Choosing a Canvas Tent?

 Buying a Canvas or Polycotton Tent?

The Cabanon Biscaya 440 Tent 

When choosing your family tent or backpacking tent there are several considerations , on this page we are going to talk about some of the benefits and negatives of Canvas or Polyester Cotton Tents. There's been a return to these tents over the last few years especially within the inflatable ranges offered by Tent Manufacturers. 

So why buy Canvas or Polyester Cotton - the main benefit of either or these fabrics is that they are breathable and are waterproof by nature , in  your first downpour of rain you may experience some slight mist within the tent , this is to be expected and is part of the meshing process of the fabric. After one good downpour your tent is perfectly waterproof. 

The fabric being a little denser is also much more climate moderate , cooler in summer days and warmer at night or on colder days, this is great especially when camping in sunnier climates.  

The Fabric can also be expected to last longer than standard Polyester Tents with care and maintenance you can expect your Canvas or Polyester Canvas Tent to last many years. Without a doubt Camping under canvas is a very different experience to camping under Polyester , it's is slightly more comfortable environment to camp in. 

If you would like to try before you buy , we have several models in our Tent  Hire Fleet , these are available to hire on a daily basis. If you love it and decide to buy one we credit your daily hire charges against the cost of your new tent! 

We've spoken about some of the benefits to Canvas Tents  , we'll now mention some thing you should also be aware of when choosing your tent. Canvas and Polyester Tents are usually considerably heavier than their matched models in Polyester, sometimes weighing close to 46kg. With this can also come a larger packsize , also worth considering when you are trying to pack the boot of all your camping kit! Being made from Cotton , if you have a traditional summer holiday :) or weekend away and you have to pack down in a little rain you must always pitch your tent to dry. Canvas and Polyester Cotton has the possibility to shrink so pitching when you get home is a must.

 Don't forget to check your pitch size  to make sure you have enough room to pitch in the garden or alternatively , if you have a campsite locally they may be kind enough to let you pitch for drying for a small fee.  

Some Campsites require an early morning de-pitch , so even if there's no sign of rain it may be that there is a little condensation inside the tent or a little dew on the outside , either can potentially damage your canvas tent if you leave packed away for long periods of time. 

Mildew .... that word that sends a shiver down most canvas tent owners backs! it's not unique to Canvas Tents  and is completely avoidable and nothing to concern yourself about at all. With Canvas Tents the key is prevention rather than cure when it comes to Mildew , always make sure your tent is completely dry before packing away for storage.  Make sure you maintain your Canvas Tent , most come pre treated and are rot proof , but a re-proof  with Fabsil when needed (following the manufacturers and Fabsils Instructions) will help protect your tent against mildew too.

You can comfortably leave your tent packed a little damp for up to 24 hours before you re-pitch if travelling before your in the Mildew Zone ... we'd always recommend pitching as soon as possible though!

If you should be unlucky enough to get a little Mildew it's not the end of the world , the marks will probably stay , there are lots of tips and tricks available on line for advice on removing mildew. We've tried a few and to be honest short of applying bleach (which under no circumstances would we recommend) the marks are likely to fade but still be visible - see them as character! 

The Important part about mildew is removing the spores, gently remove with a soft brush to loosen and then vacuum them up if they are on the inside of the tent , again there are lots of tips online for ways to effectively 'treat' the spores , from natural remedies to more aggressive chemical based remedies , we always choose natural , this is your family holiday home!  
Don't forget if you have applied anything to your tent , unless just water -  you will always need to re-proof once any treatment is completely rinsed away. 

These words are a little advice and sharing  from our own camping experience , they are not meant to be instructions or directions , always follow the manufacturers instructions. If you have any questions or would like a little more info , we are always happy to help! 

Happy Camping , The Team @ IBEX Camping 

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Have you seen the New Mini Octagon from Coleman? ..... OctaGo Tent

The Coleman Octago - New for 2020

 We have to be honest ..... initially we weren't sure about this little tent , but having taken a closer look we think that it will make a great addition to our Coleman Tent Range for 2020 , the Little Octagon - OctaGo has all the features of the much loved Coleman Octagon Tent just a little smaller but perfectly proportioned. 

Plenty of Ventilation for warmer days

We took a closer look and imagine that this Great little tent will fit perfectly as an alternative to Dome Tents for any  number of Camping Adventures , particularly weekend events and quick getaways ... giving an alternative if you need to carry your kit across muddy fields and full head height isn't too important. Weighing just 10.9kg the Octago is perfectly manageable. 
The Coleman OctaGo is still an inner up first tent and has a separate flysheet , making it dual purpose too as an insect free outdoor space. 

Still featuring steel poles and even the D Door , the Little Octagon Tent - OctaGo is definitely something refreshing and innovative for the 2020 Camping Season. 

More than enough room for 2 x Single Airbeds 

Generous footprint of 270 x 290 cm there's plenty of room for 2 x single airbeds or a double , 3 on sleeping mats or roll mats. With a great contemporary Blue / Grey and Lime Colour way it will look great on the Camping field too! 





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Wild Country - Back in the Family Tent range for 2020

Wild Country Zonda 8EP - 8 Person Air Tent 

We're delighted to be stocking the new Terra Nova Zonda Tent Range for 2020 , it's been a little while since Wild Country have had a range of Family Tents for leisure and general camping , the New Zonda Range doesn't disappoint with some great features it's a welcome return from Wild Country. 

The Wild Country Brand has been developed by the Team behind Terra Nova , designed in Derbyshire and with 35 years experience in designing innovative tents. So, what do we like about the New Zonda Range ... the first is the great dual purpose living space , with an internal fully sewn in living area and a fully enclosed Extended Porch (that's the EP part!) with a removable Bathtub Groundsheet , great for family camping! The Wild Country Zonda range also comes with an incredibly generous 10 Year Guarantee on the Airflex Air frame , 2 years on the flysheet etc. The Team @ Wild Country have also re-designed the Tent Bag! referred to as a Tarp Tent Bag , this unique design allows the tent to be packed quickly and efficiently without needing to stuff into snug bags! 

With a generous H/H of 6000mm and made from 150D Ripstop Polyester , there's no compromise on the quality of the Flysheet. For the 2020 Season Wild Country have decided to offer the Zonda EP range as a bundle making them great value without compromise on Quality. Available in 3 sizes Zonda 4 EP - 4 Person Air Tent , Zonda 6 EP - 6 Person Air Tent and the largest in the range and also commended by the Camping and Caravan Club the Zonda 8 EP.  With Prices from just £825 for the Zonda 4 EP Bundle. All 3 Models feature tinted windows and darkened bedroom compartments and curtains to help lighter sleepers and young children sleep a little longer. 


The Wild Country Zonda range is due to arrive late April / Early May , you can reserve yours now for just £50 , we'll then invoice as soon as we have a delivery date for you. 


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