Canvas tents are the types of tents you think of when you think of old time camping memories. With their traditional frame tent structure and their army green or gray color, they evoke visions of the types of tents you used to use as a kid to go out for a weekend under the stars with dad or to use during your many boy scout camping trips. They are also the types of tents often used for military purposes because of their rugged makeup and durable construction. However, with the advent of many newer and sleeker camping and tent materials, it is less and less common to find canvas models out in the campgrounds or even out in the wilderness, because they are being replaced by more lightweight nylon structures.
But many people still have or enjoy using a tent made from canvas and constructed in that old traditional boxy style, rather than using a newer sleeker one made with multiple compartments, technically advanced fabrics and colorful rain flies. So, if you still have an old canvas model lying around in your garage or basement, when and where are the best times and places to use it?
Well, the nice thing about canvas is that it is very rugged and durable. This means it is the perfect type of tent to use when you are camping out under harsh and rugged conditions. If you are heading somewhere that it is very cold or very windy, canvas is the perfect choice for a tent material. It’s heavy construction will shield you from fierce winds and extremely cold temperatures better than nylon will. It will not easily blow away and will retain heat within its structure well. For this reason, canvas is not always the best option for places where it is very hot because it doesn’t “breathe” as well as nylon, but it will still be a great protector from the sun. These are not subsitutes for serious mountaineering tents that you might use for climbing or expeditions, but they are ideal for many other purposes.
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