trekking pole handle too slippery to set up tent

I would try cutting a piece off of one of those rubbery lid gripers and super glueing it on the top the fuzzy stick on Velcro may also work (a piece of duct tape might also work very well )

Roberto,

What about setting up you tent inside out so that you can apply some Permatex Flowable Windshield Sealer to the inside area of the tent where the trekking pole handle would normally be in contact with the silnylon?

After the sealer has dried for roughly 24 hours dust it lightly with some, non scented if possible, talcum powder. This will help in keeping the area from sticking to itself when you pack up your tent.

You could apply the sealer in dots, straight lines, circles or an entire area if you desire. Just remember that in doing this you are trying to keep the handle of your trekking pole from slipping. If you succeed in doing this your method of placing the trekking pole into position will have to be modified somewhat because it won't slide into place very easily anymore.

You may have to experiment a little with finding the apporopriate length for the rear pole and place it in the peak of the tent first, push up and then position the bottom point of the pole last.

I have never set up a cub den 2 but I believe that I'd prefer to have the front pole outside to maximize the room inside the tent. that being said I see no reason why what I suggested for the inside rear pole couldn't work for the front pole also.

"The bd poles came with tip protectors… i could probably use this protector and use the pole tip up… this tip is def rougher than the handle…"

I'd be afraid that the smaller area of the tip protector might increase the stress on the silnylon in the area where you would normally place the handles. This may lead to premature material failure. ;-(

Hope this helps.

Party On,

Newton

@William – the duct tape sounds like a quick fix if it works… but won't it be as slippery as the handle? supergluing a rubberized gripper (where could i find one?) might be a good solution too… i actually was thiking of something similar…

@John – i tried setting up the pole outside the tent and it does increase the size inside… i am using a innertent so that extra room is not really needed anymore and i feel the tent is more stable with teh pole inside that when it is outside (only tried it once so i could be wrong)…

I really like your idea of adding the sealer to the tent, this way any pole will work… problem is rigth now i can't do that as i don't have time and i am going out this saturday for an overnighter…

I bought a sealer a while back… they are mainly used to patch wetsuits… a guy recommended it when i needed to patch a self inflatable matrees… i never really used it, but was wondering (based on your advice) if i could use this either inside the tent or just put a few drops or even cover the top of the hanlde with it? what do you think?

It's common for folks to put down seam sealer on slippery floors to keep their mats from sliding – could you simply apply some of this, or something similar, on top of the pole's handle (or appropriate location)?

like i said, i have the seam sealer for wet suits… i'll give that a try and report back…

thanks all for your comments…

Roberto,

"I bought a sealer a while back… they are mainly used to patch wetsuits…"

What is the name of the sealer that you have on hand? Who manufactures it? What is its chemical composition?

You are working on silnylon and I am familiar with the Permatex method and the 100% GE Silicone mixed and thinned with mineral spirits. I used the odorless variety of mineral spirits.

For my money, the Permatex Flowable Windshield Sealant is cheap (around $6.00), quick and easy. There is no need for thinning the windshield sealant. All you need to apply it is a disposable foam paint brush. You can find it in almost any auto parts store.

For a "Quick fix" for your upcoming weekend overnighter…"just put a few drops or even cover the top of the handle…".

I'd probably clean the top of the trekking pole handles with some sort of degreaser to remove any trace of oil or dirt and then apply the sealer to the cleaned and dry surface. Let it dry for at least 24 hours.

If this quick fix survives the overnighter you may be good to go for a longer period and see if it holds up over the long term.

Just to be safe, make sure whatever sealer you use is compatible with your silnylon tent material.

Party On,

Newton

i'll check what the name of it is when i get home and post again…

thanks…

that this is the one i bought at sports chalet

http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/product-detail/product.jsp?id=NYT11114&sc=CX11T029&cm_mmc=portal-_-googlebase-_-na-_-rrs206-NYT11114

Roberto,

From the page that your link brought me to.

"Mcnett Aquaseal Wetsuit Repair Adhesive Sealant
Urethane-based adhesives are the best for achieving maximum strength and durability".

Aquaseal is urethane based not silicone based. I wouldn't use this on your silnylon tent!

"SilNet™ Silicone Seam Sealer

Specially formulated for sealing seams on tents and other outdoor products constructed or coated with silicone, such as silicone treated nylon".

"…Aquaseal is part of a comprehensive line of Care and Repair products from Gear Aid. With Gear Aid, anyone can be a master of gear repair.
Works with neoprene, nylon, GORE-TEX® fabric, Nypalon®, urethane, rubber and other materials".

The above info is copied and pasted in part from McNett's website. Notice the reference to nylon, not silnylon for the Aquaseal.

http://www.mcnett-outdoor.com/Repair-Guide/Tents/220.aspx

Copy and paste the above link and scroll down about 2/3rds of the page and read step one of Silicone Tents / Silicone Treated Fabrics.

I cannot be sure but I would think that once the Aquaseal is completely dried and cured after applying it to the top of your trekking pole handles you should be able to set up your tent using the inside pole technique that you favor.YMMV

If it were up to me I wouldn't mix silnylon with the Aquaseal even after it was dried and cured. I'd go with something silicone based and play it safe with my expensive piece of gear.

In my opinion Silnet needs to be thinned. Silicone sealant needs to be thinned also. I have had good luck with the Permatex product and many others on this site also recommend it. Also it does not need to be thinned. I'd spend six more dollars and play it safe with my tent / tarp.

Good luck with whatever method you choose and enjoy your overnighter.

Party On,

Newton

can i get this permatex at a hardware store like lowes or home depot?

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Permatex-1-5-oz-tube-flowable-silicone-windshield-and-glass-sealer?itemIdentifier=552992

i'll go to the store after work… thanks…

John,

Thanks so much for the advice… so i went to the autoparts store that i know of and they had run out of that kind of sealant…

i ended up buying an rtv silycon sealant that said it was good for use in sealing windows and glass…

i'll try to find the one you told me and try it again… but for now hopefully what i got is ok…

thanks so much for your help…

Roberto,

You are quite welcome.;-)

This forum and people on it have helped me immensely and whenever possible I try to return the favor whenever I can.

Party On,

Newton

Thanks again for the advice…

I ended up applying the silycon to the top of the trekking pole (not the one you recommended – i might end up trying that later but applying it to the tent and not the pole…)

The thing is, that it starts peeling off as soon as the sun hits it… not completely where it still works when i set up my tent…

I am thinking that it will be the same thing with the sylicon you suggested if i use it on top of the pole…

I just got some sugru from Michael (PIFed…) and i was wondering if you think it would be a good idea to apply some to the top of the poles? would it damage the sylnylon?

thanks…

Roberto,

I just googled sugru to find out more about it. I had never heard of this material before today.

I watched the video and in the video it says that it cures to a soft touch silicone rubber. This is just a guess but I would expect that silicone rubber and silicone impregnated/coated nylon would not adversely react to each other. YMMV

Party On,

Newton

Just an idea, but how about one of your socks inside out over the handle. Would that create enough friction? If so, it adds no weight to what you are already carrying.

@Chad… that might work too and i would not have to do anything to the poles… the only problem that i see with that is that if it rains, then the socks will get soaked…

I don't think adding a thin layer of sugru will add that much weight to the poles…

i'll try it and report back… thanks…

Hi Roberto-

Try texturing the Sugru as shown here:
http://sugru.com/gallery/show/grippier-tripod-feet

Mike