Tent Lifespan

[JHubbard2010]

I bought a Kuiu MountainStar 2P Tent in 2018 so it’s a first gen model. I used it on 3 backcountry hunts. The first being a caribou hunt where it got rained on quite a bit. Being a bit of a rookie, I used it without a footprint. I got it out to inspect and the bottom has some wear in places it was being pressed onto rocks. Some you can see daylight through but they are not holes. I’m going on a sheep hunt in the Yukon in August and my tent failing isn’t an option. That sentence alone makes me think I know the answer to this but how long do these tents last under normal conditions and is it worth buying a new one. I love this tent and if I can treat the tent fly and vestibules with DWR or something similar I may go that route. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Macintosh]

3 hunts were what, a week or so each? Thats like 21ish days, maybe 30? And there’s holes or “near holes” that you can see thru? thats not normal. Pitch it on a gravel bar and then walk inside the tent with boots on, sure that’ll happen fast—put any fabric between two hard things and it’ll wear thru fast. But under careful use, that doesnt happen. And I think a lightweight tent demands somewhat careful use, ie shoes are never on inside on a floored tent on anything other than maybe snow, careful use of zippers, dont let sand and grit get inside, dry it off before storage, etc. It takes being a bit attentive to it but if you are reasonably careful it becomes second nature, and those things increase lifespan significantly. Ive never had a tent fail even under some very strong winds, snow loads, etc.

Example, I used to lead backpacking trips for teenagers. I bought 4 rei tents one summer and had six 16-year-olds live in them for 30 days in the alaskan backcountry. The next summer I did the same in BC and vancouver island. The following 2 summers I did the same in the washington cascades and the olympics. This was all largely off-trail, undeveloped camp sites, moving camp almost every day, etc, not at all “kid stuff” in how they were used. Those same 4 tents, with nothing more than a yearly touchup of seam-sealing, were still going strong after a minimum of 120 days of use by a bunch of teenagers. I think I may have replaced a cracked pole section is the only other repair that I recall.

 

[199p]

I recoat mine with a spray on dwr every couple of years, i found the more sun it sees the faster it needs re-waterproofing

 

[LongWayAround]

I would slap some tenacious tape on the wear spots and roll with it. Three uses isn't going to exhaust your tent.

Use a footprint. I'm sure it's fine

Or sell it with the disclosure and buy a new one.

 

[nettereo16]

tenacious tape ^^ that stuff is really strong and will fix up the abrasions on the bottom. If your fly had holes that would be risky for your big hunt but I some patches on the bottom wouldn't stress me out

 

[JHubbard2010]

I would slap some tenacious tape on the wear spots and roll with it. Three uses isn't going to exhaust your tent.

Use a footprint. I'm sure it's fine

Or sell it with the disclosure and buy a new one.

Thats what I'm planning to do. Gonna DWR the hell out of it pre trip and roll with it. Too good of a tent to toss after 3 uses.

 

[Tater86]

What is Kuiu's warranty look like on tents? 30ish days seems a very short lifespan. I'd maybe give them a call.

 

[intunegp]

What is Kuiu's warranty look like on tents? 30ish days seems a very short lifespan. I'd maybe give them a call.

"Damage due to user wear and tear is not covered"

OP pitched it with no footprint in a way that had it pressing into rocks. I'm going to say not a warranty issue.

 

[Beendare]

I have a Tarptent that I've owned for probably 25 years and it's still in great shape. I used to use it a fair amount- about 2-3 weeks every year but I never pitched it over rocks always finding a spot under pines that had soft ground.

If you take care of them they will last a long time....but if you do get some wear spots that Tenacious tape is awesome.

 

[JeffRaines]

Ultralight gear HAS TO BE BABIED. I can't stress this enough.

They have to lose the weight somewhere. Go look at what a "bomb proof" 4 season backpacking shelter weighs(somewhere around 8lbs), now look at the weight of an ultralight shelter. While some of that weight is lost in poles and supports, its also lost in thickness(and ultimately durability) of fabric.

This isn't to say that ultralight gear can't last, but you have to be extra mindful of how you use it.

In a situation where the tent can't fail, I'd be looking at something bombproof over ultralight, weight be damned.