When all you want to do is cry - kit failures

[Adventurer]

In my little lunar solo tent last night in -6 temp with my lovely warm PHD bag and liner bag.

Keeping the cold off me back with the exped insulated down mat. Thought I would have any early night and get some sleep.

Trying to get comfy I felt I needed to move my mat over a little.

And then it all went wrong.......

Tried to move the mat over with my hand and oh bigger my nail went through the side, right by the edge, big puffffffft and the inside of my tent turns into a winter snow globe that has been shaken upside down.

I'm pleased that I did not start crying.

Access the damage, I'm sure it's only a small tear.

Oh F*** it's a big 2 inch tear, I want to go to sleep and it's freezing.

Get my patch kit out, glue it (and we know how well glue works in freezing temp) put big patch over. Wait ages, blow up and yep it goes down.

Don't panic, don't panic. I'm sure I'll survive a cold uncomfortable night on the floor.

I've got enough stuff and tenacious tape for one more go. Think.

Why did I not sew the rip first. Thank god I've got some needles and thread. So take old repair off. Sew the tear up, put more glue over top. Heat some water and put in bottle and put by glue, this might dry the glue or make it worse. Put last large patch on then some tenacious tape around this.

Wait 30 mins warming with bottle and hands.

Blow up. Oh my it's holding but how long. I don't believe it I never had to wake up every hour trying to repump the mat. Woke up about 6am and it's still up.

Now I've only got one more night for it too survive.

Now I know why I always take too much stuff.

[whitestone]

Did you forget your nail clippers and emery board?

Did you manage to get the filling back in?

[Bearbonesnorm]

'Tis a well known fact that certain 'people' don't use air mats

[Adventurer]

Yes, my nail was broken at one edge so was a bit sharp and me lying on the mat made it go pop. The bloody down was everywhere.

I gave up trying to get it back in, it was hard enough trying to pick it up from all the surfaces.

Duck tape that I wrap around my pump makes a good sticky surface to pick up all the down.

I was going to sleep about 9pm but finally put my head down at 12.30.

[Ray Young]

'Tis a well known fact that certain 'people' don't use air mats

Ummm, I'm growing certain nails as I have taken up playing a tenor ukulele and want to learn to finger pick. Maybe I should forget that and just buy some picks to fit my fingers .

[Trail-rat]

Urgh .

2 weeks ago I was taking down the tent and I moved it slightly and the bloody alloy pole shattered folded and tore through the side of the tent .

Raging . Wild country Hoolie 2 etc.

Wild country are at least gonna look at it under warranty.

Also at fords of avon earlier in the year my mates Nordisk ultralight tent poles had worn through his tent while packed up. Then after repairing that he rolled over and his neoair xlite burst -at 2 am.

[boxelder]

Then after repairing that he rolled over and his neoair xlite burst -at 2 am

Sorry, Schadenfreude