Camping can be such an incredibly fun hobby, but it is also a hobby that requires a lot of preparation beforehand. One particular item that you definitely need is a good tent.

Could you imagine trying to camp without a nice tent to sleep in? It would be terrible. We are here to help you pick out a great tent to make your camping experience more enjoyable.

We are going to review five different tents and tell you what the best canvas tent is. For those who don’t want to read all the reviews, we recommend just buying the TETON SPORTS Canvas Tent.

A Spotlight On Some of The Best Canvas Tent

Canvas Tent Reviews:

TETON SPORTS Canvas Tent

We want to kick this review article off right, so we are starting with possibly the best tent on this list, the TETON SPORTS Canvas Tent. This is an amazing quality tent and anyone looking for a great camping tent should give this serious consideration.

The first thing that we have to mention about this tent is that it is extremely easy to set up. While experienced outdoors people won’t have any issues with putting up a tent, those who are new to camping will probably appreciate how easy it is to get this tent up. All you have to do is push the top bar down, get your pins in, and then finish the process by getting the upright poles into position.

The process is made even easier by the very high-quality stakes that this tent uses. The stakes are made using carbon steel, this is a very tough material that enables these stakes to go through even the toughest ground, which makes this tent perfect for camping on any terrain.

The canvas itself is of a very similar quality. The material on the outside is firm, but also very breathable. The canvas can thus provide a great level of protection from the elements, while still allowing air to flow in and out, which prevents the tent from becoming an oven when you are in hotter climates. As you would expect from such a high-quality tent, it is also waterproof. The strong canvas is capable of repelling rain and melting snow.

Because of the great protection that it offers against all elements, this is a perfect all-season tent. So, if you are a true camping enthusiast, who appreciates camping in hot and cold, rain or snow, etc. then this is definitely a good option for you.

The actual design of the tent is very convenient as well. It has very wide doors, which makes getting in and out of the tent easy (it is especially helpful in the dark if you don’t want to use a flashlight). It also makes bringing things into and out of the tent easy, so packing up at the end of the camping trip is easy. There are also a bunch of pockets within the tent for easy storage.

Finally, you will appreciate that the TETON comes with an attachable awning, that prevents the entrance of your tent from being exposed to the harsh elements.

So, as you can see, this is definitely a strong contender for best canvas tent.

Pros:

Very durable canvas.
Waterproof.
Breathable.
Extra wide door.
Various storage spaces within tent.
Tent is large and offers plenty of standing material.

Con:
Heavier than many other tents.

DANCHEL Cotton Bell Tent with Two Stove Jacket

Moving on we have yet another very high-quality tent to review, the DANCHEL Cotton Bell Tent with Two Stove Jacket. The first thing that you will probably notice about this tent is the two stove jacks. For beginners who may not know what these are, stove jacks are essentially very resistant holes that are sewed into a tent and give you a place to stick an exhaust pipe.

This enables you to set up things like a stove in your tent, which you might need to keep warm and/or fed in certain rough conditions. This tent comes equipped with two stove jackets, one on the top of the tent and one on the side. This enables you to set up a basic stove in your tent, and while that feature may not be for everyone, it will appeal to those of you who go on very extended camping trips.

In general, this tent is designed almost like a house. It is very wide and gives you an ample amount of space. It has a very high-quality mesh door. It even comes with four windows to allow you to see outside and let more air in if you feel that it is getting too hot in the tent. So, if you are spending a lot of time in a single area, this is a great option because it is such a comfortable, convenient tent.

The canvas of the tent is very tough. It can easily stand up to any of the elements and this tent should definitely last you a long time. While it may not be a good choice for casual campers and while it may be a bit on the big side for most, those who plan on camping in a single area for an extended period of time absolutely must give the DANCHEL Cotton Bell Tent with Two Stove Jacket a look.

Pros:

Four mesh windows.
Made from great quality canvas.
Two stove jackets allow you to install stove in your tent.
Gives you plenty of space.

Cons:

Pretty bulky.
Not a good option for casual campers.

Kodiak Canvas 12×9 Canvas Cabin Tent

For our next tent on the best canvas tent list, we have yet another very heavy-duty tent that is great for long camping trips. Firstly, this tent is very sizeable. You and at least one other person will be able to stand and move around in the tent quite comfortably.

As you would expect from such a big tent, the entire thing is made using very sturdy material. The canvas is solid, the poles are well-made, and the frame of the tent is great. It is just an overall very well-made tent.

On the subject of the canvas, we should also mention that this tent is made using Hydra-Shield canvas. This makes the tent is extremely durable and extremely resistant to the elements, specifically rain.

One very cool aspect of the Kodiak Canvas 12×9 Canvas Cabin Tent is that it comes with five mesh windows, as well as two separate mesh doors. Although this may not be a big deal for everyone, no doubt many will appreciate the extra entrance and various windows.

Pros:

Offers a lot of space.
Comes with two mesh doors and five mesh windows.
Element-proof canvas.
Very sturdy construction.

Cons:

Can be difficult to carry around for a long time due to weight.
Not the easiest tent to set up.

TETON Sports Sierra 12 Canvas Tent

Next up on our best canvas tent list, we are featuring another tent from the fine people at TETON. We have already given a very glowing review to one TETON tent on this list, so you should expect this one to be of similar quality.

First off, this TETON tent is just as easy to set up as the last one that we reviewed. You just have to get the two poles set up and that is it. Also, because the tent is equipped with a very sizeable door, getting all your sleeping bags and other equipment in and out of the tent is also a very quick and easy process.

The Sports Sierra is also very well-made. The outside canvas is completely waterproof and should last you for years, if not decades of heavy use. At the same time, the canvas still allows enough airflow to keep the tent from becoming too hot.

