9 Things People Get ALL WRONG About Canvas Tents
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- There are a lot of misconceptions out there about canvas tents for camping. In this video, I answer nine of the most frequently asked questions that people search for on the internet about canvas tents. Read more on our website at outdoorempire.com/canvas-tent... !
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If you want a step-by-step guide on how to season a canvas tent, watch this video: • How to Season a Canvas...
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro to Canvas Tents
00:30 Do canvas tents need waterproofing?
01:17 How do you season a canvas tent?
02:11 Are canvas tents waterproof?
02:41 Are canvas tents good in the rain?
03:23 Do canvas tents get condensation inside?
04:20 Are canvas tents warm?
05:10 Are canvas tents hot in the summer?
06:14 How long does it take to set up a canvas tent?
07:17 How do you maintain a canvas tent?
Be sure to check out my side-by-side comparison of the best canvas tents! ua-cam.com/video/qUGqyMbHs6M/v-deo.html
My experience with a 7’ x 7’ canvas umbrella tent with a double canvas floor started when I was six years old; we went fishing each and every weekend from late February through mid-October and a 3 week vacation in the summer in Colorado. After fifteen years of camping and fishing I can say we never had water come through the walls or up through the floor. I literally wore it out after 15 years.
Oh wow, that's awesome!
Loved our canvas tent! We used it a LOT for over 20 years, then loaned it out to someone who put it away wet. So vital to make its try before storing. Excellent info! Good work!
Here hear! Or is it hear hear!? 🤷♂️
@@outdoorempirecom The latter - "Hear hear". It originated in Parliament centuries ago, during lively debates when everyone was battling to be heard, if you agreed with someone you would say "hear him, hear him" to draw other's attention to what they're saying. And over time it got abbreviated to just "hear hear".
Or so the legend goes.
@@alkaholic4848 That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the explanation!
Very good, thanks. I was searching exactly for a podcast like yours! 😊👍
Glad it was helpful! Curious, did you listen to this as a podcast only? Or watch the video?
My dad still has an LL bean canvas tent from the 70's- I mean the thing is literally 50 years old. It heavy but talk about sturdy.
Keep em dry and they'll last forever.
Fantastic!! All the details you laid out are what I am concerned about choosing Springbar tent. You completely cleared up those worries. Many thanks Pal. Great work
Glad it was helpful! Enjoy that tent.
Excellent!! Thank you.
Great video, I have a 4m bell tent arriving any day now. Will leave it packed away until I know I have a reasonable dry spell coming. I’m in the UK… so could be waiting a long time! Great explanation on seasoning a tent, I will make sure to season my properly.
That tent is gonna be tons of fun. Enjoy!
Well done and great info sir
Glad it was helpful!
Could you do a video about camping cot? Single and queen size! Great videos btw. You got me sold on the springbar classic jack 140.
I love that idea! I'll put it on the list. Thanks.
I’ve got a Kodiak tent which is great. My biggest gripes with it are 1) the poles and tent are separate. I wish the poles collapsed small enough so that I could roll it all together in a nice neat bundle. 2) I wish it had a bucket floor, I’ve had water come up from the seams where the walls meet the floor, finally I wish the awning was removable with a zipper and/ or velcro. I’m a big fan of canvas, it’s breathable, durable, classic , etc.
I’ve been eyeing some of the Ellis Canvas tents. The majority of the designs have less pegs than the Kodiak, easier set up, no awnings, bucket or wing style floor to get the seams off the ground
Great insight, thanks for sharing! Those Ellis canvas tents do look nice. I might have to try and get a hold of one soon.
@@outdoorempirecom yeah they’re lightweight and packable too for a canvas tent. Their larger 13’ x 13’ models seem to be about 20lbs or more lighter than a comparable tent by Kodiak. Less poles too/ spring bars, but they do require more pegs for the guy lines, whereas Kodiak requires lots of pegs for the floor, but almost no guylines.
@@woolengrappler Indeed. I like some of the less traditional designs of the Ellis tents too. Definitely worth a close look.
My kodiak tent withstood major windstorm when my buddy's did not. The stakes are a chore but very effective.
Good video…thanks for the info
No problem 👍
If a person wants to live on their land in a tent with their cats in a tent like this, I would like to know if there's a way to keep wild animals out or from trying to dig under for human or cat food. I have land with my cows yet the house is 100 years old and not safe. So I'm looking for an alternative. Thanks
Got to get me a canvas tent!
That is correct.
You indicated the need to keep a canvas tent clean and dry. While this is typical of taking care of a tent, I am considering using a canvas tent for a cross country year long trip. I have concerns livinh in a small SUV and moving weekly that the tent may not get fully dried prior to stowing. Would you recommend against a canvas tent for this type of use?
Ya I think it'd be great for that kind of adventure. Even if you put it away damp sometimes, if you're getting it out frequently and it's not stored wet for more than a few days you're probably gonna be fine.
Great video except... what about wind? This is a huge concern in high wind areas. How good are they?
