Practical Considerations

Proper use and care of your tent will ensure many years of tenting pleasure

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The tents come complete with the appropriate canopies, sidewalls, metal poles, guy ropes, stakes, wooden pegs, and storage bags for the canvas. It may be necessary to purchase a mallet to put up the tents. All our tents take only a few hours to erect with two persons and similarly to dismantle. The sidewalls are attached to the canopy by hooks, and the panels are laced together.  

Canvas: Robust canvas composed of a cross weaved polyester and cotton blend. Rip-Stop canvas is immensely sturdy. This polyester and cotton canvas has a high strength/weight ratio which gives a longer life without the heavyweight. The Rip-Stop weave gives a high tear strength resulting in excellent durability and resistance to damage. Please note, the canvas can shrink by up to 3% due to weathering. Please make allowances.

Polyester & Cotton blend · Breathable · Temperature & Moisture Regulating Properties · Rot Resistant & Waterproof Finish

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Canvas Care Guidelines

Pre-use Weathering: Before using a tent for the first time, the canvas will need to be pre-conditioned or 'weathered' for the structure to have a natural water repellence. Pre-soak with a garden hose or similar; avoid high-pressure washers as these may remove surface proofing. The fabric needs to thoroughly soak to allow the fibres to swell and relax/shrink back to tighten the weave on drying. This wetting/drying process will enable the canvas to condition and gain its full waterproofing properties and help close up the stitching holes. The process of weathering may take more than one attempt

Maintenance: Allow any mud or dirt to dry. Gently brush off with a soft, lint-free, fabric pad. The canvas should be cleaned with a damp sponge using pure cold water. No detergents or power washers should be used as this will remove the rot-resistant and waterproof finish. Keeping grass and weeds trimmed around the bottom of the tent is also essential since dampness clings to foliage and does not allow air to get to the fabric. 

Storing: Fabrics should never be packed and stored damp. The material should be aired entirely dry before packing away. All-natural fibres are susceptible to mildew. For mildew to grow, it requires heat and moisture. Mould will result quickly on canvas if folded away wet or stored in a damp place. If the fabric is stored for any length of time, we recommend a dry, well-ventilated area.

Canvas care and cleaning: Gently brush off with a soft, lint-free, fabric pad. The fabric should be cleaned with a damp sponge using pure cold water. No detergents or power washers should be used as this will remove the rot-resistant and waterproof finish. Regular reproofing is recommended.

Shrinkage: All tents made from natural fibres, like cotton, will shrink slightly and this will affect the "finished size" measurements of the canvas. The exact amount of shrinkage is impossible to predict.

Winds: Our tents, if erected correctly, are designed to be very stable. However, intense winds can cause extensive damage to your tent and frames. Be sure to set your tent up using all the stakes and ropes provided. Even when using a freestanding frame, it will be necessary to also guy the tent out front and back using the grommets provided in the ends of the ridge if used in windy conditions. Frequently checking the stakes and tightening the guy ropes if they loosen during periods of high winds will keep things together. Leave the walls on any side likely to face strong winds (have the entrance on a different side). Never take all the sides off a marquee in strong winds. If the tent is left alone for periods in windy conditions, we advise that all the panels are attached. This makes it harder for the wind to blow underneath the tent with the risk of blowing it away.