PSA: My rain fly ripped at 2am in the Smokies and a trash bag saved my trip

I was camped at Elkmont in the Smokies back in April when a sudden storm hit and my cheap rain fly tore right down the seam. Water started pouring in through the mesh and I had to grab a contractor bag from my car to rig a temporary cover. It held for the rest of the night but now I'm wondering - should I spend $80 on a name brand replacement or just go with a heavy duty tarp setup for half the cost? What do you all do when gear fails in the field?

2 comments

2 Comments

lindaw2914d agoMost Upvoted

That contractor bag hack is a classic for a reason, but you gotta ask yourself how often you're willing to do that in the middle of a storm. Did you look at the seam failure on the old fly close up? Sometimes a little seam sealer or tenacious tape can fix a cheap one, but if the fabric itself is just shredded then it's a lost cause. I'd lean toward a tarp setup myself, but it depends if you're hiking far or car camping, because tarps are heavy and a pain to pitch right in wind. What's your typical trip style, miles and all that?

young.emma14d ago

Had a buddy once patch his tent with a pizza box and duct tape in a downpour. It actually worked for like three nights before the cheese smell got real bad.