canvas wall tents for sale

Choosing Your First Canvas Wall Tent: Advice and Tips from Elk Mountain Tents

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Canvas wall tents have been a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts for many years. They are durable, spacious, and provide a luxious camping experience. However, with so many options available on the market, buying the right canvas wall tent can be a daunting task, especially for first-time buyers. In this article, we will provide some advice for buying your first canvas wall tent.

Why Choose a Canvas Wall Tent?

There are many reasons why you might choose a canvas wall tent over other types of camping shelters. Here are just a few:

  • Durability: Canvas, whether natural or synthetic, is a strong and sturdy material that can withstand harsh weather conditions, making it an ideal choice for many people. Typically, if you take good care of your tent, you can expect it to last decades.
  • Spaciousness: Wall tents are typically much larger than other types of camping shelters, providing plenty of space for sleeping, cooking, and relaxing. The biggest difference is the high side walls. This allows you to walk around without ducking.
  • Features: These kinds of tents can truly be a home away from home with screened windows, wood stove, and room for cots and gear.

Choosing the Right Size

When it comes to buying a canvas wall tent, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the right size. Elk Mountain Tents offers a range of sizes, from 13’x13′ up to 13’x20′ but you can go slightly smaller if you’re looking for a bell tent. Here are some things to consider when choosing the right size:

  • How many people will be sleeping in the tent?
  • Are the people close family, kids, or scouts that you can pack in or do they need some space?
  • How much gear will you be bringing?
  • Will you be using a wood stove inside?
  • For specific examples and diagrams, check out our sleeping capacity article.
canvas wall tents for sale

Choosing the Right Features

Decide what extra features are most important to you. Here are a few popular options:

  • Stove Jack: A stove jack allows you to safely use a wood stove inside your tent, providing warmth and cooking capabilities.
  • Windows: Windows provide natural light and ventilation, making your tent more comfortable to be in during the day.
  • Screened Doors: Screened doors allow you to keep bugs out of your tent while still enjoying fresh air.
  • Awning: A porch can provide additional covered space outside your tent, perfect for relaxing or having a transitional space.
  • Ridge Ventilation: To avoid condensation, it’s recommended that you get a tent with ridge openings.
  • Angle Kit: So, this one isn’t a feature exactly, but I have to mention it here because not all tents come with it. These are all the metal pieces that allow you to put a frame together. It’s possible to assemble a tent without these but for most setups it’s a must,

All models at Elk Mountain Tents come with a stove jack, screened windows, ridge ventilation, and angle kit as these are considered the most essential for hunting. However, for an additional charge, you can get screened doors and awnings.

When you shop around, make sure you aren’t comparing apples to oranges as many tent companies will give you a quote for their base model that includes ZERO features, so be sure to get a quote of the tent you actually want.

Choosing the Right Materials

There are no wrong answers here as all canvas tents are MUCH more sturdy compared to most camping tents, but there are a few things you must know:

Type: Your choices are cotton, polyester, and a cotton-poly blend. Some like organic / natural nature of going with cotton while some prefer polyester because it is incapable of rotting (since it’s synthetic). Advances in manufacturing technology have made breathability no longer exclusive to cotton, so polyester is just as good there depending on who makes the tent. A blend of the two includes the strengths and weakenesses of both. As a general rule, the more polyester the lighter and stronger it will be.

Weight: Weirdly enough, wall tent canvas strength is typically measured indirectly as weight. When you see someone say “10 oz canvas” it means 10 oz per square yard, and the weight of the canvas is a pretty good ballpark estimate for it’s strength. 8 oz is considered the bare minimum, 10 oz is in the industry standard, 12 oz is considered heavy duty, and 14~16 oz is extra heavy duty (and also very heavy and harder to assemble).

Strength: While weight is a good indirect measure of the material’s strength, it’s not the best measure. Be sure to ask your tent manufacturer for the rip and tear strength. Each of these will then have two figures, one for the warp direction and one for the fill direction.

For example, our ccanvas is an 11 oz canvas with a breaking strength of 449 lbs (warp direction) and 382 lbs (fill direction), making it significantly tougher than traditional canvas which has a breaking strength of 382 (warp) and 241 (fill) for 12 oz canvas and about 210 (warp) and 140 (fill) for 10 oz canvas. The tear strength is 67 lbs (warp) and 40 lbs (fill); this is roughly double that of the Sunforger canvas material used by other tent companies.

Conclusion

Buying your first canvas wall tent can be an exciting and rewarding experience, as long as you take the time to choose the right size and features for your needs. Elk Mountain Tents offers a range of high-quality canvas wall tents that are durable and spacious. Be sure to take a look!

canvas wall tent

How to Choose the Right Canvas Tent: Tips and Recommendations

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Canvas tents have been a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts for centuries. These tents are made of durable materials, and they can withstand harsh weather conditions. They provide a comfortable and spacious shelter for camping, hunting, and other outdoor activities. If you are planning to buy a canvas tent, you need to consider several factors to make an informed decision. In this article, we will provide you with tips on how to choose the right canvas tent for you.

