Best Canvas Tents For Camping & Hunting Trips

Why Canvas Tents Are Better (pros/cons)

To understand why a canvas tent might be better for your needs, you first need to understand all the tent fabric options available to you.

Common tent fabric includes canvas, nylon, and polyester (plus many unique variations of these 3 options).

Now, nylon and polyesters are essential variations of plastic polymers. It’s the basic material you find in all the cheapest, lightweight tents on the market.

There are some differences between nylon and polyester, but for this article’s purpose, they are essentially the same – thin, lightweight, plastic fabrics.

On the other hand, Canvas is a heavy, plain-woven fabric typically made from cotton, hemp, or a blend (again, some newer ones are polyester-based).

So, you can break your tent material options into two categories: cotton vs. plastic.

So, let’s compare these two types of tents carefully, to understand the pros and cons of each.

Canvas Tent Pros and Cons

Canvas Tents Vs. “Plastic” Tents

Pros

Let’s begin with a few benefits of choosing a canvas tent over other types.

More Breathable                   

Canvas tents are more breathable than man-made nylon or polyester tents.

Remember, canvas is most often cotton based, and this cotton woven pattern, by design, has tiny holes in it.

Nylon is a man-made fabric based on polymers and thus provides essentially no natural air transfer through the material.

This means they will trap less moisture and have less condensation inside the tent. So you avoid the stuffy humidity you can get with plastic tents.

Quieter

Due to cotton’s properties and the canvas’s thickness and weight, canvas tent walls create a better sound barrier than other types of fabrics.

It naturally dampens outside sounds, and the canvas walls won’t flap as much in the breeze, and when they do, the flaps are quieter.

So, you’re more likely to sleep through windy conditions and hear less of your noisy neighbors in a busy campsite (especially in the early morning).

Better Insulators

Canvas is a much better insulator than nylon or polyester.

So they remain cooler for longer in the hot direct sunlight vs. man-made tent fabric. They also stay warmer longer in the cooler evenings.

Polymer tents don’t retain warmth or stay cool very well, so you end up with much larger, quicker temperature swings.

Have you ever tried taking an afternoon nap in a nylon or polyester tent? It can be sweltering with the sun beating down and the warmth getting trapped in the tent.

A canvas tent’s temperature swings are much smaller, making for a more comfortable camping experience.

Higher Durability

Canvas tents have two major durability advantages: UV rays and punctures.

First, man-made fabrics deteriorate in harmful UV rays. So, leaving your nylon or polyester tent in direct sunlight day after day will reduce its useful life.

This process weakens the fabric, which creates more sagging and becomes more susceptible to rips and tears.

Canvas can handle those harmful UV rays. Yes, over time, the sun’s rays will cause some slight discoloration of the canvas, but it won’t affect the durability and useful life of your tent compared to “plastic” tents.

While both canvas and nylon/polyester fabric will rip if met with a sharp object, canvas won’t rip or tear as easily.

This is where a canvas tent excels; if properly cared for, it can be a one-time, lifetime purchase.

I’ve never met anyone who’s still using the same plastic tent from 30 years ago…

Can Add A Heat Source

Who Should Invest In A Canvas Tent (& Who Shouldn’t)

Avid Campers

If you go camping often or plan to in the future, you should upgrade to canvas. For all the reasons stated above, it just makes more sense.

It’s quieter, more durable, and a better insulator compared to cheap plastic tents.

It’s better to buy a high-quality tent once and use it for a lifetime than buy a cheap nylon tent every 2 or 3 years.

Fishing Expeditions

One of the great features of most canvas tents is their height.

Usually, you can stand up in them and store your fishing poles in the tent without breaking them down or storing them outside.

Plus, they’re the ideal shelter for ice fishing excursions. Canvas walls do a much better job of keeping you and your fishing mates warm while out on the lake.

Hunters

Serious hunters know multiday hunting excursions take a lot of gear, food, and supplies.

So, if you want to enjoy your downtime in camp after a long day of hunting, you’ll want a canvas tent.

It provides more room for all your gear and supplies, and you can add a stove for heat during cold weather hunts.

Expeditions / Rescue Operations

Canvas tents make the ideal home base for expeditions and rescue operations.

Like military operations outside the battlefield, they’re portable structures that can easily become remote command posts.

Special Events

Street fairs, farmers markets, backyard weddings, and small concerts are all great uses for a large tent. They will help keep guests warmer in the colder months and cooler in the hot months.

Most events only last for a short period (day, week, or month); once the event is over, you need to take down the structure.

This is where a canvas tent excels; portable and substantial.

Temporary Housing

Whether it’s a natural disaster or you are fumigating your home, you’ll need temporary shelter.

You may be able to move in with a friend or extended family for a few days, or you can break out your canvas tent and make it a cozy, comfortable adventure.

They are roomy, portable, and durable, making them an ideal backup option if you find yourself without a home for a while.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made it to this point of the post, I know you’re seriously thinking about getting a canvas tent. And if you’ve read this site before, you know we focus on survival and preparedness.

Regarding survival and preparedness gear, it’s always better to invest in tools and supplies that will last in the harshest conditions.

And canvas tents are one smart upgrade that serious survivalists and avid campers should make.

Don’t be turned off by the slightly more upfront investment because the price is what you pay; value is what you get.

With canvas tents, you’re getting much more value for your dollars.

Prepare, Adapt, and Overcome,

“Just In Case” Jack

P.s. Do you know where the closest nuclear bunker is from your home?