Canvas tents are amazing for camping.
In a world full of synthetic materials, sometimes it’s best to go back to the basics of cotton canvas.
Because, in reality, many synthetic tents are trying to mimic the natural benefits of heavy-duty canvas tents.
Canvas tents are waterproof and can withstand harsh weather conditions.
This article is going to focus on the best cabin-style canvas tents. You can read why I chose a cabin-style tent over bell tents here. The White Duck Regatta is one of the most popular bell tents if you go with a bell tent.
- Best for Summer (4-Sided Windows Option)
- Proven Tent (15+ years)
- Awesome Accessories (Vestibule)
- Highest Quality (at a price)
- Fast & Competent Customer Service
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Good Accessories (StormFly)
- Springbar Import
- Good Value
- Proven vs Newer Brands
- Limited ventilation
- The only 9x7 with full-length side windows
- Similar to Kodiak, but
- Webbing for Stake Loops (vs Metal)
- Doors have velcro at bottom (no full zipper)
- D-Shaped Door is the BEST, but
- Poor Quality (stitching, poles, etc)
- Worst T-Bar Design
Disclosure: All products used in this canvas tent review were purchased with my own money. I do not accept free or discounted products. If you find my website useful, please support my efforts using any links provided, as I may earn a small amount.
- Up to 15% off (and Avoid Amazon)
- Honest Reviews
- Ask Questions
- How to NOT Destroy Your Tent
Brands included: Springbar, Kodiak, White Duck, Teton Sports
Best Canvas Tents for Camping: What Are The Options?
The four best brands of canvas tents are:
- Kodiak Canvas – Full Hands-On Review
- Springbar U.S. Canvas Tents – Full Hands-On Review
- White Duck Outdoors – Full Hands-On Review
- Springbar Highline
- Teton Sports – Full Hands-On Review
These cabin-style canvas tents are similar in many ways, but there are details to be aware of before making a purchase decision.
To do an apples-to-apples comparison of these 4 brands, I’m going to use the 10×10 specs for each brand so that you can compare weight and canvas thickness across tents.
Many design differences can be found in each brand’s 10×14 versions or smaller canvas tents.
Best Canvas Tents for Camping
The best canvas tents are high-quality, practical, and easy to use.
Heres’ a canvas tent comparison chart to give you an idea of your options for the best canvas tent.
** Stove option is available in other tent designs for Kodiak and White Duck, just not these style of cabin tents.
*** Ceiling height peak ~6′ 6″ for 10×10 tents, tapers down to ~6′ 3″ near walls
First, I’m going to give a high-level overview of each canvas tent.
Then, you’ll discover some nuances of each tent and why it may sway your decision.
Lastly, I’ll recommend the best canvas tents for various scenarios throughout the buyers guide.
1. Kodiak Flex-Bow 10×10 Canvas Tent
The best canvas tent for camping is the Kodiak Flex-Bow line of tents. They are high-quality, affordable, and have great sizing and ventilation options.
Specs:
- Interior peak height: 6′ 6″
- Footprint: 10’x10′
- Packed Tent Size: 30″ x 13″
- Packed Pole Size: 50″ x 5.5″
- Weight: 68 lbs, including stakes
Canvas Specs
- Ceiling: 10 oz Hydra-shieldTM waterproof canvas
- Tent Wall: 8.5 oz Hydra-shieldTM canvas
- Floor: 16 oz seamless vinyl, polyester reinforced
The tent options for Kodiak Canvas are similar to Springbar, except they are made in China. But don’t let the stereotype fool you; they are high-quality cabin tents.
It’s common to associate “made in China” with cheap quality, but from my experience, their quality is on par or even better in certain areas compared to Springbar.
Their tent floor is thicker, which is great when camping in Southern Utah where everything is sharp including the rocks. It felt super sturdy and durable in the wind.
I do regret getting the Deluxe version.
If you’re in the heat, I recommend the VX version over the basic and deluxe for the extra venting. This will be my go-to tent in the future.
