The wall tent is a classic style of camping tent whose use can be traced back to the 16th century and was later popularized during the American Civil War. The style continues to be popular among campers today thanks to its robust benefits that make it the perfect abode for various outdoor adventures. Whether embarking on a hunting expedition, a large family camping trip, or anything in between, modern wall tents provide the necessary space and durability many campers seek.
When shopping for a wall tent, you’ll find that some are made of synthetic fabrics and some are fabricated with cotton canvas. Read on to learn the pros and cons of both options to better understand which is the right wall tent for you. Plus, stay tuned until the end to get a concise list of all the essential tent accessories you’ll need for your new tent. Let’s dive in!
What Is a Wall Tent?
Wall tents are a type of luxury tent that feature four distinct vertical walls. Unlike traditional camping tents with classic dome and pyramid shapes, this straight-walled design provides unmatched headroom and spaciousness. This makes them attractive for campers traveling in sizable groups or with lots of gear, like hunters, large families, and glampers. These tents are typically built to withstand 4 seasons, constructed with sturdy materials and high-quality craftsmanship, and often accommodating wood stoves for those cold winter nights. Like any piece of camping equipment, wall tents will differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, with some being made from cotton canvas and others from synthetic alternatives. Let’s break down the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Pros of Canvas Wall Tents
The canvas seen in wall tents is typically woven from 100% cotton. Not only is this a cozy, homey material, but cotton canvas is also incredibly breathable. Because it’s a natural hollow fiber, air can flow through it more freely than a synthetic fabric. Whether camping in high heat and humidity or the freezing cold, breathable fabric ensures your comfort inside the tent. This also helps reduce the buildup of condensation inside the tent, which can compromise your immediate comfort and cause mold and mildew in the long run.
Further, canvas fabrics are well known for their thickness and durability, making them ideal for harsh weather conditions like strong winds. You can expect a cotton canvas wall tent to last you anywhere from 10 to 30 years, and some manufacturers will offer warranties on top of that.
The tight weave of canvas also creates insulation inside your tent which helps to maintain a consistent interior temperature. For cold-weather campers, canvas wall tents are the obvious pick thanks to their compatibility with tent stoves. If sustainability is important top of mind, cotton canvas is also the most eco-friendly choice for tent fabrications.
Cons of Canvas Wall Tents
Already, it’s clear that canvas wall tents have a lot of advantages. It’s important, however, to consider their drawbacks before choosing your tent. Since canvas is made from natural cotton fibers, it won’t be naturally waterproof, fireproof, or UV-resistant. The good news is that most tent manufacturers account for this and apply treatments to make their canvas tents water-repellent, fire-safe, and resistant to harsh UV rays, so be sure to check the product description for these before purchasing.
Because cotton canvas is thick and durable, you’ll also find it to be quite heavy. While this contributes to its sturdiness, it makes it more difficult to transport and set up.
Additionally, canvas cotton wall tents tend to be more expensive than the alternatives due to their manufacturing complexity and overall high quality. With canvas wall tents, you truly get what you pay for – in this case, exceptional tents with a high price to match.
Pros of Synthetic Wall Tents
Synthetic wall tents are typically made of nylon, polyester, or a blend of the two. The biggest advantage of synthetic materials is their lightweight quality. Polyester and nylon are inherently lighter in weight than cotton canvas, making them much easier to transport and handle during the setup process. This also makes them less of a challenge to pitch.
Moreover, in our modern age, synthetic fabrics can be produced for dirt cheaply, making the final cost of a synthetic tent very affordable.
Cons of Synthetic Wall Tents
The reality is that cotton canvas is much more common for wall tents than synthetic fabrics, making synthetic wall tents more difficult to find for sale. You’ll also find that the quality of synthetic materials varies greatly, where some are very well made and others are poor quality depending on the maker. For this reason, you’re not guaranteed a durable shelter when purchasing a synthetic tent without vigorous research and review-reading. If you end up with a thin, flimsy synthetic tent, you’ll likely experience wear and tear quickly.
Similarly, without any UV-protective coatings, synthetic materials are more likely to degrade under harsh sun rays. After years of use in the sun, the fibers of a synthetic tent can weaken, making them more susceptible to wear and tear.
Further, synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are not naturally breathable nor insulating like cotton is. This means that any humidity or moisture that finds its way inside your tent will have a hard time evaporating. On cold nights, you’ll find a synthetic tent to be much less warm than a cotton canvas tent due to the poor insulation of nylon and polyester fabrics. On top of that, synthetic fabrics are not compatible with tent stoves, taking away a common heat source for wall tent campers.
How To Pick the Right Tent for Your Trip
Canvas tents boast more advantages overall, but that doesn’t mean it’s the obvious choice for every camper. If the most important thing to you as a camper is affordability, synthetic wall tents are the way to go. Similarly, if you’re planning a quick trip or an adventure where you’ll be moving your tent from campsite to campsite, the lightweight quality of a synthetic wall tent may outweigh the disadvantages.
For all other campers, the long list of pros of canvas wall tents greatly overshadows the few pros of the synthetic alternative. Between their longevity, durability, breathability, insulation capabilities, tent-stove compatibility, and sustainable nature, cotton canvas wall tents are a no-brainer for a majority of camping trips, especially cold-weather expeditions and long-term adventures.
Essential Accessories for Wall Tents
No matter the fabrication of your wall tent, you’ll need a few essential wall tent accessories to ensure your tent performs at its highest potential. Your tent should already come with tent stakes and guy lines, but you’ll need a heavy-duty mallet to drive your stakes into the ground securely. Always use outdoor tarps under your tent to protect the bottom from wear and tear. It’s also important to use a high-quality fly sheet, regardless of the forecast. Weather conditions can change quickly in the remote wilderness, and you should always be prepared for the worst.
Final Thoughts
Wall tents have been popular for centuries for good reason. Their modern, straight-wall design lends itself to accommodating large groups and heaps of gear with ease. Whether you opt for a cotton canvas material or a synthetic fabrication, understanding the distinct benefits and limiting drawbacks of each option will help you pick the right wall tent for your unique outdoor adventure. Cotton canvas tents boast the best longevity, durability, breathability, insulation, tent-stove compatibility, and sustainability while falling short when it comes to affordability and ease of use. On the flip side, synthetic wall tents are easier on your wallet and painless to transport, but lack the durability, breathability, and insulation capabilities of canvas. Whichever fabric you choose, pairing your wall tent with the right accessories will ensure peak performance and more comfort for you and your fellow campers.
