Catoma Company Background

Why is the company called Catoma? We started building tents in 1993 with our first tent built for the USDI Wilderness Firefighters. We needed a name for our company and with our facility located on the banks of the Catoma Creek, we decided to borrow its name and Catoma was born. Since 1993, we have continued to design and build tents for the fire service and other specialized customers.

Sticker Request

Please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the following address:

Catoma
Attn: Sticker Request
6101 Brewbaker Blvd.
Montgomery, AL 36116

Please allow up to 4 weeks for delivery. Any requests without a return envelope with required postage will not be processed. Or you can call with your address to 800-826-0446 and we can send some out to you.

Product Care

On the Trail: Food Storage: Never store food in your tent. Animals will often tear or bite their way into a tent to get your food.

Pole Care: When assembling the poles, never allow the pole sections to snap against each other. Always make sure that all pole sections are fully engaged before bending. Keep the poles clean and free of silt, sand and salt, taking special care with the aluminum tips, as they are not anodized and can corrode.

Field Repairs

Poles: If you break a tent pole, repair the break temporarily by splinting the pole with a short aluminum sleeve (called a repair sleeve, available at many outdoor gear retailers). The aluminum repair sleeve is fitted over the broken pole section and taped (or wedged) into place. In a pinch, ski pole repair sleeves, tent stakes and even branches can be used to splint broken tent tubes.

Zippers: One of the keys to zipper longevity is to keep them free of sand and grit. When pitching your tent, be careful to keep the door and window zippers out of the dirt. Never step on the zipper. Keep zippers clean by washing them (at home) with a garden hose and pressure nozzle. Most zipper failures result from wear to the coating on the inside of the zipper slider (the metal toggle). Once that coating wears off, the metal abrades rapidly, and the zipper slider no longer joins the continuous plastic coils securely.

Tears and Other Damage: Small holes and tears can be repaired in the field using a needle and thread, adhesive repair tape or liquid urethane (Mcnett™ Seam Grip). Field repairs do not void the tent’s warranty.

Ultraviolet (UV) Light: Ultraviolet light degrades lightweight tent fabric (and almost any synthetic material). UV light will cause the fabric to fade, lose strength and eventually disintegrate. The amount of UV damage is directly related to the fabric’s exposure to the sun and the altitude at which the tent is pitched. If it is left pitched during the day, high-altitude exposure can damage a tent beyond use within a month. The best way to prolong the life of your tent is to keep it out of the sun. Pitch your tent in a shady spot whenever possible. By striking (taking your tent down) in the morning and pitching your tent late in the day, your tent will last many years.

At Home: Storage: Store your tent in a cool, dry environment. Pack the tent loosely, and, if possible, leave the shock-corded poles completely or partially assembled. Never pack or store your tent if it is dirty and/or damp. If you do so, mildew can form and ruin the waterproof coating on your tent. Mildew will cause your tent to smell and can eventually delaminate and damage the polyurethane coating. This will cause your tent to leak. There is no cure for mildew damage. Prolonged moisture on the polyurethane coating (storing the tent wet for more than a few days) can cause hydrolysis. The coating becomes soft and sticks to itself, peeling from the fabric that will lead to leakage.

Cleaning Your Tent: Never machine wash or machine dry your tent. For localized cleaning, use a sponge with warm water. When cleaning the entire tent, wash in a tub (bathtub) of cold water. Never use hot water, bleach, dish washing liquid, pre-soaking solutions, or spot removers. If you use soap, always use a non-detergent soap. Dry your tent by pitching it in the shade or by line drying only. Never machine dry your tent.

Top Ten List of Tent Absolute Do’s and Don’ts

  1. Above all else, keep open flames, matches, fuel sources and heat sources away from tent fabrics. Most tent fabrics are flame resistant but not fireproof. For that matter, use extreme caution when using fuel powered lanterns or heaters inside the tent. Always err on the side of using battery operated devices when at all possible.
  2. Never leave a tent unattended without first staking and guying it up. Zip up your tent before leaving it unattended for prolonged periods of time, or if you have a canopy, break it down.
  3. Oxygen can become depleted in a tent, especially if your running a heater, or if the tent has been closed up for a long time. For your dog’s and your own stake, make sure your tent has adequate ventilation. Even in cool or cold weather, keep a window or door open a crack to allow fresh air to circulate.
  4. Do not use harsh chemicals on tent fabrics. Avoid spraying insecticides, bug repellent, hair spray or aerosols anywhere near tent fabrics. These chemicals can burn through tent fabrics and degrade waterproofing.
  5. Avoid packing your tent when its wet. If you have to pack it wet, open it up and allow it to dry out thoroughly as soon as possible.
  6. Always guy up your tent on windy days.
  7. Never tie your dog to our tent. Place your dog in a exercise pen or crate instead.
  8. Store your tent in the off-season in a cool, dry place.
  9. Always leave your fly sheet on and periodically treat your tent with a U.V. protectant.
  10. Seal all seams with a seam sealant upon first use and once a season thereafter.

Shipping and Handling

We offer shipping to the Continental United States via UPS Ground or FedEx. You should get a quote for shipping during checkout. International shipping is done via USPS. Domestic orders will ship next day and international orders will ship in 5 business days to allow payment to settle.

Catoma is not responsible for breakage or any other kind of damage sustained in transit even if the container does not show any signs of damage. Catoma containers have been designed in accordance with the specifications of public carriers.

Open cartons immediately upon arrival and inspect contents carefully. In case of breakage or damage, note it on the delivery ticket. Call the carrier’s freight inspector and request that he examine the cartons and their contents. DO NOT refer any damage claims to Catoma.

Clearance Items

All items on the clearance page are sold as is and can not be returned or refunded. These are end of production life products that we will no longer make so we can’t support them with spare parts.