Why would a canvas tent need waterproofing? Well, we all know that any fabric can be damaged from extended exposure to the various harsh conditions of the outdoors such as the rain and sun. However, for a canvas tent, because it is made from natural fibers, cotton, it has a risk of mildew forming on its surface when wet. Of course this won’t happen instantly. What I’m saying is that if the material remains wet over a period of time, then mildew will form. Mildew is a particular type of mold which grows when there is a high level of moisture. Once this happens, your tent will look and smell very off.

Before I go through the waterproofing method, there is something simple you can do to reduce the likelihood of mildew growth. Every time after usage, you should ensure that your canvas tent is properly dry before storing it away for your next camping trip. Definitely do not store it while it is still even damp. The storage place should be cool and dry.

There are a few ways to waterproof canvas tents, each with varying degrees of effectiveness. In order to apply any of the methods, you’ll need to have sufficient surface area on which to lay out your tent. It should also be a level surface. If your tent is large, then you can place it out on a deck in your backyard.

A natural way is to use blocks of wax. Once you have smoothed the material out, you simply rub the wax onto the surface. This builds a coating that has enough thickness to prevent water penetrating through. In order to reach the more difficult corners of the tent, you’ll need to shave bits of the wax and push them into the corners.

A second way is to use spray which you can purchase from either specialist camping stores or even some large department stores. These sprays contain silicone which prevents absorption of water. Ensure that you use gloves before handling the sprays. Also do the spraying in an area that has good ventilation but at the same time not windy.

I want firstly point out that the need to repair the canvas itself depends on how it was damaged. If it is because the cloth material is just worn over time, you are better off replacing your canvas camping tent. The biggest reason behind this is because simply patching the area that is showing damage would end up shifting the tension to the surrounding areas. This means that the other areas of the canvas would now be under strain and since the entire cloth is weak anyway, this would likely lead to another failure down the line. Repeated failures and repeated repairs equals to being more costly.

However if the damage is due to a cause that has been imposed on the tent, then this may justify a repair. An example is if a tent pole accidentally poked through the material. There is a “but” here – if the damage is too severe such as a large tear, the remaining material may not be enough to take on the stress even after a patch. In such case, again, you’ll need a new canvas tent.

Ok, assuming the size of the tear is worth repairing, you can either choose to sew or glue a patch of canvas on the damaged area. In both cases, you’ll need a new rectangular piece of canvas to be overlapping the area by 2 inches on all four sides. Also, there needs to be a patch on both the outside and the inside of the tent. If you choose to sew on the patch, this alone may not be sufficient as water is likely to leak through. You can address this issue by applying a moisture repellent (e.g. Camp-Dry). This treatment process may need to be repeated regularly. If you choose to glue the patch on, you’ll need an adhesive that will remain on the tent in all weather conditions (e.g. heat and cold).

Whatever damages to your canvas tent that you encounter, remember to attend to it as quickly as possible. Bringing a repair kit with you all your trip would be a good idea. But as always, just note that prevention is better than repair. Take care of your tent and it will take care of you.

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.

Firstly, a canvas tent (also referred to as canvas wall tent) is normally shaped like a basic house – there are four vertical walls with one side being the entrance opening and a pitched roof. Right off the bat, the space a canvas tent can provide is fantastic. Generally, you can get a good range in sizes – the floor space ranges from 8 feet by 10 feet to 20 feet by 24 feet; the corresponding height (measured at the ridge or the highest point) ranges from 7 feet to 10 feet. The height of the walls themselves (i.e. base to the beginning of the roof) can be about 5 feet. So as you can see, the space is very generous indeed. Not only can you fit a few people in one tent, but also you can store your equipment as well as having the height to stand upright.

The material used to construct a canvas tent is cotton. Being a natural material, it will breathe better than camping tents made from other types of materials such as nylon and polyester. The result of this is twofold – firstly, it means improved ventilation and hence a more comfortable experience for the camper; and secondly, there would be less condensation forming in the ceiling of the tent, so you won’t have water dripping over your head on account of breathing over a period time.

Another advantage to the fact that a canvas tent is made from cotton, is that it will do better against sunlight compared to nylon and polyester. Also it does well against rain. When the material comes in contact with water, the cotton fibers swell up, causing the natural holes around the threads to shrink. The effect of this property is that the tent becomes more resistant to penetration from water. However, it should still be recommend that rainflies be used to improve water resistance.

The canvas material is a heavy fabric, so if you’re moving often during your trip, it may not be suitable. The weight increases when it get wet.

Neoprene (also called polychloroprene) is a form of synthetic rubber that is produced by polymerization (which is a process of chemical reaction) of an organic compound called chloroprene. One of the main reasons for its suitable as a tent material is its capability to insulate against the cold, you can be assured you will be kept warm. However, in warm weather, it can become very hot and thus uncomfortable. So neoprene is more well suited to cold environments or seasons only. Another appealing property is that they are a sturdy material, making them a firm shelter.

Canvas is a type of plain-woven fabric generally considered to be extremely heavy-duty. By plain-woven I mean that the warp (i.e. the lengthwise yarn which the weft is woven through) and weft (i.e. the yarn that is drawn over and under parallel warp yarns) are aligned such that a criss-cross pattern is formed. This weaving technique contributes to the strength and durability of the material. Canvas is nowadays mainly made from cotton. So the appeal with this material is that it makes a sturdy form of shelter. A canvas tent tends not to break down easily in harsher conditions (e.g. heavy winds) for lengthy periods of time. This type of tents is commonly used by the military and as temporary shelters for disaster victims. However, canvas does not allow for much breathing. This can make the tents uncomfortable as sleeping quarters during hot climates. Also, being a cotton material, canvas tents would absorb water. If left in a rain for too long, trying to dismantle them for transport can become a very difficult task.

Finally, the most common type is nylon tents. Nylon is a form of plastic (or synthetic polymer), specifically a thermoplastic silky material. Its appeal is that it is fairly light and works well in both hot and cold conditions. Nylon tents are stable enough such that in warm climates, a camper would not get too hot. They also can keep water from leaking insider and provide sufficient protection from severe elements outside (e.g. rain).