How To Repair Broken Tent Pole

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A cleaved tent pole could cause your hopes for a perfect camping trip to come crashing down around y'all—literally. Unless you know how to perform a few basic repairs, that is. Whether yous're taping upwards a pole that'south split downwards the middle, reinforcing a cleaved segment, or replacing a worn out shock string, a few inexpensive, readily-available materials will have you lot back in the comfort and safety of your faithful shelter in minutes.

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Lay the damaged pole out on a flat surface. A portable camping table or picnic table will be ideal for this purpose. If yous don't have admission to either of these effects, set up the pole on peak of a apartment piece of gear, such as a cooler or toolbox. A smooth rock or level stretch of ground will also work in the worst-example scenario.^[1]
- At that place's no need to detach the pole or remove the rubberband daze string that holds it together.
- Have a moment to clear your piece of work surface of leaves, twigs, pine needles, sand, and similar debris. If these items notice their way onto your tape, they could compromise its ability to stick properly.
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Tear off a strip of gaffer's tape the same length as the divide segment. To determine how long a strip you need, line up the loose end of the tape with the extreme stop of the segment, and then unspool the roll slowly until you accomplish the far end. Tear the tape as cleanly as possible to ensure that both ends are nice and square.^[2]
- Gaffer's tape is a type of heavy-duty, loftier-strength tape ordinarily used to repair electronics and mechanical components. You can pick up a curl at any hardware store or home comeback center for just a few dollars.^[3]
- If you didn't happen to pack any gaffer's tape, an ordinary ringlet of duct tape will likewise do the play a trick on.
Tip: This quick, no-frills fix is all-time suited for emergency situations, like when you have a pole split on you lot when you lot're already out in the wilderness.

