5 Best Tent Seam Sealers of 2023 Ranked

Camping is great because it’s one of the few outdoor activities you can do even if it’s raining. Well, you can do it in the rain as long as your tent is waterproof and keeps you dry. That’s why it’s so important to do everything you can to waterproof your tent, and sealing the seams is one of the three essential ways to do that.

Since there are many different options to choose from, we’ve rounded up the best tent seam sealers on the market and ranked them for you. This way, you know exactly what you’re getting and can buy the right seam sealer with confidence.

As hopefully my readers know by now, every product I write about has either been personally tested by me, or I’ve spoken with friends and other campers that have used them. This goes for tent seam sealers too. Over the years, I’ve tried many different products on all my tents to keep them waterproof, and I’ve worked with other enthusiasts to come up with this list.

What Are the Best Tent Seam Sealers?

As your tent starts to age, you might notice some seams coming apart here and there, or you might have even had a recent rip or tear that you’ve repaired. In either case, applying seam sealer ensures that no water can get in, which will keep you dry and protect the tent from further damage.

Here are the best tent seam sealers ranked:

• Best Overall: GEAR AID Seam Grip + WP Waterproof Sealant + Adhesive
• Runner Up: Coleman Seam Sealer
• Best Budget: Coghlan’s Seam Sealer
• Fastest Curing: GEAR AID Fast Cure Seam Sealant
• Best Silicone-Based: GEAR AID Seam Grip + SIL Silicone Tent Sealant 

Best Overall: GEAR AID Seam Grip + WP Waterproof Sealant + Adhesive

Key Features

• Seal up to 12ft of seams with just 1oz
• Available in an 8oz bottle for more coverage
• Compatible with tents, tarps, backpacks, boots, and more
• Comes with two applicator brushes

My Take

If you’ve looked at other lists of the best tent seam sealers, you’ve probably seen this one at the top quite a few times, and there are good reasons for that. It’s my personal go-to seam sealer because it works on all my gear, comes in an 8oz option, and I’ve never had any leaks on my tents after using it.

Runner Up: Coleman Seam Sealer

Key Features

• Biggest brand in the camping industry
• Works on tents, backpacks, tarps, and more outdoor gear
• Fast-drying formula cures in just 4 hours
• Integrated applicator brush makes it easy to use

My Take

I’m a big Coleman fan myself, as you can probably tell from some of my other articles, but their stuff just works great while staying affordable. This seam sealer gets the job done, works on just about any tent, dries fast, and is super easy to use.

Best Budget: Coghlan’s Seam Sealer

Key Features

• Most affordable tent seam sealer on the market
• Colorless and flexible; can be mashed after it dries
• Users have said it cures in just two hours
• Built-in applicator brush for simple application

My Take

Whenever I’m looking for new camping gear, I always try to find the most affordable option, and that’s how I came across Cohglan’s. I’ll be honest, from the design of the bottle to the fast cure times, this sealer is incredibly similar to the next one on the list, and it’s a heck of a lot cheaper!

Fastest Curing: GEAR AID Fast Cure Seam Sealant

Key Features

• 2-hour cure time is ideal for last-minute waterproofing
• Treats up to 60ft of seams with just 2oz
• Applicator brush is built-in and easy to use
• Works on just about any tent fabric material

My Take

Hands down the best fast-curing seam sealer on the market, this option from GEAR AID has been a lifesaver if it’s the last minute and I haven’t done my waterproofing ahead of time. Even though I mentioned Coghlan’s sealer above being similar, I think the GEAR AID option does perform slightly better.

Best Silicone-Based: GEAR AID Seam Grip + SIL Silicone Tent Sealant

Key Features

• Seals up to 24ft of seams
• Perfect for nylon and silnylon materials
• Resistant to extreme heat and cold
• Creates a flexible waterproof seal on tents, backpacks, and more

My Take

While I tend to lean towards the water-based sealers listed above, a silicone-based product is the best option for nylon and other synthetic plastic materials. As long as your tent is compatible with a silicone-based product, you can’t go wrong with this one from GEAR AID. 

Considering GEAR AID has 3 of the 5 spots on this list, I guess you really can’t go wrong with any of the options from them!

What Do Tent Seam Sealers Do?

As the name suggests, tent seam sealers are designed to seal the sewn seams on your tent. Whether the seams have already started coming apart or you’re just being proactive and adding an extra layer of protection, a seam sealant will waterproof these areas and make sure nothing can leak inside.

Due to the material that the sealant is made from, it will bond with the fabric of your tent, providing a completely waterproof seal. When the sealant dries, it remains flexible so that it can move and stretch with your tent as you set it up, tear it down, store it, and more. 

Since they’re so versatile and easy to apply, seam sealant is also ideal for waterproofing any rips or tears that you’ve recently repaired. A tent patch or repair kit will only do so much, but adding seam sealant will make sure it’s completely fixed and waterproof.

Are Tent Seam Sealers Worth It?

When it comes to your camping gear, taking care of it is the best way to get the most life out of it. Few things are worse during a camping trip than water leaking in through the seams on your tent, and applying seam sealer is a cheap and easy way to protect yourself from getting wet during your next camping trip.

In short, tent seam sealer is absolutely worth it and is something everyone should add to their camping checklist.

That said, applying seam sealant is just one of the three main ways to waterproof your tent, along with applying waterproofing sprays and refreshing the tent’s urethane coating. To get the rest of the gear you need, check out our roundups of the best tent waterproofing sprays and fabric sealers on the market.

Stay dry out there, and happy camping!