Frequently Asked Questions
Have canvas tent questions? You’ve come to the right place. Below you’ll find clear answers to the most common questions about our canvas wall tents, materials, features, setup, and care.
How many people can you fit your canvas tents?
One of the most common canvas tent questions we get is how many people can comfortably fit inside. It depends on the model of canvas wall tent you choose, how much gear you are bringing, whether you are using cots, and how much extra personal space you prefer. See our sleeping capacity page for a thorough response to this question.
Does the synthetic canvas used in your tents feel like the polyester of a normal "Coleman" tent you would get from Walmart?
No, not even close to the polyester you would think of when purchasing a Coleman tent or any other box tent. Our canvas tents both look and feel like premium cotton canvas, which is already very similar to regular cotton canvas. You can barely tell the difference. This is one of those canvas tent questions best answered with a free sample—just shoot us an email with your mailing address ([email protected]).
How does your canvas compare to traditional canvas in terms of strength?
Our unique canvas tent material 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. Additionally, polyesters typically withstand UV rays much better than cotton fibers.
Do your wall tents collect condensation?
If you’re researching canvas tent questions about breathability, know that Elk Mountain’s PolyShield™ polyester canvas has passed the test—even with diesel and propane heaters going full blast in the winter times. To be transparent, as incredible as our proprietary technique in spinning and weaving our material in PolyShield™, there is always a possibility of condensation under the right conditions. Because our material is naturally water resistant, condensation normally occurs, if at all, When the perfect storm comes together. Light to moderate rain in a climate of mild temperatures during the day to chilly late nights is a recipe for our bodies to produce water in the air. Every tent will build up condensation because of breathability issues but if you take the time to crack the window(s) and get airflow moving, the likelihood of this happening is minimal.
Why is your selection more limited than what I’ve seen at other tent retailers?
It’s a fair question—and the answer is quality over quantity.
Our business model focuses on offering the tents that we personally believe in, based on decades of experience in hunting and camping.
We don’t carry a wide range of options yet because we’re committed to only selling products we know inside and out—tents that are built to endure changing weather, resist rot and mildew, and stand up to water and sunlight. We believe in quality over quantity, which means we only offer tents that we can confidently recommend.
We discontinue models that don’t meet our highest quality standards, even if they sell well. While we currently focus on what we know best, we’re always exploring ways to serve a wider range of campers, so stay tuned!
Do you offer local pickup to save on shipping?
We sure do and we make it a point to make sure we are available when you are! Just shoot us an email to arrange the order and pickup ([email protected]).
Can I order an Elk Mountain Tent with a sewn-in floor?
No, we do not offer a sewn-in floor for the following reasons:
- Sewn-in floors are generally to be avoided if you are using an internal frame. We understand that some people like a sewn-in floor because it can help keep out small critters like mice. However, it is quite challenging to set up a frame while you are inside the tent! It is much easier to be able to set up a frame and pull your canvas tent over it.
- The material we use for our canvas tents is expensive! It just doesn’t make sense to be walking on it.
However, we do offer a tie-in floor made from a heavy duty pvc/poly material. This floor can be easily removed and cleaned and is made to fit your specific tent.
Do I need a rainfly?
A classic canvas tent question. While not required, we still recommend one for added protection.
Our canvas tents don’t need a rainfly because our PolyShield™ polyester canvas is already naturally “waterproof.” We put “waterproof” in quotes, though, because while it can handle a water column of 27 inches in a hydrostatic test, or about a whole pound of water pressure per square inch, this is technically just a little short of being considered truly waterproof.
Additionally, even waterproof products are unlikely to stay fully waterproof forever. Any tent can develop small leaks over time. This is why simple spray-on products like Nikwax’s Tent & Gear SolarProof can be so handy.
All that said, even though you don’t need a rainfly, we do recommend one because it can help protect your tent from excessive UV rays, tree sap, sparks, etc. This is the least expensive way to help insure your investment. We do offer a rainfly that is designed to fit your tent and already has a hole for the stove pipe.
Are Elk Mountain Tents fire-retardant?
When it comes to fire safety, we get plenty of canvas tent questions—here’s what you need to know.
No; even with our PolyShield+ treatment they will burn similar to any other cotton canvas under the right circumstances. The stove gaskets, however, are made of a fireproof fiberglass fabric.
We also sell stove shields that can be hung on the walls for additional protection.
That being said, if you’d prefer to treat part or all of your tent yourself, we strongly recommend Flame Safe’s FPCC Fire Retardant as it works best with our unique canvas. Coating both sides of the canvas will give you a protection level that easily passes any CPAI-84 or NFPA 701 tests as shown in this video. Note that most fire retardant treatments are supposed to be applied yearly for maximum safety.
You are responsible for making sure you meet any local fire laws and restrictions, though laws for tent structures typically only apply to commercial use. If you purchase our PolyShield+ product, please know to be very aware that fires still happen and our product is only a preventative.
How well do your tents fair against mold/mildew
Our PolyShield™ is the best material on the market. Our canvas material is composed of synthetic fibers that offer greater durability and resistance to mold than other fabric on the market. Unlike cotton or blended fabrics, which will degrade over time due to mold growth, our synthetic fibers are not susceptible to being eaten by mold or mildew. Although, mold can still develop on the surface of any material if it is exposed to moisture and humidity for long periods of time, our tents are hands down better than any other product on the market.
