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I have been reading the nylon vs canvas debate with interest and I must say I have just shocked myself....

I have always considered the canvas frame tents to be old fashioned etc. etc. and have said whist out camping on one occasion that "I would never get one of those things", being the young trendy gal that I am!! Anyway as we are off to France next summer I read with great interest that the canvas tents remain a lot cooler inside also you don't wake up to find condensation dripping down the inside walls (a small problems that greatly annoys me).

Well the upshot of all this is I am seriously considering buying a canvas tent, one thing I am unsure about though is how waterproof these canvas styles are and how do you ensure you buy a good quality one.

My current tent is an Aztec which I have found excellent it has 3 strong tuf-flex poles and the flysheet has a HH of 4000 which is obviously extremely good for keeping out the rain and standing up to the wind.......

How do I get the equivalent high quality in Canvas?????                                                            

 Any help very gratefully recieved as I know nothing about these tents.

Regards Melissa

Quote: Originally posted by melpa on 30/8/2006

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I have always considered the canvas frame tents to be old fashioned etc. etc. and have said whist out camping on one occasion that "I would never get one of those things", being the young trendy gal that I am!!

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I will let those more experienced in canvas answer the main question; however, it is worth noting that you don't have to get a "bungalow" frame structure, if you want cotton or canvas.

You can still get "modern" tunnel and dome tent strcutures, like your Aztec, but in cotton/canvas.

Look at the Lake range from Outwell, Relum Bardani, Cabanon Biscaya and various models from Eureka.

What quick replies I am making notes and will definately look into the brands reccomended, I didn't realise that they don't have to be the bungalow style how excellent, I can retain my trendy image

Any other info would also be grateful, do they all have steel poles.....

Melissa

The Rolls Royce of canvas tents is reckoned to be Cabanon. You will always get top quality with them but you will also pay Rolls Royce prices for them. Other reputable makes are Sunncamp, Relum, Trigano, Lichfield. I'm sure others will be along to suggest other good quality makes but they were my shortlist when I started looking into buying a canvas tent at the start of this summer. These manufacturers all make pure cotton canvas tents which, if you buy new, has to be weathered by giving it a good hose down to close up the fibres. Once this is done then the tent should remain waterproof for up to 10 years when it can be reproofed. A good canvas tent should last a lifetime. Canvas has wicking qualities that synthetic tents dont have which is what keeps them cooler in the summer but it does mean that you cant stand anything against the inside walls or rain will wick in and you cant let the inners touch the outers.

Retro canvas tents are actually very trendy at the moment as more and more people realise that they have qualities and practicalities that synthetic tents dont have. They are also much sturdier and less prone to damage and as well as being cooler in the summer they are cosier in the winter. I am a real convert since getting one although my Yale tunnel tent with its SIG will still be my first choice for the variable British weather.

The downside to canvas tents is the packed size and weight. You need lots of space in your car or even a trailer to transport a canvas tent as even the smallest of them can top 30 kilos.

Carol

We have converted to a Canvas tent this year (well a TT anyway) mainly because of being able to cook inside a canvas tent more easily than a nylon, which I was finding more essential every trip, (due to rain and wind). Fantastic they are. Even if you do sprout a leak, which we did, a quick squirt of fabsil (when the canvas was dry) and that was that fixed. Thats another advantage with canvas if it does become less waterproof you can re-seal them. On our last trip we did have some heavy rain, storms and high winds. Our tent never moved, in our tent we could hardly even tell it was windy. If it hadnt been for the curtain at the back (through a vent window)blowing we wouldnt have known.

Also before you buy new do have a look at 2nd hand ones. These tents do last through the years and lots look like new still. If you are wanting a more modern canvas just remeber from what I have seen they do have a larger price tag. The ones I have seen are more expensive than new frame tents. (I dare say I will be corrected if this is wrong).

Quote: Originally posted by itsmekids on 01/9/2006

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If you are wanting a more modern canvas just remeber from what I have seen they do have a larger price tag. The ones I have seen are more expensive than new frame tents. (I dare say I will be corrected if this is wrong).

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You're quite correct  I saw a modern canvas Cabanon tent with sig at Highbridge Caravans last weekend & the price tag was just under a thousand quid