Out there for a brand new tenting tent, however unsure whether or not to search for canvas vs. nylon tents?
You’ve come to the precise place!
This text will inform you all about what every tent material has to supply.
Canvas Vs. Nylon
Consolation
As a result of canvas is a pure materials, it’s extra breathable than nylon, which is an artificial materials. Which means that the airflow in canvas tents is best than in nylon tents.
This implies you’re much less more likely to get condensation inside your tent, which might typically be an issue when you’ve got an artificial tent product of a cloth comparable to nylon.
Though it’s extra breathable, canvas can also be a greater insulator. This implies you’ll be capable of keep cool when it’s scorching out, and heat when it’s chilly out.
For these causes, it’s secure to say that the extent of consolation offered by a cotton canvas tent exceeds that of a nylon tent by fairly a bit.
Which materials supplies extra consolation? Canvas.
Sturdiness
So, right here’s the deal. Each canvas and nylon are extremely sturdy supplies.
That being mentioned, canvas is extra resistant to ripping than nylon is. Its thick threads stop small rips from changing into bigger over time.
Nonetheless, in the event you get a tent that’s product of Ripstop nylon, it’ll even be extremely sturdy. Like canvas, Ripstop nylon prevents insignificant harm from changing into extra important.
In the event you do get a rip in your canvas tent, you may simply sew it again up with a stitching package.
To restore nylon, however, you want a particular patch, which is considerably extra of a problem.
Though canvas is extra sturdy, nylon nonetheless has a greater strength-to-weight ratio. It’s a lot lighter than canvas, however solely barely much less sturdy.
Which materials is extra sturdy? Canvas.
Portability
In relation to portability, nylon has undoubtedly acquired the higher edge.
Nylon tents are light-weight, making them a superb alternative for backpackers and anyone seeking to preserve their load gentle. They’re additionally extra compact, making them simpler to hold round.
Canvas tents are considerably heavier and bulkier. In the event you’re automotive tenting, this gained’t be an excessive amount of of a problem. For backpackers, nonetheless, canvas ought to undoubtedly be prevented in any respect prices.
Which materials is extra moveable? Nylon.
Climate Resistance
Okay, so what concerning the parts? Which tent goes to carry up higher in opposition to robust winds, rainfall, and sunny rays beating down onto it?
Effectively, in terms of UV resistance, canvas tents come out on prime. Nylon tents will put on down over time due to repeated publicity to the solar. For that reason, a canvas tent will finally final you for much longer than a nylon tent.
Canvas tents additionally are usually extra secure in windy situations than nylon tents.
Neither tent material is waterproof in itself. A nylon tent wants a rain fly to guard it from water, whereas a canvas tent wants waterproofing earlier than you utilize it.
With these measures in place, each tents could have an identical diploma of water resistance.
On a remaining observe, nylon tents are faster to dry than canvas. That signifies that in case your tent will get moist and also you don’t have sufficient time to let it totally dry, you’re much less more likely to have bother with it creating an odor if it’s nylon.
Which materials is extra climate resistant? Canvas.
Chilly Climate Use
Canvas is product of cotton, which is a implausible insulator. Which means that a canvas tent does an ideal job at retaining you cool in the summertime and heat within the winter.
It’s additionally higher at retaining warmth. In the event you’re utilizing a tent heater to warmth the within of your tent, the area inside will keep hotter for longer in a canvas tent.
That being mentioned, there are nonetheless loads of 4-season and even 5-season tents on the market which are product of nylon.
In the event you’ve acquired one in all these, and the proper of drugs for winter tenting, you’ll be simply tremendous in a nylon tent.
Which materials is best to be used in chilly climate situations? Canvas.
Upkeep
Now, totally different tent supplies all require some form of weatherproofing.
This may be achieved by making use of a waterproofing spray. With canvas tents, nonetheless, it may also be achieved by simply drenching the tent fully, and letting it dry out.
This may be achieved as soon as, or might have to be achieved a number of occasions, relying on the actual tent.