Finally, it can also double as a canvas, in addition to being a tent. So, it is multi-functional.

Pros:

Durable exterior canvas.
Offers protection against elements while still being breathable.
Can act as a regular canvas.
Easy to set up.
Wide doors for easy movement.

Con:

Doesn’t come with advertised rainfly, must be bought separately.

SPRINGBAR Highline 8, 10×14 Foot Canvas Tent

For the last tent on our best canvas tent article, we have saved a real doozy of a tent, the SPRINGBAR Highline 8, 10×14 Foot Canvas Tent. Firstly, as you can probably guess based off the other tents that we have featured so far, this tent’s canvas is made using very high-quality material. It is 100% waterproof and it is even resistant against mold. We place a high value on canvas quality, and the SPRINGBAR’s canvas tent blows way past our expectations in that regard.

The poles and stakes on this tent are also very high-quality and are made using very good steel. So, when you consider both the canvas’ quality and the quality of the poles/stakes, it becomes clear that this is a great tent to use during harsh weather. It can survive even the harshest winds and biggest downpours.

In terms of comfort, the tent is fairly sizeable and provides a lot of space for roughly two people. You could fit more into the tent if you cared less about space, so if you have a couple of kids that you want to take camping, they can all fit into this one tent fairly easily.

Pros:

Is both waterproof and resistant to mold.
High-quality stakes and poles make it a great choice for windy areas.
Canvas is very durable.
Spacious.

Con:

Pretty expensive.

Canvas Tent Buying Guide

What goes into buying a tent? What kinds of features are really important to look for when buying a tent? What sorts of signs and facts should you be aware of when shopping for a tent? We plan to answer all these questions and more in the second part of our best canvas tent article. This buying guide will walk you through all the various factors and other things that need to be considered when buying a canvas tent.

A Strong Exterior

Without a doubt, the number one thing that you want to look for when shopping for a tent is a tent with a strong exterior canvas. Ideally, you want a canvas that is like the one featured on the TETON SPORTS Canvas Tent (the first tent that we reviewed on our best canvas tent list). Very strong on the outside and able to resist the elements (heat, rain, etc.) while still being light enough to allow air to flow freely through the tent.

The reasons for this are fairly obvious. Firstly, you don’t want any exposure to elements while trying to sleep. There isn’t much point to even being in a tent if its still going to let water in or if it is going to let heat seep in. But at the same time, you don’t want a tent that is so dense that air can’t flow through it. Tents like the TETON SPORTS Canvas Tent offer a good balance.
What Sized Tent Do You Need?

One of the other things that you need to consider early on is what sort of sized tent that you actually need. Bigger sized tents can cost significantly more, so this is definitely something that you want to get right, or you could end up spending significantly more than you should be.

Picking the right sized tent can be a bit difficult, not only because you have to be able to foresee a bit into the future. For example, let’s say you are single now, you may just get a single person tent. But what if in the future you and a potential partner want to go camping? Then you need to go through the whole process of buying a new tent.

A good rule of thumb and one that is used often among experienced campers is that you should always buy a tent that is a size bigger than you need. Sure, it may be a bit heavier to carry around, but it means that you are prepared for any potential situations. It also means that you have more space to yourself.

All-Season Tents

On the best canvas tent list, we featured a few tents that can be considered “all-season” tents. As you can probably guess, these tents are able to be used in all kinds of weather. As you can also probably guess, all-season tents tend to be quite a bit more expensive than regular tents.

So, this may lead you to wonder whether you should be investing in an all-season tent or not. The answer is that it depends on your own habits. Do you absolutely hate camping in the cold? If so, then you aren’t going to get much use out of an all-season tent. If, on the other hand, you could imagine yourself camping in colder weather, then invest the extra money into a solid all-season tent.

A good example of an all-season tent is actually the first tent that we reviewed on our best canvas tent list, the TETON SPORTS Canvas Tent.

Good Quality Tent Zippers

Now, it may sound strange to focus on the zippers of a tent, but when you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense. Think about how often you will be going in and out of a tent. Having a high-quality zipper that doesn’t get stuck constantly can really make your life easier.

Likewise, if a tent uses a cheap zipper and it breaks, then the tent won’t have a door and becomes a bit useless (imagine if it broke while camping, then you would really be in for a bad time). So, take the time to check out the zipper on the tent before buying.

Good Quality Poles And Stakes

Another thing that may be easy to overlook is the quality of the poles and stakes of a tent. Ideally, you want solid aluminum poles for your tent. Aluminum poles are by far the sturdiest and most durable option. While we won’t say to completely avoid tents with things like carbon fiber polls, we will say that they have a far higher tendency to break. So, aluminum poles are the better option.

The same idea applies to stakes, you want to make sure that the tent that you buy has good quality stakes that can dig into any terrain.

Stove Jackets

In certain situations, you may find it necessary to put a stove or something similar into your tent. While casual campers, such as those who only go camping for a weekend or a couple of days at a time, may not find that necessary, some other campers may. If you are one of those campers who may want to put a stove into their tent, then make sure that you get a tent that has at least one stove jacket.

The stove jacket is fire resistant and allows you to funnel exhaust out of the tent. You may be curious why you can’t just do something like open your tent’s door or open a window (if your tent has them). The reason is that the exhaust from things like stoves can actually damage the fabric of your tent.

Conclusion

This is just about everything that we have to say on the subject of tents. Hopefully that you found either part of our best canvas tent to be useful (ideally you found both the reviews and buying guide to be equally useful, but we know that that won’t be the case for a lot of people).

But hey, there is no reason to let the conversation end just because our article is ending. We want everyone to leave a comment letting us know what’s on your mind.