Choosing the Right Canvas Wall Tent: What to Consider
Canvas wall tents are a great option for winter camping, as they offer durability, insulation, and protection from the elements. However, with so many options on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your needs. In this article, we’ll discuss the factors to consider when choosing a canvas wall tent for winter, and we’ll also take a closer look at Elk Mountain Tents, a company that specializes in high-quality canvas wall tents.
Factors to Consider
When choosing a canvas wall tents for winter camping, or any season for that matter, there are several factors to consider. These include the tent’s size, shape, weight, material, insulation, and ventilation. Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors.
Size
The size of your canvas wall tent will depend on the number of people who will be camping with you and the amount of gear you need to store. If you are hunting, you will have a lot of gear, whereas campers usually have half as much. Similarly, who are your fellow campers? If they are family or a bunch of kids, you can probably pack in nicely. For a detailed sleeping guide, check out our canvas tent sleeping capacity article.
Shape
The shape of your canvas wall tent will also be important, but for many people this is more of an estetic choice. A rectangular tent will offer more usable space than a round or hexagonal tent, especially if you are planning on using cots, but a round tent looks cooler and is easier to set up. Elk Mountain Tents has three sizes for rectangular tents: 13×13, 13×16, and 13×20. There are also three sizes available for the Yukon Bell Tent: 13 ft diameter, 16 ft diameter, 20 ft diameter.
Weight
Weight is something to consider in two different ways. First, remember that any canvas tent you pick will be very heavy. None of these tents are suitable for backpacking unless you are bringing pack horses. But beyond that, the “weight” of a tent is usually referring to the weight of the canvas. You will see a specific weight in ounces and this is referring to the weight per yard. 8 oz canvas is considered very thin, 10 oz is on the lower end of industry standard, 12 oz is the traditional canvas weight, and 14 or 16 are considered ultra heavy duty. It is a very simple metric for understanding how sturdy the material is. However, it’s just a starting point. If you want to get more technical you will want to look at the break and tear strength. These will be listed for both the warp and fill direction, meaning that the direction something rips matters. These can be different based on what synthetic materials are used in conjunction with the cotton canvas as well as the manufacturing process itself. Elk Mountain Tents uses the latest in technology to employ an 11 oz synthetic canvas that has a strength closer to 13 or 14 oz cotton canvas.
Material
Traditionally there are three options here: A) Cotton is traditional here. It is known for being the most breathable, and some folks swear by it. The downsides to cotton are that it requires one expensive treatment for mold and rott, another expensive treatment for UV protection, and another expensive treatment for waterproofing. B) Polyester is the next option. It requires no additional treatments and is slightly lighter and slightly stronger. It is incapable of rotting. And C) A cotton-poly blend aims to strengthen the cotton material by making it a little less susceptible to rott while maintaining the breathabiity of cotton. However 100% polyester canvas can have the exact same breathability; it just depends on the manufacturing process, so the best thing you can do there is read reviews.
Elk Mountain Tents exclusively uses 100% polyester canvas because it is lighter, stronger, and won’t rot. It requires no treatments for sun, rain, or mold. And for those who worry about the possibiltity of condensation or breathability, you’ll be happy to know that all tent models come with screened windows and screened ventilation in the eaves just in case.
Ventilation
This is mentioned above, but bentilation is important in any tent, but it’s especially important in a canvas wall tent, as condensation can build up inside the tent if there isn’t enough airflow. Do not, and I repeat, do not get a tent unless it has at least ventilation flaps in the top ridge. Screened windows are a huge bonus.
Elk Mountain Tents
Elk Mountain Tents is a company that specializes in high-quality canvas wall tents and bell tents for camping and hunting. The company was founded by an avid hunter and outdoorsmen and is based in Nampa, Idaho.
Here’s the short version of what they offer: Tents with more features, at lower prices, made from a better and unique material, shipped the next day.
FAQs
Q: Are canvas wall tents difficult to set up?
A: Canvas wall tents can be more difficult to set up than some other types of tents, but Elk Mountain Tents provides detailed instructions, setup videos, and support to help you get your tent set up quickly and easily. Expect about 60 minutes if it’s your first time or 20-30 minutes if you’ve had plenty of experience.
Q: How do I know what size tent to choose?
A: The size of your tent will depend on the number of people and amount of gear you plan to bring. Elk Mountain Tents offers a range of sizes to choose from, and they can provide advice on which size will work best for your needs.
Q: Can I use a wood-burning stove inside a canvas wall tent?
A: Yes, Elk Mountain Tents’ canvas wall tents are designed to be used with wood-burning stoves. The tents come with a stove jack to vent the smoke outside the tent.
Q: Are Elk Mountain Tents’ canvas wall tents waterproof?
A: Yes, this is something that sets them apart from other companies that use cotton or cotton-poly blend canvas. You can optionally apply a waterproofing solution designed for polyester but it is not necesary. Similarly, you do not need a rainfly but the added protection is encouraged.
Conclusion
Choosing a canvas wall tent for winter camping requires careful consideration of factors such as size, shape, weight, material, insulation, and ventilation. Elk Mountain Tents offers a range of high-quality canvas wall tents that are designed to meet the needs of winter campers, as well as a variety of accessories to help you make the most of your camping experience. With their focus on quality and craftsmanship, Elk Mountain Tents is a great choice for anyone looking for a durable and reliable canvas wall tent.