Tip 1: Determine the Purpose of the Tent

The first step in choosing a canvas tent is to determine its purpose. Canvas tents come in different sizes and styles, and they are designed for specific purposes. For starters, if you need to pack your tent in by yourself (i.e. no four-wheeler or horse), then a canvas tent is not the right fit for you. Is this for a bunch of scouts, a group of hunting buddies and their gear, just your little family? Start by imaginging the ways in which you will use it.

Tip 2: Consider the Tent Size

The size of the tent is the next most important factor to consider. You need to ensure that the tent is spacious enough to accommodate all your gear and equipment. If you are planning to camp with your family or a group of friends, you should opt for a large tent that can comfortably accommodate everyone. Similarly, if you want a wood stove inside the tent, you’re gonna want 3 ft of clearance in every direction from the stove. For a thorough breakdown, check out this article on sleeping capacity.

Tip 3: Look for High-Quality Materials

Now that you know your size, next is the materials themselves.

Canvas tents come in three primary materials: cotton, polyester, and cotton-poly blend. Some people swear by the breathability of cotton but it really depends on how the polyester fibers are woven. In other words, a polyester tent can be just as breathable and insulating as a cotton canvas tent depending on who makes the tent and what their process is, so if you’re going polyester, be sure to ask about breathability. The main advantage of polyester is that it cannot rot since it is synthetic. Sure, mold can grow on the surface but it can’t eat the synthetic fibers.

Now, if only it were as simple as choose cotton, poly, or blend! You also need to consider the thickness of the canvas. Canvas is a little weird in that when discussing its thickness the common practice is to instead provide the weight in oz per square yard. 8 oz is considered very thin/light, 10 oz is the industry standard, 12 oz is considered heavy-duty, and in some cases you may see as high as 14 or 16 oz. This numbers are a good starting point for understanding the material. I would say 8 oz is good for temporary events, 10 oz is good for camping, 12 oz is ideal for hunting, and anything higher than that is for personal preference (but it starts to get difficult to assemble the tent).

That said, weight alone won’t tell you how strong the tent fabric is since how the fabric is woven together also matters. Ask the tent manufacturer for the fabric’s break and tear strength. Break strength measures the force needed to completely break the canvas, while tear strength measures the force required to continue tearing it from an initial cut. Additionally, each of these should come with two figures: one for the warp direction and one for the fill direction. In other words, one company’s 10 oz may be as strong as another company’s 12 oz. Do not purchase a canvas tent from a company unwilling to share this data.

Other aspects of the tent’s construction, such as the quality of the zippers, are harder to judge without seeing it in person, so I recommend reading online reviews.

Tip 4: Consider the Tent Style

Canvas tents come in different styles. Each style has its advantages and disadvantages, and you need to choose the one that suits your needs. Circular tents, such as the bell tent are generally easier to set up. They can be incredibly spacious with only two downsides: 1) The side walls are generally lower compared to wall tents. The industry standard for bell tent side walls is 1-2 ft but Elk Mountain Tents has 3 ft side walls. 2) Depending on how you arrange your gear, round tents can create unusable space. For example, imagine a rectangular cot against a curved wall. The larger your bell tent the less this is an issue.

Canvas wall tents

Tip 5: Check the Tent Features

Canvas wall tents come with different features, such as stove jacks, windows, doors, vents, and angle kits. Look for a tent with features that suit your needs.

The frustrating thing is that most canvas tent companies boast their low prices but don’t openly broadcast that all of the extra features are additional. It’s not uncommon to see a tent go from $1000 to almost $2,000 simply becaue you wanted some windows, screen on the door, and a stove jack. So, consider what you want and then see which of the desired features come included in the base price.

Why Elk Mountain Tents?

There are lots of great canvas tent companies, here’s why you should go with Elk Mountain Tents:

  1. They only carry a few models so they can keep the prices low and include more standard features.
  2. Their polyester canvas only weighs 11 oz but has a break and tear strength comparable to 13 oz canvas.
  3. Most canvas tent companies do custom orders and take months. Elk Mountain Tents can ship yours today.

But what if you insist on cotton canvas? Shop local if you can, and if you can’t, then go with Davis Tent. Those guys are fantastic.

canvas tents with wood stove

Safety Precautions for Using a Canvas Tent Stove: Tips from Elk Mountain Tents

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Canvas tents have been a popular choice for camping and outdoor enthusiasts for many years, and for good reason. They offer a comfortable and spacious living area while also providing protection from the elements in all four seasons. As winter camping grows in popularity, many people are looking to add a stove to their canvas tent for warmth and comfort. While this is a great idea, there are some important safety precautions that need to be taken to ensure a safe and enjoyable camping experience.