How can I prevent and/or treat mold?
- The first step is purchasing our PolyShield™ tent. Next, you always want to make sure you put your tent away dry. Clean off leaves, bird droppings, dirt, or any other organic material that may be sticking to the fabric. Allow as much airflow through the tent as possible.
- If mold becomes present, don’t freak out. It’s always best if you can catch it early when it’s just beginning to grow or spread. There are so many ways to get rid of it both naturally and chemically it should not be cause for major concern. Best way to figure out how treat your situation is to call us or ChatGPT it.
- Here are a few recommendations : IOSSO Mold & Mildew Stain Remover and Star Brite Mold Stain & Mildew Stain Remover. Both of these can be found on Amazon. Other products, such as Oxyclean, will likely work as well, but it is always best to test a small spot first with any product. Avoid using detergent soaps.
- Use a soft brush and water to gently scrub the material.
- If the mold is sever, yu can still get rid of it but your tent might now be as white as it use to be. Depending on the severity of the mold, it may take a few treatments. Mold can be extremely difficult to remove, and even after a thorough cleaning it most likely will not look like a new tent.
Why are Elk Mountain Tents so Cost Effective
Don’t let our price fool you. Just because our price is lower than others such as Montana or Davis does not mean our quality is “Cheap” or “Poorly Made”. We try to keep the costs down because we know how hard hunters work and we want them to be able to comfortable while hunting without breaking the bank. However, below are a few ways we keep the costs down
- Overhead = lower prices. We don’t have a need for a massive storefront to maintain and we have our process down to a science.
- We buy in bulk, saving time and material. We have taken the same approach as “In & Out Burger” of just adding all of the most requested features to each tent to avoid the slow production that comes with custom orders. This is why each model comes with 4 or 6 screened windows, screen doors, and vents. It’s also the reason we are able to have a 24 hour turn around time and ship our tents out faster than many other wall tent manufacturers.
- Efficiency and Time management are key. We have our process down to a science which allows us to keep our prices at a reasonable price.
Simply put, our philosophy is to just sell more tents for less money.
Feel free to check out this feature for feature price comparison of us vs. the other guys.
We design our products ourselves with better materials, technologies, and manufacturing. This gives you better products at incredible prices.
How much do the canvas wall tents weigh?
Weight-related canvas tent questions are especially common among backcountry users.
At Elk Mountain Tents we use a unique polyester canvas that is a little lighter than cotton. The weights for our canvas tents are as follows:
- The 13 × 13 weighs about 55 lbs.
- The 13 × 16 weighs about 65 lbs.
- The 13 x 20 weighs about 75 lbs.
- The 13 ft Yukon Bell Tent weighs about 55 lbs, with poles and stakes it is about 75 lbs.
- The 16 ft Yukon Bell Tent weighs about 75 lbs, with poles and stakes its about 100 lbs.
- The 20 ft Yukon Bell Tent weighs about 95 lbs, with poles and stakes its about 125 lbs.
However, the weight increases when you include other things like poles, ropes, angles, etc. For more details, we’ve got a list of the exact product weights available.
Snow Load-How much snow can your tent handle
That is a great question that I do not have a great answer for. We sell both steel and aluminum frames and both hold up extremely well under all types of weather conditions but snow can be tricky. We suggest brushing snow off every 2-3″ and NEVER leave your tent unattended. Every year we send out replacement frames to those who left their tent out over night and came back to 12″ or heavy, wet snow and a crushed frame. Tent is always fine, but the frame and angles not so much.
Why are the window flaps controlled on the outside of the tent and not the inside?
The windows are controlled on the outside so that absolutely no water can seep into the tent. Yes, we understand that this will occasionally be a little uncomfortable since you will have to go out of the tent to open and close the windows, but this is the only way we can ensure you and your gear will remain dry no matter the season.
Do you have any coupon codes right now?
Yes, there’s always at least one active coupon code! You can learn more by visiting the coupon codes page.
Do you offer outfitters a discount?
Absolutely. Give us a call and we will tell you about our great program we have set up for you: (208)-506-5839.
Do you build custom tents?
All of our tents come in the standard sizes with all of the options. We can, however, do some custom work such as adding an additional stove jack with a gasket or adding a screen door to the back door. Custom orders will add 4-5 weeks for delivery.
Can the porch be removed?
No, the porch is an extension of the roof and cannot be removed. However, it can be folded back but it will cover the stove jack unless rolled up.
Are the back doors screened?
No, only the front door is screened on the tents that come with a screen door. You can, however, add a back screen door through a custom order.
Do Your Wall Tents Have Sod Cloth?
Yes. Our tents typically come with 6-12″ of extra length to help secure your tents enclosure.
Do you ship to Canada? Hawaii? Alaska?
Yes, yes, and yes!
Canadian shoppers will automatically see an updated flat rate at check-out. They will also be responsible for any additional taxes and tariffs.
However, customers in Hawaii and Alaska will need to call for a shipping quote.
How is Elk Mountain Tents involved in giving back?
We sponsor a number of local events and activities. We also offer an annual scholarship for college/trade school students. If you, or an organization that you know, are looking for a sponsor, shoot us an email!
Still have canvas tent questions we didn’t cover?
Feel free to reach out—we’re always happy to help you choose the right model or feature for your needs.Feel free to pick up the phone and call us or even send us a txt message, we will answer all of your questions.
