Tents

• The groundsheet of my tent is damp. Does it have a leak?
• Can I get replacement parts for my Jack Wolfskin tent?
• What do the numbers in the material specifications for tent poles mean?
• How should I store and maintain my tents and tarps?
• What are the advantages of double-walled tents?
• How should I pack my tent?
• How waterproof are JACK WOLFSKIN tents?
• Where do I find the product number or product name and the age of my Jack Wolfskin product?
• What do I do if one of my tent pole sections is broken?
• How can I renew the impregnation of my tent?

• The groundsheet of my tent is damp. Does it have a leak?

  Not necessarily! A great deal of water vapour is produced during the night simply by breathing, which condenses on the cold fabric of the tent. Dampness beneath a sleeping mat can also be caused by condensation.

  If you suspect that the floor of the tent has developed a leak, your local JACK WOLFSKIN retailer can arrange for a permeability test to be conducted. Protective underlay tarps (FLOORSAVER) are also available to fit our current range of tents.

• Can I get replacement parts for my Jack Wolfskin tent?

  Yes. We keep a stock of replacement parts for all our current models and some of our older models, including pegs, pole sections, complete pole sets and tent fabric.

  Your first point of contact is the JACK WOLFSKIN STORE or the retailer where you initially purchased your product. Please remember to include the name of the tent, the age of the tent and the length of the poles.

• What do the numbers in the material specifications for tent poles mean?

  The aluminium alloys used to make our tent poles are characterised by their high break resistance and flexibility at a low weight.
  Numbers such as "7001" refer to the composition of the alloy (i.e. the type of alloy and which other metals are added). “7001” aluminium means the alloy is composed of 87% aluminium, 2.1% copper, 0.25% chrome, 7.3% zinc and 3% magnesium.

  The "T6", "T9" and "T10" designations indicate the type of heat and/or artificial ageing treatment of the poles. This treatment alters the structure of the alloy at a molecular level in order to achieve specific mechanical values (high flexibility combined with good resilience).

  Important: the heat treatment and type of alloy must be perfectly coordinated. Both values together determine the most important parameters for tensile strength, yield strength and elasticity. It is therefore not possible to say that “T9” is better than “T6” or vice versa! Although T6 does not represent the highest grade of toughness, it is significantly more flexible and therefore less prone to breaking.

• How should I store and maintain my tents and tarps?

  On the go
  A shaded pitch is better for the tent fabric as extended exposure to UV rays can lead to deterioration of the fabric over time. Use an underlay tarp (FLOORSAVER) to protect the groundsheet from dirt and damage. With our FAMILY tents, these tarps are supplied as standard. FLOORSAVERs for our other tents can be found in our range.

  Storage
  The tent should be cleaned with a soft sponge and lukewarm, mild soapy water after each tour. The tent should never be machine-washed, dry-cleaned or treated with an aggressive stain remover as this could damage the coating of the tent fabric. The formation of mould and mildew can be avoided if both the tent and the pack sack are stored completely dry. The tent is best stored unpacked in a dark and dry room and protected from dust and light (preferably in an air-permeable cotton bag). The zips should also be tested regularly, as they have a lot of strain placed on them – especially when it comes to tents. Zips that no longer run smoothly can be treated with silicone spray to improve performance. If a zip does not fasten correctly, simply squeeze the slider carefully with a pair of pliers to restore the grip. This trick works with any type of zip and can often save you a complete repair job.Before storing the tent, make sure you check the integrity of the seams and seam seals. Seam sealants are available at all good outdoor stores. Please take care to select the appropriate sealant for your tent material (i.e. silicone or PU coating). The tent should be pitched before treating. Leave the sealant to dry for approx. 10 hours (see instructions for use). When dry, it forms a flexible seal over the seam.

  Re-impregnation
  Over the course of time, and after extensive use, the outer surface of the tent fabric may become rough. This means that droplets of water do not drip off the fabric as easily. You can use our impregnating agent to resolve this issue, which can be found in-store impregnating.
  All the information about caring for your tent can be found in the respective user manual here here.

• What are the advantages of double-walled tents?

  Double-walled tents separate the sleeping cabin (inner tent) from the weatherproof shell (flysheet). The primary reason for this type of construction is to deal with the water vapour produced in the inner tent (condensation from the occupants breathing, damp clothing, etc.), which needs to be dispersed effectively so that the sleeping cabin can remain dry.
  As the fabric of the inner tent is permeable to moisture vapour, the damp air can escape and condense on the cold outer surface of the flysheet.

