If you’re on the lookout for the best camping tents, a canvas tent is a great alternative.
Canvas material is breathable, offers insulation, environmentally friendly, and waterproof making it the perfect alternative to nylon tents. This kind of tent can last you years, or even decades with the right care.
The Benefits of Using Canvas Tents
Durable
Comparing it to its modern counterparts made with synthetic materials, canvas tents are undeniably more durable. In the event that it needs repair, a sewing kit and some sewing skills will do the trick.
Water and Weather Proof
Canvas tents can be practically used in different kinds of weather and seasons. It can be used during warm weather months because of its breathable material and can keep the cold out during the colder climates as many canvas tents also come with stove jacks. This means that you no longer have to worry about burning your tent and you can safely use your wood-burning stove during cold weather camping nights.
Eco-Friendly
When it comes to the environment, canvas, made with hemp and cotton has faster decomposition rates as compared to synthetic materials used in some modern tents in the event that they need to be disposed of.
The Drawbacks of Using Canvas Tents
Weight
One of the downsides of using canvas tents is their weight. Because of the added material, the weight of the tent drastically increases, which may be a problem when you’re backpacking. Compared to synthetic fabrics, hemp and cotton are also heavier.
If weight is one of the major concerns and if you want to pack your things as light as much as you can, you can always go with the synthetic counterparts whilst sacrificing the quality.
Price
For some people, they don’t mind the added weight, but one thing that’s stopping them from getting canvas tents is the overall price. Considering that it’ll last longer and is more durable than its synthetic counterparts, canvas tents are more expensive.
On another note, if you treat it as an investment rather than an expense, this can be passed on to future generations and will definitely be worth its original price tag.
Slow to Dry
When it comes to using canvas tents, rain may be one of your biggest enemies. Because canvas tents use hemp and cotton, they tend to dry slower compared to nylon and other synthetic materials.
This makes the tent even heavier when packing it up and moving to a new site while the tent is still wet.
Best Canvas Tents for Camping
- Teton Sports Mesa Canvas Tent (Best Canvas Tent for Easy Setup)
- Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Canvas Tent Deluxe (Best Low Maintenance Canvas Tent)
- Danchel Outdoor Cotton Canvas Yurt Tent (Best Canvas Bell Tent)
- Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent (Best Canvas Truck Bed Tent)
- Kodiak Canvas 1-Person Canvas Swag Tent (Best 1-Person Canvas Swag Tent)
- Whiteduck Alpha Canvas Wall Tent (Best Canvas Wall Tent)
1. Teton Sports Mesa Canvas Tent | Best Canvas Tent for Easy Setup
- STAY DRY AND COMFORTABLE: Waterproof canvas is breathable...
- HOME AWAY FROM HOME: Roomy tent has extra-high ceilings;...
- EXTRA WIDE DOORS: First of its kind, oversized front and...
- QUICKER, EASIER SET UP: This canvas family tent has a quick...
- TETON SPORTS PROMISE: Reach out to our AMAZING product...
The Teton Sports Mesa is a canvas tent that you can never go wrong with. Don’t be fooled by its small appearance – it can pack quite large and can hold up to 6 people inside.
While roomy on the inside, this can be easily set up by one person with a width and height that allows you to move freely while inside without having to worry about cramping up, and at the same time, small enough to pack along during your adventurous travels.
It takes pride in its weatherproof design making it easier to bring along with you regardless of the weather, no matter the season of the year.
Another wow factor that made us want to get this tent is its access ports. This means that we can have a power source inside the tent and it comes in handy most of the time.
Additionally, it also comes with wall and loft organizers making it easier to keep your clothes and important stuff during your camping trip. You no longer have to worry about the clutter it could make inside the tent, thanks to the built-in organizers.
Specification:
- Size: Mesa 10′ Canvas Tent
- Material: Canvas
- Special Feature: Waterproof
- Item Weight: 68.3 Pounds
- Closure Type: Zipper
- Large entrance / doors
- Good ventilation thanks to its mesh screens
- Great height with high ceilings
- Cannot fit more than 6 persons at a time
2. Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Canvas Tent Deluxe | Best Low Maintenance Canvas Tent
- Made with Hydra-Shield, 100% cotton duck canvas that is...
- Spacious 6'6" ceiling height provides walk-around comfort
- Two large D-shaped doors (front and back) with #10 YKK...
- Four large windows with no-see-um mesh
- Flex-Bow Frame: Exceptionally sturdy. Keeps tent taut. Quick...
The next on our list would be the Flex-Bow. This is another great option for those who are looking for huge spaces inside the tent.
One of the best things about this brand, and honestly one feature that makes it stand out amongst other brands is its amazing high ceilings. It stands about 6 and a half feet tall. You no longer have to worry about arching your backs as most individuals can stand inside the tent freely.
Cotton duck canvas is the material that has been used in the Kodiak Flex-Bow canvas tent. Compared to other canvas tents, it’s more durable and is more resistant to tears and cuts.
Unlike the typical canvas tents, it comes with Hydrashield technology. What does it do? The fabrics make the tent watertight while still ensuring that it still provides great ventilation and a healthy airflow.
