Looking after a canvas tent

[podsquash]

Hello,

I've just found a second hand canvas bell tent for the right price, and I'm very tempted. However, I've noticed that a lot of the bell tent enthusiasts seem to focus on the looks (which is a BIG DEAL of course - they are totally gorgeous) but I wonder if there might be drawbacks? I've camped as a child but not with the kids (nearly 5 and nearly 3) and my husband is reluctantly going along with my harebrained idea to camp next summer. I don't want to buy this tent, go once, find that a canvas tent is really high maintenance and put dh off! So - we have a big garden at the moment, so we have space to dry it off if necessary, but are there other things that might mean we should go for nylon?

Thanks!

[bonfirewithaheartofgold]

ha!

[TheFallenMadonna]

We have a canvas tent. Not a bell tent though. We're not that fancy! Ours is a 1980s frame tent. So clearly still going strong 20+ years on. We love it. And haven't had any problems as long as it is dried v. thoroughly before putting away, which can sometimes take a while...

[dreamingofsun]

hi. suggest looking at the ukcampsites.co.uk website - message forum - think there's one about canvas tents there and they also have tent reviews. WSs bright yellow.

[gunpowdertreacleandplot]

I have one and the only inconvenient thing I've found, as Madonna says, is that you need to let it dry out properly before you pack it away. It's not a massive problem though - if we've been camping somewhere wet we just pack it up, then drape it over the banisters on the landing for a day or so until it dries.

I suppose the only other thing is that they are quite heavy, so not the sort of thing you'd choose to go hiking with! But if you're driving to campsites then that won't be an issue.