What is the best canvas for a tent?

Canvas or Synthetic/Nylon &#; what&#;s the best material for camping tents?

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Tents are typically made from two different types of material: synthetic material (nylon) and cotton canvas. There are different grades and types of these materials, but they basically all boil down to those two materials. Kodiak Canvas camping tents are made with a superior, marine-grade, 100% cotton duck, Hydra-Shield® canvas. What is Hydra-Shield Canvas? It is a custom woven and treated canvas ideal for the purpose of premium tent making. It is double-fill cotton canvas (two threads twisted together to give the canvas superior strength, durability, and a very tight weave). The canvas is then treated with a silicone, dry-finish treatment that is watertight, breathable, and durable. Hydra-Shield canvas also resists mold and mildew.

So, what are the differences between Kodiak Canvas camping tents and camping tents made from synthetic or nylon material? Why should someone choose canvas over nylon, or vice versa? Each fabric has its benefit &#; for example, if you&#;re going on a back packing trip, nylon is a much lighter and packable material. However, if you are car camping, or setting up a base camp you can drive in to &#; a canvas camping tent is your best option. Here's why:

• Breathability. Unlike synthetic fabrics, or canvas with a paraffin or oil-based treatment, our Kodiak canvas is breathable! This allows water vapor to escape, minimizing condensation, humidity, and mugginess. Simply put, you are more comfortable. While no one likes the feeling of a humid or muggy tent, that same condensation can also lead to mold and mildew growing on your gear if you don&#;t air it out or dry it properly.
• Durability. Kodiak Canvas camping tents are made with a much &#;tougher&#; material than your typical synthetic tent materials. There are many stories of canvas camping tents being passed down for generations. With the proper care, a quality canvas camping tent will serve you for many years to come. This same durability helps protect you in the outdoors as well. Whether it&#;s rain, snow, wind, or even critters, a durable canvas camping tent will outperform its synthetic or nylon tent siblings. Unlike canvas camping tents made with paraffin or oil-based treatments, you should rarely, if ever need to retreat the canvas. Kodiak&#;s Hydra-Shield silicone-based treatment is durable and long-lasting. Kodiak Canvas camping tents will outlast tents made with inferior synthetic fabrics.
• Water repellency. Speaking of weather and the elements, Kodiak Canvas camping tents shine when it gets nasty outside. Simply put, you will stay dry, even in a downpour! It's okay to touch ceiling and inside walls during a rainstorm. Hydra-Shield canvas does not leak or wick water. While we can&#;t call our canvas tents &#;waterproof&#; (no cotton canvas is &#;technically&#; waterproof), they are extremely water repellent, and our expectation is that you will ALWAYS stay high and dry in all weather you encounter. Read some of our customer love letters &#; our Kodiak Canvas camping tents have been through it all and continually protect our customers from the worst weather imaginable.

What are the different types of canvas camping tents?

The primary types of canvas camping tents are:

