Tent Pole Repair Kits: Splints and Shock Cord (2026)
Fix a broken or bent tent pole: which repair splint fits your pole's diameter, how to restring shock cord, and when to order a new segment, per MSR, Big Agnes and NEMO.
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Quick answer
Carry a repair splint sized to your poles: GEAR AID's 1/2 in splint fits poles up to 11 mm across and its 5/8 in splint poles up to 13.5 mm. A splint is a field fix. At home, restring slack shock cord with a kit like MSR's and replace a broken segment.
In this guide
A snapped or bent tent pole is usually fixable on the spot with a short aluminum sleeve and some tape, and properly at home with a new segment or new shock cord. The part that decides whether a splint works is the pole's diameter, so measure before you buy.
How we chose: we did not test these products. The picks come from the makers' directions and the Amazon listings, and each was sold by Amazon.com and in stock on September 29, 2026.
Splint on the trail, segment at home
MSR's FAQ gives the field method: slide the repair sleeve over the broken section, then "tape or wedge in place with a stick to hold it secure." Line the sleeve up so the break sits in its middle.
Big Agnes ships a 6 inch metal splint with every tent, and its DIY repair page describes it as a fix to keep the pole working "until you get back to town." After the trip it asks owners to send the pole set in for repair or ask whether their tent qualifies for at-home pole repair.
So treat a splint as first aid. A pole that was splinted should get a new segment before the next trip.
Sizing: measure the pole, not the tent
A splint slides over the pole, so its inside diameter has to clear the pole's outside diameter. The makers publish both:
| Product | Inside or fit | Outside | Length or amount | Sold by | Amazon price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEAR AID Splint 1/2 in | Poles up to 11 mm | 13 mm | One sleeve | Amazon.com | $7.50 (Amazon, as of Sep 29, 2026, 5:20 PM UTC)Check price |
| GEAR AID Splint 5/8 in | Poles up to 13.5 mm | 16 mm | One sleeve | Amazon.com | $7.50 (Amazon, as of Sep 29, 2026, 5:20 PM UTC)Check price |
| MSR Repair Splint, large | 13.8 mm inside | 16 mm | One sleeve | Amazon.com | $10.95 (Amazon, as of Sep 29, 2026, 5:20 PM UTC)Check price |
| Coghlan's Repair Kit | Aluminum or fiberglass poles | Not given | 4 in splint, 2 sleeves, 10 ft cord | Amazon.com | $4.88 (Amazon, as of Sep 29, 2026, 5:20 PM UTC)Check price |
| MSR Shock Cord Kit | 3.5 mm cord | n/a | 30 ft | Amazon.com | $19.89 (Amazon, as of Sep 29, 2026, 5:20 PM UTC)Check price |
| Coghlan's Shock Cord | 3/32 in cord | n/a | 18 ft | Amazon.com | $4.99 (Amazon, as of Sep 29, 2026, 5:20 PM UTC)Check price |
Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details
GEAR AID's splint spec sheet gives the fit: the 1/2 in splint takes poles up to 13/32 in (11 mm) and the 5/8 in splint poles up to 17/32 in (13.5 mm).
MSR's splint page lists its small sleeve at 11.2 mm inside, 13 mm outside, for 1 to 3 person MSR tents, and its large at 13.8 mm inside, 16 mm outside, for 4 to 6 person MSR tents.
Restringing slack shock cord
If the sections of a pole no longer pull together, the elastic inside has stretched. Big Agnes says this happens "over time" and calls restringing "quick and easy" to do at home.
How much cord you need depends on the tent. Big Agnes's Shock Cord Repair Kit holds 25 ft of 3/32 in cord, enough to restring its 1 and 2 person tents; it says 3 person tents may need two kits and 4 person or larger tents will. MSR's kit is one 30 ft length of 3.5 mm cord, which MSR's listing says covers a typical 3 person backpacking tent.
Match the new cord to the old one's thickness. Cut the old cord out one pole at a time, so you always have a strung pole to copy.
Replacing a bent or broken segment
NEMO's segment replacement guide is the clearest set of steps we found:
- Lay the pole flat and unscrew the tip at the end nearest the bad segment.
- Undo the shock cord knot and pull the cord out.
- Slide segments off until you reach the bad one and swap in the new segment. Check the cord for fraying while it is exposed.
- Rethread the cord, clamp it at full stretch, and tie at least 3 in of cord back onto itself at the tip.
- Screw the tip back in, release the clamp, and test the pole.