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Press the lateral edge of the tape into place over the split. Embrace the unabridged length of the separate with ¹⁄₄ – ⁱ⁄_ii inch (0.64–1.27 cm) of record. This will leave yous with ^one⁄₂ –1 ^one⁄₂ inches (1.three–3.8 cm) of reinforcement, depending on the width of the roll you're working with.^[4]
- Taping a split lengthwise is far more effective than just wrapping the ends. The more than surface area the tape has to cling to, the more firmly information technology volition clamp the split up together.
4
Proceed wrapping the tape all the way around the split. Fold the tape carefully to avoid leaving wrinkles or creases. Once you've got the unabridged strip in place, employ the pads of your fingers to smooth it downwardly. Yous can now resume setting upwards your tent without any farther worries!^[five]
- By wrapping the tape this way, you lot'll overlap the split itself at least twice while too binding the rest of its length.
- Provided you utilize the right kind of tape and wrap your pole practiced and tight, it should hold up for the residue of the flavour, if non longer.^[six]
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Trim or break off the jagged edges around the break, if necessary. Use wire cutters to remove whatever shards or splinters you see sticking out beyond the shaft of the segment, or work them loose with a pair of pliers. This will give the affected site a uniform thickness and prevent the crude edges from doing further harm.^[vii]
- Y'all may too need to bend aluminum poles dorsum into shape by mitt to go them to fit inside the tent pole repair sleeves you'll be using. Many aluminum tent poles tin be bent by hand, but if yous have difficulty, you can try using an arbor press in the aforementioned way y'all'd bend pocket-sized aluminum canvass scraps.
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Slide a tent pole repair sleeve over the damaged segment. Extend the pole as straight equally yous can and sideslip the tubular sleeve over one cease. Guide the sleeve along the length of the pole until information technology covers the break. For best and longest-lasting results, brand sure it'due south centered as evenly as possible.^[eight]
- About new tents come up with at least one repair sleeve for convenient fixes in the field. These are typically made from ultra-strong aluminum alloy, which makes for a durable nonetheless lightweight splint.
- If you don't have a repair sleeve at the ready, a tent stake or sturdy stick can serve equally an adequate substitute.^[ix]
Tip: While information technology's non necessary to take the pole apart in gild to maneuver the sleeve into identify, information technology may be easier to practise so.
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Secure the ends of the sleeve with duct or gaffer's tape. Tear off a couple 4–6 in (10–fifteen cm) strips of tape and wind them around the points on the pole where they emerge from the sleeve's outer edges. After applying the tape, you'll be able to put up or pack your tent as you lot normally would, knowing that the splint will act to brace the break.^[10]
- Feel complimentary to wrap the tape as many times every bit you see fit to be extra sure that the sleeve stays put. Yous can even go over the entire sleeve, if you like.
- Although the boilerplate tent pole repair sleeve is tough enough to endure multiple camping seasons, it's still a adept idea to runway down a replacement pole at your earliest convenience.^[11]
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1
Find a replacement segment that's the same size equally the damaged pole. Some tent manufacturers package their products with replacement parts, including poles and pole segments. If your tent didn't throw in whatsoever spare parts, you lot'll demand to order a new segment from the original manufacturer. Be sure to measure across the opening of one of the old segments to make certain you're getting i with the correct dimensions.^[12]
- Yous may besides be able to track downward an individual pole segment that suits your needs from a website or retailer that deals in used outdoor gear.
- Replacement tent pole segments are typically made much longer than standard segments, which allows them to exist cut to size easily.^[13]
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Measure and mark the new segment to friction match the length of the old one. Rest the two segments side-by-side on a flat surface with their bottom edges aligned. Use a felt-tipped marking to describe a sparse line on the shaft of the new segment where the erstwhile segment ends. This line volition indicate where you'll be making the necessary modifications to the new segment.^[14]
- Alternatively, y'all tin use a piece of contrasting masking or painter's tape around the segment to mark your cut line. Cutting through the tape equally opposed to the unprotected shaft may besides help forbid peachy or splitting if your poles are made from fiberglass.
- Don't stress about being perfectly precise here. As long as your replacement segment is approximately the aforementioned length as the onetime one, information technology will role just fine.
3
Cut the segment to size using a hacksaw. Position the pole piece at the border of your work surface so that the section containing the mark you but fabricated extends out across it. Then, grab your hacksaw and glide the teeth dorsum and forth over the line using smooth strokes and steady, moderate pressure. Keep sawing until you make it all the way through the segment.^[15]
- Hold the opposite end of the segment firmly with your free manus to go along it from moving effectually unexpectedly while y'all're trying to focus on sawing.
- Exist conscientious when wielding your hacksaw. They're not especially dangerous tools, simply an accident could withal happen if you're not paying attention to what y'all're doing.^[sixteen]
Tip: A compact hacksaw can make an extremely useful improver to your camping ground equipment, if you don't pack one already.
4
File or sand the cutting end of the new segment to smooth out the sharp edges. Once you've trimmed the piece to the appropriate length, all that's left to practise is go over the new opening with a metallic file or sail of medium-dust sandpaper. A light buffing volition keep the fresh cut from fraying the elastic shock cord that holds the pole together.^[17]
- A sandpaper with a grit somewhere between 80 and 120 will work best for this task.^[18]
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Cut the anchor knot on either end of the pole to remove the old cord. Insert a pair of needle-nose pliers into the open end of the pole to fish out the knot. Utilize a sharp knife or pair of scissors to cut the string just below the knot and snake it out of the jointed pole segments.^[19]
- Be conscientious non to lose any of the loose pole segments when you pull the cord out. They're cylindrical, which means they'll be prone to rolling.
- This is a good time to supplant whatever pole segments that are worse for article of clothing, since y'all'll be disassembling the pole to install the new stupor cord anyway.
Tip: Number the pole segments with a felt-tipped mark, starting with the end you cutting. This will make it a breeze to put them all back together in the correct configuration later on.^[twenty]
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Tie a knot in one end of the replacement string to ballast it. No need to get fancy—just option a point 4–6 inches (10–xv cm) from the finish of the cord and loop it into a simple double overhand knot. Afterwards, give the knot a couple hard tugs to confirm that it's tight.^[21]
- If you similar, you tin slide a steel washer onto the department where you plan on tying your knot. The round washer will give the cord something to seize with teeth into and increase the durability of the finished knot.^[22]
- Securing ane end of the cord earlier you work it through the many segments that make up the pole will keep it from pulling out accidentally.
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Thread the new cord through each of your pole segments. The easiest way to do this is to run the cord through each segment one-by-one, then cinch them all together when you're done. When you buy a replacement shock cord, it will usually come with an attachable wire pull-through device to aid speed upwardly the process a bit.^[23]
- It may help to accept an assistant hold each segment for you while you concentrate on pushing the string through, or vice-versa.
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Tie off the other terminate of the cord with the pole extended to its full length. Once you've run the new cord through each segment, lay the entire assembly out on the ground. Stretch the cord to create some tension and twist upward a second double overhand knot 4–six inches (10–15 cm) from the stop reverse the 1 you started on. Information technology'south every bit simple as that!^[24]
- Don't forget to slip a 2nd washer onto the string earlier tying your terminal knot if y'all used one on the first side.
- If your shock cords are attached with metallic pull tips rather than ballast knots, exist sure to reinstall them according to the manufacturer'due south instructions.^[25]
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If your tent is even so nether warranty, contact the manufacturer to request a replacement pole. In some cases, they may even replace the entire tent for a small premium.
Steel tent poles will need to exist reshaped by a skilled metallic worker, though it may end up being cheaper in the long run to but purchase a whole new ready of poles.
Online shopping resources like eBay tin can be great places to scavenge spare parts for popular tent models.

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Things You'll Need

Gaffer's tape
Duct tape (optional)
Flat surface

Tent pole repair sleeve
Gaffer'south tape or duct tape
Wire cutters or pliers (optional)
Tent stake or sturdy stick (optional—for makeshift splint)

Replacement pole segment
Felt-tipped marker
Hacksaw
Metal file or medium-grit sandpaper
Contrasting tape (optional)

Replacement stupor cord
Sharp knife or pair of scissors
Steel washer (optional)
Replacement pole segment (optional)
Hacksaw (optional)
File or sandpaper (optional)
Felt-tipped mark (optional)

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