I would want something rated to 40 to 50 mph's at the least.. thanks
I'd say that depends a lot on the design of the canvas tents. Some squared off canvas tents or the old bushcraft style gable tents might need a solid frame and a lot of guy lines to withstand wind reliably. But this Springbar style tent does quite well. In fact, on the trip when I filmed this I had 40+ mph winds and it stood up no problem. It moves quite a bit with the wind by design, which might be unsettling at first, but it holds up great in all kinds of weather. I think it's similar for bell tents, though you need to stake them down well. I wouldn't let wind stop you.
i used Italian seasoning to season my tent
Sounds delicious.
Hey i got a question, how do you dry out your tent in the winter? How do you ensure its dry and wont mold? Do you have to set it up in a garage when you get home? Just curious if you have a method haha
Ya, it's not the easiest or prettiest ordeal. I don't set it up fully, I usually just drape it over whatever I can in the garage (bikes, motorcycle, work bench, bungee to the shelving, whatever) to where water can run off and it can dry out. If it's nice outside, and even if it's cold, I'll sometimes just drape it over the fence for a few days and let it dry that way. But I'm in Idaho where it's dry, not sure how well that'd work in a humid climate. If you wanna go through the hassle of setting it up, I'm sure it would dry faster and better, but I'm a man of convenience at the end of a trip.
I’m thinking the rain fly sold by Spring bar along with a seasoned tent is sure way to keep water out.
Indeed, that would be a formidable shelter that should last a lifetime.
I want to see a video of what you think about the Skyliner
That one is coming soon!!
This is off the subject, but will the Springbar storm fly work on a whiteduck prota 10x14?
Not sure. Probably close, but I'd wanna double check the roof measurements. My guess is they are not exact and Springbar's Stormfly is a custom fit. So maybe, maybe not.
How much snow thickness on the top of a canvas tent can they hold before there's risk of them tearing open? Thanks.
Great question, but I'm not confident I can give you a real answer. I've had them in ight snow storms where a couple inches piled up on the roof and you don't even notice. But I'm not sure at what point it becomes a problem. I know Springbar recommends seeping snow off the roof when it really piles up. I would be heading out to sweep snow off (or would be knocking it off from inside) after about 6 inches, personally. Anyone else have experience with that?
Great video! What are your thoughts on waxing canvas tents?
I think it's an interesting idea. I've never done it and don't know what the best approach would be as of now. I'm not sure it's necessary or that it will improve water resistance much since they're already quite waterproof. And it will likely make the tent heavier and less breathable. But maybe there are some upsides I'm not thinking of.
@@outdoorempirecom Thanks so much for the quick response and feedback! I’ve heard it’s an old fashioned method but don’t know if it’s historically accurate. Wax would be applied in a melted state with a brush. You make very good points though, thanks again!
I have a Kodiak 10x14, and really want to put a stove in it. I see in your video that you have a tent similar in size. Is there a way to retrofit my tent? How do you like your tent / stove? I know Kodiak sells 12x12, but not sure if I want to go through selling mine, and forking out the differences.
Ya I do love my hot tent setup. I have a couple different Springbar tents, the Classic Jack 140 and the Skyliner, that are equipped with stove jacks from the factory. I have a Winnerwell Nomad larger stove. I love it! I've heard of people doing a DIY stove jack in a Kodiak tent, but I don't have any experience with it. Makes me a bit nervous. Good luck!
@@outdoorempirecom Thanks - hopefully there is a flashing kit to do so.... or I may have to swap out for another tent.
I want to make a canvas tent with canvas drop cloths. Do you think this will work the same and season the same as you described? Should I also use a waterpoofing treatment?
Sounds like a fun project! I think it depends on the canvas you're working with. If you get some that has already been treated (pre-washed) with a water resistant/silicone treatment and a UV-resistant treatment, then I'd probably just season it like normal with particular attention to the seams where your stitch holes are. If you are working with basic canvas with either a low thread count, low weight, or untreated, I would definitely treat it with some of that waterproofing stuff too. Especially if you can see daylight through the canvas threads when you hold it up to the sun.
Thanks for the good tips! @@outdoorempirecom
I just sprayed with silicone waterproofing. I heard mold can start and wanted to prevent it. I did not season....i figured id repeat once a year. Think this can work?
That can probably work. Might be more than necessary. The main thing seasoning helps with that silicone spray won't is along the seams to help close up some of the stitching holes. But just make sure it's totally dry when you store it.
@@outdoorempirecom thank you, i appreciate your reply and your response 🙂 blessings
Seasoning is best done before sealing to maximize fiber expansion.