• Flex Bow Tents (or spring rod style canvas tents)
  • Canvas Flex Bow or spring rod style tents are hands-down the best tents for bad weather. The design and pole structure of this canvas tent helps it &#;flex&#; without breaking in stiff winds. This canvas tent style has very simple construction with 1 main support pole (in multiple pieces) across the centerline of the canvas roof, with 2 spring rods on each of the canvas tent (4 total), then only 2 vertical support poles. This wonderful camping tent can be setup by a single person in in very little time. The cotton canvas material is excellent at repelling rain and water.
• Canvas Cabin Tents
  • This tent style has been a main stay for family camping over the past 100 years. If you ever camped as a kid with your family, you probably slept in a cabin-style tent. This design has been so popular over the years, that you can find it in various shapes, sizes and configurations &#; and different materials (canvas and nylon being the 2 primary ones). It is a sturdy tent, but given the surface area and pole structure, it&#;s not the best choice for high-wind areas. Setup is a little more complex as well with the number of poles used. It is typically best for 2 people to setup the canvas cabin tents. While canvas cabin tents are a little more complex, they do score high for usable space and durability.
• Canvas Bell Tents
  • Probably the oldest canvas tent design there is. Think of the Bedouins in ancient times packing their tent across the desert with their camels. Simplicity is the beauty of the bell tent style. You have a single center pole in a circle-shaped tent, and several guy lines around the canvas tent pulling it taught, and that&#;s it. What bell tents gain in simplicity, they lose in functionality. The &#;usable space&#; in bell tents is reduced by the low walls, and a pole in the center that always seems to get in the way. From a headroom perspective, the only area you can stand in a bell tent is near the center area around the center pole. If you&#;re channeling Lawrence of Arabia, or looking for aesthetics over function (glampers take note), the canvas bell tent may be a fit for you.
• Canvas Cabin Lodge Stove-Ready Tents or Hot tents
  • While a lot of people use the term &#;hot tents&#; we prefer to call them &#;stove-ready&#; tents because there is nothing inherently &#;hot&#; about any hot tent unless you&#;re camping in the middle of summer in Texas. Any stove-ready tent still needs a stove to make it hot. Wood burning tent stoves are hot. Canvas tents are not. Hence why we say &#;stove-ready tent&#; and not &#;hot tent.&#;
  • With that out of the way, there are pro&#;s and con&#;s to the Canvas Lodge Stove-Ready Tents. On the plus side, the usable space is fantastic. The ability to put a stove in your tent makes it a true 4-season tent. The heavy-duty vinyl floor and windows to ventilate are hands-down winners over the traditional wall tents. On the downside, these are heavier and bulkier tents and take up a decent amount of space in your vehicle or truck while transporting them (especially when you factor in your stove). They are a bit more complex to setup as well - it&#;s recommended you have 2 people available to set them up. You can&#;t beat the canvas stove-ready lodge tents when it comes to longer-term camping, or multi-day camping &#; but if you&#;re just going for an overnighter, you might look at other options.
• Wall Tents
  • Canvas wall tents are typically made of an aluminum or steel frame covered by cotton canvas roof and walls that attach to the frame of the wall tent. Typically, the roof and walls are separate pieces that you attach to the frame and to each other. A canvas wall tent does not have an integrated floor. Your floor is whatever ground you pitch your tent on (dirt, grass, snow, etc.). While the tent frame and material are strong and durable &#; especially for extended periods of time, there are some downsides. Wall tents won&#;t prevent a draft or wind from coming under the walls or water from running into your tent (where your tent wall meets the ground &#; it can get drafty and dusty in a windstorm, and depending on the slope you&#;re on, you may get water under the walls too in a rainstorm). They also don&#;t prevent critters from invading your space. While some wall tents have window options, most do not &#; which makes ventilation an issue. Wall tents are usually made with a paraffin or oil treated canvas which helps greatly with water repellency, but that same treatment doesn&#;t allow the canvas to breath as well. These tents are not for the faint of heart &#; wall tents are serious, heavy-duty tents meant for extended camping. Wall tents have wonderful usable space with tall walls and high ceilings. They are very strong and durable and will last many years if cared for properly. Setup and tear-down is more complex &#; more of a project &#; than what you&#;ll encounter with simpler canvas tents, and usually requires a minimum of 2 people to do it. These tents have their place and purpose, but wall tents aren&#;t your typical family camping tent.

However, we are quite sure that our Canvas tents will be your long term camping, Glamping, Safari and hunting partner. Go ahead and place your order for the Canvas Tents today. You can be a part of an exclusive experience that Hunters, glampers and Campers from across the world truly love!

We trust our products and provide ONE year workmanship warranty. We are 100% sure that you will be satisfied with our products, if you are not, no questions asked product return or money back guarantee, allowing you to buy with confidence!

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for detailed Do It Yourself and Review videos that will help you understand the unique features of our Canvas tents for Hunting, Safari, Camping and glamping.

Our canvas tents are all about creating the perfect camping, safari and hunting experience for you as we focus not just on the quality of material, but also the design. Breathable Canvas Tents are suitable for multiple purposes i.e. Glamping, Luxury Camping, Family Camping, Safari Trips, Outfitter, Picnics, Outdoor Events, Parties, Festivals, Weddings, Outdoor Adventures and Activities.

White Duck Outdoor's Canvas Tents are designed carefully to suit today&#;s camping, safari, hunting and glamping needs as they have undergone many modern updates on the traditional canvas tent, which allows it to offer luxurious qualities. It&#;s made from premium Cotton Double Fill &#;Army Duck Canvas&#; fabric using weightless WR (Water + Mildew) treatment with optional Fire repellant and maintaining the natural breathability of 100% cotton using our proprietary brand of Cotton Canvas DYNAGUARD!

