The Flex-Bow Canvas Tent by Kodiak Canvas is simply the best of the best when it comes to canvas tents. It’s made with super high quality materials, boasts the best value for its affordable price point, and is so easy to setup it can be done by only one person. Plus, the footprint is much smaller than a traditional bell shaped tent, so you can fit in more campsites with ease.

We understand that this may not be everyone’s top pick, so we’ve also assembled other favorite options below, so you can pick the right canvas tent that best fits your needs.

Your tent is your home away from home, providing much-needed protection and comfort in the wilderness. When it comes to choosing the ideal camping abode, canvas camping tents are a popular choice for their durability and versatility. But how do you choose the best canvas tent from a myriad of options? We’re here to help.

7 Best Canvas Tents

These are our picks for the best canvas tent:

• Editor’s Choice – Flex-Bow Canvas Tent by Kodiak Canvas
• Highest Quality – Avalon Bell Tent 13′ by White Duck
• Best Budget – Bell Canvas Tent by MC
• Best Features – Stella Stargazer by Life in Tents
• Best Oversized – Alpha Wall Tent by White Duck
• Best for Couples – Pro Glamping Canvas Tent by Danchell Outdoors
• Honorable Mention – Mesa Canvas Tent by Teton Sports

OK, But Not As Good – Mesa Canvas Tent by Teton Sports

The Teton Sports Mesa Canvas Tent is one of the best canvas tents on the market, and we love how its simple shape and design is easy to set up and bring along to regular campsites.

That being said, it’s quite similar to our Editor’s Choice above, the Kodiak Flex-Bow. They are a remarkably similar design, size, warranty, and price, but we think the Kodiak tent has slightly higher quality materials that set it apart.

If you love Teton Sports as a brand and want their Mesa Canvas Tent, then we think it could be a great option. That being said, if you’re open to suggestions, try taking a look at our Editor’s Choice – we think it may be a better fit for you.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 10′ x 10′
• Capacity: 6-person
• Other Sizes: 10’x14′
• Shape: Cabin
• Max Height: 6’6″
• # of Doors: 2
• # of Windows: 2
• Fabric: Cotton canvas 285 g/m2 (8.4 oz.)
• Poles: 28mm Steel
• Tent Floor: PVC
• Weight: 71 lbs.
• Stove Jack? No
• Warranty: Lifetime

How We Tested, Reviewed, And Rated These Best Canvas Tents

We love outdoor gear, and we love recommending gear that adds value to our outdoor adventure. We know and understand the importance of having gear that’s worth every penny, so we thoroughly research and test every product we recommend. No matter how we procure an item, our goal is to remain as unbiased as possible, and we put it to the test against its competitors to find the best and worst features.

We also understand that each adventurer is different, and our favorite canvas camping tent may not be yours. That’s why we rate and review a wide variety of products currently available, so you can see a breakdown of all the features and pick what’s best for you and your situation.

Comparison Table

This comparison table takes some of the most important specifications from each tent on our list and puts it into an easy to read format so you can directly compare each one to its competitors. You can see that we’ve included price, dimensions, peak height, canvas quality, and the best use.

Thing to Consider When Choosing the Best Canvas Tent

We’re going to dive into key factors you should look for in an ideal tent, and by understanding these aspects, you’ll be well-equipped to select a heavy-duty canvas tent that perfectly matches your camping needs, ensuring an unforgettable experience amidst nature’s splendor. Here are still some things to take into consideration before purchasing the perfect one for you and your camping style.

One thing that is always mentioned when discussing the best canvas tents is are they really better than modern camping tents. The short answer is yes, but to learn why they are better continue reading: Are Canvas Tents Better? Pros and Cons So YOU Can Decide.

Shape

While many of the best canvas tents are stereotypically bell shaped, not all of them are. The White Duck Avalon, MC Canvas Tent, Stella Stargazer, and Danchell Pro Glamping Canvas tents are all bell style tents, which have a distinct shape. They will have a limited amount of poles, with usually just one for the middle and one for the door, but sometimes with a few to support the outer edge. Their tallest point will be in the center most part of the tent where the pole is, and their ceiling will quickly slope downwards towards the outer walls. Read this article for the best bell tents.

The Kodiak Flex Bow (Editor’s Choice) and Teton Sports Mesa Canvas Tent are both cabin style canvas tents, which feature near vertical walls and a flatter ceiling. This allows for more standing room throughout the entire tent, instead of just certain areas like the bell tents above. That being said, their tall walls can be susceptible to wind gusts, so they must be guyed out properly whenever possible. Read on for more of the best cabin tents.

The Alpha Wall Tent by White Duck is the only wall tent on this list, and it’s a personal favorite when it comes to oversized camping tents. It’s definitely large and spacious, making it a great option for large groups, hunting shelters, event tents, or just an oversized glamping tent.

So how do you know which shape is best for you? It depends on your personal preferences and how much head space you want. The wall tents will have a much taller max height, but they are also quite large.

Cabin tents are next in line when it comes to ample head room, so they tent to strike a great middle balance between size and shape. Bell tents are a classic look and design that lots of campers love, but they can also have the least amount of head room depending on the size of the tent.

Size

Size does matter when choosing your canvas tent, as it affects not only how many people the tent can comfortably house but also how much gear you can store. Larger canvas tents provide more living space, making them ideal for a longer camping trip or a family camping trip.

Smaller canvas tents are generally a more lightweight canvas tent and they are easier to set up, which is an advantage for solo campers or smaller groups. The best canvas tent for you will balance the need for interior space with portability and ease of assembly.

