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My tent pole snapped on the Lost Coast Trail last month
Honestly, it was the second night out and a big gust came through our camp near Mattole Beach. Heard this loud crack and my tent just sagged on one side. The pole section split right at a joint, maybe from a weak spot or just old age. I had to use some duct tape and a tent stake as a splint to get it to hold for the night. Tbh, I was worried we'd have to bail early, but it held up okay for the last two days if we were careful setting it up. Packing it away was a pain though, had to keep the broken piece separate. Has anyone else had a pole break miles from the trailhead? What's your go-to trail fix?
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grant82610d ago
eh I gotta say I read this and I'm wondering if we're making too big a deal out of a tent pole. Like yeah it sucks when it breaks but it's just a pole. You fixed it with duct tape and a stake and it worked fine for two more days right? So what's the big panic. The whole "I was worried we'd have to bail" thing feels a bit dramatic to me. If a busted tent pole is gonna ruin your whole trip maybe you got bigger problems. Pretty sure people camped with way jankier gear for decades before these fancy aluminum poles came along. Just my two cents though
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davis.iris2mo ago
Oh man, the "duct tape and a tent stake splint" is a classic move. I once had a pole snap on a super windy night in the Sierras and my fix was so bad it looked like a toddler's art project. I used a stick, some zip ties, and a whole lot of hope. It sort of worked, but the tent had this weird permanent lean like it was ashamed of me.
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