Name: Johnny
Message: hi, I have a yellow silicon coated nylon tent (the outer). I want to change the colour to a more natural colour. I have experimented with small test samples and the nylon material accepts the dye. I have no problems there, the nylon appears not to be damaged at all. I used the DYLON UNIVERSAL COLOUR DYE. This dye requires that I use a water temperature just below simmering, I took the water temperature to 90 to 95 degrees centigrade. What I can not see, if the silicon coating is damaged. Can you tell me if the silicon coating is damaged by dyeing and by the high temperatures. If there are other options for doing this, I would like to know. regards.... Johnny

My main concern with a silicon coating would be whether it prevents the dye from reaching the nylon, causing uneven dyeing. The silicon coating is intended to repel rainwater, after all. It is probably impossible to get a smooth single color with dye, as long as the silicon coating is intact. On the other hand, since your goal is to make the tent look more natural, perhaps a mottled effect would be preferable.

I would expect it to be necessary to reapply the silicon coating after dyeing the tent, in any case. In the US, the best product to use for waterproofing tents is "TX Direct Spray-On," made by Nikwax. (Their "Tent & Gear Proof" is for non-breathable tents.) I learned this by calling my tent's manufacturer, after spending a very wet night on a backpacking trip, only to find that even the manufacturer-applied coatings are not expected to last more than ten years anyway. I mail-ordered my Nikwax from REI, but a quick google search shows that there are many sources for Nikwax in Europe, as well.