Elk Mountain Tents is a company that specializes in providing high-quality canvas tents and accessories for outdoor enthusiasts. Their tents come with more standard features at a lower cost and use stronger materials than traditional cotton canvas. That all said, they understand the importance of safety when it comes to using a canvas tent stove and have helped me compile a list of five important safety tips to keep in mind when using one.

Maintain Ventilation

One of the most important safety considerations when using a canvas tent with wood stove is ensuring proper ventilation. Stoves, yes even wood-burning ones, produce carbon monoxide and other harmful gasses that need to be vented outside the tent. Failure to properly vent the stove can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning which can be fatal.

The remedy is NOT to just open the door and windows. While this may help with the carbon monoxide poisoning you’ll still be filling your tent with carninogenic smoke.

Instead, make sure your tent has a stove jack installed. Basically, these are fireproof patches designed to allow you to put a stove pipe through the roof. These can usually be purchased for around $30 if you want to install them yourself or they can be added to a tent for an upcharge of around $100. These are included free of charge in all models of Elk Mountain Tents, including the Yukon Bell Tent.

Watch It

Would you make a big fire outside and then leave it for hours unattended while you go hunting? Of course not! The same is true for a fire that’s quite literally inside your tent. Accidents happen. Don’t let the fact that the fire is behind some metal fool you into thinking there is no fire there.

Keep Distance

All tent materials can burn. Even fire-treated materials will burn (although it won’t spread beyond the flame). So, whether you are thinking of your personal safety or merely trying to make your tent last as long as possible, you want to make sure you have enough distance between the stove and wall. We recommend 3ft from the wall unless you are using a stove shield. A stove shield is a fireproof mat that can be placed either on the walls or the floors to block heat from damaging the tent.

Use the Right Fuel

No, I’m not talking about throwing fireworks in there. I’m talking about using dry, seasoned wood for fuel. Wet wood can create excess smoke and buildup inside the stove pipe, not to mention cause popping from pockets of moisture inside the wood. The popping can shoot sparks whenever you open the hatch.

Also, avoid using accelerants such as gasoline or lighter fluid to start the fire. These things are more dangerous than helpful. Just keep it natural and start with small enough kindling.

Keep the Area Around the Stove Clear

Just like with the tent walls, when using a canvas tent stove, it is important to keep the area around the stove clear of any flammable materials. This includes bedding, clothing, and any other items that could potentially catch fire. Create a clear zone around the stove that is at least three feet in all directions (the same distance recommended for distance from the wall). While having heat shields can help reduce the square footage requirement, this is one of the reasons that a lot of people opt for one of the larger sizes, like the 13×20, so they don’t have to worry about giving the stove the proper amount of cleared space.

canvas tents with wood stove

Use a Carbon Monoxide Detector

As mentioned earlier, carbon monoxide is a byproduct of burning wood in a stove. This gas is odorless and colorless, making it difficult to detect without proper equipment. With proper stove pipe ventilation this shouldn’t be a problem, but you can pick up a carbon monoxide detector for around $10 and they don’t take up much space.

Follow Manufacturer’s Instructions

Finally, it is important to follow the stove manufacturer’s instructions. Each stove is designed differently and may have specific safety considerations that need to be taken into account. For example, some stoves use different materials or have different sizes and may run hotter or cooler. Read the manual to know whether you need 2.5ft or 3.5ft or if it a certain kind of fuel is off limits.

FAQs

Q: What is the best type of canvas tent stove?

A: It depends on your budget mostly. Most wood stoves can heat most tent sizes just fine, so you just want to go for something sturdy that will last (as opposed to trying to find the right size, for example). Elk Mountain Tents only offers one wood stove model. It works great in all the tents.

Q: Can I use a canvas tent stove in a regular tent?

A: No, definitely not, even if you try to install a stove jack. Canvas tents are more durable and resistant to heat and sparks than regular tents. Regular tents are typically made of nylon that can melt or catch fire if they come into contact with a hot stove. This is one of the main advantages of a quality wall tent. You can have a warm little home away from home in the middle of the winter.

Q: How often should I clean my canvas tent stove?

A: If you want it to last forever, it is important to clean your canvas tent stove regularly to prevent the builup. Most manuals will say after each use but the average wood stove camper probably cleans it once or twice a year.

