable of permanently withstanding a minimum 1500mm water column pressure. The materials we use for our tents far exceed this value.

The areas of the tent most prone to leaking are the seams, since the needle holes reduce the effectiveness of the waterproof coating. For this reason, all of the seams on Jack Wolfskin tents are equipped with a special waterproof tape seal.

Should the seal lose some of its waterproof performance after extensive use of the tent, the seam sealant compound supplied as standard should fix the problem. The tent should be pitched first and the compound applied to all of the seams that are directly exposed to the rain and left to dry for approx. 10 hours to form a flexible, waterproof protective film.

What should I do if a tent pole breaks or becomes severely deformed?

A broken or bent pole section needs to be replaced as a matter of urgency. Spare sections for all current models and for many of our older tents are available from the Jack Wolfskin Repair Service and can be ordered through our STOREs and network of authorized dealers.

Replacing the broken section is a simple procedure. First, remove the end tip of the pole using a pair of pliers and knot the rubber shock cord attached to it.
Next, slide off all the pole sections down to the broken piece (make a careful note of the order in which they are assembled!).
Then replace the broken section and re-thread the others in order. Finally, knot the shock cord securely to the end tip. 

For rapid repairs in the field, splint the broken section using the spare repair sleeve supplied with the tent. Aluminium generally breaks cleanly but you should take care to remove any sharp edges or burrs before sliding the repair sleeve over the damaged section and fixing it in place with a few turns of adhesive tape.

What are the advantages of double-walled tents?

Double-walled tents are comprised of a separate sleeping cabin (inner tent) and a weatherproof proof outer skin (flysheet). The primary reason for such a construction is to deal with the moisture vapour produced in the inner tent (condensation from the occupants? breathing, damp clothing, etc.). This needs to be dispersed effectively so that the sleeping cabin can remain dry.

Since the fabric of the inner tent is moisture vapour permeable, the damp air can escape through the walls and condense on the colder outer surface of the flysheet. The process is even more effective if the dampness can be expelled by a flow of air between the inner and outer tents.

In order to achieve this, Jack Wolfskin tents are equipped with a sophisticated ventilation system. As a rule, this consists of a combination of ventilation ducts set into the walls of the tent, a slightly raised front end on the flysheet and an entrance to the tent that can be opened up to an extent whilst still providing weather protection. The vents are positioned at different heights and on opposite sides of the tent to create a chimney effect and direct the flow of air.

Single-walled tents are only really suitable for very specialised use in situations where weight saving is the overriding concern (high camps, Alpine climbing, etc.) and condensation problems are of minor significance.

What are the special features of the REAL TUNNEL TECHNOLOGY?

REAL TUNNEL (RT) TECHNOLOGY  is our patented and multi-award winning design technology for tunnel tents. The exaggerated convex shape of the pole sections describes a more acute angle than in conventional tunnel constructions, creating more space inside the tent.

The pole sections have two different diameters to deliver greater strength at the sides of the tent and more flexibility in the roof area. The triangular guying system at the base of the poles provides greater pitch stability. CORNER EDGES (short, vertical pole sections) in the vestibules increase the useable space in this part of the tent.

The advantages:

1. Improved wind stability: Wind tunnel tests have demonstrated that REAL TUNNEL tents have better stability in side winds. Even at wind speeds of 80 km/h there is very little movement.

 

Where can I find an overview about the care instructions ?

Download of the care instructions for apparel, footwear and equipment:

Click here