Kodiak Flex-Bow Canvas Camping Tent - Best Value
- Tried & Tested
- Metal stake loops
- Vestibule Add-On
- Venting Options for Summer
- Lack of color options
- No stove options
Shop All Kodiak Tents and Accessories. There’s also a 15% discount code for buying direct.
2. Springbar Traveler, 10×10 U.S.A.
The next tents to consider are Springbar’s line of tents made in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Traveler Specs:
- Interior peak height: 6′ 6″
- Footprint: 10’x10′
- Packed Tent Size: 24″ x 17″
- Packed Pole Size: 56″ x 8″
- Weight: 72 lbs, including stakes
Canvas Specs
- Ceiling: 10.1 oz canvas
- Tent Wall: 8.5 oz canvas
- Floor: 12 oz seamless vinyl
Proudly made in Salt Lake City, U.S.A., Springbar is a great option for those that prioritize made-in-America.
In addition, they rank #1 in my customer support ranking in my Buyer’s Guide later in this article.
I currently own the Springbar Outfitter, which is their 9×7 size. It’s waterproof even after days of rain.
I broke two tension rods (read about it in my comparison here) and was able to swing by the next day and pick one up from them since I was living in Salt Lake City. The support member that greeted me was the same person I was emailing with the day before. Springbar showed genuine care about my experience. It was good to know they would ship out any other replacements if needed.
I saw a little of the operation; it seemed like everyone was friendly and that it was a nice workplace.
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Best included stakes
- Metal stake loops
- Fast & competent customer service
- Aesthetically pleasing, with many color options
- Expensive
- 25% thinner floor than the competition
3. White Duck Prota 10×10 Canvas Tent
The White Duck Prota is becoming an interesting choice as they are following Kodiak’s lead in getting large side windows in their tents. (more about Ventilation in my Buyer’s Guide later in the article).
White Duck Prota specs:
- Interior peak height: 6′ 6″
- Footprint: 10’x10′
- Packed Tent Size: 50″ x 15″ x 9″ total (not broken out in detail)
- Packed Pole Size: 50″ x 15″ x 9″ total (not broken out in detail)
- Weight: 81 lbs, no indication if stakes are included in weight, but I believe they are
White Duck Canvas Specs
- Ceiling: 10.0 oz canvas
- Tent Wall: 10.1 oz canvas
- Floor: 16 oz poly vinyl bath tub style
Full disclosure – I do not have any firsthand experience with White Duck Tents. I do know that they fluctuate their price from the $600s to the $1,100s between late 2022 to early 2023. Eventually I will get my hands on one.
What I really like about White Duck Canvas Tents is that they have a 9×7 Prota with 4-sided ventilation. They are the only canvas tent provider with this venting option in that size of canvas tent.
However, the major drawback of the Prota is the velcro at the bottom of the doors instead of heavy-duty zippers like the others.
White Duck Outdoors also has a full selection of bell, wall, and other tents and related products. They are priced more similar to Springbar, but have the selection of Kodiak.
Shop Whiteduck Tents and make sure to get any available promo codes.
4. Springbar Highline 6 (Import) 10×10 Canvas Tent
The Springbar Highline 6 is a similar design to all the other canvas tents on this list.
Springbar also sells the Classic Jack 100. From what I can tell, the only difference is the Classic Jack has some internal pockets. Both are imported from China by Springbar.
This is Springbar's imported canvas tent. I have not used it, so I am going to refrain from rating it.
I don’t know many campers that choose these over Kodiak or the Springbar U.S. line.
Highline 6 Specs:
- Interior peak height: 6′ 6″
- Footprint: 10’x10′
- Packed Tent Size: 48″ x 12″ x 12″ total (not broken out in detail)
- Packed Pole Size: 48″ x 12″ x 12″ total (not broken out in detail)
- Weight: 76 lbs, no indication if stakes are included in weight, but I believe they are
Canvas Specs
- Ceiling: 10 oz canvas
- Tent Wall: 8.5 oz canvas
- Floor: Excluded spec from website
This tent is the best choice if you want a Springbar, but the U.S. sewn version is out of your budget.