Now, as I discussed, canvas tents take longer to dry out. This makes them extra inclined to mildew. Due to this, you’ll want to scrub a canvas tent extra usually than you’d a nylon tent, to be sure you don’t find yourself with a moldy tent.
Once you’re cleansing a canvas tent, be certain to take action rigorously. You don’t need to use a stress cleaner or hose, and also you don’t need to scrub the canvas tent material. Additionally, be sure you’re utilizing water that isn’t any hotter than rainwater can be.
Nylon tents aren’t as delicate, and also you don’t need to take so many precautions when cleansing them. You’ll be able to even get away with washing them within the washer more often than not.
For that reason, I’d say a nylon tent is certainly simpler to take care of than a canvas tent.
Which materials is simpler to take care of? Nylon.
Environmental Sustainability
One other side that shouldn’t be ignored is environmental sustainability. That is one other class the place canvas shines.
As a result of it’s a pure materials, canvas is biodegradable. Which means that as soon as it’s reached the tip of its lifespan, it’s capable of degrade again into the earth, with out leaving any hint or harming the planet in any method.
Nylon material, however, is a man-made material produced from petroleum. Petroleum is a non-renewable useful resource, and making these tents entails using dangerous chemical substances.
This course of additionally produces poisonous waste as a byproduct, which is dangerous to the surroundings, in addition to animals and people.
That’s not all, although.
As soon as a nylon tent’s lifespan has come to an finish (which will likely be faster than a canvas tent, by the way in which) it’ll find yourself sitting in a landfill.
As time passes, it’ll break down into microplastics, which find yourself within the air we breathe and the water we drink.
That signifies that a nylon tent will proceed to wreak havoc on the surroundings, lengthy after you’ve stopped utilizing it.
Which materials is extra environmentally sustainable? Canvas.
Value
Canvas tents are typically dearer than nylon.
It’s because canvas is product of cotton, a pure materials. Nylon, however, is artificial and is due to this fact extra inexpensive.
4-season tents which are made to resist excessive temperature situations are the principle exception. These are sometimes product of nylon, however may be dearer than a canvas tent.
Which materials is cheaper? Nylon.
Issues To Take into account When Shopping for Canvas Vs. Nylon Tents
Function & Tenting Kind
One of many foremost variations between canvas and nylon tents is their weight. Usually, canvas tents are going to be the heavier choice when in comparison with their nylon counterparts.
Due to this, canvas tents are going to be the most suitable choice for automotive tenting, or situations the place you don’t want to hold your tent over lengthy distances. That is very true when you think about canvas’ tendency to be cumbersome.
Compared, nylon tents are recognized for being light-weight and moveable, or simply condensed in your pack.
These qualities make them the most suitable choice for backpacking, or situations wherein you’ll be carrying your shelter for lengthy intervals of time.
Climate & Environmental Situations
Each kinds of tents can assist preserve you heat and guarded all through varied climate situations.
Nonetheless, in some instances you must prioritize one material over the opposite relying on anticipated climate or environmental situations.
Desert
Canvas tents are produced from cotton, which makes them infinitely extra breathable than nylon tents.
Due to this, canvas tents are normally the higher choice for desert tenting as a result of they don’t retailer warmth like their nylon counterparts.
Nylon tents should not have robust breathability qualities exterior of their mesh air flow methods.
This will create a construct up of warmth and moisture within the tent throughout the temperature adjustments that desert nights are recognized for.
Rain & Storms
There isn’t a transparent winner between the 2 kinds of tents for wet climate situations.
Nylon tents are typically extra waterproof however can lack air flow.
This will result in condensation construct up throughout a rainstorm. Compared, canvas tents are constantly waterproof, however not waterproof.
These tents will have to be handled extra ceaselessly with waterproof coatings to maintain rain totally out of the tent.
These tents additionally get considerably heavier when moist, which might make portability tough.
Nonetheless, canvas tents are extra breathable, which means that you’ll not expertise the identical points with condensation as you’d with a nylon tent – even throughout a nasty storm.
Snow & Chilly Situations
Whereas there are some 4-season nylon tents that may stand as much as an excessive chilly surroundings, canvas tents are the higher choice for chilly climate tenting.