Conclusion

Using a canvas tent stove can be a great way to stay warm and comfortable while camping in colder weather. However, it is important to take safety precautions to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or fire. Enjoy your next trip without burning down the house!

canvas tent glamping

5 Tips to Extend the Lifespan of Your Glamping Tents: A Guide by Elk Mountain Tents

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Glamping has become a popular way to enjoy the outdoors while still having the comforts of home. However, with this type of camping comes the need for quality and durable tents that can withstand the elements. Elk Mountain Tents is a company that specializes in creating high-quality glamping tents that are designed to last. To help extend the lifespan of these tents, here are five tips to keep in mind.

Tip 1: Proper Cleaning and Maintenance

One of the most important things to do to extend the lifespan of a canvas tent glamping is to clean and maintain it properly. When camping, there are a lot of elements that can stick to the tent, such as dirt, dust, and tree sap. Over time, these elements can weaken the tent fabric and cause it to tear or fray.

To clean the tent, start by removing any debris or dirt with a soft-bristled brush or a clean cloth. Then, use a mild soap and warm water to wash the tent, taking care not to scrub too hard. Rinse the tent thoroughly with clean water and allow it to dry completely before storing it away.

Regularly inspecting the tent for any signs of wear and tear is also important. If there are any small rips or tears, fix them as soon as possible to prevent them from getting larger. Be sure to choose a tent with a high rip and tear strength to ensure maximum life expectancy.

Tip 2: Proper Storage

When not in use, it is important to store the glamping tent properly. This will help prevent damage from moisture, insects, and rodents. Ideally, the tent should be stored in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated area. The tent should be folded neatly and stored in its carrying bag or in a plastic storage container.

It is also important to ensure that the tent is completely dry before storing it. Moisture can cause mold and mildew to grow on the tent fabric, which can weaken it over time.

If you expect your tent to get wet regularly, it’s recommended that you buy a 100% polyester canvas tent. A true polyester canvas is incapable or rotting. While mold can grow on any surface, it is incapable of consuming the synthetic fibers. The same is true for animals and bugs.

Tip 3: Proper Use

Proper use of the glamping tent is also important for extending its lifespan. This means using the tent in the way it was intended and not overloading it with too much weight or putting too much stress on the seams and zippers.

It is also important to take care when setting up and taking down the tent. Rough handling can cause tears and damage to the tent fabric. Following the manufacturer’s instructions for setting up and taking down the tent can help ensure that it is done properly.

However, perhaps the two most important elements to remember are: 1) Properly staking down your tents. A good glamping tent should be able to take a lot but any tent can blow over with enough wind. 2) Know your tents limits. No tent is designed for hurricanes. Read the instructions to know when it’s time to take the tent down.

Tip 4: Protecting from the Sun

The sun can be a powerful force that can damage the fabric of the glamping tent over time. UV rays can cause the fabric to fade, weaken, and become brittle. To protect the tent from the sun, it is important to set it up in a shaded area or use a sunshade to block the sun’s rays.

Additionally, using a protective spray can help to prevent the fabric from fading and weakening due to the sun’s rays. Be sure to choose a spray that is safe for the type of fabric the tent is made of.

Polyester canvas is more resistant to UV rays but not immune to its impact.

canvas tent glamping

Tip 5: Avoiding Harsh Chemicals

Harsh chemicals can damage the fabric of the glamping tent, causing it to weaken and deteriorate over time. Avoid using bleach, harsh detergents, and other chemicals on the tent. Instead, use mild soap and warm water to clean the tent. This is especially true for cotton canvas.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How often should a glamping tent be cleaned?

A: Normally, we would recommend lightly cleaning the tent after every use. However, glamping setups are often fairly permenant, so instead we recommend *inspecting* after every occupant’s stay to look for any visible sign of dirt or wear and then only cleaning as needed.

Q: Can a glamping tent be left up all season?

A: Yes, however, understand that it can take a toll on any tent. When only used from time to time, a canvas tent can last decades, but if used like a home semi-permenantly and in all weather, you can expect to see some wear after 2 to 5 years depending on the quality of the material.

Q: How can I protect my glamping tent from animals?

A: Animals, such as rodents and insects, can be attracted to the scent of food and other items in and around the tent. To protect the tent, store food and other scented items in airtight containers and keep them away from the tent. Additionally, sealing any gaps or holes in the tent can help prevent animals from getting inside.

But if you are going to allow the campers to have food anyway, then the next most important thing is cleaning well between each use. Make sure there are no crumbs 🙂

Depending on the critter and the types of treatment used on the canvas, the cotton itself may be desirable to some. For longerm use, consider getting a polyester tent.

Conclusion

Taking care of a glamping tent can help to extend its lifespan and ensure that it provides a comfortable and enjoyable camping experience for years to come. Proper cleaning and maintenance, storage, use, protection from the sun, and avoiding harsh chemicals are all important considerations when caring for a glamping tent. By following these tips and being diligent in caring for the tent, campers can enjoy the great outdoors with peace of mind knowing that their glamping tent will last for many camping trips to come.