It lacks additional ventilation for hot summers, but is a solid tent for the rest of the year.
5. Teton Sports Mesa 10×10 Canvas Tent
The Teton Sports Mesa Canvas Tent is a highly reviewed tent on Amazon and on its website. I purchased one in 2023 and was not impressed. You can read the full Teton Sports canvas tent review here.
TETON Sports Specs:
- Interior peak height: 6′ 6″
- Footprint: 10’x10′
- Packed Tent Size: 38.5″ x 15″ x 13.5″ total (not broken out in detail)
- Packed Pole Size: 38.5″ x 15″ x 13.5″ total (not broken out in detail)
- Weight: 71.5 lbs, no indication if stakes are included in weight, but I believe they are
TETON Canvas Specs
- Ceiling: Excluded spec, but I assume it’s same as the tent wall
- Tent Wall: 10.1 oz canvas (although they also claim 8.41 oz in an Amazon Q&A)
- Floor: Excluded spec from website
It’s distinguished from the other tents by having a large D-Shaped door which I like. It’s easier to get gear in and out without snagging onto the mesh than a split door.
The downside of Teton Sports is that they only have two basic options, 10×10 and 10×14. All the other canvas tent companies have smaller options or more venting options.
Another downside is quality control.
And they use a different T-Bar mechanism that’s much more difficult and seemingly dangerous than the other 3 brands (why try and fix what’s not broke?).
The TETON Sports line of tents includes a10x10 and 10x14 canvas tent. Features a D-shaped door, but no real other differentiators.
Best Canvas Tent Buyer’s Guide
When buying a heavy-duty canvas tent, it’s important not to just rely on price. There are several other important factors to consider:
- Sizing
- Ventilation
- Tent Add Ons
- Floor Thickness
- Stake Loop Material
- Brand Reputations
- Customer Service
What Size of Canvas Tent Do You Need?
In general, you should size up. Families grow, kids get bigger, or you accumulate more gear.
If you’re debating between the 10×10 and 10×14, go with the 10×14 assuming you always have at least one other person with you camping and can help drive in all the stakes.
The only time I wouldn’t size up is if you’re solo. A 10×10 is HUGE for one person. However, a 7′ x 9′ or 8’x9′ is like a nice studio apartment.
I made this chart for my Kodiak canvas review, but it will also be helpful here. Note: White Duck’s “Deluxe” is comparable to the “VX”.
See how many campers you need to remove from the tent to fit all your gear but still have enough room for the family!
Best Canvas Tent for Summer: Venting Options
The best canvas tents for summer are Kodiak and White Duck. They are the only brands that offer a tent with full 4-sided ventilation.
Kodiak has the VX canvas tent, and White Duck has a comparable one in their Deluxe.
A 360 view not only adds to your camping experience, but it adds much-needed airflow in the summer.
The mesh windows on all these tents are THICK. Even having both sides open creates little airflow at times because of how thick they are.
If you don’t go with a 4-sided vented tent, make sure to set up your tent to maximize airflow with the general wind direction.
Canvas Tent Add Ons
Springbar and Kodiak have been in the game a long time.
They both offer a bunch of cool upgrades and attachments to maximize your canvas tent camping experience.
While some will work on other tents, they are specifically designed for their own tents.
Note, the 10×10 tents will not be capable with tent stoves. Springbar 10×14 tents can be outfitted with a stove.
Read more about canvas tent accessories here.
Canvas Flooring Thickness
All the tents 10×10 tents use 16oz flooring except Springbar, which uses 12oz. It is a noticeable difference.
If you get a Springbar, get one of their heavy-duty tarps to put under it. They make and sell the best canvas ground tarps by far.
However, if you get one of the other three brands, a basic ground tarp should be enough for most situations.
Stake Loops: Why They Matter
Metal stake loops are the best because they are great for using the lag bolt system of staking down canvas tents AND will stand the test of time.
Canvas tents need to be staked down to function properly. You’ll spend ~10 minutes pounding stakes in each time you set up one of these tents (use best tent hammers or use lag bolts).