Their material permits moisture to depart the tent inside whereas sustaining the physique warmth created inside.
This mixture will preserve you feeling heat and toasty, regardless of how chilly it will get exterior your tent.
In excessive chilly climate tenting, you may even deliver a “scorching tent” produced from canvas, which includes area for an inner heater throughout the design.
Funds Constraints
Usually, nylon tents are going to be the extra inexpensive choice between the 2 kinds of tent.
If you’re on the lookout for a multipurpose tent at an inexpensive fee, nylon supplies must be your first choice.
Canvas tents are produced from cotton whereas nylon tents are produced from artificial supplies.
As a rule, the cotton required of their manufacturing is dearer to purchase, produce, and deal with with waterproof coatings.
Compared, nylon supplies are simpler to create and produce into tents, leaving method for a lighter price ticket.
The exception to this rule lies with 4-season tents which, though produced from nylon supplies, comprise extra design and materials layers to make sure they’ll preserve their occupants heat – even within the harshest situations.
Relying on the dimensions of the 4-season tent, they are often much more costly than a canvas tent.
Lengthy-Time period Vs. Brief-Time period Utilization
If each tent varieties are taken care of correctly and totally dried out earlier than being positioned in storage, it’s seemingly that the canvas tent will last more and be capable of be used for an extended time frame.
The primary purpose for that is that nylon supplies are extra inclined to solar harm, so each time you utilize them within the open they’re getting broken.
Canvas tents maintain up significantly better to daylight and gained’t have an identical problem on the identical fee.
Each kinds of supplies may be patched up and repaired if torn or ripped.
FAQs
Which Tent Materials Is Extra Appropriate For Wet Environments?
It relies upon. In the event you’re on the lookout for a heat retreat from the rain and don’t have to fret about carrying the burden of the moist tent in your again, canvas could also be for you.
In the event you want a tent that may shield you from the rain, then pack up in your trek the subsequent day, a nylon tent will likely be your greatest guess.
How Do Canvas & Nylon Tents Carry out In Snowy Situations?
Usually, canvas tents typically carry out higher in snowy situations when in comparison with nylon tents.
That is largely resulting from their material’s capability to wick away moisture and retain warmth.
Nonetheless, there are additionally 4-season nylon tents which are designed particularly to retain warmth in snowy situations.
Are There Vital Value Variations Between Canvas & Nylon Tents?
It relies upon. Canvas tents are normally dearer than nylon tents, however worth can fluctuate between sizes and fashions.
Which Tent Materials Provides A Higher Lifespan?
Canvas tents will last more than nylon tents over a protracted time frame as a result of materials’s sturdiness and solar resistance.
How Do I Keep & Care For Every Kind Of Tent Materials To Maximize Its Life?
Identical to most tents, you’ll need to periodically clear and restore each canvas and nylon tents to take care of them over a protracted time frame.
Each kinds of tents also needs to be totally dried out earlier than long run storage to forestall mildew and mildew progress.
As a result of canvas is a heavier materials than nylon, it might probably take an extended time to dry out.
Make sure to go away canvas out to attempt for an extended time frame, and be certain that it’s fully dry, earlier than storing it away.
Are There Any Hybrid Tents That Mix Each Supplies?
Whereas most canvas tents comprise some stage of nylon or artificial supplies, it’s uncommon to discover a tent that has a 50/50 make-up of canvas and nylon.
The Remaining Verdict
As you may see, every tent material has its personal set of execs and cons.
Canvas material is extra sturdy and climate resistant. It additionally supplies higher consolation, and performs higher in extraordinarily chilly climate situations.
However, nylon is extra moveable, simpler to take care of, and extra inexpensive.
All in all, in the event you’re on the lookout for a backpacking tent the selection is evident – a superb high quality nylon tent that gained’t weigh you down in your travels is the way in which to go.
In the event you’re a automotive camper and also you don’t thoughts the additional weight, I’d suggest investing in a superb canvas tent. So long as you’re taking correct care of it, it’ll final you for a few years to return.
