Last Updated on 08/03/2024
In this guide to the best tent patch kit, we share the easiest and most effective repair kits for tents as well as the kits with the most comprehensive supplies/tools. You will learn which tent patch kits are best for rips, tears, and holes, as well as what to use on seams, zips, and bug netting.
Tents can cost a fortune, and so they are often worth repairing if you develop a small rip or get a small hole from campfire embers. You can use different types of tape or glue, but a patch kit is the easiest and most effective way to fix damaged tent material.
Tent repair patch kits are designed to be durable and waterproof so that the glue holds, and you aren’t struggling to repair it again when the weather gets worse at night. These tent patch kits are the best for keeping tucked in your internal tent pocket, inside the storage bag, or somewhere within your backpack for when you need it the most.
5 Best Tent Patch Kits for Fixing a Hole or Tear
TEAR-AID Fabric Repair Kit Type A
- WORKS ON: Canvas, Rubber, Neoprene, Nylon, Most fabrics, Plastics, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyurethane, Non-oiled Leather, Umbrellas, Gore-Tex, Acrylics, Fiberglass, Aluminum, Polyester, Hypalon and Dacron
- BEST FOR: General tent patch kit
The TEAR-AID Fabric Repair Kit Type A is one of the best tent patch kits to use on almost any surface apart from vinyl. It is stronger and longer lasting than all its competitors and has a 90%+ adhesion rate. The tent patch kit includes some precut patches as well as a larger sheet that can be cut to size for custom fixes.
If you get a long tear on the outside of your tent, you can cut multiple thin strips to seal the hole or use patches like buttons to hold it together if you don’t have enough. It is very sticky and bonds almost instantly to any fabric. Simply reveal the adhesive by peeling the back off, placing it in position, and using your thumb to rub the edges down so that it gets a good grip.
VERDICT: TEAR-AID Fabric Repair Kit Type A is what I use to repair tents, sleeping bags, jackets, and even my backpack. If you use a patch on both the inside and outside of a hole, you get a really tight seal that stays waterproof for a long time. If you are looking for the most reliable tent patch kits to take camping or fix a damaged tent, then this is what I recommend.
Gear AID Tenacious Tape Repair Patches
- WORKS ON: Most fabrics, including nylon, polyester, GORE-TEX fabric, vinyl, and rubber (not great for cotton)
- BEST FOR: General tent patch kit
The Gear AID Tenacious Tape Repair Patches are just like the TEAR-AID tent fabric patch kit above. However, when you test them side by side, this is the weaker of the two materials. Even though it is entirely puncture-resistant, this has a lower breaking point. It is important to how well it sticks to tent material and how long it keeps its bond which this does almost as well.
This GEAR AID patch kit is perfect for small holes in tent fabric because of the wide variety of different-shaped and sized patches. You even get a small selection of novelty-shaped patches of animals and leaves, which look fantastic from the outside and as a silhouette from the outside.
VERDICT: Gear AID Tenacious Tape Repair Patches are super easy to apply and will fix any small holes or rips in an instant. Simply peel the back off, stick it down, and apply some pressure to ensure it gets a good initial bond. If your tent has developed a small rip or the embers from your campfire made a few minor burn holes, this tent patch kit is ideal for keeping tucked in your tent stuff sack.
GEAR AID Tenacious Tape Silnylon Patches for Silicone Tent and Tarp Repair
- WORKS ON: Silicone-coated silpoly, nylon, vinyl, and even rubber
- BEST FOR: Silnylon tents and tarps
The GEAR AID Tenacious Tape Silnylon Patches are designed to be used on silicone-coated fabrics. Not that any tents use a silicone outer shell because of how expensive it is compared to other options. But fabrics like silnylon are some of the most waterproof, lightweight, and durable, so you need a patch that will match the performance.
Each pack contains 5 x 3-inch patches that can be cut to size and shape when needed or trimmed into various-sized patches before you pack for a camping trip. Make sure that the surfaces are completely dry before applying the patch, and always make it bigger than necessary so there is plenty of overlap around the hole.
VERDICT: GEAR AID Tenacious Tape Silnylon Patches are one of the only silicone tent patch kits available to the public. They serve a particular purpose and come in handy if you use a lot of siliconized camping gear. Many Hilleberg tents use a siliconized outer shell as do many rain tarps, and so if you own that type of gear it is a good idea to have some of these patches in reserve.
GEAR AID Tenacious Tape Mesh Patches for Tent and Bug Screen Repair
- WORKS ON: Bug netting, tent mesh, RV awning/sunshade
- BEST FOR: Bug netting repairs
The GEAR AID Tenacious Tape Mesh Patches are another niche product that solves a particular problem and, again, are one of the few companies solving this problem. Each pack comes with two circular patches that can be used to fix a small hole up to 3 inches wide. You can choose to use just one patch per hole or double up with one on each side for extra strength.
These tent mesh repair patches are circular to avoid pulling or creasing and they are very easy to apply. When you do apply the patches, do it on a hard surface like a table or work surface to avoid sticking to anything on the other side of the mesh-like a rug. If you get hairs and the like on the adhesive section, the bond might not last very long.
VERDICT: GEAR AID Tenacious Tape Mesh Patches are perfect for repairing the bug mesh on your tent, the insect netting on your hammock or even the roof fan mesh on your RV. Even a young child could use these to fix a tent mesh screen as all you do is peel the back off, stick it down, and then line up the other on the other side of the hole.