The flex-bow frame ensures that the tent remains stretched no matter the weather. Additionally, it also makes the tent easy to set up even a single person can do it within a few minutes.
It has four windows and 2 spacious doors, with windows that can be closed with a mesh in case you wanted a bit of privacy. It also comes with a huge awning that is great for all weather conditions.
Specification:
- Size: 10×14 ft
- Material: Polyester, Vinyl, Canvas, Steel
- Item Weight: 84.59 Pounds
- Closure Type: Zipper
- Pole Material Type: Steel
- Maximum Height: 6.5 Feet
- 6 feet and a half ceiling
- Spacious
- Has mesh windows
- On the heavier side
- You may notice a strong chemical odor in your first few weeks of using it
3. Danchel Outdoor Cotton Canvas Yurt Tent | Best Canvas Bell Tent
- 🔸DURABLE&WATERPROOF: Made of waterproof 285GSM 100%...
- 🔸SPACIOUS FOR 6 PERSON CAMPING: A-FRAME door pole allows...
- 🔸TWO 5.9 INCH STOVES JACKS: The height of top stove jack...
- 🔸AS 2-IN-1 TENT/CANOPY: The detachable PVC bottom with...
- 🔸WELL-VENTILATION: 4 windows with the mesh. There are...
The Danchel Cotton Bell Tent is amazing for its versatility. It keeps you cool during the summer months and keeps you warm during the cold winter camping trips.
Made with cotton canvas, this waterproof tent comes in different sizes ranging from 3,4, and 5 making it the best canvas tent option there is out there.
It also features seams that have been carefully double-stitched, which of course remains waterproof letting you enjoy camping trips no matter the weather. It also comes with stove jacks with built-in flaps making it easy to open and close these areas.
It has windows and doors that you can both zip for the added privacy, or to just keep you warm during the cold weather. It also comes with mesh screens to ensure that insects and mosquitoes won’t get inside your tent, but still allow the cool breeze to circulate inside the tent.
The tent also makes use of fireproof material, with fiberglass integration on the stove jackets. This means that you no longer have to worry about catching fire accidentally while inside the tent.
Specification:
- Material: Steel
- Special Feature: Waterproof
- Closure Type: Zipper
- Pole Material Type: Steel
- Has 2 stove jackets that you can close whenever you’re not using them.
- Amazing ventilation
- Waterproof material
- Heavy
4. Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent | Best Canvas Truck Bed Tent
- Made with Hydra-Shield, 100% cotton duck canvas that is...
- Tunnel shaped design maximizes interior space tall 5 ft....
- Large D-shaped door with top of the line YKK zippers.Covered...
- Sturdy, 3/4-inch, steel tube frame connect to the clamp-on...
- Five windows provide excellent ventilation and openness,...
This particular canvas tent model is a great alternative for those people who wanted to set up their tent by the foot of their truck rather than on the floor. Another Kodiak canvas tent, this truck tent bed makes it easy for everyone to secure the tent by the bed of their truck.
This is compatible with most truck beds including but is not limited to the Toyota Tundra, Ford F Series, Dodge Ram, Nissan Titan among others.
It is also equipped and comes with Hydra-Shield technology. This makes the material watertight while ensuring that the tent remains breathable offering good ventilation. Don’t be fooled by its compact size.
It goes up to 5 feet allowing you a pretty decent space to move despite having it installed on your truck bed. It also features durable zippers, a D-shaped door, with gear pockets so you can stay organized and keep your belongings safe and secure.
One of the best things that we like about this canvas tent is that it comes with 5 windows – one of those has access to your truck’s cab area.
As exciting as it may be, the said tent isn’t ideal to be used during the cold season or during harsh weather conditions. If you’re going on a camping trip during the summer or hotter seasons, this is an amazing choice for your truck camping expeditions.
Specification:
- Size: 5.5 ft. up to 6.5 ft.
- Item Weight: 30 Pounds
- Pole Material Type: Steel
- Maximum Height: 5 Feet
- Can be used and is compatible with most truck types
- 5-feet in height
- Durable zippers with a d-shaped door
- Comes with 5 windows for more ventilation
- Doesn’t do well in harsh and cold weather conditions
5. Kodiak Canvas 1-Person Canvas Swag Tent | Best 1-Person Canvas Swag Tent
- Roomy 6'8" long, and almost 3 feet wide
- Comfy 2-inch foam mattress pad with flannel cover included
- Zip-open windows at head and foot for air flow and...
- Made with Hydra-Shield 100% cotton duck canvas
- Top unzips and rolls back converting into a screen shelter
Have you ever gone solo while on a camping trip and realized that you don’t need the large tent space? The 1 Person-Canvas Swag tent from Kodiak is a great option for you.
Although it can only fit one person, it has enough space so you can freely move around, being 2 meters long and 1 meter wide. Its signature material, the cotton duck canvas, makes the tent waterproof, but still has plenty of room for ventilation. It has a removal flannel for its cover, with a thick foam that you can easily roll along with the tent for your backpacking trips.
