Quote: Originally posted by rpgrayson on 14/6/2008
A 'new generation' camping fanatic here. I've just got into life under canvas after the most horrendous memories in my first decade of life in the late 70s in a canvas frame tent.
Just trying to be devil's advocate, but isn't there more than a little nostalgia and 'purchase justification reflex' in this thread?
I remember helping my dad lug a huge and incredibly heavy canvas tent up, which proceeded then to blow down on me and my brother in a storm whilst my parents were in the bloody bar!!! When we got home, we then had awful time trying to dry out a sodden 20m2 of canvas in a terraced house in the British summer.
I tentatively got back into camping a few years ago on my wife's insistence, filled with dread at the prospect. I must admit that the new developments in technology came as quite a revelation to me.
Although I'm sure not as sturdy as a frame/canvas structure in the worst conditions, I've never experienced conditions, especially with Deltapegs, which threatened to blow our modern synthetic tent down on us. I've found it well designed, spacious, warm, draught-free, easy to dry, lightweight, comfortable and from my memory hugely less 'high-maintenance' than a more traditional structure.
Do all you experienced people think there are there any overwhelming reasons to stick with the older materials? Is the market dominance of synthetic construction materials simply down to cost/simplicity/ease of manufacture? Is canvas the only choice of the 'purist'?
Maybe my memories have been coloured by the storms of summer '79, but I'm a fan of modern, lightweight, cost-effective and low-maintenance designs.
Hi.
No RP. Nostalgia nose not come into camping safety and comfort, In business it is always good business to only make your products last a reasonable time, so you can sell another to the unsuspecting public, wrap it up nice and it is half sold and if it is cheap these days once again campers without experience think it is a bargain?? but when the Rain comes in through the multi window seams, or the wind snaps a pole and rips the cover or fly to some people. Or your cloths have got wet with condensation, Or you may have real difficulty erecting it in strong wind or just taking down.
No it is not nostalgia why experienced campers prefer Canvas frame tent
Regards
Rex
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
I agree with Rex. However - if you haven't got much money. Or if you are trying it out, then the less expensive polyester tents do make some sense. We bought our Outwell for £200 because we were coming back to camping in our 50s and didn't want to spend a fortune on an expensive mistake. It was an absolute bargain, and we were hooked. So we spent big dosh on a T/T.
What I don't really "get" is spending £400-£500 on a polyester tent. It will work out very expensive in its short life-time.
I have to say I consider myself an experienced camper albeit without ehu fridge heater etc. I am more a basic camper very probably because I go by motorbike and I just don't have room for luxuries (otherwise I would lol)
I've used my Kyhams in all weathers including snow and been totaly fine. I know my Kyhams are not classed as 4 season but they have served me well and kept me warm and dry in evil weather.
I have never had a problem with condensation either to be honest. Am I alone in this?
Hi CG.
I see Kyhams are now stating their new tents are now three season, This is a leap forward for them and I hope they are successful, otherwise they will be getting a lot of claims from customers if they are not. Outwell still only recommend all their tents as two season. not sure is it Spring and Summer, or Summer and Autumn or Summer and a bit of both,
I recon for legal reasons it will be the opposite from when a customers tent get destroyed
Regards
Rex.
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
What exactly does 'x season' mean? Is your tent unwarrantied after that time, or is it likely to fail in normal use? I accept your point about manufacturers wanting to increase their sales but that's very unsound environmentally.
Do you spend lots of time 'maintaining' your frame tent when back home? I'm a confirmed fair-weather camper and make no apology for that, so I don't want to experience the conditions I remember from 1979 again! I bet that storm would've put our current tent into the Atlantic Ocean!
I like the minimal maintenance aspect to synthetic materials. Is it more hassle in this respect with a canvas tent?
Quote: Originally posted by rexgrant on 17/6/2008
Hi CG. I see Kyhams are now stating their new tents are now three season, This is a leap forward for them and I hope they are successful, otherwise they will be getting a lot of claims from customers if they are not. Outwell still only recommend all their tents as two season. not sure is it Spring and Summer, or Summer and Autumn or Summer and a bit of both, I recon for legal reasons it will be the opposite from when a customers tent get destroyed Regards Rex.
Hi Rex
I didn't know that. I suppose this means they are confident in their product.
You know I really think from reading this thread that big tents are probably far superior in canvas but smaller tents like the ones I use are just as good in nylon. It has to be a stability issue which isnt something that affects smaller tents. While I consider my tent quite roomy, I know that it's diddy compared to the average forum members kit.
Quote: Originally posted by rpgrayson on 17/6/2008Thanks for the useful info Rex.
What exactly does 'x season' mean? Is your tent unwarrantied after that time, or is it likely to fail in normal use? I accept your point about manufacturers wanting to increase their sales but that's very unsound environmentally.
Do you spend lots of time 'maintaining' your frame tent when back home? I'm a confirmed fair-weather camper and make no apology for that, so I don't want to experience the conditions I remember from 1979 again! I bet that storm would've put our current tent into the Atlantic Ocean!
I like the minimal maintenance aspect to synthetic materials. Is it more hassle in this respect with a canvas tent?
Best Wishes,
Rob
Hi Rob
The only requirement with a canvas tent is that you pack it away dry and in a dry place just exactly the same as you need to do with a nylon or any material tent, to stop the growth of algae otherwise know as mildew.
But should you fail and your tent gets attacked with an algae you can kill the infection and save a canvas tent but it is difficult to safely remove the stain, it can not be said for the nylon one though.
Regards
Rex.
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
Hi again CG
Yes the small nylon tents will stand up to strong winds very well I believe. We only ever had one years ago it was a three man dome with an extended aluminium frame, We used it for a few times but we could not stand the condensation, so we gave it away and bought Old faithful our small Cabanon champaign frame tent up and pegged in 15 minutes and still in use after 12 years with never a leak or worry in the wind.
Regards
Rex. good night, Nos da.
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
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Topic: Frame Tents Are They Still No1
When we got home, we then had awful time trying to dry out a sodden 20m2 of canvas in a terraced house in the British summer. 
