We had been poised to purchase a synthetic tent - still awaiting price-match confirmation from gooutdoors on a Vango Vail since last week - but this thread has made us think again about the canvas tent we already have.
We were going to buy the Vango Vail because of it's similarities to a traditional canvas frame tent but, after reading a recent report of scarey pitching times on another thread and then this eloquent reminder of why we have always liked canvas, we are having a re-think.
We bought a new-but-never-used Cabanon large frame tent recently and then found it had a small hole in the roof, but had it professionally repaired last week. I suspect it might have been a bit more problematic having a synthetic tent repaired? Also, we feel it could do with a bit more ventilation and so are thinking of having a couple of zips added to make a panel which can be raised (Tent Valeting Services, in Bolton, can do anything!) Would a synthetic tent be so adaptable?
We have decided to stick to canvas. Are we boring old farts?.......
Another frame tent fan here. I've been camping for years (since a lil girl) under canvas. We bought a dome tent for the odd weekend here and there but it just isn't the same (no nice canvas smell, darker and gloomier) and to be honest it takes just as long to put the darn thing up as the frame lol. We have a little system when it comes to putting the frame up but when it comes to the dome we're all over the show
As mentioned earlier we love our frame. When we first ot in and emptied the sacks of poles on the grass me and hubby looked at each other in horror. Our poles are spring linked and we now know what we are doing so can be fully erected in an hour including pegging, groundsheets and inners etc. I reckon lots of nylon campers think that frame tents are hard work to put up. I have to admit the only reason I wont take our Montpellier away without hubby is because I cannot physically lift the canvas onto the frame - but this tent is huge. With the 2 of us its no problem and I am more confident that I would be able to erect a smaller frame tent alone than I am puttin up our Khyam or 3 man Relum Dome - which I can never get lined up with the bendy poles!!
Thanks to those of you telling me about your tents for sale but hubby has banned me from purchasing anymore until I sold some of my current collection first!!!! We are also saving for a trailer. Looks like it will be next summer before I can indulges myself in some more canvas.
I had a frame tent first, for 10 years, and I agree that there are lots of advantages in terms of ventilation, the lovely smell, size and height and being able to cook inside. However, we needed a trailer etc as it was bulky. So when I became single again and had no car in the late 80s, the advent of small, portable but reliable synthetic tents was great for me and was the only way I could continue camping.
The trend for synthetic tents getting bigger and stronger ( and therefore heavier) is quite noticeable, and it is hardly surprising that manufacturers appear to be trying out ALL the various combinations of fabric types with pole types, in view of the expanding market. Hence we now have the Outwell "Lake" range with polycotton flysheet and alloy poles. I am a huge fan of alloy poles due to their unbeatable combination of strength to weight- this influenced our choice of Vango Quest 600 last year.
At the end of the day it is all about market forces; retailers are businesses not charities. The camping market is going through a massive and rapid expansion, and my hunch is there is enough custom to support both the cheaper mass production of synthetic tents and the more specialised niches of serious mountain-type camping AND traditional cotton/steel compositions. So I reckon there will ALWAYS be a market for frame tents, for all the reasons stated, but there will always be some campers for whom the frame tent is not an option, whether because of bulk/transport issues or budget.
I have just noticed that Milofitz, who started off this thread, has a Cabanon Aruba, Mallard 5 and Monty 6. So, come on Milofitz, what are your own views and experiences about this? Does the Monty make you feel like ditching the Aruba and, if so, why? Do Wynnster and Outwell have the edge on Cabanon?
Till 1984 we used my mums frame tent, bought in 1964, when we bought our cabanon guernsey. We still have it its perfectly serviceable. I expect trailer tents took a lot of the frame tent market as they are still canvas but you sleep off the floor. The bulk of a frame tent means you "need" a trailer anyway so you might as well go for a trailer tent.
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I originally bought a frame tent for the family to replace the old frame tent of my parents which had provided thirty years of service. It was a swiss make and cost a fortune in its day. All the poles were connected with solid steel hinges. The tent never blew down or damaged by storms. I just didn't like the synthetic tents which I thought were flimsy in comparison. When looking for a modern day eqivalent I was interested in the sunncamps, cabanons and Kos 6. I went to Caseys where they had the Kos6 and Aruba on display side by side. If the cabanon had not been there we would have bought the Kos. The cabanon was obviously superior so bought it. Since buying it we have also purchased the bedroom annex which is the 'playroom' and somewhere to put the children when cooking and the sun canopy. Only bought the Wynnster mallard for weekends as find the Aruba a bit much too heavy and time consuming for short trips. We have never used the mallard but it appears to be a perfectly good tent for short summer breaks. After the addition of our third child I decided on the Montana 6 as our weekent tent. The high HH rating and steel poles appealed to me.
It seems that some companies in the industry are starting to acknowledge the benefits of a traditional frame tent with its strong steel frame, breathable fabric and optimum use of space. If you can afford a canvas frame tent and have the room to transport and store it I can't think of a better tent to have.
Our first tent was a canvas frame, fab tent , loved it, but sold it when we got a caravan. Then got a 10 berth tunnel type with steel poles, because of the similar size to the frame , and the price was all i could afford at the time. then another caravan. recently ordered a monty6, but it's doubtful if it'll even be delivered because of blacks stock system. Just found a canvas frame tent in my local paper, so will buy that IF I ever get through to them, they're ansaphone is all i can get at the mo
I like the canvas type best, but the monty style tents are appealing to me because of the price compared to a new canvas one. the size/weight issue is not a problem for us, and the pitching time on the 6 berth frame we had was only 30mins anyway. Hubby is not keen on tent camping, he prefers the caravan, but even he admits, you do feel safer in a canvas tent.
The reason we went for a frame tent and trailer rather than a trailer tent was cost. Our new Sunncamp Grange with canopy and trailer with high sides cost under £1000. We could not have got a new trailer tent for that. I can also use the trailer to go to the tip.
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Topic: Canvas frame tents RIP?
. I've been camping for years (since a lil girl) under canvas. We bought a dome tent for the odd weekend here and there but it just isn't the same (no nice canvas smell, darker and gloomier) and to be honest it takes just as long to put the darn thing up as the frame lol. We have a little system when it comes to putting the frame up but when it comes to the dome we're all over the show 