Ideal for truck camping, ground camping or use it with a cot. The top-most part of the tent can be opened for more ventilation especially during the summer season, or if you simply want to enjoy the beautiful view of the stars during those dark starry nights.
Specification:
- Material: Canvas
- Item Weight: 17.5 Pounds
- Closure Type: Zipper
- The tent comes with a cover and a mattress pad
- Easy to carry around
- Water-resistant
- Spacious, but cannot stand and walk around inside the tent
6. Whiteduck Alpha Canvas Wall Tent | Best Canvas Wall Tent
- STANDARD FEATURES: Canvas Alpha Wall Tent includes the...
- MULTI-FUNCTIONAL FEATURES: Our camping tents include...
- INTERIOR FEATURES: Our 4 season camping tents are spacious...
- GROUNDSHEET & SOD CLOTH: The wall skirting and free-floating...
- SETUP: Requires two or three people to pitch the tent....
Whiteduck has made another yet breathable and high-quality canvas tent – and is considered to be one of the bests in the market.
Made with 100% pure cotton, the tent itself is breathable which prevents moisture build-up. You may also find another variation in the market that comes with a fire-retardant finish, which you’d like to get especially if you’ll be camping during snowy or chilly nights.
The tent has ventilation vents and a large door, with steel poles to keep the tent steady and secure. This makes it a great choice for camping during those seasons where there’s strong wind pressure.
If you’re worried about insects getting inside your tent, worry no more – it comes with screen meshes keeping the insects at bay, with double-layer protection on the doors.
One of the common problems people experience with tents is that most of the zippers don’t last long, but not with this one. The zippers are made up of durable steel material so they’ll last you for years. It also features both a power outlet and a stove jack.
Specification:
- Size: 8’x10′
- Material: Fire Water Repellent
- Special Feature: Waterproof, Lightweight, UVProtection
- Pole Material Type: Aluminum
- Can be used all-year-round
- Good ventilation
- Made with durable floor materials
- Challenging to set up and requires more than one person
Buying Guide
Size and Shape
Choosing a shape is purely dependent on what you prefer as well as functionality. In the instance of bell tents, they’re heavy and bulky but can hold quite a number of persons. In essence, they’re well suited for glamping trips or larger camping groups.
However, when it comes to popularity, cabin tents are in the lead and most prefer this type. If you’re in for a longer trip, then a wall tent with a perfectly pitched roof is perfect due to its spaciousness.
So, if you’re planning to walk around, it’s a good idea to first determine the interior height. If you’re simply interested in sleeping, then you’ll need a swag tent or a truck bed tent that is suited for only one person.
Material
Selecting the ideal material is important before you can purchase a tent. However, it should be noted that not all tents are made from the same material. In essence, some fabrics may be stronger than others so it’s best to consider all of these things.
If you didn’t already know, most are crafted from a special cotton fabric known as duck fabric. While it weighs more than regular cotton, it is considered a premium fabric. Cotton duck fabric is considered premium because of its durability and tight weave.
Cotton canvas materials are known for their exceptional waterproofing characteristics. However, you’ll need to ensure that you break it in before the waterproofing capabilities kick in. Most if not all cotton canvas tents allow some percentage of water to seep.
It’s best to keep this in mind since this is normal. After the entire canvas is soaked, the fabric expands. When it dries, it returns to its original size. When this occurs, the weave now becomes waterproof and stays that way for the rest of its life.
Packed Size and Weight
Since canvas is generally heavy, it would be quite insane to take it on your backpacking trip. If you’re camping with your car, then this factor doesn’t really matter. However, the weight of the tent does play a crucial role in how easy or difficult it is to set up.
If you’re traveling by loaded car, the packed size of your tent becomes important. Hence, it is important that you purchase something that is easier to fit into tight spaces. This just simply means that you’ll need a tent that is easy to grab and go.
Weather Resistance
When selecting a canvas tent, it’s best to select something that can protect you or your loved ones from snow, winds, and rain. While most tents are sturdy when correctly installed, it is advised that you follow the guidelines.
Most canvas models can easily combat winds up to 30 mph but may not handle snow very well. When snow falls heavy, tents are known for collapsing under the weight. However, don’t be too alarmed since most if not all models can be used year-round and will be able to battle against moderate amounts of thick snow.
In addition, some of the best you can find are those that are waterproof. With seals and zippers, moisture is almost always never able to get through. So, remember to select something that will be suited to any type of weather.
How to Take Care of Canvas Tents?
Quality tents are sometimes passed down from one generation to another. However, this only occurs if they are taken care of properly. The following are some easy maintenance tips for your canvas tent:
- Ensure that your tent is properly dried before packing up
- All metal parts should be washed to prevent corrosion
- Waterproofing spray should be used every couple of years to ensure that your tent is waterproof
- Tents should be stored in a dry environment; basements should be avoided
- Canvas tents should be cleaned every 3 or 6 months depending on how often it is used
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Last update on 2022-05-30 / Rating by Author / Affiliate links, Images, Descriptions & Price from Amazon Product Advertising API