Best Seam Sealer For Tents: Top 5

Do worry about your tent seams leaking when you’re out camping? 

Is your tent a little used and experiencing some leakage in the seam region?

The seams are the weakest part of the tent. This is where the tent fabrics come together. 

Fortunately, most companies realize this, but no method of sealing is fool-proof forever.

The first place tents tend to leak is the seam.

Luckily, fixing this is simple if you have the product which is why we made this guide on the best seam sealer for tents. 

The best seam sealers for tents need to be effective, waterproof, easy to apply, and last for a long time. Our picks for the best tent seam sealers are: 

• Coleman Seam Sealer
• Gear Aid Seam Fast Cure Seam Sealer
• Texsport Seam Sealer
• Gear Aid Seam Grip Waterproof Sealant
• Gear Aid Seam Grip Silicone Sealant

Look ahead for direct comparison of the products, a simple buyer’s guide, deep-dive reviews of the products, and answers to commonly asked questions. 

Direct Comparison Of The Best Seam Sealer For Tents

This table is a direct comparison of our picks.

The pros and cons are drawn from our individual reviews below. 

Use this table to help you narrow what you want.

Use the sections below to get more details if you’re having a hard time deciding. 

Note: Click on the images to check current pricing. 

Products	Pros	Cons
Coleman Seam Sealer	-Affordable -Easy to use -Helpful addition of foam applicator pad -Trustworthy company	-Small amount of sealer for large tents
Gear Aid Seam Fast Cure Seam Sealer	-Works on different types of fabric -Easy to apply -Dries quickly	-You may need to reapply every year or two
Texsport Seam Sealer	-Larger container -Great waterproofing -Lasts for a long time	-Harder to apply
Gear Aid Seam Grip Waterproof Sealant	-Great waterproofing -Lasts for years -Works perfect with polyurethane-coated tents and fabrics	-Higher price -Harder to apply
Gear Aid Seam Grip Silicone Sealant	-Great waterproofing -Lasts for years -Works perfect with silicone-coated tents and fabrics	-Higher price -Harder to apply

What To Look For In The Best Seam Sealer For Tents

This section covers the important features of seam sealers you may want to look out for when you research what to buy. 

Use this info to help you decide which product to go for, or if you’re looking for your own choice off of our list. 

Fabric Coating

One thing many people don’t realize when it comes to tent sealers is how the coating on the fabric makes a big difference with which sealer you use. 

If the fabric is coated in some type of silicone, such as silnylon and silpoly, you must use a silicon-based sealer. 

Only silicone will truly stick to other silicone well. 

Silicone is common, but you’ll need to check your tent specs to know what it actually uses. 

The more common option is a polyurethane-coated fabric.

This is in most tents, so if you’re unsure, this is a fine place to start. 

These are more common with tent sealers, but you should still check for maximum effect. 

Seam tapes (see more below) work pretty well on any fabric. 

In general, any sealer will work fine with any material, but the length and completeness of the seal is much less when the two aren’t compatible. 

Of course, tents didn’t always have coating.

Check out what medieval tents were made of.

Thickness Of Sealer

You may also want to check out the thickness or viscosity of the seam sealer as well.

Thick sealers tend to do a better and more durable job with sealing, but it’s much harder to use. 

Thinner sealers are often easy to use although they sacrifice some in longevity. 

This is largely a matter of preference, but still worth knowing. 

Ease Of Use

Seam sealers and tapes come in a large variety of user-friendliness.

Many are quite hard to use but effective. 

For those sealers you only need to apply every few years, a little work figuring it out is probably a good trade for a consistently effective seal. 

On the other hand, if you need to seal the seams out on the trail, you don’t want to mess around with it too much. 

The best way to see how easy it is to use is to just use it yourself.

A close second is talking to those who’ve used it and seeing what they say. 

We did this for you in the reviews below, so be on the lookout for this info. 

Durability

Durability is key with sealers. 

In an emergency, it doesn’t have to last a long time, just long enough to make it back home. 

But when you seal the seams for good, you don’t want to do this every couple of months.

A good seam sealer should last at least 2 years. 

We’ll talk about how long the seals tend to last in the specific reviews below. 

Seam Sealer Vs. Seam Tape

Well, seam sealing and seam taping are two different things, though they may be used in conjunction with one another. 

Seam sealing is a glue-like substance either sprayed or adhered to the seams.

As this dries and hardens, the sealer repels water and prevents intrusion. 

Seam taping is a thin, often polyurethane, layer applied under or on top of seams to prevent water from getting in. 

Which is better?

It depends on the situation. 

