I am thinking of doing this. I am sure it's not an original idea, so I am looking for folks that have tried it and what their experience was with it...

I am worried it is going to mess with the waterproofing.

Was worried about that too cuz of the petroleum content so I tested an alternative. I saturated a section of paper towel. Once dry stuck it in a quart ziplock. I laid it near the mesh section at top of tent body at dusk and it performed well. Of course, that doesn't help with door traffic. Maybe spray door/ screening of tent body?
Grew up in the deep south so the high-whining of skeeters near my head when I lay to sleep sometimes bugs me.

I treated my, tent and fly.
No problems.

I have for years and have had no issues with the water proofing.

Did you notice it help with the mosquito swarm in the morning?

bumabu: "Did you notice it help with the mosquito swarm in the morning?"

No problems so far.

I put larger items like tent, hammock, etc. in a contractor bag and dump in the mix. I turn it over a few times and let it sit, then take it out and hang to dry.

Using a trash bag, or even a bucket, makes it easier than spraying. For me, anyway.

If you are worried about soaking your tent, the Sawyer squeeze spray works great, I have sprayed our tent before trips for several years and never had issues with waterproofing. It does seem to keep them from swarming in the late evening or early mornings.

Sawyer Permethrin

We spray our tent exterior with Permethrin, no issues so far. It seems to help with the bugs, hard to be certain.

I set up all three of my tents and screen rooms then mixed up a batch from concentrate in my 2 gallon pump hand sprayer. It worked well and what I had left I sprayed on the wall of my in-laws cattle barn. Seemed to work well and no issues with the material reacting adversely.

I've always had issues with spiders taking up residence between the tent and rain fly. So last season I soaked the tent but didn't do the fly just in case it affected the waterproofing. Don't know if it was the Permethrin or luck but I didn't have any spiders.

Permethrin also works on a hammock and bug net.

Savage Voyageur: "Permethrin also works on a hammock and bug net. "

That's what I do as well. I also give a light spray to under quilts, top quilts, etc.

Jasonf: "I've always had issues with spiders taking up residence between the tent and rain fly. So last season I soaked the tent but didn't do the fly just in case it affected the waterproofing. Don't know if it was the Permethrin or luck but I didn't have any spiders."

permethrin is especially hazardous to arachnids - including tics!

Savage Voyageur: "Permethrin also works on a hammock and bug net. "

Brilliant - not sure why I never thought about the hammock treatment idea.

I used to go on 4 person trips, wife and kids. There was so much gear to be treated I got concentrate and mixed it in a pump sprayer.

Permethrin kills on contact, it's not a repellent. Unless mosquitos land on your tent, it really won't do anything for swarming mosquitos. IMHO, starting up a thermacell 15 minutes before you decide to get out of your tent will be much more effective.

Why would anyone want to do this? I don't care if bugs hang out on the OUTSIDE of my tent . . . I just don't want the little buggers in there with me. I do permethrine my clothing though.

Hank - it can prevent bugs from lingering around the doors and coming in when the doors are open.

Hank: "Why would anyone want to do this? I don't care if bugs hang out on the OUTSIDE of my tent . . . I just don't want the little buggers in there with me. I do permethrine my clothing though."

Hank, I don't get to take many trips to the BWCA, but for the ones I do take, I prefer to enjoy them. My wife and three kids get huge welts from mosquito bites, so anything I can do to even MAYBE reduce their discomfort is worth a try. This year I am likely going to try a full blown permethrin soak on all fabric gear, and also have a Thermacell Basecamp to use in tandem, hell I might even try an aerosol camp fogger or 5. If things get really bad I will cut some fresh cedar boughs and feed them steadily into the fire for some additional aromatic smoke.

I try my best to schedule family trips outside of the worst bug seasons, but with three kids and two careers, we have to go when we have to go. And before you start in on my 21st century over prepared style of tripping and recommend that I stick to comfortable hotels and neatly groomed theme parks, I should let you know that I don't prefer those places. Lastly I would remind you that 100 years ago people would have laughed at you for using most of the gear you currently use, so let's try to enjoy progress together pal...

For those soaking in permethrin, can you provide guidance? Where do you buy bulk permethrin? Is this what you're using? How do you know the permethrin-to-water ratio in a bucket?

The "fresh cut cedar boughs" is exactly what you should never do... Leave No Trace includes no cutting of live anything... maybe just put an old wet log in your campfire!

Troutbum77: "For those soaking in permethrin, can you provide guidance? Where do you buy bulk permethrin? Is this what you're using? How do you know the permethrin-to-water ratio in a bucket? "

For the 10% solution (also available on Amazon), dilute 1 part Permethrin to 19 parts water. If you get 1 gallon of water (128 ounces), its 6.7 ounces of 10% Permethrin. This will give you a 0.5% solution. If you search, there's a Permethrin thread that gives you the math for the 36.5%.

I just used the martins 10% this week, soak method. mixed as described above and there is a faint smell that ive never had with the Sawyer spray, maybe the soak made it more potent and also more smelly? Its been about 5 days and i have aired them outside a bit.

OK Pal...

You do things your way for you and yours. If you want to soak your tent in permethirne have at it. I've never had to do such a thing in the 30+ years I've been canoe camping. And I was stating such.

And to answer one of your original questions about how soaking a tent in a permetherin solution would affect the waterproofing, you would have to check and see what the carrier chemicals are and then you may be able to assess their affects upon the waterproof coatings. Polyurathane coatings would be much more vulnerable than that of a sil-nylon tent. I would also think about how it would affect the flame retardants as well. But that is me.

I spray a set of clothes that I will be traveling in during the day. I do not lather it on but give it a light spray. I do not reapply for the four trips I take each year.
I have never used it on a tent or anything else. Do not think I ever will.
I have an aversion to using bug dope unless I have to and try to keep the permethrin to a minimum. For me it just seems like, pardon the pun, to be overkill to spray it all over my gear and tent.