Gear

I purchased 6 Vaude Hogan tents a couple of years ago for my Scouts. They have had roughly equal usage but one has developed a porus groundsheet. Can't find any holes but even damp ground filters through. Does anyone think Nikwax TX Direct spray or similar waterproofing would help?
Cheers,
Phillip

the best thing to do is try some of the technical sprays and liquids on the market....but read the labels firts...each is about £10 but remember to apply it to the underside as intoxication from spraying it on the inside could be mind bending. you could also purchase a peice of material that is water proof and bungee cord it to the underside. any way good luck. as a last resort send it to vau de and ask em to reproof it, with a promice that you will never post detrimental reports on there gear on here ever again!

I had a leaking tent a while ago and had to make a hasty trip to Tescos in Aviemore for some bin bags since I was in the middle of a two week trip at the time. Sprayed some Nikwax TX Direct stuff on when I got back which worked well on the flysheet to make a good drenching from a hosepipe bead up and run off with no leaks. It certainly improved the groundsheet a lot but pressing on a wet sponge underneath as a test still let a bit of damp in. Haven't used it in the hills since.

I used Nikwax on the groundsheet of my bivy tent a couple of years ago and that worked fine - the stuff you spray on and then rub in with a cloth (it also made the garage floor a bit slippery for awhile under where I hung the thing to spray the stuff on!).
I put cut-open cheap dustbin bags down under my tent groundsheets these days - this really works well to stop any permeation. They last a week's trip easliy if handled with care.

Phillip, have you tried contacting Vaude to see what they recommend?

Worth a try.