Air Travel Discount
Links of interest for your travel plans
Canvass
Wall
Many of us have spent cramped, cold nights in nylon
dome tents, wondering when we could get back to our nice warm
homes. This is as true of car campers as it is of
backpackers, since most families don't have enough space in their tents
as they need. One nice alternative to the standard nylon tent
is a canvas wall tent.
Bringing up visions of old west cowboys, the canvas wall tent has a
long history in the western U.S. Cowboys, hunters, and
herders have used them for hundreds of years as base camps and homes
away from home, packing in the canvas and constructing frames from
locally cut timber. Even now, canvas wall tents are the
shelters of choice for anyone spending a large amount of time in the
backwoods since they offer unparalleled comfort and warmth, even in
heavy wind and snow. Since the walls and frames are
relatively heavy compared to nylon they usually aren't used by
backpackers, but many hikers use them as base camps for a series of day
hikes. Wilderness outfitters have never stopped using canvas
wall tents, as they serve as excellent hunting camps with room for an
entire crew of hunters. Ranchers and cowboys use them as well
for working stock, since the tents can be easily packed in by horses,
set up in a matter of minutes, and provide reliable shelter for
months. Many families even use them as guest houses; they're
economical and pack away easily when company has left.
Canvas wall tents can also be outfitted with a number of accessories,
which make them more comfortable than any nylon tent. Perhaps
the best feature is that you can stand in them easily! The
first addition most people make to their canvas tent is that of a
stove. Since canvas is a natural material it won't melt like
nylon, so wood-burning or propane stoves can heat up a canvas tent
quickly and safely. Porches or cooking extensions are also
handy accessories, as they can make the tent cover more area as well as
adding a nice place to sit with a drink and watch the sun
set. Other options include cots (or even bunk cots), storage
racks, and tables to allow you to use your canvas wall tent however you
see fit. They also double as handy awnings for outdoor events
once their walls are removed. Though they may not be the tent
of choice for backpackers, if you're looking for a sturdy, durable tent
to spend a lot of time in, you don't need to look much further.