  This is even more effective if the dampness can be expelled by a flow of air between the inner and outer tents. In order to achieve this, Jack Wolfskin tents are equipped with a sophisticated ventilation system. This usually consists of a combination of air vents set into the walls of the tent, a slightly raised front edge to the flysheet and a tent entrance which can be partly opened whilst still protecting you from wind and weather.
  The vents are positioned at different heights and on opposite sides of the tent to create a chimney effect and direct the flow of air.

  Single-walled tents are only really suitable for very specialised use in situations where minimising weight is the overriding concern (high-altitude camps, alpine climbing, etc.) and condensation problems are of minor significance.

• How should I pack my tent?

  If your tent does not have CORNER EDGES, you can pack it how you like. The inner and outer tent should be packed as compactly as possible in the pack sack and the tent poles should be transported separately, e.g. bound to the outside of the pack. If you want to pack the whole tent away neatly in its pack sack, spread the tent out and arrange so that only the groundsheet is in contact with the ground. Fold the tent into three widthways and roll the tent up lengthways. It’s easiest to place the poles in their bag and roll the tent up tightly around the pole bag towards the entrance to expel the air. Slip the pack sack over the rolled-up tent and place the peg bag in on top. The tent can be stored for a long period when rolled up in this way. However, please ensure that it is totally dry. If you want to be on the safe side, store your tent loosely packed in a large, air-permeable bag (e.g. laundry bag).
  Packing a tent up wet when on a trip is not normally a problem (apart from it being heavier) as it is going to be pitched again the following night and will then have time to dry.

  Packing REAL TUNNEL tents:

  If you have a REAL TUNEL tent, pack it so that the CORNER EDGES (marked in red) lie at right angles to the direction in which the tent is rolled up:

  1. Fold in the vestibules.
  2. Next, fold it lengthways...
  3. ... and then into three widthways. Finally, roll the tent up around the pole bag.

  Packing large REAL TUNNEL tents (for four or more people): (4 person and above):

  Due to its size and the CORNER EDGES, the tent should be rolled up as follows:

  1. Lay the tent on its side.
  2. Fold it into three from the top.
  3. Fold in the vestibule sections.
  4. Then fold the tent lengthways into six.
  5. Finally, roll the tent up around the pole bag.
• How waterproof are JACK WOLFSKIN tents?

  All JACK WOLFSKIN tents are completely waterproof in the critical areas (groundsheet, flysheet). This waterproofing is provided by the waterproof coating on the fabric as well as waterproof coverings on the zips, etc.

  A material is waterproof according to the DIN standard if it can permanently withstand a water column of at least 1,500 mm. The tent materials we use far exceed these values. The seams are always potentially permeable, as the needle holes also affect the coating. All the seams on JACK WOLFSKIN tents are therefore sealed with a special tape seal. If the seal deteriorates through use, you can use the seam sealant supplied with every tent. The paste should be applied to all seams that come in direct contact with rain (when pitched) and be left to dry for approx. 10 hours. This will eventually form a flexible and waterproof film.

  Tent materials with a silicone coating will not adhere to conventional seam tape seals. Therefore, silicone-coated materials are manufactured with a special thread which swells up when wet, making the stitching almost entirely waterproof. However, we do recommend applying the silicone seam sealant provided both inside and out to those seams particularly where several layers of material or tensioning loops are integrated into the seam.

• Where do I find the product number or product name and the age of my Jack Wolfskin product?

  There is a narrow label bearing a seven-digit product number behind the care label. Directly below the product number, there is a combination of several numbers and letters – the first two figures of this combination are the year of production. This information helps our customer service to process enquiries.

  The respective product name of our apparel does not appear on the products. The label which features the article number is usually located at the side seam or in one of the jacket pockets.

  On some of our products from the equipment range, there is also a product name directly below the Jack Wolfskin logo.

  The size label is located inside the shoe (usually on the inside of the tongue).

• What do I do if one of my tent pole sections is broken?

  A broken tent pole should always be replaced. Please contact your local store or retailer, who will be able to order the appropriate spare parts for you. In this case, you will need to send the entire pole to us and not just the faulty section.

  If a segment breaks whist you’re out and about and you wish to continue using the tent, the damaged section can be splinted using the pole repair sleeve which is supplied with every tent. Remove any sharp edges as best you can before sliding the repair sleeve over the damaged section and fixing it in place with a few turns of adhesive tape.

• How can I renew the impregnation of my tent?

  The flysheet can be treated with a conventional impregnation agent for tents. Please ensure you follow the instructions for use. The inner tent groundsheet should not be re-impregnated. Instead, we recommend the use of an underlay tarp or an Aquaseal product. The latter is available from specialist outdoor retailers and is simply brushed onto the groundsheet.
  Unfortunately, we are unable to offer this as a service to our customers.