Backpacking Background:

Results

Four rolls of McNett's Tenacious Sealing and Repair Tape shipped for this test series.  Thus far, I have used a complete roll and I'm approximately 50% into a second roll.  Each roll comes in its own storage tube.  The tube is light blue in color and translucent.  I took no special precautions when handling or storing the tape.   I simply applied the tape in each application and stored it with the rest of my gear in whatever pack I was using.  The tape stayed in very good condition throughout the test.  Whenever I extracted the tape from the tube for use, it was always clean, with no litter or lint stuck to it.  I believe this was due to the nice backer paper used on the tape to protect the adhesive as well as the storage tube.  The tube protected the tape, allowing no accidental separation of the tape from the backer paper.  The tube survived the test, being passed from pack to pack; simply tossed in the bottom and subject to all sorts of abuse.  It can be reused when the tape is gone to store something else.

Results are all positive, although not all the same.  The Tenacious Tape adhered to everything I tried it on, but it began to separate from the material sooner on some items, depending on the nature and characteristics of the material.

• My NEOS Trekker boots are made from coated nylon. I experienced a small tear from a crampon some time ago. This was the first item I patched with the Tenacious Tape. I'm pleased to report that it is still holding soundly. I patched both the inside and outside of the tear.
• I tested the Tenacious Tape on two different types of gloves: one was made of neoprene; the other was made of wool. Both were torn/worn on a finger. The tape really didn't last too long in either application. Both areas were subject to constant stress from moving and the tape quickly began to lift around the corners as the gloves went through wet/dry cycles. For a day or so though, the tape repair would work in a pinch.
• The neoprene cover on my backpack. The item was torn some time ago from an errant branch hanging too low (it couldn't have been me not getting low enough!). Again, I patched both sides of the tear. This spot has very little stress, but exposed to the elements. The patches are still holding, yet the corners are curling just a bit.
• Nylon rain fly and several tears on the Scout equipment. These are not expensive tents. All are nylon. Many had been torn for years. I through some Tenacious Tape at all of them - eight tents in all.   I used it as an opportunity to teach the scouts about equipment care. The tape held and is holding very well for the most part.  It makes for a poor repair on stake out loops, but works great on most other repairs, even bathtub floors inside the tent.
• The cotton canvas covering on my old pop-up camper. This is holding up great, even better than the duct tape that was on another small tear. I replaced that too with the Tenacious Tape!
• Pool toys! Although not permanent, it got us through a broken floatie at my sister-in-law's house and prevented lots of tears from my 3-year-old!
• First Aid.  On one of our hikes, one of the scouts tore his heel up pretty good from his new boots.  We couldn't keep Moleskin in place at all.  I made a heel cup out of the Tenacious Tape and applied it over a Moleskin doughnut.  It worked great!  I asked his mother how he did at home removing it.  She reported that there was "very little residue on his skin from the tape".
• Leaky water bottle.  I cracked a water bottle when it collided with a rock outcropping on a hike.  I wrapped some Tenacious Tape around the bottle a few times and it stopped the leak.  I used it all weekend that way and it held great!

Thank you BGT and McNett for a very fun test on a fine product that works!

Tim