Tents, though robust, are not impervious to damages and one of the most recurrent problems campers face is a damaged tent pole. Besides proper maintenance, being able to repair or replace the broken components is essential to extend the life of the tent.
This article aims to provide guidance on fixing damaged tent poles both in the wilderness and at home. Despite repairs being relatively easier at home where tools and resources are accessible, carrying a repair kit and being equipped with the necessary skills will ensure your shelter remains intact for the duration of your trip.
How to Repair Tent Poles
Tent poles, even those belonging to the best camping tents, are susceptible to damage from a variety of causes, such as user error, general wear and tear, accidents, and even manufacturer defects. The most significant tent pole repair I have ever had to do was when I crashed during a bikepacking trip. The poles were rolled up in my sleeping pad, which was attached to my bike, and the impact caused some of the poles to break, along with the shock cord.
What a steep learning curve it was for me in tent pole repair! I had to think on my feet and replace the shock cord and fix the damaged poles. Fortunately, I was close to camp, and I had a repair kit with me, which allowed me to effect immediate repairs that same night. Carrying a repair kit with you while camping, backpacking, or hunting can ensure that you remain warm, dry, and protected for the remainder of the trip.
When it comes to tent pole repair, the two primary issues you may encounter are shock cord replacement and splinting broken poles. The type of tent pole you have can significantly affect its durability, how repairs are done, and what maintenance tasks are required most often.
Tent poles are usually made from different materials, including:
Steel:
While not as flexible as other materials, steel poles are highly durable and commonly used in square or framed tents due to their strength. Though breakages are rare, bends may occur, and rusting is possible if the materials are not adequately coated.
Glass-Reinforced Plastic (GRP):
These poles are made from glass strands held together with resin, also known as fiberglass poles. Although not entirely made of glass, the materials can splinter and break. If you have fiberglass poles, breaks and shock cord replacements will likely be the most common repairs.
Aluminum Alloy:
Like GRP poles, aluminum is highly flexible and lightweight, making it an ideal material for backpacking tents. Bent poles and shock cord replacements are the most common maintenance tasks for aluminum tent poles.
Carbon Fiber:
The most durable and robust tent pole material, carbon fiber is lightweight, flexible, and sturdy. It is an excellent choice for backpacking, but the primary downside is the high price. Shock cord replacement and occasional bent pole repair are typical maintenance issues for carbon fiber poles.
To ensure you are equipped for tent pole repairs, you should consider including the following items in your tent pole repair kit:
- Extra shock cord
- Tent sleeve
- Duct tape
- Optional: guidewire, washers
Other items such as a lighter, multi-tool, and even super glue can also be handy for tent pole repairs, but these are likely items you already have packed for other purposes.
If you are planning an extended camping trip, we recommend including a complete nylon tent repair kit in your pack. These kits contain items not only for tent pole repairs but also for mesh screen and fabric patches. While premade repair kits can be helpful, it is essential to double-check that they include the appropriate size tent sleeves, ferrules, and long enough cord.
Replace a Shock Cord
Replacing a tent pole’s shock cord is easier to do at home where you have more tools, but it can also be done while camping. Here are the items you’ll need to replace your tent pole’s shock cord at home:
- Sharpie or other marker
- Scissors or knife
- Lighter
- Shock cord
- Optional: locking pliers, metal wire, washers, and tape
Whether the elastic cord has worn out over time or broke, replacing it is a relatively easy task. Most tent poles have the same diameter shock cord, but they require different lengths. Once you have a replacement cord, follow these steps:
1. Lay out the tent poles and label each section with a marker or tape. Do your best to keep the poles in the same order during this process.
2. You have two choices, depending on the situation – you can either remove the old shock cord or tie the new one to the end of the old cord.
- To remove the shock cord, take off the end cap and cut the knot at the end of the cord and pull it out on the opposite side.
- If the full cord is still intact, we recommend keeping the cord inside the poles, removing one pole tip from the poles and the cord, and looping the new cord through the old one to connect them. This won’t work for all tent pole designs. If this does work for your poles, skip to step four.
3. Measure the new shock cord against the old cord or the tent poles. Connect the poles and measure about a foot longer than the poles. If you’re using the old cord with no elasticity left, the new cord can be cut about 8 inches shorter than the old one. Mark the measurement on the cord, but wait to cut it until you know what the next step should be.
4. The following steps for feeding the cord through the poles will depend on the type of tent poles you have.
- If you were able to attach the shock cord ends together, then with the poles attached, remove the other pole tip. Pull the cord through the tent poles until you’ve reached the knotted end. Attach the pole tip to the new cord, cut the old cord off, and put the pole tip back onto the end. Skip to step 9 if this worked for you.
- If you had to remove the shock cord and have fiberglass tent poles, use a metal wire the length of the poles to pull it through. Shove the wire into the end of the shock cord about 1/4 inch and tape them together to thread them through the poles. Tie off one end of the cord with a pole repair washer to prevent it from pulling through when you tension the other end.
- If neither option works, cut the shock cord to the measured length and tie a knot in one end to prevent it from being pulled through. Restring the shock cord through the poles in the appropriate order, one at a time, until you get to all but the last pole.
5. After you’ve threaded the shock cord through all but one of the poles, create tension in the shock cord to keep all of the poles connected. Use a pair of locking pliers to hold that tension in place.
- With fiberglass poles, you can thread the wire through all tent poles, add tension, and then have the pliers hold the cord in place. You will want to use a repair washer for this end, so slide the washer onto the end of the shock cord, tie a knot in the cord, and get the washer as close to the pliers as you can.
- Alternatively, with the cord stretched to the extended length and locking pliers in place, feed the rest of the shock cord through the last pole section.
How to Replace a Shock Cord in Camp
The process to replace a shock cord when camping or hiking is similar to doing so at home. It’s recommended to bring a tent repair kit that includes the necessary items, but improvisation may be required in some cases.
For example, if you have a multi-tool, you can use the knife to cut the cord instead of scissors. Additionally, the pliers on your tool may be used to hold the cord in place.
If you don’t have an extra shock cord, you can use a string or nothing at all in a pinch. Although it may be more challenging to set up the tent, it should stay in place for the night once it is properly set up.
How to Splint a Broken Tent Pole
Although it may seem more dramatic to have a tent pole break than a shock cord, repairing a broken tent pole in the field is often easier. There are a few temporary fixes to sustain you until you have the opportunity to replace that section of the tent pole.
To repair a broken or bent tent pole, all you need is a tent sleeve or splint and duct tape or another durable, sticky tape. Splinting tent poles is most effective when the pole breaks away from connecting points. You can also splint the ends of two poles together, although this makes them more difficult to carry.
How to Use a Tent Sleeve/Splint:
When repairing a tent pole, it is important to use a tent sleeve or splint that fits snugly over the damaged area. If you don’t have a tent sleeve, you can also use a tent stake.
Begin by identifying the broken or bent section of the pole and aligning the broken parts as flush as possible. Then, slide the tent sleeve over the damaged area and hold it in place. Use duct tape or another durable, sticky tape to wrap around each end of the sleeve until it is secure.
It’s worth noting that most tent companies provide at least one tent sleeve with the purchase of a new tent. However, if you need an additional one or if you don’t have one, you can purchase a tent sleeve separately.