The canvas tents on this list range everywhere from a 1-2 person cozy canvas tent to a massive behemoth of a shelter, and everything in between. Before picking size, first consider these questions: How many people will be camping with you? Will they be in sleeping bags or will you be glamping? How much extra space do you want or need for extra camping gear?

As with a modern nylon tent, always subtract at least two from the designated capacity to get an idea of a more comfortable sleeping arrangements. From there, continue to subtract if you desire more extra space or glamping style sleep systems. Learn more about camping tent size and how much space you need for each person.

Price & Value

Price is often a determining factor when choosing a canvas tent, however, it’s essential to evaluate value over simple cost. A more expensive tent may offer better durability, weather resistance, and features that enhance your camping experience.

While a canvas tent might require a larger upfront investment, its longevity and performance may justify the cost over time.

We also understand that not everyone has the budget for a high-end canvas tent, which is why we’ve included some more affordable options on this list. Granted, they are still more expensive than a regular camping tent, but at least they’re a better price point that the others on this list.

However, know that spending less money up front may cost you more in the long run in the form of extra waterproofing or having to buy more accessories to improve the camping experience.

If you’re able, we recommend spending more at first, that way you can get something that’s a better value for your price tag. We think our Editor’s Choice Kodiak Flex-Bow tent is a perfect balance of quality and price, while the “best budget” option is the lowest quality materials. They still get the job done and can be a great option, which is why that canvas tent still made our list.

The White Duck tents on this list are the most expensive ones, as well as the feature-rich Stella Stargazer. They are going to have the highest quality materials, the most features, and the highest price tag. We think the quality and lifetime warranty are well worth the price, so don’t let it scare you off if you want an awesome cotton canvas tent that will last a lifetime.

Quality of Materials

The durability of your cotton canvas tent is largely determined by the quality of the materials used, which is deeply interwoven with price. The higher the price, the higher the quality, the more durable it will be.

Look for waterproof cotton canvas tents made from thick, treated canvas, robust zippers, and sturdy poles. High-quality materials resist wear and tear, withstand harsh weather conditions, and generally offer better insulation.

On the comparison table above, we’ve included the canvas quality so you can directly compare the different canvas tents on our list. To say that a canvas is “10 oz.” means how many ounces the fabric weighs per square yard. The metric equivalent is gsm or grams per square meter. Approximately 1 oz. = 34 gsm.

The higher the oz. or gsm., the heavier the fabric and the more heavy-duty it is. The thickest fabric on our list is the Stella Stargazer at 11.5 oz., with all the White Duck canvas tents and the Kodiak Canvas Flex Bow not far behind at 10.10oz. Our most budget friendly options (Teton Sports and Danchell Pro Glamping Tent) are the lowest quality at 8.4 oz. and 8.2 oz. respectively.

In fact, our most budget option, the MC Bell Tent, is actually polycotton, which is a combination of cotton canvas and polyester. MC doesn’t provide the exact proportion of canvas to polyester, but polycotton is usually mostly cotton. This is one of the features that keeps the price low, since they don’t have to have an all cotton fabric like the others on this list.

Setup

All canvas tents are going to take longer to setup, especially if you’re used to a traditional dome tent or even an instant tent. Don’t buy a canvas tent for a quick setup time, which is why we don’t recommend them if you frequently camp for only 1-2 nights at a time. They’re best for longer camping trips where you may stay at one campsite for days or even weeks on end, which makes the lengthy set up time more worth it.

Know that a lot of the setup time in canvas tents comes from staking and tensioning the guylines, not necessarily from the complexity of the assembly. In fact, the design of these canvas tents is quite straightforward. It just takes time to get it setup right, and it will get easier each time you do it.

If setup is a priority for you, the Editor’s Choice Kodiak Flex-Bow has the quickest set up time and it can be completed by only one person. Every other tent on this list is quite heavy and requires at least two people for setup.

Features

Extra features can elevate a cotton canvas tent from good to great. Consider aspects like built-in storage pockets, ventilated windows and doors, or even a stove jack for hot tenting in the winter with a wood burning stove. Some canvas tents offer awnings or additional rooms for added space. A good canvas tent should combine practical and luxurious camping features to make your camping experience enjoyable, regardless of the season or weather conditions.

The most feature rich canvas tent on this list is the Stella Stargazer by Life in Tents. Not only does it have the highest quality materials on our list, but it also features roll up sidewalls with mesh, beautiful 360 degree transparent roof panels for stargazing, a mesh covering for the door, and four screened windows.

Several other cotton canvas tents on this list still have some great features, so look for things that stand out to you.

Weight & Packed Size

Normally we would discuss weight and packed size when talking about camping tents, but canvas tents are just generally so large and bulky that it’s a bit of a moot point. You won’t use a canvas tent as a backpacking tent (obviously), so these specifications are less important. But know that all these canvas tents are quite heavy and large, making them only ideal for car camping. You’ll be hard pressed to find one that weighs less than 50 pounds, and if weights less than that it’s probably low quality or super small. Either way, if you can’t carry heavy materials or set up large structures, perhaps you should consider a modern nylon tent or polyester tent that’s easier to set up and carry.

FAQ

Final Thoughts

From the tent’s shape and size to the quality of materials used and additional features it offers, each aspect plays a pivotal role in determining the value and comfort you will get from your tent. These canvas tents are a great alternative to regular nylon tents and polyester tents, and we’re sure you’ll love your new tent!

Each camping adventure is unique, and the best canvas tent is the one that meets your specific needs, providing a safe and comfortable shelter that enhances rather than hinders your enjoyment of the great outdoors. With all the options on the list above, we’re sure that there’s an option that’s the perfect canvas tent for you and your needs.