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Gear Aid Seam Grip+WP

rated 3.5 of 5 stars
photo: Gear Aid Seam Grip+WP seam sealer

Don't waste time or money.

Tried repairing the seams on a hood neck shoulders on Goretex Extrem Berghaus Paclite
Don't stick well the seams curl up like old corn beef, when applied. When cured it peels off like dead skin.

Pros

  • Great smell, gets you high as a kite

Cons

  • It did not bond to Goretex Paclite shell, which was cleaned in Techwash prior

Basically my Berghaus Extrem Paclite Jacket had some seams coming away.

After searching and reading reviews, I thought sod it give it a go.

When applying seam grip it soaks into the seams, making them curl up, so you have to sit there and keep pushing edges down to stick, best to do small parts at a time, after a while it starts curing but does not bond well.

Im' in the process of repairing my hood today, slow going, the seams don't want to bond to jacket.

But if you say use credit card or biro to press seams down, the seam grip sticks to pen or card and rips the seam away from coat and it's bloody frustrating.

It may be good for two bob tents, tarps, but not Goretex shells.

Best to send off for professional repairs.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: can't remember

The only thing I will use on cuts, tears, and seams.

Pros

  • Excellent bonding
  • Superior strength
  • Flexibility

Cons

  • Cure time
  • Sticks to self

I've used Seam Grip on everything from tents, to rain shells, to hiking shoes, to even fishing waders. Depending on the location and size of tear, I may back it with Tenacious Tape, then smear on Seam Grip, such as on the sleeve of my rain shell.  On my tent seams, I actually had to re-stitch, then seal it.

My largest job was when the vinyl window on the rain fly of my REI tent simply let loose — literally coming off.

It took a few evenings and creative taping/stretching/gluing sessions to get it back in place, but it has held through near hurricane force wind and rain on two occasions.

Last season, I tore a 1.5 inch hole in my fishing waders on the thigh. After drying and wiping with alcohol inside and out - and allowing that to dry, I placed a Tenacious patch on the outside and seam gripped the inside. It's held up to near a dozen fishing outings, often being submerged for hours at a time.

Aside from my window sticking to itself a few times, I have nothing but praise for this stuff!

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: Can't remember

McNett's Seam Grip is the absolute best you can use. If you use anything else you are wasting your time and money. I went through about a dozen other sealants and found NOTHING that even comes close to the performance and value of this product.

The Good: It is the best tent sealant out there. If you think you found one better for a cheaper price, please let me know!!! Keep in mind that this stuff doesn't seem to penetrate fabric at all and remains on the surface like an armored sheet. There may be other uses that require penetrating sealants and this isn't made for that.

The Bad: If you are a total geek and mind a little discoloration from the sealant then you won't like the sheen that this leaves. You should also probably stick to camping in your mom's back yard...

The applicator brush tip it comes with is almost useless. Use the separate brush to spread the stuff over exposed threads. You can also use a syringe to apply it into cracks but you need to find the exact diameter applicator tip or it will drip out.

The Ugly: Nothing. Wish it was cheaper or easier to find the giant tubes

Usage: Sealant
Price Paid: $6.99

There are other products out there which can fix leaking camping gear, although I have tried a few with disappointing results. Then I got McNett’s Seam Grip.

Pros

  • Comes in small tube
  • Has applicator brushes

Cons

  • Metal tube can burst

There are other products out there which can fix leaking camping gear, although I have tried a few with disappointing results. Then I got McNett’s Seam Grip via Alpine & Leisure, an importer of McNett’s products for the New Zealand market.

What I like is that Seam Grip comes with a brush-like applicator head, and a tiny paint brush to help you seal those hard-to-get-to places like the inside-out corners of a tent. The 28 gram tube seems adequate for my needs, and best of all, that 8 grams feels weightless in my backpack.

It’s tough, and I won’t accept anything less.

Source: tested or reviewed it for the manufacturer (I kept it!)

This stuff works well and does what its suppose to.

The only drawback that I can see with it is that after your tent sits all winter rolled up in the stuff sack (like you're not suppose to do anyway) it tends to stick to itself a little bit, but it is not sticky to the touch. I have used it with a makeshift patch on the floor of a tent and on a small tarp and both have lasted well and not leaked at all.

I rated it as a 4 because it stuck to itself after sitting and it takes a while to dry. It is not something I would use on the trail.

I would recommend this to a friend.

Usage: Tube
Price Paid: $6

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Specs

Price Current Retail: $8.95-$9.99
Historic Range: $3.60-$27.95
Reviewers Paid: $6.00-$6.99
Product Details from Gear Aid »