Gorilla Waterproof Patch & Seal Tape
- WORKS ON: Fabric, plastic, metal, aluminum, rubber, wood, vinyl, glass, steel, acrylic, and even underwater
- BEST FOR: Fast repairs and multiple repairs
The Gorilla Waterproof Patch & Seal Tape is a super handy item to keep in your gear bag when camping. It can be used in many different ways for many different repairs. You can use it to cover a hole, hold a rip together, or seal a seam that is no longer watertight. Much like duct tape, tent patch tape always comes in handy for tent repairs.
This isn’t so much a kit as a roll of tape. But that does make it very inexpensive as well as easy to use. Even if you are rubbish at DIY and fixing things, you can use multiple patches of repair tape as reinforcements to ensure you don’t get any leaks.
VERDICT: Gorilla Waterproof Patch & Seal Tape is the easiest tent patch kit to store in your backpack and it also comes in handy more than a small packet of patches. The only problem is that the repairs don’t last very long, so you are better off using TEAR AID for more long-term tent fabric repairs.
Is It Worth Patching a Tent?
I would say it is almost always worth patching a tent where possible for a number of reasons. The first is that a tent patch repair kit costs about $10+, while a new tent will almost certainly cost ten times that amount. Repairing a tent is much better for the environment than constantly buying new ones when a problem occurs. Finally, patching a tent is so easy and fast that it is less hassle than searching for and buying a new tent.
Types of Tent Patch Kits
There aren’t many companies tackling the challenge of tent repairs, but a small number of growing brands are building a reputation in the space. Most come in the form of tent patch kits, but you can also get rolls of tape, adhesive sealants, and more general repair kits. Here is a breakdown of the three main types of tent repair patch kits:
Patch Kit
Patches are the easiest, fastest, and often the best way to fix small holes, rips, and tears in tent fabric. They are limited in size, unlike tape, which can be used to fix a very long tear.
Tent patch kits often contain a minimal number of precut and shaped adhesive patches with a peelable back. You peel the back off the patch to reveal the adhesive and then stick that over the hole or rip. Nothing could be easier.
Tent patches work the best because they are specifically designed for the types of materials and waterproofing coatings used on tents. The glue seems to bond and holds better than when you try and use adhesives or tapes.
Tape
Tent repair tape is a great thing to have in your gear kit although it is much bulkier and heavier than a small patch kit. The benefit of tape is that it can be used in many ways and adapted for many different purposes beyond fixing your tent. Long tears are especially suited for tent patch tape, but equally, you can tear off small segments to make many small patches.
Glue
Tent repair glue can be used to reinforce your patches if the edges don’t fully bond to your material. You can also maintain a patch that starts to peel up by applying a small amount of glue.
One place where old tents often need repairing is along their seams. Sealed seams are often glued in place, which over time, can break down and lose their water tightness. Seam sealant glue, often made from silicon, is the perfect fix for repairing seams.
How to Patch a Tent
As much as you try and look after your tent, accidents happen. Sparks shoot out from campfires, embers unknowingly land on your roof, and sharp things sometimes rip tent material. To fix a hole, rip, or tear in your tent walls or roof, you first need a patch of material large enough to cover the entire area with at least 10 mm of overhang (ideally).
Once your repair patch is prepared and ready to go, the next thing to do is to ensure the material is clean and dry. It is also crucial to ensure the material is laid as flat as possible when you fix your patch to ensure you don’t get any creases.
Stick your patch over the outside of the whole and firmly press down all the edges so that all parts of the patch have strong contact with the material. Once you are happy with the positioning, leave it 10 minutes or so before flipping the material over so that you can repeat the process on the inside too. You don’t HAVE to do this, but I recommend you do it for the most robust and durable repair.
How to Patch a Tent Floor
To patch a tent floor, you use the same process as above with the walls or roof; however, the patch you use on the floor should be as durable as possible. You can get vinyl patches from TEAR AID that is much thicker than their regular patches; however, they don’t work on all materials, so do your research before ordering.
It is super important for the edges of your tent floor patch kit to be fully stuck down to avoid them peeling up. Because patches on the floor are exposed to more wear and tear, a slight;y lifted edge will soon roll up and come loose.
How to Patch Tent Seams
To patch tent seams with a kit, you can use a liquid silicone adhesive and apply it with a brush or seam sealant tape. I don’t mind using either. Liquid seam sealant does better waterproofing the stitches along a seam, but sealant tape is very uniform and consistent. There are issues with both though.
Silicone tent seam sealant works very well but has a tendency to stick together when you pack your tent away. So the next time you put your tent up, you must carefully work your way along and unstick all the seams without losing any of them.
Seam sealant tape is impressive if it makes a good bond with the tent material, but it is way harder than it sounds and hard to do a tidy job. I have found that if you use shorter strips of sealant tape to fix tent seams, then if it fails, you only have to replace a small section instead of the whole thing.
How to Patch Tent Bug Mesh
You may think that bug netting would be the most challenging part of a tent to repair after a broken zip or pole, but with a tent mesh patch kit it is as simple as anywhere else on the tent. The only difference between a mesh patch and a fabric patch is that a mesh patch only has a ring of adhesive instead of the entire surface.
So long as you keep the mesh flat when you apply the patch and ensure all the adhesive area is fully bonded, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Contents of a Tent Patch Kit
The contents of the best tent patch kits are fundamental. Some of them might only include two patches which are enough for one good repair in most cases. You don’t need any special applicator, and the process is so simple the instructions are just three steps written on the packaging.
Each patch will have a top or outer side and a bottom, where the adhesive is. There will be a peelable cover to keep the adhesive sticky and fresh. It s important only to remove the back when you are absolutely ready to make the repair.
We hope you found this guide to the best tent patch kit useful to help you fix a whole or rip in your tent.
