Caring for your Tatonka
We all know that taking care of our gear can prolong its life. But what does ‘taking care’ of your Tatonka actually entail? Read our pack and tent care guides below.
Pack Care
When travelling
he aluminium bars found on our larger packs bend into the waist belt and these bars can be put under pressure when gear and/or other weight is loaded on top or it gets squished amongst other gear. Too much pressure can cause these bars to break! This most often occurs when travelling with packs (e.g. they are loaded into the car or put on an aeroplane or helicopter).
This is why we recommend removing the bars from the waist belt end or even removing them completely when travelling to relieve that pressure.
Once you are ready to go, simply push the bars back into place.
Note: if your aluminium bars do break from the above or other misuse, this is not covered under warranty.
Protect your pack from the sun
Double the life of your Tatonka pack by protecting the fabric from UV degradation with Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarProof®.
Nikwax Tent & Gear Solar Proof® also adds durable water repellency, helping to keep the gear inside your pack safe and dry. We do recommend using a Rain Cover for wet and damp conditions, but adding water repellency can help when you get caught out or don’t have time to put your rain cover on straight away!
Cleaning your pack
We recommend cleaning your Tatonka pack using a moist cloth. For stubborn stains use a specialised cleaner likeNikwax Tent & Gear SolarWash®.
Tent Care
Seam-sealing your tent
The outer of Tatonka tents are made from a 5-layer silicone coated Nylon 6.6 Ripstop that unfortunately cannot be seam-sealed in the manufacturing process. Therefore, we recommend seam-sealing your tent when you first buy it, and every couple of years (or when required).
Watch the video from Rogee Productions, Seam Sealing the Tatonka Rokua 2, for some great tips on how to seam-seal your Tatonka tent.
Cleaning your tent
IMPORTANT: Never machine wash or tumble dry your tent – this could damage your tent and also voids your warranty.
During use, your tent’s fabric will pick up dirt and other contaminants which stop water from beading on the fabric surface. When this occurs, the waterproof coating can be revitalised by cleaning with a specific product such as Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarWash ®.
1) Place the tent in an area that will drain easily and is free of excessive dirt or dust.
2) Spray Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarWash ® all over your tent and scrub your tent where appropriate.
3) Rinse off thoroughly until the water runs clear.
4) Allow to dry naturally (if not applying waterproofing). Ensure it is completely dry before packing the tent away. Also ensure that you dry your tent after every trip because condensation will develop in any weather.
5) Don’t forget to sweep/shake out the inside of the tent.
Waterproofing your tent
We recommend applying Nikwax Tent & Gear Solar Proof® to your new tent as it helps protect it against UV damage, potentially doubling its life.
1) Clean your tent as above if required (not needed for your new tent)
2) Choose the correct waterproofing product for your tent. We recommend Nikwax Tent & Gear Solar Proof®.
3) Apply the product to a wet, clean tent, ensuring that you pay particular attention to any seams.
4) Wipe away any excess with a clean cloth.
5) Allow to dry naturally and thoroughly.