Canvas vs nylon tents? What’s the big deal?
Both canvas tents and regular nylon and polyester tents are great in their own ways.
Canvas tents are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. So, what’s all the fuss about?
In this article, I’ll compare the pros and cons of canvas tents and when to use a canvas vs nylon tent.
Is a Canvas Tent Better than a Nylon Tent?
Yes, canvas tents are better than nylon tents, in my experience. Canvas tents are durable, waterproof, and breathable. In addition, they can be easily repaired and have a longer camping life.
Learn about the best canvas tents.
However, with the benefits of canvas tents come the negatives, such as storage space, weight, and cost.
Canvas wall tents are fantastic but are overkill and inconvenient in some situations (regardless of what “Big Canvas” tries to tell you!
I was intimidated by canvas cabin tents before I purchased one and set it up a couple of times. I’ve had 10+ tents in my life, and none of them were canvas. No one I knew had one either. It’s a silly concern in hindsight, so don’t let it hold you back!
There is a rich history of canvas tents, and they’ve been around for a long time compared to the new and lighter nylon tents. Manufacturers of canvas tents like Springbar still make them in the U.S.
Quick Overview of Plastic Tent Materials
You likely have a nylon or polyester tent if you have a Coleman, Ozark, or most other brands commonly found in stores. Some may also call these “plastic” or synthetic tents.
Nylon is the most common best tent material because of its strength-to-weight ratio, basic abrasion resistance, and low price.
Synthetic materials like polyester are also used in tents and are a good material for tent flies (less stretch with water) and is generally more UV resistant than nylon.
Some tents have various “blends” of fabric to achieve the goal of the tent.
Canvas vs Nylon Tents and Polyester
Canvas tents and nylon or plastic-based tents have their advantages over each another.
10 Benefits of Canvas vs Nylon tents:
- Durability resulting in longer useful life
- Handle inclement weather better
- Tent stoves can be outfitted for cozy fall and winter camping
- Breathable, less condensation in wet, humid environments
- Ease of repair and waterproofing
- Better UV Resistance
- More accessories
- Made of natural and more sustainable materials
- Thick floors won’t wear as fast with cots, tables, etc
- Feel more homey / luxury
Learn about the best canvas tents for camping.
7 Benefits of Nylon Tents Compared to Canvas Tents
- Cheaper in price
- Lighter in weight
- Take up less cargo space
- Easier to stake down
- Dry quicker
- Easier to dry indoors if packed wet
- Better for walk-in campsites
Ease of Set Up
One thing I left off was comparing set-up times and complexity.
I used to think cabin-style tents were complicated to set up until I owned several, and they are easy and straightforward to me now.
If you get a canvas bell tent with 25+ guy lines to stake down, nylon tents win in terms of easy of use.
If you get a simple Kodiak Flex-Bow, they can be set up in 12 to 18 minutes by yourself and faster with another.
Some 10-person nylon tent setups are super frustrating, so it will depend on the tent.
Canvas Durability and Ease of Repair
Canvas tents are built to last a lifetime if you take good care of them.
Canvas Tents Can Easily be Repaired
What makes them unique compared to other tents is that they are easy to repair.
Most canvas tent makers sell patch and repair kits. With a little bit of work, you can repair most holes by yourself and keep it waterproof.
The hardest to repair are rips and large seam gashes. For those, you may be able to find a local company to repair it. For example, we have a local company that does canvas awning covers for buildings and windows that will also repair a tent as a non-advertised service.
If your polyester or nylon tent gets a hole or tear, it will be difficult to patch, and the integrity of the tent will likely be gone.
Canvas in Wind, Rain, Snow
Canvas tents can handle inclement weather better and more reliably than their nylon and polyester counterparts.
Most canvas tents are treated with waterproofing agents. Anyone can re-waterproof a canvas tent later on to keep its waterproof integrity. They don’t need a rainfly. That’s why you’ll find canvas tents in my top waterproof tents article.
Nylon tents can also be waterproofed, but they will sag and may not handle downpours as well as canvas. I’d consider many on the market to be water resistant.
Strong winds. No tent is going to feel great in 50+mph winds, but with bell tents, you at least stand a chance! There’s a reason canvas tents are popular at Burning Man and other wide-open windy spaces.
I use 12-inch stakes with my tents, and those are hard to pull out even with the right tools.
In addition, canvas tent walls are much more thicker and abrasion resistant than polyester and nylon.
Ventilation Options
Most canvas tents have front and back doors, similar to some standard plastic tents.
However, canvas tents like the Kodiak VX have multiple venting options, including full-length mesh windows or doors on all 4 sides.
While this is common for smaller nylon tents to be fully vented, it’s not common for large tents to have this feature.
4-Season Canvas Camping Tent with Stoves
One of the more unique features of canvas tents is that some can be outfitted to house a wood-burning tent stove.
Some tents can be purchased ready to be outfitted with a wood-burning stove, and some can be retrofitted by cutting into the canvas and using fire-retardant materials and treatments.
This makes them great for a fall and winter camping trip.
Weight Comparison
The lightest canvas tents are 30lbs and can exceed 100lbs. A cotton canvas tent weighs a lot and the poles will be aluminum or steel which add weight.
