A good tent is the most important piece of gear for any hiker or camper. A decent tent is essential for sleeping or protecting oneself from hot and freezing weather. With different alternatives in the market, many campers ask a common question: are canvas tents hot?
Yes, canvas tents can keep the heat and be hot. However, they can also be ideal for summer days, given their excellent insulation characteristics.
While different types of tents are better suited to different types of weather, canvas tents are the ideal choice if you want a tent that can withstand all weather situations, suiting both summer and winter camping. They are durable and long-lasting and come with excellent breathability, ensuring low condensation levels.
They are frequently made of cotton and are thick enough to provide excellent insulation. Because of this, heat is kept within the camping shelter, making it comfortable to use even on the coldest days. No tent fabric provides as much insulation as a canvas tent.
On the other hand, its insulation ensures the warm air is kept outside and does not get trapped inside your tent during hot days.
Keep reading to find out more about canvas tents’ features!
Is canvas good for tents?
Yes, it is! Tents made of cotton canvas are fairly durable if properly cared for, making them an excellent alternative for your camping gear. Because of the strength of the material, a cotton canvas tent is more durable than other types of tents.
Another advantage of canvas tents is the ease of repair compared to other types of tents, even if they are torn apart. You can simply use a canvas patch and fix it in minutes.
Apart from its long-lasting resistance and excellent protection against UV lights, canvas tents also come with outstanding breathability, waterproof, and are eco-friendly.
The drawbacks of canvas tents are price since it tends to be more expensive than synthetic fabrics (nylon and polyester) and weight (which might affect portability and ease of use).
Does canvas hold the heat? Is canvas a good insulator?
Yes, it does. As initially said, canvas cotton is a great insulator and is able to retain the heat inside your tent, making your camping days more comfortable. If you are camping in winter, consider using a tent heater or a tent with a stove jack.
However, remember that cotton will lose its insulating features once wet.
Are canvas tent hot, then?
In any event, because canvas tents are thicker and made of cotton, they provide greater sun protection and are able to better handle temperature variations. Overall, they tend to be hotter on winter days and cooler in the summer season.
However, bear in mind that any tent of any material that is exposed to direct sunlight will ultimately heat up to the same temperature, but this may imply that you may enjoy your canvas tent in the morning for longer than if you were in a synthetic tent.
If you plan to camp in extreme winter conditions, consider a special winter camping tent, such as ALPS Mountaineering Tasmanian 2-Person Tent or learn how to insulate your tent for winter, including the use of tent insulation liners.
Why breathability is important for tents?
Humidity is the most important component in human environmental comfort. The amount of humidity in the air affects sweat evaporation, which is how the human body regulates temperature.
Canvas, as opposed to nylon and polyester tents, allow little moisture particles from breathing, sweating, and cooking to escape straight through the tent fabric, making the environment inside your shelter cozier.
Better breathability will also reduce tent condensation, which can become a nightmare for campers.
Can Canvas withstand high temperatures?
Even though canvas is a naturally breathable material, if your tent is not designed with additional ventilation features to help air circulate during hot summer days and nights, it may become stuffy, hot, or muggy.
Condensation build up on the interior walls and ceiling can also be caused by poor air circulation. Windows and doors are apparent features that enable air to move through your tent when they are opened.
We recommend getting a tent with many windows and openings. However, make sure that these openings have a mesh screen cover to keep unwanted insects out. Look for netting air vents sewed onto the tent’s top as well. This characteristic is not commonly seen in wall tents, but it is found in good bell tents.
Some bell tents, such WhiteDuck Avalon Canvas Bell Tent, even allow you to roll up the entire perimeter of the tent’s lower wall for even more ventilation. However, if the canvas wall can be rolled up, make sure the tent has a mesh screen in place to keep the pests out.
Is canvas better than nylon?
Prior to developing synthetic fabrics, most tents were composed of cotton canvas. They were exceedingly useful and popular, but, when man-made textiles began to be utilized to manufacture tents, canvas’s popularity waned.
New nylon and polyester tents were lighter, smaller, and less expensive. These new textiles, which were far easier to travel, surpassed canvas tents in the bags of campers all around the world.
Cotton canvas tents are regarded a better choice if you require extra protection because they are more heavy-duty by nature. The fabric is stronger and more resilient, allowing it to perform better in extreme weather situations.
Canvas tents are especially popular for longer-term excursions and luxury camping since you can appreciate the benefits of this tent fabric after it is set. For longer camping trips, the difficulties of moving a larger-sized tent are more than worth it.
Where canvas performs better than nylon
Cotton canvas is an extremely sturdy and long-lasting natural material that, if properly cared for, should not disintegrate over time.
Canvas is not affected by UV radiation and will not fade in the sun. It’s also worth mentioning that canvas tents are far easier to repair than synthetics in the case of a tear. This robust material provides a highly protective shelter.
Canvas is an extremely breathable fabric, and canvas tents always provide enough airflow and ventilation. A permeable cotton canvas fabric will aid in the regulation of internal humidity while also reducing condensation on tent walls. Synthetic tents can become stuffy and constricting after a few days of camping. This does not happen with canvass.
When camping in chilly weather or going on a winter excursion, the canvas may make you much more comfortable. Cotton canvas is an excellent insulator, preserving heat inside the tent during cooler weather and avoiding warm air inside your shelter on sunny days.
Canvas may be the best material choice if you plan a luxury trip or long term camping trip.
Where nylon outperforms canvas
Canvas is fairly heavy. Any hiker or traveller would have to carry their tent for miles, and canvas is just too heavy to meet these lightweight standards. Thus nylon is preferable.
In addition to their higher weight, the physical size of most canvas tents precludes them from being a choice for many campers. Generally speaking, cotton canvas tents do not have a tiny one-person alternative; they are better suited to big camping groups, such as WhiteDuck Alpha Canvas Wall Tent, which fits up to 18 campers.
The biggest concern with canvas tents in terms of weather is the material’s drying time. Canvas tents require more effort and upkeep, especially when drying after the rain.
Another disadvantage is that they can develop mould depending on the storage conditions, where as nylon and polyester tents do not.
Are Canvas tents waterproof?
Canvas has some natural waterproofness. However, it does not have the greater water resistance.
If you need a fully waterproof tent, you will probably need to treat it with a special coating, which works well on canvas – Read this article to fully understand how to waterproof your tent.
How do I keep my canvas tent cool?
If you have electricity around your tent, we highly recommend you use a camping air conditioner, such as a portable AC.
If you do not have electric hookups close by, it might be worth reading this article – how to cool my tent without electricity.
In summary, if you don’t have electricity, you can:
- Choose the best location to pitch your tent
- Set your tent up at the right time
- Use battery and solar-powered devices (battery-powered AC or solar-powered fans)
- Use a reflective blanket
- Cool your body down
- Watch for tent ventilation
- Build a DIY Air Conditioner
Conclusion
Canvas tents are an excellent option for your camping days. Given its optimal breathability and insulation features, they are our preferred tent fabric.
Because of this, they tend to perform well on both the summer season and winter days.
However, they might not be the best option if you are a hiker and want some versatility, as they are heavy and bulky to carry around. As for waterproofness, overall, they might require an extra coating to ensure water resistance.