Army Duck Canvas fabric has the remarkable quality of being highly water repellent while at the same time being very breathable. It&#;s a tightly woven, 100% cotton duck with the best water-repellent finish available. Normal moisture built up within the bell tent will pass freely through the fibers creating a very comfortable living environment, making it cooler in the summer and more comfortable in the winter. Army Duck is 100% cotton and when it rains, the fibers swell up to make the bell tent even more water-repellent. The roof becomes very taut, preventing water from pooling at the eaves. Army Duck is treated to be flame retardant (CPAI-84) and mildew resistant. Wall Tents made of Army Duck have been on expeditions around the world. They have always performed perfectly. If your adventures require the absolute best and most durable tent, then wall tents made from Army Duck canvas should be your choice.

It is a medium weight multi-purpose canvas fabric with a very tight, plied yarn weave construction making it very strong and resistant to tearing. Army Duck is loomed using smaller yarns creating an ultra-smooth texture perfect. This fabric is ideal for screen printing and is used in numerous products such as: tote bags, tarps, outdoor awnings, wall tents, linings, outdoor boat covers, etc.

Together with the material itself, canvas treatments have become a critical factor in determining a high quality bell tent . Our Cotton Army Duck Canvas fabric has the same Sunforger Boat Shrunk Marine-Finish Treatment which has been the leader in the fabric treatment industry because of its ability to retain the canvas&#; natural ability to breathe without contributing to the fabric&#;s disintegration.

Furthermore, we have added additional silicone based chemical treatment similar to famous Sunforger treatment (that customers are familiar with over the last many decades from the camping industry) for much higher water repellency and protection against UV rays, mold and mildew, as opposed to the traditional wax treatment which adds extra weight and inconsistent water repellency.

Our Cotton Army Duck Canvas is essentially manufactured from; double fill or two ply cotton yarn twisted together for higher yarn strength, combined with a high density thread count per square inch for weaving premium cotton canvas that is robust and creates a tightly woven canvas fabric surface that is ideal to add Water + Mildew & Flame Retardant Chemical which is impregnated on to the surface of the canvas fabric and the chemical concentrate sits between the cotton pores of the canvas fabric. The cotton pores swell in humid and rain weather closing the gap and making the cotton canvas highly waterproof and fights micro-organisms

Canvas is our preferred choice of material as it is one of the most breathable fabrics around-it allows a little airflow for drying out the dampness and humidity inside the camping tent, cotton fabric is waterproof and less prone to condensation. A good high quality, breathable, tightly woven, 100% cotton duck canvas is at the core of every White Duck Outdoors Tent.

Canvas tents are certainly making news because of a reason. People find these camps their ultimate escape when the concrete walls feel like the boundaries of banishment from nature. These tents are durable, good looking waterproof and everything that anyone needs for their next outdoor adventure. If you are trying to find the best among all the canvas tents then here is some good news for you. Canvas is one of the best choices of tents because of its fabrics and we offer you the premium quality cotton that protects you from the forest air and lets you breathe some of it as well.

Duck is actually a type of canvas. Both fabrics are plain-weave, are made from cotton and are incredibly versatile. The main difference between duck and canvas lies in thread count. Canvas is known for its coarser weave, while duck boasts a smooth hand because of its high thread count. Identifying duck and canvas is fairly easy and are classified based on a weight system of ounces per square yard; the higher the ounce weight, the heavier the fabric. Canvas comes in heavier weights such as medium/heavyweight to very heavyweight, whereas duck will be more in the medium weight range. Because canvas is a heavier weight fabric, is can be used for projects that will see quite a bit of wear and tear.

Waterproof vs Water Resistant vs Water Repellent Canvas Wall Tents:

A water repellent bell tent will afford you some protection if it does start to rain. The tents are treated with a water repellent finish that will cause any moisture to bead up and roll off the tents. Water repellent finishes can only hold the water off for so long; during a heavy rain, the moisture will pool on the tent, ultimately resulting in leaks directly into your tent space.

To fully protect yourself from this, you need a waterproof tent. These tents are coated with a finish that repels moisture, causing it to slide right off without any seepage. A waterproof bell tent will keep everything underneath it completely dry, and there&#;s no need to worry about water pooling on top or leaks coming through.

What is Fire Water Repellent?

Fire Retardant fabric is a chemical treatment to help delay flame production and help prevent the spread of fire. This chemical treatment is typically soluble in liquid so FR material should be dry-cleaned with a non-liquid cleaning agent. To remove dust buildup, gently brush the surface with a soft brush. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of springbar canvas tent. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

What do I do if my wall tent gets mold or mildew?