Seam taping requires more work to apply, but it often results in a solid and consistent seal.

Of course, the tape won’t work on ultra-light tents as well and works best with thicker fabrics. 

Seam tape also breaks and cracks a little easier. 

Seam sealing is a little easier in most cases and may last longer when compared to tape. 

But the effectiveness of the seal is largely determined by how well the user applies the product. 

The sealer won’t work if you don’t get all the way around. 

Which is better?

It’s up to you. But I’d recommend a seam sealer overall. 

You may also want to learn about the best waterproofing sprays for tents.

These are useful for overall water-repelling.

Review Of The Best Seam Sealer For Tents

This review section covers the individual product in more detail.

Use this section to help learn and decide between two individual products you think you want. 

Note: Because prices fluctuate, we’ll mention general price points, but you’ll need to click the related button in order to check the most current pricing. 

Coleman Seam Sealer

No mixing is required to use the mix. It’s water-based too, so it applies easily. 

Coleman offers a foam applicator pad to make its use even easier. 

This may not be the best option for those of you who want to re-seal all the seams on a large tent, but by rubbing the fast-drying chemical into the seams, it will soak in and fill out any holes in the seams. 

The Coleman products last a couple of years, though you may not need to reapply in places where folds and water occur often. 

Pros For This Product: 

• Affordable
• Easy to use
• Helpful addition of foam applicator pad
• Trustworthy company

Cons For This Product: 

• Small amount of sealer for large tents

Gear Aid Seam Fast Cure Seam Sealer

Gear Aid has come to be known as one of the best accessory companies for outdoor and transportation gear. 

This includes tents in most cases. 

The moderate-priced Fast Cure sealer has one killer feature: it’s fast-acting and fast-drying nature. 

The Fast Cure sealer is perfect for emergencies and away from home situations.

The product, formerly known as Seam Sure, works well on nylon, polyester, and canvas. 

It’s a water-based formula which dries in under 4 hours with no extra heat needed. 

The 2 ounce (75.6 g) bottle packs enough mix to seal up to 60 feet (18.29 m) of tent seams. 

This is the product you want to have in your pack when you’re out camping. 

Compared to Gear Aid’s other dedicated seam sealers, it won’t last as long. 

This is an all-purpose and versatile product. 

As far as application goes, it’s easy to put on with the pre-installed brush on the top of the product. 

Pros For This Product: 

• Works on different types of fabric
• Easy to apply
• Dries quickly

Cons For This Product: 

• You may need to reapply every year or two

Texsport Seam Sealer

Texsport isn’t as well known as the other two companies on our list, but their seam sealer is top-notch. 

At a higher price, you get 14 ounces (0.53 kg) of sealant for use on a lot of seams. 

This is another urethane-based spray for use with the majority of tents and other poly based materials such as backpacks and tarps. 

Though it has a stronger smell to it when applied, it goes away once dry. 

This seam sealer is invisible upon drying. It even resists the sun’s rays and lasts a long time. 

The sealer is a professional-level product for the highest levels of waterproofing on your tent seams. 

This sealer is a bit more difficult to apply and make sure it’s done right.

But the company is helpful in guiding you through the steps to apply correctly. 

Once it’s on, it’s on for a while. 

Pros For This Product: 

• Larger container
• Great waterproofing
• Lasts for a long time

Cons For This Product: 

• Harder to apply

Gear Aid Seam Grip Waterproof Sealant

These next two products are very similar in function and moderate price. 

This one is the Seam Grip WP which stands for waterproofing. 

As we touched on above, the WP version is dedicated to urethane-based fabrics. Its waterproofing is excellent. 

This one lasts longer and works better generally than the Fast Cure type above, but this comes at a price. 

The price, ironically, is a higher cost per tube and weight.

This sealant is available in the following sizes: 

• 1 ounce (37.8 g)
• 1 ounce (37.8 g) – 2 pack
• 1 ounce (37.8 g) – 3 pack
• 8 ounces (0.3 kg)

The sealant also takes longer to dry and is more tricky and careful to apply.

But once done, it repels water better and lasts for years. 

Pros For This Product: 

• Great waterproofing
• Lasts for years
• Works perfect with polyurethane-coated tents and fabrics

Cons For This Product: 

• Higher price
• Harder to apply

Gear Aid Seam Grip Silicone Sealant

The silicone version of Gear Aid’s Seam Grip is the same product as above but based on silicone instead of urethane. 

This one is only available in a 1.5 ounce (56.7 g) container, but it features the same focus as the Seam Grip WP. 

The sealant is harder to apply and costs a little more by size, but once it’s on, it works well and doesn’t wear off quickly. 

