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Been camping since I was a baby (still loving it) and we still use old canvas frame tent but need a new one (mine's had it's day!!) I'm so confused about the new tents on the market, heres what I can make out...........

Canvas is high maintenance but lasts forever (ours is 25 this year) and some can have wood burning stoves (tentipis and bell tents)

Polyester feels nasty, suffers with condensation but is reletavlely inexpensive ( i've almost ruled these out but can still be convinced)

Polycotton I know nothing about but it seems expensive when compared with polyester (is it worth the extra and is it better?)

what shall I do? Help!!!

Quote: Originally posted by oldham on 07/2/2008

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We have Khyam Polycotton  it looks like canvas is as heavy as canvas and feels like canvas.   It is a 1999 tent well used out most weekends and main holidays and so far so good. Come back in 2025 and I will let you know if it lasts as long as canvas.

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You're obviously happy with the khyam, do you need to treat it with waterproofing chemicals?

I've had a look at few Kyhams and to be honest they don't look that good, but then again looks aren't everything, and considering you've had it eight years nearly it can't be that bad build quaility.

this tent buying buisness is harder than I thought!!!

It's personal choice what suits one will not suit another.  I have a polyester and I hate it.  Too light in the morning too cold at night noisy when the wind blows and gets condensation on the inside.    Not to mention over heating in the sunshine

So between a frame tent and a khyam the khyam won on fast pitching  wouldn't swop it for anything else.

Saying that Number one son wants a polyester tourer, 

To each thier own 

Quick erect and polycotton here. we have managed with polyester, has its downsides but are cheaper and lighter and we have never had a problem with them, if you have plenty of doors and vents they are not to bad in the heat ( not that heat is a problem in the UK)

It all depnds on what you want, your budget, how much use it will get, the weather you camp in etc.

Ruth

Hi

I just have to say not all poly cottons are the same. Some of the brands are using a very light poly cotton and they have put way to much waterproofing on them. The problem with to much waterproofing is it stops the tent breathing which is the whole point of a poly cotton. Poly cotton only needs a low level of proofing as the cotton fabric will swell the first time its get water on it and this makes it very waterproof.

The way to check is look on the inside and see if the fabric is shiny, if it is your going to have all the problems of condensation you would get with a polyester tent but it will last much longer.

I hope all this makes sense.

Gary

Hi Gary,

Thats a great tip, thank you.  I don't suppose you can give us an idea of which are the best?

Homebird

Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 08/2/2008

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We've been through poly tents and are now back to frame tents.   The advantage being you can pick them up dirt cheap on ebay!

The disadvantage of course being the pack size and weight.

The new polycottons that I've seen look like they would be more difficult to pitch than a frame tent, most of them seem to lose the "kitchen" from them as well which seems a shame to me.

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Yep, I agree that you can't beat a frame tent kitchen area (even the Biscaya can't hold a candle to a traditional frame tent, in that respect, though to be honest I wouldn't fancy cooking inside a tunnel tent with SIG  anyway!).

We particularly like our Cabanon Espace since, though it is a very big tent, it is incredibly simple and straightforward to pitch, particularly as the kitchen window is on a straight wall (utility area can be curtained off when not in use, to keep the place tidy and cool, which is brill).

I do like frame tents...

Apart from Cabanon, who is producing canvas frame tents theses days?

Homebird