When you are going to spend a large chunk of your money on a canvas tent, you want one that is of superior quality. Amongst all the canvas camping tents available, the one brand I’ve heard a lot of people talking about is the Kodiak canvas tents. The intention of this post is to look at how this particular range address each of the essential areas expected in a canvas tent – ventilation, protection against outside weather conditions and, space.

Ventilation is obviously important since you would want to have a comfortable rest in your tent. The Kodiak canvas tent, being made from 100% cotton means that does breathe well. Not only is the level of condensation minimized, humidity would also be reduced. Another feature that contributes to greater ventilation, particularly during the hotter days is the funnel-flow vents. These vents are positioned near the top sections of the tent and since hot air rises, it can pass through the vents more easily and out of the tent. The vents have zips so you have the option to close them off when you don’t need them during the colder seasons.

A third feature that also helps with the ventilation is the windows. There are 4 large windows in the walls of the tent and each has no-see-um mesh made from 50D polyester. So you can breathe well and receive natural lighting without nasty bugs from coming through uninvited.

One of the downsides of using a tent made from natural material is that mildew can grow on the surface if left damp for too long. With a Kodiak canvas tent, it is treated with silicone, which resists against mildew growth. This particular treatment is more durable compared to oil-based and paraffin treatments. Additionally, it makes the tent more watertight without comprising on ventilation that the cotton provides. So you can stay dry during a rainstorm without worrying about leaks or feeling uncomfortable.

Other important aspects of a canvas tent especially when used in group camping trips, are the accessibility and storage space. The Kodiak canvas tent has two large D-shaped doors on either side for convenient access. In terms of storage, a large gear loft, mesh bag with a nine-pocket organizer and sewn-in storage pockets (with mesh allowing you to see the items inside) are included. Quite a generous amount space indeed.

As a bonus feature, the instructions for setting up and taking down the tent are sewn into the tent’s storage bag. I thought that this was a very nifty idea.