10 Best Canvas Tents In 2021

How To Choose The Best Canvas Tent – Buying Guide

When it comes to choosing which is the best canvas tent for you, it is important to consider a few key features of a tent’s design. There are many different canvas tent designs, and some may suit your needs better than others. There are elements to each design that can enhance your experience in the great outdoors. From the size to the style, these different elements can help you decide what you need for your camping adventure. Down to the specific details, here is our guide to help you choose which canvas tent is best for you and your camping needs.

Size

One of the most important design elements you should consider is how many people are going to be sleeping inside your tent. The tent’s capacity is dependent on its size and dimensions. The tent’s size will tell you how long, wide, and tall the tent is. The size of the tent is important because it will dictate how many people can fit in your tent, while still keeping all members of your party and all of your belongings safe and dry. It is up to you to decide how large a tent you need, but you should keep in mind what the purpose of the tent will be and what kind of outings you plan on using it for.

Some canvas tents don’t have much room and have a rather compact design. Other tents offer plenty of space, including headroom. Beyond how many people you want to bring along, the actual size of the tent can determine what activity it can be used for. If you are transporting the tent by car and aren’t carrying it very far, you can easily manage a larger tent. If you plan on taking your canvas tent further, it’s best to stay with a smaller size.

All canvas tents usually list the dimensions of the design and an estimate for its capacity limit. You can use the manufacturer’s provided information to determine which size canvas tent will best suit your needs.

Material

Since you are looking for a canvas tent, the material used to make the tent will be a canvas. However, there are different types of canvas. The most common type of canvas used for tents is cotton duck fabric. You will often see this material listed as duck canvas. Duck canvas is heavier than just woven cotton canvas. Duck canvas is woven more tightly and can be used on sneakers, paintings, sandbags, and tents. The fabric is woven from two yarns in the warp and a single yarn in the weft. Cotton duck canvas is the most abundant canvas material and is most often the preferred material over other types of canvas, like polyester canvas.

Cotton canvas is waterproof, but there is a process of expansion that it must go through first to be properly waterproofed. A brand-new canvas tent will leak in the rain and that is normal. The cotton canvas must be fully drenched with water so it can expand, before shrinking back down and becoming watertight. This process only needs to be done once, once it is completed, the tent will be fully waterproof. A leaking tent can be a problem for you and your gear, so it is recommended that before you take your tent out on a camping trip, you waterproof the tent yourself. You can set up or spread out the tent and drench it with water from a hose. It is important to then allow the tent to dry completely before you pack it away into its carry bag. If you don’t allow the tent to fully dry, the holes won’t shrink properly, and your tent will be more prone to mold and rot. By completing this process yourself before a trip, you can ensure the rain won’t affect your first time using your new tent.

If you do experience rain on your camping trip and must pack your tent when it is not fully dry, you must unpack the tent immediately once you return home and spread it out or set it up again to fully dry. If it is still raining at your home, you can still set up the tent in the rain in your backyard and allow it to stay outside until it can completely dry and the rain passes. A canvas tent is resistant to water, not mold or rot. Mold and rot can occur if you pack your tent away when it is wet. A bone-dry tent will never have issues with mold and rot if it is stored properly inside its carry bag and the storage area itself is not wet either.

It is important to care for your tent to ensure it will be durable and resistant when it is used on your next camping trip. A canvas tent is an investment, and you wouldn’t want to throw money out the window by allowing a tent to be ruined by mold or rot. If properly cared for, a canvas tent can be passed on for generations and will excel at performing its duty on every camping trip.

Packed Size and Weight

The pack size and weight of a tent may affect your decision on which design to purchase. The pack size of a tent may not be an immediate issue for you if you don’t plan on transporting your tent on your back. However, even if you aren’t hiking with your tent, a car’s space can be limited. You can’t take up all of the space in your car with a tent because you have to transport all your other camping gear and your friends too. It is best to consider how large your tent is and determine whether it can easily fit with all your gear and friends inside a vehicle. The pack size of a tent is how large a tent is when it is tucked inside its carry-bag, based on the space that it takes up.

The pack weight of a tent may be more important than the pack size. The pack weight of a tent is how heavy the tent is inside its carrying bag with all of its accessories. The accessories may include guylines, a tent footprint, tent poles, and tent stakes. The weight of the tent will be affected by the size of the tent and the material. Canvas is a heavy material and when it is rolled and folded up, it can become extremely bulky even without the tent poles. The weight of a tent and all its accessories can quickly add up. Even carrying the tent a short distance from the car to your campsite can be a struggle. Many canvas tents can weigh 50 pounds or more, so it’s best to carry the tent with some help.

