Most tents are made of either nylon or canvas, both of which are comparatively light and water resistant.

You'll want to use waxed thread, which is both water-proof and strong.

Depending on the severity of the problem, you should need between 10 minutes and one hour to repair a tent.

When you pitch a tent too rigidly, you promote tears in the fabric. Always make sure there is some give to your tent.

if you want to avoid damage to your tent, you should make sure there aren't any tree limbs or sharp rocks near the tent.

There's no need to take out needle and thread for a small tear. Just tape it up with some repair tape.

Ripstop nylon repair tape is ideal for fixing small tears. Make sure to apply a liberal amount to both sides of the tear.

Always smooth out the tape as you apply it, to avoid both air and water leaks.

Canvas shouldn't be repaired with ripstop nylon; use taffeta instead.

Make sure to use sealer after applying repair tape, so that your tent is indeed waterproof.

One common mistake is to use strips of tape that are too short. Make sure the strips of tape extend at least 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) past the repair line.

You can add all the citronella and sandalwood oil you want, but the main ingredient in insect repellent is rubbing alcohol.

While it's important that the adhesive you use be strong, it's even more important that it be flexible enough that it doesn't crack when you use the new sole.

The body oils that humans produce repel most adhesives, so use work gloves when touching new soles.

Depending on the quality of the boot, the sole will be either glued on or sewn on.

It shouldn’t take more than an hour or two to resole a boot, but take your time because it needs to be done correctly.

Between the outer sole of a boot and the permanent leather layer is a rubber layer that must be cleaned before the new sole is attached.

For top-of-the-line rubber soles there is only one name: Vibram.

It only takes about an hours or so to resole a boot, but you should let it set for 24 hours to ensure it bonds correctly.

The excess sole isn't useful, and to give the boot a professional finish you should trim of any excess with a sharp knife.