Debate: Is a heavy canvas tent actually better than a cheap nylon one? I switched and here's what happened

I spent the last 2 years using a cheap nylon dome tent from Walmart that cost me like $60. It worked fine for car camping but last summer in the Smoky Mountains a storm rolled in and the thing started leaking at the seams and the poles felt like they were gonna snap. So I finally bit the bullet and bought a 10x10 canvas bell tent from a guy on Craigslist for $300. First trip out with it was this past spring and I gotta say the thing was a beast. No leaks, stayed warm inside, and felt solid in the wind. But man it weighs like 70 pounds and took me 20 minutes to set up alone. The nylon one took 5 minutes and I could carry it with one hand. So which side wins? The canvas is clearly tougher and more comfortable in bad weather but the nylon is way easier to haul and pitch. Has anyone else switched from one to the other and regretted it or been happy with the change? I'm curious where people land on this.

2 comments

2 Comments

margaretf4017d ago

Hanging in there with you on the canvas struggle!

betty_scott1817d ago

Canvas all the way. Heavy but worth it when the weather turns nasty. @margaretf40 knows the struggle is real.