BEFORE PURCHASING A TENT, YOU MUST DETERMINE

• Determine the standard features a tent has that you are considering and the cost of additional features/options you want.
• Most canvas tent buyers want at the minimum these standard features:
  • Water and mildew treatment. ( I would never recommend an untreated tent.)
  • Front & back door. (Back Door is a $30-$40 option on some tents.)
  • Stove jack hole for stove pipe (Sometimes a $45 option)
  • 9" - 10" vinyl SOD CLOTH to keep canvas tents clean and air sealed against the ground. (Sometimes a $45 option). A DEFINITE REQUIREMENT! A tent with no sod cloth will wick moisture ino your canvas from the ground.
  • Ropes with tensioners

Canvas Tent cost comparison:

• If the tent you are considering purchasing does not have the standard features listed above,YOU NEED TO ADD THE COSTS of these features to the price of the tent being considered before you can make a valid tent cost comparison.
• Some companies advetrise an UNTREATED TENT with VERY FEW STANDARD FEATURES to get your interest. In the long run the customer pays more for a substandard tent that shrinks 10-15%!

• Before you purchase a tent you must know the definitions of tent terminology in order to compare tent quality and price.
  Tent Terminology:

• Canvas Weight: Heavier canvas is not necessarily better. Double Fill weave both length wise and croswise (Army Duck), water/mildew/fire treatment determines the quality of the tent - not the canvas weight.
• Sod Cloth: Normally a piece of 9 " - 10" vinyl that is sewn to the bottom of all tent walls. The sod cloth acts as an air seal and helps keep the tent clean since the vinyl sod cloth is touching the ground instead of the canvas.
• Eave: Location where roof and side wall meet with a 2"- 4" overhang.
• Eave Socks: Openings at the end of the eaves that allows connecting a tent internal frame to the porch/awning/cook shack frame.
• Floor: Can be sewn in, staked, or attached to tent with D-rings.
  • Recommendation: Don't sew in a floor when using an internal frame as it is extremely difficult to set up.
  • Recommendation: Always have fireproof material underneath the stove with a 2 foot radius , or cut out/ zippered are floor where stove is located when using a floor.
• Fly: Water proof material used to cover tent roof. Protects canvas tents from sparks, UV rays, moisture and allows snow to slide off easier. A factory fly has an area cut out for the stove jack and has a flap.
  • Recommendation: Buy a fly to protect your roof from sparks or if you are going to leave your tent setup for extended periods of time. UV rays are very damaging to canvas.
• Awning: Extension of roof only. Sides and front open. Can be sewn on or extension with 8-12 inch overlap.
• Porch: Extension of roof and walls of the tent. Front is open. Porch can be sewn to tent or extension with 8-12 inch overlap.
• Cook Shack/Kitchen: Extension of roof, walls, front enclosed with a door. Cook shack provides a totally enclosed area for storage and cooking. Can be sewn on or extension with 8-12 inch overlap.
• CLICK TENT INFO GUIDE UNDER INFORMATION FOR MORE PURCHASING TIPS
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