TIL my 3-season tent hit 200 nights before I finally replaced it

I was flipping through my camping log book last night to plan a trip for next month. I added up all the nights from the last 5 years and that old REI tent I bought used for $80 had 208 nights on it. I always thought I'd swap it out after 100 nights but it just kept going. The zippers are sticky and one pole sleeve has a patch from duct tape but it still kept me dry in a storm last June up near Lake George. Finally ordered a new one this week but that number surprised me. Anyone else track how long their gear actually lasts before tossing it?

2 comments

2 Comments

iris_rivera4419d ago

Not sure I agree with you about keeping gear that long. I get that it's satisfying to get your money's worth out of something, but I worry about the safety tradeoffs after a certain point. Duct tape on a pole sleeve and sticky zippers sound like things that could leave you in a bad spot if they give out during a real storm or a cold night. I replace my tent closer to 80 or 100 nights because I want the peace of mind that everything will work when I'm miles from anywhere. Also, a lot of the waterproof coatings start breaking down after a few years of use anyway, so you might be getting wet without even realizing it. It's great you got 200 nights out of it, but that's more luck than anything else for most people.

skylercooper18d ago

Nah, you're overthinking it a bit...