In addition, you’ll use a variety of types of stakes during your tents lifetime. There are two basic types of stakes I use. A normal steel stake and a wedge stake (also referred to as sand stakes).
In fact, Springbar tents come with wedge stakes by default, while the others have some sort of standard steel stake. Wedge stakes are used in soft dirt but can also be used in normal soil.
The edges of sand stakes will cut into the webbing (Teton Mesa in the image above to prove the point).
I found this the hard way when I sliced a stake loop in half for my portable shower with a wedge stake in the past.
The best canvas tent stake loops come on the Springbar, followed by Kodiak. Springbar are metal wires that connect directly to the tent. Kodiak’s are metal wires attached to webbing.
White Duck Outdoors uses webbing with a grommet in the middle.
The worst canvas tent stake loops are on the Teton Sports Mesa Canvas tent. They are pure webbing, which is a huge design flaw. It’s a flaw that Kodiak once had and fixed due to customer complaints.
Reputations of Canvas Tent Brands
Springbar and Kodiak are primarily canvas tent sellers and related canvas tent accessories. Unsurprisingly, they have the best canvas tent reputations and are my two favorite brands.
White Duck Outdoors and Teton Sports are large online retailers that sell a multitude of other outdoor products.
Online Canvas Tent Brand Reputations
You can fake online reviews, Amazon reviews, and gift gear to influencers to promote your product, but you can’t bullshit Reddit.
While on Google, search “[Insert Brand Name] reddit” and you’ll get a variety of reviews to help your decision.
Springbar on Reddit: lots of activity, generally positive.
Kodiak on Reddit: lots of activity, generally positive
Teton Sports on Reddit: not much activity, but generally positive. Digging in comments you can find comparisons.
WhiteDuck Outdoors: not much activity for cabin-style tents, you have to go more broad.
If you have a Reddit account, you can do more searches within various groups that didn’t get indexed by google.
Customer Service
Purchasing a canvas may be one of the most significant purchase decisions you make in a year. Budgets range from $500 to $2,000+ for the best canvas tents.
The most likely time you’ll have an issue with a tent is after the first setup.
So, make sure to set it up soon after receiving it so you can deal with any issues within the return window.
The BEST customer support is Springbar. They have at least one dedicated customer service employee working within the manufacturing/warehouse building. You can get real-time feedback on spare parts and get issues addressed immediately.
The next best customer support is Kodiak. They also respond fast and have a U.S.-based location that serves as a warehouse.
Springbar and Kodiak primarily sell canvas tents. Their entire company reputation is on the line for you to have a good experience. That is why I recommend them the most.
If White Duck or Teton Sports get a bad review, they have many other products to sell.
Additionally, if you emailed Teton Sports lately, you get an automated email that their small 3-person customer experience team is experiencing a large volume of messages. It’s been that way for a while.
Lastly, because White Duck Outdoors and Teton Sports sell a plethora of products, it’s unlikely you’ll get a canvas tent expert because they have to be knowledgeable about so many products.
Springbar and Kodiak will give you the best customer care experience through your tent’s life cycle because they are committed to the canvas tent business (Springbar 50+ years, Kodiak 15+ years).
The Verdict: What is the Best Canvas Tent?
The best canvas tent is the Kodiak Flex-Bow. In moderate temperatures, the Deluxe is a great choice. If you’re a warm-weather camper, the best choice is the Kodiak VX for the extra ventilation.
Kodiak Flex-Bow Canvas Camping Tent - Best Value
- Tried & Tested
- Metal stake loops
- Vestibule Add-On
- Venting Options for Summer
- Lack of color options
- No stove options
If you have the budget and don’t need the extra windows, go with a Springbar Traveler or their imported line. You’ll get a great tent and great customer service to go with it.
The White Duck Prota 7’x9′ is the only option in that 2-3 person size tent with large side windows.
Continued Reading: View a list of all my canvas tent-related articles.
- Up to 15% off (and Avoid Amazon)
- Honest Reviews
- Ask Questions
- How to NOT Destroy Your Tent
Brands included: Springbar, Kodiak, White Duck, Teton Sports