Put on a breathing mask to prevent the inhalation of mold or mildew spores. Lay the canvas tent out flat in a dry sunny area. Using a soft and stiff hairbrush or toothbrush, brush the mold debris and mildew from the material. Wash the affected area with any good quality mold remover solution with hot water. And/or rinse with a solution of 1 cup of lemon juice and 1 cup of salt to hot water.

If you catch mold in the early stages you can save your tent. We strongly suggest you to look for Mold Mildew Stain Remover which can be found online. Follow the instructions on the label. We have found it to be safe, easy, and effective to use. However, keep in mind that this treatment will degrade some of the canvas water repellency. The affected area can be retreated with a silicone based water repellent solution as it wouldn&#;t clog the tiny pores in the canvas and cause it to lose its breathability.

Replace the tent if it is the black mold and canvas tent fabric is falling apart as there is not much you can do at that point.

Where are our wall tents manufactured?

Like all leading brands we source our products from various countries including both China and Pakistan by an expert canvas tent makers. We offer our products at market competitive prices, well-built with impeccable craftsmanship, unique features and top of the line materials, top grade zippers & components. The canvas is custom woven and treated to meet our specs. Companies claiming that their tents are "Made in the USA", are most likely made with canvas that comes from Pakistan, India or Bangladesh.

White Duck Outdoors is a USA based company, and we sell our tents in many countries around the world. We promote responsible manufacturing while ensuring our customers get the most value for their investment. We ensure social and environmental compliance along with stringent quality control measures. We further test our products performance by independent labs. This gives us confidence to stand behind our product and brand. The canvas tents that we manufacture are waterproof, mildew and flame resistant so if you have been fearing fire hazards in your campsite for long then these tents are the ultimate choice for you. Our canvas basin tents are fire repellent and they would be the safest option if you are taking your kids with you on camping. 

Will a canvas tent keep me dry?

Absolutely yes! All of our tents are made with 100% cotton canvas. Cotton canvas tents are waterproof and less prone to condensation. However, not all tents are completely waterproof when you use it for the first time. A new tent will most likely leak as they go through the weathering process. It is advised to set up your tent at home or other place prior to your camping trip or take your tent out in its first good rain. Rain or wet environment make the cotton fibers to swell and nestle, closing up any tiny holes and making it a tightly weaved fabric or watertight which is a natural cotton phenomenon. The &#;weathering&#; process will make the canvas tent fabric waterproof for all types of indoor and outdoor use as it will stay completely dry inside, even during drenching rains. Furthermore, we have added additional silicone based chemical treatment for higher water repellency and protection against UV rays, mold and mildew. The ultra-tight weave and silicone waterproofing combine to make an excellent barrier against moisture that will not wick water. This minimizes humidity/dampness/moistness on the inside of the tent to make you more comfortable.

What are the advantages of having a canvas tent?

1. Canvas tents can be better suited for long camping trips because of their heavy duty, breathable and durable materials. Simply put, they are going to last longer than nylon or other synthetic materials.
2. Canvas tents generally perform better in winter conditions. Heavy duty canvas fabric will block out the cold and wind better than nylon. They are also very functional during the summer&#; it is a 4 season tent for all your camping needs.
3. Durability &#; if you buy the right canvas tent, you can go years before you need to replace it. Small holes and ripped seams in a canvas tent are also easier to patch up than holes and damaged seams in synthetic material tents.

What is the lifespan of canvas wall tent?

The lifespan of your tent is very dependent upon camping conditions such as air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, natural dirt (bird droppings, sand, salt water) and domestic dirt (cooking stains, soda, wine, sun cream), as these all limit the lifespan of your cotton canvas tent. Take good care of your tent and it will last longer (minimum up to 6 months)

How do I store my wall tent?

Golden role: Never store or pack your tent and ropes away wet, damp or dirty. If you own a canvas cotton tent, make sure to never store it either wet or damp. The moisture trapped inside will make the life of tent shorter. At times, you don&#;t have much of a choice but to pack it; in damp condition, make sure you hang it up to dry within a day or two. Otherwise, fungus can affect the tent leading to tiny little black spots all over your tent which are permanent.

Pitch your tent properly: Simple yet effective way to ensure enhancing your tent&#;s life span. The canvas can become strained If the tent isn&#;t pitched correctly which would eventually lead towards damage.

