With dozens of different kinds of tents on the market today, it isn’t easy to figure out what to purchase to best suit your camping needs. Heck, it’s even difficult to select the best fabric. Beginners usually select, as they should, the cheapest option available. This is a pretty good idea when testing the waters. When new campers are trying to figure out if camping is a good hobby, if they enjoy the outdoors as much as they hope, and if, for them, getting outside is worth the hype (it is), oftentimes a cheap tent from one of the box stores will do. But eventually, needs change, and evolving campers want more. This guide will help navigate some simple principles to consider when it might be time to upgrade. So, let’s consider the options and pit luxury tents vs. budget tents against each other. This one will be fun.
Table Of Contents
Living in a Material World
It’s possible to walk into nearly any store and find a tent. It would seem this would make selecting a tent easier, all the choices and whatnot. It can be difficult, and knowing where to start can be intimidating. The fact that a cheap tent and an expensive tent can look exactly the same when set up right next to each other. With a little insight, it shouldn’t be too difficult to suss out which tent will work best. Here are some fabrics to consider:
Synthetic Materials
- Polyester, or PolyPVC: Tents made from these materials are the most budget-friendly on the market. This material is fairly rain-resistant, but in terms of synthetic fibers, it is pretty heavy. It does take on water and takes longer to dry. These materials are also prone to mildew and mold if they aren’t stored properly. Given that, campers who opt for this material will find themselves re-investing in a new tent fairly soon.
- SiliPoly: This is a step up for synthetic materials. It is better UV-resistant, less stretchy, and doesn’t sag when wet. It’s a good, durable alternative to the materials above.
- Dyneema Composite Fabrics (DCF/Cuben Fiber): This is the most expensive and lightest material on the market. It is waterproof, does not sag, and is extremely strong. It doesn’t pack down too small, and while it’s strong when pulled, it is prone to punctures.
Natural Materials
- Wool: This natural material is best for all-weather conditions. It’s waterproof, fire-resistant, and very durable. The worst part is these tents are going to cost you some serious bucks.
- Heavy-duty Cotton Canvas: Canvas tents are practical in price, and are extremely durable, with some fabric qualities lasting up to 10-15 years. It’s waterproof, well-insulated, and resists punctures. All while being breathable.
- Polycotton: This is a versatile fabric that is also affordable, but it is less durable than canvas.
It’s wise to consider your needs and check the labels before impulse buying any old tent off the shelf. These materials come in various price ranges and different sizes. For today, and the purposes demonstrated here, we’re going to focus on canvas tents vs synthetic materials with the goal of building out a luxury tent vs. a budget tent.
Consider the Space
While tents of different fabrics come in many shapes and sizes, the fact is that most tents manufactured from synthetic materials are equipped with spring bars, and natural material tents feature aluminum, fixed bars. Because of this, most synthetic tents will take a dome shape, while natural-fiber tents look more like a house, cottage, or circus tent shape. It should be stated that neither one is better than the other; they just offer different features.
The Dome Tents
If someone is looking to make a luxury tent out of synthetic material, the dome is the most likely shape it is going to take. This means the footprint for this structure is going to be very large (also something to consider). This will require a large, flat area to set up the luxury lodgings, and that can be difficult to find in some environments. Also, when considering the inside of the dome, the sidewalls are rounded, narrowing as the wall reaches the floor. If there is a portable couch, chair, table, or tent stove, those items will be required to be held away from the tent wall to be useful, costing precious extra space. Domes are usually very high, so taller folks enjoy that, and their shape is conducive to recycling warm air, so once the space is warm, it stays warm.
The Shape of Fabric
Canvas tents take on a more traditional house structure or, in the case of a bell tent, they look almost like a smaller circus tent at scale. In both of these designs, the sidewalls of the tent are flat. This means that furniture and gear can be pushed right up to the edge, opening the middle space for cooking, sleeping, socializing, games, whatever lap of luxury can be dreamt. In the case of White Duck Outdoor’s line of canvas tents, many of them are equipped with tent stove jacks to install a tent stove. This immediately opens up winter camping options, making the canvas tent a reliable 4-season tent.
Consider the Activities
Once you’ve figured out the budget, the materials you want, and what space is allotted, it’s also wise to consider what is going to go on inside the tent. If you’re looking to really get into building out a luxury tent, then a canvas tent is the way to go. As mentioned above, these come in many practical shapes and sizes, but with that, structural integrity isn’t sacrificed. A massive, 16’x24’ Alpha Wall Tent will be just as strong as a small backpacker’s siliconized nylon tent designed for long treks. The real difference is that the wall tent can hold up to 16 people.
When it comes down to it, a luxury tent is all about space. Luxury usually implies leisure, friends, activities, and space to move about freely. All of this is possible with a sturdy canvas tent. With enough space for sleeping and space to store gear and wander about, the tent stove, cooking, and mingling, wall tents or bell tents really set the standard.
Synthetic domes are not a bad space, but they are different. Oftentimes, when using synthetic materials to build a luxury tent, the construction can be very complicated, and with the large space, they usually are not fit for sleeping without a gas stove.
Where to Save Pennies
If a luxury tent isn’t exactly the goal right now, there are different ways to consider a budget tent. We’ve talked about the different materials available on the market, and the list above is in no way exhaustive, but if a budget tent is the motivation, consider that budget over time. Many of the synthetic tents are much smaller compared to the natural materials, and, in most cases, they will not last as long.
For the same investment into a synthetic tent that is also put into a canvas tent, one of these you’ll be able to pass down to your children. (I’ll give you a hint, it’s not the synthetic tent) That said, synthetic tents are probably going to be cheaper at the initial investment, and there’s nothing wrong with that. If you’re new to camping, or want to see if you’re into luxury camping, or maybe backpacking is the direction you want to go, there’s no harm in spending a little money on a tent you know might not last that long. But if cost vs value is in the consideration, the canvas tent is going to be more valuable in the long run.
Pulling the Trigger
The real deciding factor is what are you going to do in the wild? If you want a luxury experience and to get into the glamping tent scene, a canvas tent is going to be the way to go. For those who don’t yet know, glamping is a way of experiencing the outdoors in comfort, and style. It’s a way to bring the modern amenities to the forest or desert (or wherever) so that the serene feeling of nature is right at your fingertips, but you still have a comfortable place to sleep. Making the move from a simple budget tent to a luxury tent equipped with all the needs required for a glamping experience is up to you, your crew, and how many you’ll have around.
Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, or what kinds of materials you like to use, these options should lay the groundwork you’ll need to get your foot in the door. If you’re leaning toward a glamping tent setup, and your crew is not too large, I’d recommend a Bell Tent from White Duck. Their shape is intriguing, looks fantastic under some string lights, they fit a compact tent stove, and they’re not a huge hit to the pocketbook. These tents are cool in the summer and warm in the winter, making the ideal 4 season tent. But it’s your choice and needs to fit your needs. Consider that, choose wisely, and have fun. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is getting into the wild.
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