Bushwalk Australia

Hi
Pre kids I enjoyed bushwalking and purchased a macpac olympus tent to use. Used it on the overland track 1987, but haven't used the tent since then.

Now kids are off my hands, I am looking to get back into bushwalking. My question is how long does the tent fabric last before you should replace the tent. The tent has been stored in the wardrobe all this time so UV shouldn't be a problem. Will it still be water proof? I do remember waterproofing the seams when I did use it for the overland.

It seems in good condition. Any ideas what I should be looking for if it has deteriated.
regards
steve

Im a bit of a macpac fan so my arguments might be a bit one eyed, but I think they are the best tents going and i'd be very surprised if it wasnt still nearly as good as when you last used it.

Best bet would be to put her up in the backyard and put the sprinkler on her...(and the tent too ).
Then hop inside and see if it leeks.
I would imagine the tent will be fine unless mice or something else has chewed it up.

My father has an Olympus of about the same vintage. It is still in excellent condition, and works well with no leaks (or leeks ). His has probably been used about once every three years over the last 10 years, I would say.

Similarly I'm an owner and fan of the Olympus. I would guess that it'd still be sound and waterproof, but there's one easy way to find out (maybe in the backyard during rain would be safest).

As part of my shuffling towards lightweight gear (and its weight is my only complaint with my lovely blue Olympus), I recently got an Aarn Pacer 1 trekking pole tent (see http://www.aarnpacks.com/products/pacer_tent_1.html as well as discussion here earlier). It's supposed to be my one person, lightweight tent, but I haven't tried it yet. I'll report back here when I have,

cheers

Peter

I have worn out 2 flys on macpac olys. But that is due to a lot of use, a lot of use in the sun and dust and cleaning. But it is/was such a good tent I still have an operational one. The current one is from the 1st prodcution in Vietnam to the original 2 door pattern in siliconised fabric. I do nto know about the later 1 door different fabric again models.

But my mineret is pre-silconised fabric era roughly the age of tent you are discussing v17l and still in good order.

thanks everyone, will put it up in the back yard and try the sprinkler test.

v17l wrote:thanks everyone, will put it up in the back yard and try the sprinkler test.

Your profile indicates you're probably an interstater - does this mean it'll have to be a bucket test instead?

lol. In Alice there hasn't been any water restrictions, so the sprinkler test is a good one. I know SA has been stricken with water restrictions, but has Tassi had to restrict water?
steve

v17l wrote:lol. In Alice there hasn't been any water restrictions, so the sprinkler test is a good one. I know SA has been stricken with water restrictions, but has Tassi had to restrict water?
steve

It's been the wettest winter for years, at least in Hobart. Rest of the state loks pretty green from what I've seen. I was getting quite sick of all the rain!