Traditional Tent vs Canvas Tent INFO PLEASE

[barlowrs]

OK, you guys are probably getting tire of all my tent related questions, but, like my smaller climbing tent, I want to do it right the first time, and I am new to this "large" tent thing.

I thought I had it all figured out by my last post, but after hearing about cabelas, and looking there, I have found a few "canvas" tents that I really like. :camping:


So, what are the advantages/disadvantages to canvas tents? I notice none of them have rain fly like traditional tents. Are they still rated for winter time? or are they more summer oriented.

Take this tent for example. Is this going to be good in rain and wind like a REI Base Camp, or other traditional tent?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...&parentType=index&indexId=cat20105&hasJS=true

Again, I am really sorry for all the threads and my in-decisiveness, but I really appreciate all your input! :bowdown:

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I think you have to define your wind requirements before anyone could pass judgement. I don't see how a tent like that could survive 60+MPH winds on a mountaintop.

 

[cnynrat]

I think for a given size tent a canvas tent will be heavier and bulkier when packed. That may or may not be an issue depending on your available cargo space.

For me, the smell inside a canvas tent in the warm sun brings back delightful memories of childhood camping trips.

That said, all my current ground tents, whether for backpacking or overlanding, are some type of synthetic/nylon fabric.

 

[Christophe Noel]

As a certified tent addict, I've tried a few canvas tents over the years and never found one that really did it for me. Aside from always smelling like someone's sweaty jeans, they're so heavy and bulky when packed it just annoys me. If I needed a tent to set up for a week or two at a stretch, I'm sure I'd look for a top shelf canvas tent, but for most of my tent stays, I'm only in one spot for two nights max and most canvas tents are too hectic to pitch, pack and transport.

I helped Chris Marzoni and Jeremy Edger with the Family Tent Test in OJ a while back and the closest thing I found to canvas type beef without all the hassle was the OzTent.

As the buyer for an outdoor store, I'm always looking for new tent options for myself and the store and my hands down favorite (for now) for a big monster tent is the Big Agnes Big House 6 with vestibule. For a huge tent, it goes up in 5 minutes and at 6'1" I can not just stand in it, but walk around. For a guy who normally prefers uber efficient mountaineering and pack tents it's a trip. Love it.

 

[barlowrs]

I helped Chris Marzoni and Jeremy Edger with the Family Tent Test in OJ a while back and the closest thing I found to canvas type beef without all the hassle was the OzTent.

Hmm I dont think I have this issue, what issue is this, wouldnt mind taking a look at it.

Thanks!

 

[Honu]

to me simple and cheap is often good when it comes to rain

blue tarp stretched out over your base is nice and cheap and rain proof to some point and offers shade ? some hate the big blue tarps ? but coming from the islands they are very very common their

to the canvas ? I dont spend as much time in a tent anymore ? longest single stretch in a two man tent was 6 months with about 3+ years total living out of tents

I prefer canvas when a tent is large my reasons are its quiet in the sense it deadens outside noise a bit more and it does not make noise in winds
also they are darker so I can sleep in more or take a nap in day time and they seem less warm inside again maybe do to more shady feeling ? not sure but they feel that way to me
especially if they are in the shade of a large cover like a blue tarp under a tree etc...


downsides are of course bulk and if they get wet they seem to take longer to dry my canvas tents I have had never stank badly ? but they are nicer ones their is a slight canvas smell but only stinky ones tend to be older ones that I think are stored away damp or somehow got damp and are not kept clean ??? again I am sure they can stink but they are easy to keep clean and need to be stored DRY and kept DRY



small tents I prefer synthetics as they do pack down more dry quicker and are just better suited for small spaces

on the dark issue my old Moss tent I used to have had this incredible fly on it that did help keep it darker inside but not like a large canvas tent

also in small tents in the rain the fly will really help you keep dryer sadly canvas while quite water resistant if you touch the inside it tends to seep through in that spot where in a small tent you are constantly hitting the inside of a tent so with the material and rain fly a smaller tent in canvas is something I would never have !!

so large family tent canvas !
small personal tent modern materials


now their is a exception for a large cheap tent or shade house I would not go canvas like those things you cover a picnic table area with ! which we are going to put in our trailer cause we had a few spots where mossies were a real problem and with kids and eating I want a bug free eating zone

one other exception I know their are some large base camp shelters that are modern non canvas but they are priced quite a bit higher so not including these

hope this rambling helps you out a bit

 

[cnynrat]

Hmm I dont think I have this issue, what issue is this, wouldnt mind taking a look at it.

Thanks!

The OJ issue with the family tent test was Fall 2008.

In my experience any tent can develop bad smells if not properly stored. Since it's not uncommon to put a tent away a little damp when you are out on the trail, I always try to set my tents up at home on a nice day and get them good and dry before putting away for long term storage. I store my synthetic tents loosely in large stuff sacks rather than keeping them tightly rolled up. Nevertheless, it always seems they develop a certain "sour" smell over the years.

 

[slus]

If I was setting up a base camp somewhere, canvas tent with a couple of cots and a wood burning stove would be at the top of my list. I have limited experience with canvas tents, but it was huge, heavy, and a total pain to set up...I'd never take one on an overnight trip. If you're gonna have one tent, I'd go high quality synthetic

 

[barlowrs]

The OJ issue with the family tent test was Fall 2008.QUOTE]

Shucks, that explains it, for some reason my collectionis missing everything from 08 except the gear guide. I have all of 07, 08 GG and all of 09..haha not sure what happened to the rest.

Anyone willing to give me a quick summary of the tents that were reviewed in it? Who won?

Thanks!

 

[barlowrs]

Thanks for all the info guys, this will be mainly for evernight stay (one night then pack and drive again for another night) so I think I will stick with a newer synthetic tent.

Eyes back on the REI Base Camp 6..haha

 

[Honu]

you ever look at those turbo tents ?
they are a few threads below in the idea of a option for oztents fast setup ?

 

[john101477]

Robert - Get the Base Camp 6 lol. I like canvas but only if i am in one place for a week or more. no Turbo Tents or OZ tents which are just another hubb style tent. sort of a remake of all those hubb family tents made 4-5 years ago. I think your in the right track with the Base Camp 6.

 

[barlowrs]

OK!!!!! just brought home a Base Camp 6! :wings::wings::victory:

HAHAHAHA sorry for all the questions, and thanks for all the input!
:tent:

(Now time for sleeping situations...cot, big air matress, or regular pads...Hmmmmm haha)

 

[john101477]

I really want to try one of those queen size cots that cabelas sells. I used a single during my last trip to Idaho and it was pretty nice. Not sure how it would work with the wife and I. one of us might end up on the ground lol. not a fan of pads unless I am hiking. supposedly there is a airpad/memory foam combo that is comfy as heck. the memory foam sits on top of the 3 inch air mattress and has great reviews. If I can find it again i will link it to ya.

You set up that tent yet? pics or it didn't happen lol.

 

[barlowrs]

I really want to try one of those queen size cots that cabelas sells. I used a single during my last trip to Idaho and it was pretty nice. Not sure how it would work with the wife and I. one of us might end up on the ground lol. not a fan of pads unless I am hiking. supposedly there is a airpad/memory foam combo that is comfy as heck. the memory foam sits on top of the 3 inch air mattress and has great reviews. If I can find it again i will link it to ya.

You set up that tent yet? pics or it didn't happen lol.

haha, I need to find a place to set it up, its pretty huge..haha, I will get some pics though, even if its down in the parking structure! (besides, I just want to see this thing setup!) :victory: