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Nano shield vs toddtex

Original Post
Danomcq · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 95

Anyone have experience with both bd fabrics, nanoshield and toddtex? I'm especially interested in the longevity and durability of the nano

Brian Croce · · san diego, CA · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 60

nano is crap.

Danomcq · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 95

Ha,...care to elaborate?

Daveswildcamping · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

Yes I have real experience with the toddex material with my time with the BD
bombshelter, I'd stay well clear.
Mine leaked more or less from the off. I live in the United Kingdom and it's not uncommon to have rain, and plenty of it.
The first few uses weren't to bad and I liked the tent. My friend even paid the £600 to £800 and bought one too. Then the fun started, two side by side tents made from the revolutionary toddex fabric from Todd Bibler.
My trip to Scotland was the worse. Not just water in the tent but you could see waves on the surface. Moving the neoair mat was like a tsunami making its way across my floor.
Whats more ridiculous about this story is i'm looking at Black Diamond tents again using the NanoShield material which is only water resistant not waterproof. I guess camping isn't camping unless your lashed on.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

Single wall tents are made for higher/colder environments.
That said, the nano fabric could be crappy. I don't know..
I will say that I am happy with the toddtex fabric, even at
Lower elevations where it is more rain, not snow...

One question to the fella with the leaky tent.
Did you seam seal it, like they suggest, or skip
That step of new tent preparationI ...?

C

coldfinger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 55

Nano is NOT waterproof, especially in very humid environments.

Here in high and dry Wyoming it does quite well with wet weather.

In Alaska it soaked through pretty quickly.

Seam sealing is pretty important, water will drip through and it also reinforces the seams considerably. I did mine inside and out.

Todd Tex is frigging burly! If you want a tent that will survive hellacious winds (100mph) go that way.

webdog · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 0

Don't listen to the person who uses a high altitude single wall tent in the rain. They're doing it wrong.
Todd Tex = burly expedition, harsh weather
Nano= light and fast

coldfinger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 55

I used the Firstlight in the Alaska Range AND for a few days camping out in Talkeetna (THAT'S where it soaked through) before flying back here to Wyoming.

Used the Todd Tex in the Andes (100 mph here) and Himalayas.

Have used both on winter trips in the Wind River Range (where I thought the Firstlight was about to explode in very high winds).

So yes I do know.

webdog · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 0

Coldfinger my comment was more directed at Dave who used the single wall in Scottland of all places, wet and nasty. Your statement was appropriate

Daveswildcamping · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

Both bombshelter were seem sealed to death. Remember this isn't a one off incident I am talking about my friends exact same tent also seem sealed.

What appears to happen with this fabric when saturated after prolonged rain. Water collects between inner and outer layers and it falls to it lowest point which is the seem joining the ground sheet. This seem on the inside is taped which eventually just falls off like mine and my friends did.
I ended up pulling it all off and plastering it with seem seal inside and out and the water just started coming through the fabric itself in the end. We tried everything with these tents to adapt them for the British weather which they weren't made for, Stopping just short of actually cutting out most of the floor so water would run into the ground.
Here are I few links to my bombshelter.

BD Bombshelter Blown Wide Open: youtu.be/7P_n7ScQWhc

Black Diamond Bibler Bombshelter: youtu.be/enZDYYRIxDE

My Experience With Black Diamond Bibler Toddex Te…: youtu.be/GZ1wAluJBO8

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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