Canvas tents are becoming increasingly popular around the country because of how spacious, functional and good-looking they are.A canvas tent can be used for a variety of activities. This could be camping, glamping, event planning, weddings, slumber parties, or hunting.Typically, canvas camping tents for sale you see around the web are constructed from duck canvas. Ideally, this should be a 100% army duck cotton canvas, so you can ensure that the tent you’re investing in is durable.Although the tent price can be steeper than what you’d find for more traditional, synthetic camping tents, a canvas camping tent is often worth the investment.The reason for this is that canvas tents can be used all year round and they also last for years – provided you take care of them. Just like any investment, a canvas tent requires meticulous care to ensure that it stays in pristine condition and is usable for years to come.With the proper maintenance, you’ll be passing yours on to your kids.
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Set your canvas tent up properly
Care for your canvas shelter starts with the process of setting it up correctly. You want to make sure that you’re following the instruction manual properly so you don’t run into any unexpected obstacles with the tent setup.Although a canvas camping tent is usually fairly heavy-duty, not taking proper precautions can negatively impact its construction. For example, if your doors aren’t closed when pitching the tent, this could put undue stress on the canvas fabric.Also, you want to avoid over tightening the guy lines, as this can also create issues with stressing the fabric.Before getting out on your trip, it’s a good idea to “season” your canvas tent to ensure that it’s properly waterproofed before your camping begins.
A groundsheet or ground tarp under your tent
A floor tarp can go a long way in prolonging the lifespan of even the best canvas tent.Generally, this is a plastic or a poly tarp that’s placed under the existing groundsheet of your tent to protect the underside. This has a number of benefits.For one, it keeps your tent clean and looking great, so you don’t have to worry about mud, dirt or grass stains getting to the fabric.Also, you prevent any unwanted water, bugs or dirt from getting into the tent. Although all White Duck tents come with flooring, the ground tarp under that flooring is like an insurance policy – you never know when you might want that little bit of extra protection.
Take care of your zippers!
Zippers are an oft overlooked area of a canvas tent that don’t necessarily get the same care as, say, the mesh or the fabric or poles.That said, a well-functioning zipper is crucial to a smooth experience when you’re outdoors. The last thing you want is for the zipper to get stuck, creating frustration at the situation.To limit damage to your zippers, close all the doors before setting up your tent. It’s also a good idea to regularly remove any dirt or debris that might get caught in the zippers.
Storing your canvas tent
The golden rule of camping with a fabric tent is to never store it away damp or wet. The reason for this is that cotton is an organic fibre, which means there’s a risk of mold or mildew developing on your canvas fabric.For this reason, you want to make sure that the canvas tent is completely dry before you put it away.If you don’t have time to dry out the fabric before you get home from your trip, lay it out completely under the sun when you’re home. This should give the tent time to dry so you can pack it away properly.Also, it’s wise to place the stakes, pins, mallet and poles back in the bags they arrived in. These storage areas are designed specifically for all the different parts, so you should make use of them!
Mike is an avid outdoors person with on a goal to camp in every National Park in the US. When he's not spending days (and sometimes, weeks) in his canvas tent, you might find him playing the guitar or soccer on the weekends.