Keep it clean: To remove marks, use a soft brush or sponge with fresh water and mild detergent only and rinse with clean water. Allow to dry thoroughly. Wipe down all metal surfaces with fresh water after use. Though the fabrics are water resistant but they aren&#;t dust resistant so you need to keep your canvas basin tents clean if you don&#;t want any allergies or diseases. After beach use or wet conditions treat all zips and metal components with silicon spray. Remove the stains as soon as they appear, its way easier to brush off the dirt and dried mud when the tent is dry by using a scrubbing brush. 

Leakage: Cotton canvas fabric normally expands when exposed to wet environment to make itself waterproof. There might be a possibility that it may leak a bit around seams when you set it up for the first time. The cotton fibers will swell and close up any tiny holes that might cause the leakage again.  Look for leakage at ties when there is a bug or bee attack so that the next time it rains your roof or walls won&#;t be pouring. Don&#;t freak out, it&#;s totally okay as this will no longer happen again because of the natural cotton phenomenon.

Ventilation: Make absolutely sure you store your tent in a place which has ventilation to let some air through. Due to insufficient ventilation, fungus can affect the canvas. It is important to store your tent dry so no fungus or other stains can appear.

Are there any special considerations for extended use situations of wall tents?

Canvas basin tents are durable with great tensile strength and they have this picture-perfect appearance that can take you back in the good old days of British hunting archives. Isn&#;t that worth spending on? Although there are perks there are also a few precautions you should take if you plan to use your tent for an extended period of time (3-4 weeks or more) to enhance the tent life.

Canvas Rot: If you own a canvas cotton tent, make sure to never store the tent, ropes and stakes either wet or damp. The moisture trapped inside will make the life of tent shorter. At times, you don&#;t have much of a choice but to pack it; in damp condition, make sure you hang it up to dry within a day or two. Otherwise, fungus can affect the tent leading to tiny little black spots all over your tent which are permanent. This occurs when the canvas at the bottom of the tent is in constant contact with moist ground. The canvas never dries out and eventually will begin to rot or decay in the areas of contact. Even if there is no rain, this can be caused by moisture from dew.

Prevention: For extend use, make sure the tent is placed in an area that is well drained, dry and properly ventilated to let some air through. Due to insufficient ventilation, fungus can affect the canvas. It is important to store your tent dry so no fungus or other stains can appear. It could be placed on sand, gravel, or a slated wooden platform. Extended use on grassy areas or moist soil should be avoided.

Mildew: Camping tents can easily become a victim of mold and mildew. If your tent is not cleaned, dry and stored properly when you put it away, mold and mildew can be a pesky problem. Mildew is more prone to grow in humid climates in dark or shady areas.

Prevention: Take the bell tent out for cleaning and retreating from time to time.  A typical cleaning and re-treatment can require a few hours on a sunny day, a few times a year. Let it air out and place it where it can receive direct sunlight for a couple of hours.

UV damage: Our canvas tents are much less susceptible to UV deterioration than many synthetic fabrics but over time it will eventually degrade the canvas. Ultraviolet damage to tent fabric is caused by excessive exposure to sunlight. The first sign of sun damage will be a fading of the color of the fabric, followed by a deterioration of the fabric and threads, often near the seams but sometimes in the middle of the panel.

Prevention: Avoid leaving your bell tent set up in direct sun for extended periods. Also, we recommend to use a &#;rain fly&#; as it also protects the tent top from burn holes, slides the snow, and is another barrier in the rain.

How do I clean or wash my canvas wall tent?

To remove marks, use a soft brush or sponge with fresh water and mild detergent only and rinse with clean water. Allow to dry thoroughly. Wipe down all metal surfaces with fresh water after use. After beach use or wet conditions treat all zips and metal components with silicon spray. Remove the stains as soon as they appear, its way easier to brush off the dirt and dried mud when the tent is dry by using a scrubbing brush. 

At White Duck Outdoors, we have selected 10.10 oz, 100% Cotton Army Duck Canvas fabric for all our Canvas Camping Tents and Accessories range which includes Canvas Wall Tents, Canvas Bell Tents, Canvas Family Explorer tents. Our range of tents are suitable for Hunting, Camping and Glamping in the Outdoors at Music Festivals, Back country in the Wilderness and With Outfitters or Family excursions and adventures.

Are you interested in learning more about Fibreglass Roof Top Tents? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!