If you are planning to hike, the pack weight of a tent may be extremely important. To have the best experience when hiking with your tent, you should find a tent that is light and fits only what you need. If you are going solo, find a single-person tent. The smaller the tent, the lighter it will be.

Stability

The stability of the tent is important because you are looking to use it as a temporary structure. Your temporary home in the great outdoors needs to be stable in its structure so that it provides a safe home away from home for you, your friends, and all your gear. Most tents are going to be extremely stable if they are set up correctly with the poles and additional guylines. The tent poles should do the job of keeping the tension of the canvas at just the right spot so your tent isn’t sagging or tearing at its seams.

Your tent will also need to be more stable in its structure than simply resting on solid ground. You may experience wind, rain, or even snow. It all depends on what trip you plan on using your tent for. It is best to look at the manufacturer’s included information so you can determine what conditions your tent can safely withstand. Most tents can withstand winds of up to 30 miles per hour, but heavy snowfall may be a different story.

The weight of snow can quickly add up to a structure. Most tents cannot handle snowfall that has a large accumulation because the weight of all the snow will cause the structure to collapse. But many canvas tents are built to be used in all four seasons, which means that they can support some degree of snowfall. It’s best to consider the manufacturer’s guidelines and use your judgment wisely when facing elements like wind or snow when using your canvas tent.

Durability

Every camper wants a durable tent that will last for years to come. How long you have had a tent for, how regularly it is used, and how it cares for can affect a tent’s lasting durability. No one wants to have to buy a new tent every year. But the good news is that canvas tents and their poles are normally designed and built to be extremely durable. The thicker tent walls and extra support of guylines, mean these tents are built to withstand many different locations and elements in nature.

The durability of your canvas tent will also be greatly enhanced in the care that you take when using and storing your tent. If you store your tent properly and keep it clean, there is a good chance you could hand down your tent for a few generations. Canvas tents are usually a little more expensive, but their durability with proper care makes them a lasting investment for you and your family.

Water Resistance

Water-resistance is a very important aspect of your canvas tent. It may be the most important aspect. After all, you will likely face various weather conditions when using your tent. The great part about canvas tents is that they truly are an all-year-round tent. You can use most canvas tents whether it is sunny, hot, windy, cold, rainy, or snowy. Canvas tents are durable enough to withstand most environments in a variety of weather conditions.

The best canvas tents will ensure that not only is the tent material waterproof, but that all the seams and zippers have a seal against water as well. On top of the seams and zippers, the tent floor needs to be extra durable against moisture and water. The tent floor should be made of a durable and waterproof material that will ensure your tent won’t flood in a rainstorm.

Remember, as we mentioned just a few paragraphs up in this buying guide, the first time you use your tent you may not have a waterproof experience. The tent needs to be soaked through first, then once it dries all the little holes will seal themselves to make it waterproof for the duration of its use, if it is properly cared for.

Related Review: Waterproof Tent

FAQs

Globo Surf Overview

No matter which canvas tent design you choose, finding the best canvas tent is important. Your tent choice should be personalized to ensure you feel safe and comfortable when using it on your camping trips. With many different designs and sizes available, you have a wide variety of tents to choose from and pick what best suits your needs. The best canvas tent for camping will ensure that both you, the members of your group, and your gear will stay dry and protected throughout any of the four seasons. If you know exactly what you need, you can save time and money by investing in a top-rated canvas tent for camping. Before you know it, you’ll be off having grand adventures throughout all four seasons.

More Camping Reviews:

• Pocket Knife
• Binoculars
• Camping Chair
• Camping Grill
• Portable Grill
• Portable Generator
• Night Vision Binoculars
• Personal Locator Beacons
• Camping Mattress
• Pop Up Canopy

More Tent Reviews:

• 4 Person Tent
• 6 Person Tent
• Ultralight Tent
• Truck Tent
• Inflatable Tent
• Bikepacking Tent
• Cheap Tent
• Glamping Tents
• Motorcycle Tent
• Coleman Tent
• Tree Tent
• Freestanding Tent
• Eureka Tents
• Backpacking Tent

Do you own one of the canvas tents that made it onto our list? Let us know how it has worked for you in the comments section below.