This product will also be able to last a few years.

The main draw for the Seam Grip SL is its maximum effect on the underserved silicone-coated fabrics. 

Pros For This Product: 

• Great waterproofing
• Lasts for years
• Works perfect with silicone-coated tents and fabrics

Cons For This Product: 

• Higher price
• Harder to apply

Commonly Asked Questions

This section covers questions we’re often asked in relation to seam sealing tents. 

Should I seam my new tent? –

Typically no. 

Most new tents come with seam taping and seam sealing already done.

Unless it’s done poorly and leaks right off the bat, you don’t need it until after the seams have been in use for a while.

If you do notice leaking right away, you’re probably better off returning the tent and getting a new one again. 

Will flex seal work on tents? –

Yes, flex seals will seal a tear or leaky seam in an emergency situation. 

All you need to do is pinch the parts together as close as possible and spray the spot. 

However, seam seal cracks easier after packing and sitting in the sun. 

Flex seal is more for use in a pinch.

For long-term tent seam repair, you need to use one of our picks.  

How do you seal a canvas tent seam? –

Canvas tent seams are another matter.

They won’t always work well with the normal sealants. 

Canvas seams respond best to seam tapes and wax-based sealants. 

However, canvas seems to be more durable and last longer, so this may be something you never need to worry about. 

How do you tape a tent seam? –

It largely depends on the exact product you use. 

But in general, you need to remove all pieces of the previous tent tape.

Then, you apply the seam tape and affix it to the seams with heat such as from an iron. 

How often should you seam seal a tent? –

Sort answer: when the seams start to leak. 

Long answer: it depends on the tent and how often it’s used.

Most good tents will last anywhere from 2-5 years on good seams, but some may last longer while even good ones get overwhelmed or damaged and need repair in a single year. 

Conclusion

We hope you found our guide to the best seam sealer for tents helpful.

These picks are all good ones for sealing your tents. 

With a silicone coated tent fabric, you should use the Gear Aid SL sealant.

The Gear Aid Waterproof sealant will work with other tents. 

For emergency use, we recommend the fast cure, though the others will last longer in the long run. 

Take care to check on the status of your seams regularly, and you’ll avoid a big water problem. 

You may also enjoy learning about how to connect two tents together.

Seam Sealing Questions

Do You Put Seam Sealer On The Inside Or Outside Of The Tent?

When you seam seal your tent, it needs to be done on a sunny day, and it’s largely up to you whether you do it on the inside or outside of the tent (or both). Most directions on your product will tell you specifically what it recommends. 

In general, makers tell you the seam sealer is meant for the urethane-coated side of the fabrics, which is typically the inside. 

The exterior of tents is often already treated, and the seams are designed to open up into the interior as basic rain protection. 

Can You Retape Tent Seams?

It’s possible and easy to retape your tent seams as they come apart. You need to remove any other adhesive first and then apply your new tape over the seams. Use a quality product and take your time to make sure it’s done right. 

You shouldn’t have to retape your seam for a few years unless you buy a cheaper tent or use your tent all the time. 

Taking care of your camping tent is critical in keeping it working great for many years to come. 

But if the seams start to come up, don’t panic! 

You can save it with some simple steps. 

How Long Does It Take Seam Sealer To Dry?

Seam sealer takes, on average, 3-4 hours to dry, but of course, it depends on each product as well as the temperature, humidity, and ventilation. Patience is critical in making sure the seam sealer is fully set before moving it. 

You can help your seam sealer dry better by making sure it’s spread out, the humidity is low, and the temperature isn’t too cold where you’re doing the work. 

This is why most people recommend resealing on a warm sunny day. 

Leaving it out in the sun and fresh air provides the best possible environment for it to set quickly and properly. 

Why Does A Camping Tent’s Canvas Leak When Touched?

With a canvas camping tent, the oils from your hand can corrode the waterproofing substance on the material. The places where you touch the tent will start to leak more over time. 

But canvas also has small holes, which are normally too small to leak due to surface tension. 

When you touch it, though, you break the surface tension, and water leaks in. 

Other tent materials will suffer a similar fate in time, though not usually as bad. 

They also won’t typically have problems with the whole surface tension piece of leaking. 

Can You Scotchgard A Tent?

As long as the Scotchgard seam sealer or waterproofing spray is made for the same material as your tent, it’s safe to use it. In most cases, you won’t need to apply it on brand new tents, but you’ll be fine using it on older tents to increase their waterproofing. 

Canvas tents don’t always come with their own waterproofing, so Scotchgard is perfect for these situations. 

Canvas and homemade tents need this extra help.