I have followed all threads concerning canvas tents on this excellent site and i decided to become a member.
Coming from Scandinavia and consider myself an experienced camper (trekking/hagloef/fjeallraeven) my camp was based on something lightweight and 30 km a day..I have re located to central Europe and started to camp with wife and one kid..and now we are two. It takes some time to get used to the idea of a “campsite” J ...( born with the freedom of camp where ever and when ever)..Ok..you pack the car..you load family and gear..and you find a campsite to set up base..the last five years i used a Coleman..one of those “plastic” things..
Now we are 4...and i want the “real” stuff...i want to camp close to the sea..i want to visit the British islands..i want to camp in the Alps...3-4 weeks a year..
So the question is:.. A good..a very good 100% cotton canvas tent..4 persons. I like to be “static”..pitch and stay J
What tent do you good fellow’s recommend..and does anyone know how many grams the De Waard canvas is made off ... >300gr..or less...
Hi there and welcome! I am not sure about De Waard tents but our Esvo Salamander is made of 320gr ten cate cotton and it is very thick, and heavy. Once up it is rock solid and I think it would withstand just about any kind of weather (though it hasn't been put to the test yet as we had 10 dry days and nothing more than a gentle breeze on holiday in France this year!). I would definitely recommend a tent of similar quality, whether it is De Waard, Cabanon or anything else, these kind of tents feel lovely and secure inside and they smell fantastic !! I think you and your family would have many happy years of camping with one of these tents.
Dawn and Tentz! Thank you both!...looking into your submitted pictures i understand you “know” what you are talking about. Tunnel tent for the south (smaller pitch area) seems to be the rule.. ... Both photos and site reviews are very much appreciated... I understand that a good canvas solution for 4 people will end up around 50-60 kilograms something that sounds reasonable..
Purchasing any of the options (De Waard / Karsten / Cabanon) on the way to the British islands could be a valid option for next year’s camping..perhaps up in the “highlands” .. The new family member (2years of age) should be introduced to camping ..regardless weather ....
If you are able to take a trip to the Netherlands you could maybe have a look at some of the dutch tents over there in the showrooms....that would give you the best idea of which one would be best for your family, I think...
Here are some websites that I have spent many hours drooling over ....... !
There are loads of options for quality canvas, we visited Vrijbuiter in Holland last year and it was the most fantastic place with loads of canvas.
For me the first question would be to decide the shape of tent. Do you want a traditional bungalow frame tent shape (this gets my vote personally) in which case Cabanon is probably the likely answer or do you want a tunnel in which case De Vrijbuiter had some lovely canvas tunnel tents or do you want a pyramid type shape which perhaps leads you to De Waard/de-wit and others.
I think the shape drives where you go with manufacturers.
We've tried a pyramid (Cabanon Guadeloupe) and didn't like it, we didn't like the SIG (sewn in groundsheet) and we didn't like the lack of height in the walls so for us it's frame tents all the way. The tunnels with SIG are a nice compromise for wall height but a SIG and if I was buying a family tent I would have been tempted by the canvas SIG tunnel tents - there were some nice designs with canopies etc.
Spend some time looking at designs, perhaps buy something second hand this time and then work out exactly what you are looking at from a family tent before spending a lot of money on one.
Thank you all for great advices. Buying a second hand high quality tent seems a very reasonable option, to try “it” out.....Pyramid, dome or frame ...
De Waard, ESVO, Karsten, Cabanon, Bell tents... ...well.. One thing is for sure, i will Camp again (less trekking this time)... 50Kg is ok.
Thanks again all!
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Topic: De Waard? / Cabanon? / ?
!! I think you and your family would have many happy years of camping with one of these tents.
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