Purchase Recommendations for Canvas Tents
Wall Tent Purchase Recommendations:
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Zipper Door: I recommend a back door with zipper or back window for cross ventilation for hot weather. Being in a wall tent without a back door or window is miserable during hot weather. It is just like being in a car on a hot day with the windows rolled up.
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Size of Tent: If you can't decide between 2 sizes, go for the larger. I have never heard anyone say they wished they had purchased a smaller tent. When people complain about the size of the wall tent, the complaint is the tent is too small for their requirements.
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Windows: Wilderness windows are 30" x 30". The montana tent are 24" x 30". Windows on the side walls provide cross ventilation. The windows are screened with a canvas flap on the inside. Flap has 2 side zippers with velcro on the top.
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Screen Doors: Screen doors are on the inside of the wall tent and have a zipper. Screens tie back when not required. Screen doors provide much more ventilation than screened windows due to the difference in size. Screen doors are recommended when ventiliation is required and especially in area with many bugs.
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Fly: Fly is always recommended. Sometimes during rainy days, a wall tent will leak where the canvas touches the frame. If this wicking and leaking occurs the only solution is to purchase a tent fly. The fly is another moisture barrier and prevents any rain or snow from touching the canvas so no wicking or leaking can occur. Other benefits of a fly (1) prevents sparks from the stove pipe burning holes in your canvas roof (2) protects canvas from ultraviolet rays which deteriorates the canvas (3) keeps your tent roof clean from tree pitch (4) creates air space between the roof and fly which acts an insulation area which helps keep your tent warmer.
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Fly Set Up:The fly rests on top of the tent ridge and fly extends 8 - 12 inches on the sides. Usually, the tent fly has a 3-4" gap between the fly and wall tent eaves. This gap is accomplished by having the fly stakes farther away from the tent side walls which changes the angle and provides a gap between tent roof and fly.. The gap is necessary to allow airflow to remove any moisture on the tent roof. However, if you are in Windy Conditions, you must not have a air gap because the wind will get under the fly and destroy the fly grommets and fly.
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Tent Bag: I strongly recommend a tent bag to keep your wall tent clean during hauling and storage.
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Options: If you are not sure about a option I would probably add it. It is much cheaper to add options while the tent is under construction compared to costs after you take delivery. Option add on later is normally 2-3 times more expensive than when tent is originally made. Also the time and effort taking the wall tent to and from the tent maker to add on should also be considered.
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Color: I encourage you to purchase a tent that is white. White reflects lantern light much better than off white or colored tents.
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Purchasing a large tent: Large canvas tents, 14'x16' to 16'x24' can weigh from 90 - 120 pounds and can be very difficult to set-up. You might want to consider purchasing a blend tent, with its canvas roof and synthetic lightweight Relite walls. The blend tent weighs approximately 40% less than an all canvas tent making it much easier to handle and set-up. The blend tent with its lightweight Relite walls is just as durable and weatherproof as all canvas tents
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Cook shack: A cook shack costs almost as much as a wall tent of equal size. Sometimes it makes more sense to buy another tent to use as a cook shack and have the flexibility of using the smaller tent when less people go hunting or camping.
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Color of Fly: A clear translucent fly is best as it allows light to pass through it. If you use a dark fly, such as a blue tarp, during the day it will be much darker inside your wall tent.
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Reinforced eaves: The eaves have the most pressure on a wall tent due to tightening the roof by use of guy ropes and stakes. If a tent fails due to snow loads, the tent normally tears near the eaves and grommets. Insure whatever wall tent you buy has reinforced eaves.