Before step 1, follow Big Agnes's warning: mark every segment, because each "can vary in length and diameter," and a pole reassembled in the wrong order can damage the tent in a way its warranty will not cover.
Where to get a replacement segment
Ask the tent maker first. NEMO asks owners to contact its customer service for segments, Big Agnes handles pole repairs through its warranty and repair center, and MSR says replacement pole sets are available "for select MSR tent models." A maker's segment matches the pole's length, diameter and bend exactly.
How often you will need these
A splint is reusable until it bends. Pack one per tent, sized for its thickest pole, and one roll of tape. Shock cord wears out slowly; Big Agnes gives no interval, so restring when the sections stop snapping together. Heat-shrink sleeves, like those in the Coghlan's kit, are single use.
Related: repair tape and patches · zipper repair and lubricant · tent seam sealer
The products in this guide
In the order this guide discusses them, from listings, certifications and standards. Where a price appears it is Amazon's, with the time it was read.
Backpacking tents with thin poles
GEAR AID Tent Pole Splint, 1/2 in
From the listing · not testedBuy it for a 1 to 3 person backpacking tent; check your pole with a ruler first.
Pros
- + Outer diameter 13 mm; fits poles up to 11 mm across, per the listing
- + Anodized aluminum, under 0.10 oz, per the listing
Cons
- - Too tight for poles thicker than 11 mm
Family and car camping tents
GEAR AID Tent Pole Splint, 5/8 in
From the listing · not testedBuy it for thicker poles on larger tents.
Pros
- + Outer diameter 16 mm; fits poles up to 13.5 mm across, per the listing
- + Anodized aluminum, under 0.10 oz, per the listing
Cons
- - Loose on thin backpacking poles; tape it in place
MSR owners and larger poles
MSR Tent Pole Repair Splint (Large)
From the listing · not testedBuy it if you own a larger MSR tent and want the maker's own part.
Pros
- + 13.8 mm inner and 16 mm outer diameter, per the listing
- + Aluminum; no tools needed, per the listing
Cons
- - MSR sizes this one for its 4 to 6 person tents; its small splint fits 1 to 3 person poles
Fiberglass poles on budget tents
Coghlan's Tent Pole Repair Kit
From the listing · not testedBuy it for a car-camping tent with fiberglass poles.
Pros
- + Two heat-shrink sleeves, a 4 in aluminum splint and 10 ft of 2.5 mm shock cord, per the listing
- + Works with aluminum and fiberglass poles, per the listing
Cons
- - Heat-shrink sleeves need a heat source, per the listing
Restringing a whole pole set
MSR Shock Cord Replacement Kit
From the listing · not testedBuy it when the pole sections no longer snap together on their own.
Pros
- + One 30 ft length of 3.5 mm cord, enough for a typical 3 person backpacking tent, per the listing
- + Silicone core stays elastic down to -40 F, per the listing
- + Instructions included, per the listing
Cons
- - Thicker than Big Agnes's 3/32 in cord; match your old cord's size
Restringing one or two poles
Coghlan's Replacement Shock Cord, 18 ft
From the listing · not testedBuy it to fix one slack pole rather than a whole set.
Pros
- + 18 ft of 3/32 in shock cord, per the listing
Cons
- - The listing gives no material or temperature spec
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I splint a carbon fiber pole?
Check with the tent maker before relying on it. The splints here are sold for aluminum poles, and the Coghlan's kit lists aluminum and fiberglass; none of the listings name carbon.
Why won't my new segment fit into the next one?
Pole segments have a narrower tapered or ferrule end that fits inside the next section, so a segment has to match its neighbors' diameter and end type. Order it from the tent maker with the tent's model and year.
Do I have to cut the old shock cord?
Not if you replace one segment: NEMO's method unties the knot at the tip and slides segments off the cord. Replace the cord only if it is slack or frayed.
Proof
Sources
Everything this guide relies on, as linked in the text. Last checked September 29, 2026.
- Cascade Designs (Therm-a-Rest, MSR): FAQ
- bigagnes.com: DIY repair page
- Gear Aid: Repair splint tent pole
- Cascade Designs (Therm-a-Rest, MSR): Tent pole repair splints
- bigagnes.com: Shock Cord Repair Kit
- nemoequipment.com: Easy fix tent pole segment needs replacing
WildProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Sizes, lengths and repair steps are the makers' own.
Amazon prices and availability change often; cards with a live Amazon price show when it was last checked. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