I have had a couple types of tents. I remember having a canvas tent I used a lot when I was 11 or 12 years old after my parents had it for I don’t know how many years but when they gave it to me I put a sealer on it and used it for a few more years until I got a camper. I know when I was like around 6 or 7 my parents got me my own pup tent and I thought I was king of the world being that young and having my own tent. I loved it and I wore it out by the time they gave me the canvas tent. I believe it was a 8 by 8. Don’t remember the brand but I sealed it and I camped in a lot of storms with it with my friends and camping with parents and it never leaked. I got rid of the camper and not sure what I did with the canvas tent but I ended up getting a nylon tent and it worked ok but got better after I sealed it. The only reason I got the nylon tent was because it was a lot lighter to carry around and set up. And I had that nylon tent for I know over 20 years but I properly took care of it and kept it sealed. Short story I took it on a hunting trip. Got there to hunting spot late at night and found a nice spot to set it up. Well after first day of hunting that night came a serious thunderstorm and it poured rain all night. I stayed dry UNTIL the next morning when I woke up and there was about 8 inches of water in my tent. I didn’t know I put my tent up in a drainage ditch. That sucked. After that when I got home and cleaned it all up I started sealing the bottom as well and I never again ever had water inside my tent again. It was a Coleman tent. I actually just about 6 months ago gave it to a friend at work because he wanted to get one. I even sealed it again before I gave it to him. I just got me a Springbar classic jack 100 tent the day before yesterday and I plan on sealing it up. Actually springbar customer service told me that I didn’t need to seal it because the dew or a light rain would do it for me but I will stay set it up to seal it and to know how to setup before going camping here soon.
Awesome, thanks for sharing!
@@outdoorempirecom your welcome. I know this springbar will last me for the rest of my camping years. I am semi retired and I actually bought the classic jack 100 to take and live in out in Az. For 6 or 7 months this winter.
I found a used canvas tent that was stored wet/damp for at least a few months. How can I discover the extent of fabric damage and treat or fix it for further use?
I've never had that experience myself, but I'd probably start by laying it out and seeing if there's any active mildew or mold growing. Use some kind of fungicide to treat that. Then wash it as best you can with some warm water and a little Dawn dish soap using a soft nylon or plastic bristled brush or a sponge. Set it up and let it dry and then I'd put a sprinkler or hose to it like I'm seasoning it to see where water is getting in. Let it dry and look to see where the canvas is thin and light is shining through because the fibers are thin or eaten away. You could retreat parts with that 303 silicone wash but you'll likely have some sewing to do so you'll need some new canvas and some polycotton thread to replace parts that are toast. Then use some seam sealer on the seams wherever you patch up. It might be an ordeal but that'd be sweet to salvage that tent. Good luck!
Some of the canvas repair tapes get good reviews.
If one were to live in one full time how long would you say the tent would last, before needing to be replaced?
Man, my guess is no better than yours, bit I'd think you'd get a few years out of it before it really starts breaking down. Add a storm fly or some way to keep it protected from the sun and maybe a bit more.
Could i throw a canvas tarp over my sythetic tent and get the same benefits ?
Not exactly. You still have the synthetic material that restricts air flow and the weight of a canvas tarp might be too much for the lighter frame of a synthetic tent.
On the topic of drying your tent.
How do you go about drying your tent if you had to dry it at home after packing it away wet.
But there’s rain forecasted for a week straight or more?
Do you lay it out flat on your garage floor and turn every day or so to get it all dry or do you have to hang it to dry?
Ya, I think laying it flat on the floor will do the trick. Maybe put a fan on it. Even if it's still wet, but laid out for even a few weeks I think you're much better off than having it rolled up tight and wet where moisture will stay in there for months, combine with heat, and mold up the wazoo! If you can hoist it up somehow in the garage so it is even semi-hanging, that'll speed things up.
I suspect it's like starting plants indoors. If you don't use a heating pad and low volume fan you get damping within 24 hrs. One is soil fungi and the other surface.
Airflow and some degree of warmth would probably fix it. But minimal airflow or it'll set in quickly.
Or set it back up outside till rain passes and it dries?
Idk why they don't just design a tent that doesn't mold if you put it away wet, it is inevitable that you'll have to put it away wet
What tent is in the video?
That is the Springbar Skyliner tent. I have a couple review videos on it: ua-cam.com/video/v53je0NVdf8/v-deo.html
Nothing beats a bell tent
Hard to beat!
I left my canvas tent up now for 3 weeks and still leaks like a siv !!!!!!!!!! I even after the last 3 leaks sealed the seams with canvas waterproofing and the whole tent leaked, seasoning your tent does not work
Daggum! That sounds like a bad deal. Sorry to hear that. I guess I've had better luck. What kind of tent is it?
It's the Panda Inflatable .... RBM Outdoors, however they are being absolutely amazing in helping me deal with it. Their CS is top top notch !!! I love this tent and am determined to water proof it no matter what I have to do, they are manufacturing me a fly so to speak for it. So once it arrives I will see how it fits considering the Panda is huge !! I picked up and did the seems earlier with Woods Canvas Waterproofing spray and thats when I realized the whole tent its self is leaking@@outdoorempirecom
The best thing for zippers is wax, especially metal zippers
Good to know!
Do canvas tents need a fly? I ask because most canvas companies I have found do not sell a fly with the tent.
In my opinion, usually no. I think in some extreme weather or long term installs it might be nice, but not a must have.
So…why can’t you put an air conditioner in your tent in the summer?
I suppose you could if you have a way to power it. I'm not a fan of running a generator though and A/C won't be quite as effective in a breathable tent as it will in an insulated house. But I'm sure people have done it.
You totally can, just need to cut a hole in your tent for it and it works great