A 10-person polyester tent will weigh ~35lbs and pack in a 29 inch x 10 in x 10 in bag. Another I checked out was 24lbs and packs to 46 in x 9 in x 9 in
A 10-person canvas tent like Kodiak will weigh ~65lbs and pack in 2 separate bags. One of the canvas (30 in x 13 in x 13 in) and a pole bag that is 50 in x 5 in x 5 in.
Canvas tents have large side-poles that only break into 2-3 pieces compared to nylon, polyester, and polycotton tents that compact smaller.
Cost Comparison
A canvas family tent will cost 2 to 4 times more than a comparable-sized polyester tent.
You can find polyester tents on Amazon ranging between $150 to $300 for a large 10-person tent. This is a 10×14 footprint.
If you want a decent canvas tent, a Kodiak 10×14 will be $700 for the basic model and $760 for the deluxe model.
In my opinion, the price is easily justified in most situations primarily because it will last a long time and be a more enjoyable experience.
Cargo Space
Canvas tents will take up more cargo space in your vehicle than a comparable polyester tent.
If you have a family of four and a sedan, a canvas tent will probably not work for car camping. You will likely need a roof rack or an SUV or truck.
If you already have a polyester-based tent, you can double or triple the size, and that will be what to expect. Add more space for any extra accessories you may bring.
Getting a canvas tent resulted in me buying a roof rack for my Subaru Forester. But I also do extremely long camping trips and have a ton of water and various other gear most people won’t have.
Tent Accessories and Luxury: Canvas Vs Nylon
Once you get into canvas tent camping, it’s hard to go back.
You can easily hang gear inside, lights, and other homey items.
On the outside, you can add awnings, vestibules, and protective gear like storm flies.
Lastly, the tent floors are thick, even without a tent floor liner. You’re unlikely to damage the floor of a canvas tent with cots, tables, chairs, and other items compared to the thinner floor of a polyester tent.
Drying a Canvas Tent vs Nylon
Mold is a canvas tent’s kryptonite, and canvas can be susceptible to it when wet for long periods of time.
Canvas tents need to be stored BONE DRY. If you must pack camp when it’s wet, open it back up as soon as possible to let it dry out.
This means setting up in your backyard, a park, or somewhere it can fully dry. Laying it out in the basement hoping it will dry is not going to work.
Mold is not a death sentence for your tent, but it has to be dealt with urgency. Here’s a guide to cleaning and removing mold from a canvas tent.
Nylon and polyester fabric tents also should be stored bone dry. However, it will be much easier to dry inside and will dry faster outside than a canvas tent.
When to Use a Canvas over Nylon Tents?
Canvas tents are the best choice for:
- Outdoorsy people – camping more than once per year
- Extended camping trips – more than an overnighter
- Hunters and others who camp in early spring, late fall, or winter
- Exposed to harsher conditions like rain and wind
When are Nylon Tents Better than Canvas Tents?
Nylon and polyester tents are best for:
- Short weekend trips (1 to 2 nights)
- Casual campers – going 0 to 1 times per year
- Active trips with limited time in the tent
- Camping on a budget
- Flexibility – you can have a tent for the parent and a tent for the kids
The budget is the most significant limitation when converting from regular tents to canvas tents.
Realistically, you want $1,000 budget to convert to canvas tenting. $750 tent, $50 footprint, $30 hammer, $170 to add to the tent budget or other accessories.
Myths of Canvas Tents
Many articles about canvas tents vs nylon tents are written by “big canvas” – my joking term for canvas tent sellers that wrote on this topic. Sometimes they oversell certain aspects of canvas tents.
Are Canvas Tents Breathable vs Nylon?
Yes, canvas tents are more breathable than nylon tents. It means, keeping everything constant but the material, you’ll have less condensation on the inside of your canvas tent compared to a nylon tent.
In fact, I’ve never had condensation on the inside of my canvas tent that I’ve noticed.
However, breathable should not mean “airflow” or “stays cool,” as some articles may suggest.
Canvas tents get hot and stuffy, just like any other tent.
There’s no magical canvas material that somehow keeps your tent from getting hot in the summer months. In fact, above 75F, I suggest getting a canvas tent with all 4 sides being able to vent, or you won’t get enough airflow to be comfortable.
Do Canvas Tents Provide More Insulation than a Regular Tent?
In theory, yes. The floors of canvas tents are typically thicker, and the walls are as well.
However, I doubt anyone will be able to tell the difference. It may trap an extra degree or two, but I haven’t been able to tell the difference. For example, if you run a Mr. Buddy Heater in a canvas tent, all that heat will be gone within minutes.
The tent floors are still cold to the touch in a canvas tent, even with a ground tarp. You can use floor liners to add some comfort and more insulation, but it won’t magically be warm in your tent on a cold night.
Conclusion: Are Canvas Tents Worth It?
Canvas tents are better than traditional tents, but it comes at a cost.
I use a canvas tent for standard camping trips and a polyester backpacking tent for backpacking and short trips.
Once you convert to canvas, you’ll be happy you did!
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