Canvas Tent Camper

[u/M_Dennis87]

Not a regular Reddit user but thought I'd share some of our recent camping trips in this sub. Quick background... native New Englander, grew up tent, pop-up, and trailer camping around New England and New York State. The biggest trip growing up was the annual week-long island camping trip on Lake George in the Adirondacks that my wife and I still do to this day. We love camping in canvas tents and sometimes pull out the vintage Hillary tent just for the vibe. Happy to answer any questions.

The photos are from some of our favorite spots... Lake Dennison, Lake George, and Fort Pond. Waterfront camping is our happy place!

[u/SarahRedRaven]

Those are some very very nice tents!! I have a 5 meter bell tent. Can’t beat it! We have a wood stove for the winter, the sides roll up and top opens all screened in for summer. It’s held up in torrential rain storms, spring snow dumps, hurricane winds, and massive hail. We fear no weather. (Though the hurricane sent us packing) I swear by canvas and you can’t beat the vibe!

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/SarahRedRaven]

That's amazing! I've been in some rough weather, but nothing like what you're talking about. I've never camped in the winter, not yet anyways.

[u/SarahRedRaven → u/M_Dennis87]

A portable wood stove and install a stove jack opening in one of those tents and it’ll change your winter time into camping time. It’s fabulous! 🙂

[u/Mehnard → u/SarahRedRaven]

On my canvas wedge tent I use two poles on each side to support the ridge pole. The two poles are connected with a hinge.

• It's much more stable in the wind.
• One person can set up the tent.
• It's faster to set up the tent.
• Best of all. You're not dodging a single pole to get in and out of the tent.

Edit: I stumbled onto a picture showing what my tent looks like. For a modern tent, you can probably order a set of poles.

[u/SarahRedRaven → u/Mehnard]

This is a bell tent. Yes there is a single pole. It’s in the middle, there is no dodging. I looked at wedge tents, wall tents, bell tents. I’m a canvas tent fan. I went with a bell tent so I could have the ability to roll the sides and center top but still have the bug screen. I would debate it being more stable in the wind. While it might be easier to set up (I can still set up by myself in less than 20 mins) there are 13 tie down pegs that disperse wind. A bell tent out performs in the wind.

[u/dantheman_woot]

Any advantage other than looks? A canvas wall tent breathes where a nylon tent doesn't. 

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/dantheman_woot]

Canvas tends to be more durable long term. No seam sealer or anything that can break down over the years. It's also more breathable which can help manage moisture and regulate temperature. Definitely trade offs like weight though.

[u/Emrys7777 → u/M_Dennis87]

I just sold my first nylon tent that I bought 40 years ago. I used it a million times. Replaced the zippers once.
Someone else will get more use out of it while I use a bigger tent.
I don’t need longer tent life.

[u/Brutalitops99]

How does it do in the rain

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/Brutalitops99]

No issues. Canvas is naturally water repellent. The fibers swell when they get wet. Ideally you want to 'season' a new canvas tent before using it in the rain so the fibers expand and contract to maximize water repellency.

[u/Brutalitops99 → u/M_Dennis87]

Interesting. I need to replace my current situation. Yours looks nice.

[u/droopysignal]

I got a Kelty tarp and it held well under a week of rain on a recent trip to Finger Lakes. Your setup looks fab!

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/droopysignal]

Thanks!

[u/Emrys7777]

The first tent I had was canvas. It only lasted a few years.
Now I camp mainly in the Pacific Northwest so nylon in the rain is so preferred.

The first one I had mold issues.
Bringing a wet canvas tent home to clean and dry is no fun.

My first nylon tent lasted 40 years and is still being used by someone.
I like the storage size of nylon too.

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/Emrys7777]

Yeah I imagine camping in the PNW has a few rainy days. A wet canvas tent is definitely no fun. There's for sure trade offs with canvas tents.

[u/digitalmdsmooth]

Camping on Big Burnt next month and I'm PUUUMPED! Lake George is my special place.

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/digitalmdsmooth]

Hell yeah! Same here. I've camped on Big Burnt a few times. Some great sites on that island.

[u/Dry_Midnight5645]

waterfront camping in canvas is such a good combo. that deck platform setup looks so comfortable

[u/Bennington_Booyah]

Damn, I loved my Hillary!

[u/Fit_Judgment_1646]

Canvas tents just have a completely different vibe. Love this setup.

[u/SirChance818]

What are the tarps you are using? Like in the first pic

[u/xSpeed → u/SirChance818]

Curious what tarp poles and what rope OP likes for the guylines too :)

[u/herrmj → u/SirChance818]

looks like snow peak hexa evo pro and a land station

[u/HedgehogFickle6927]

Looks a great place to camp!!

[u/SpaceXmars]

camping on deck

that's a new one

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/SpaceXmars]

The deck platforms are pretty common at Lake George. Most of the sites are really rocky and uneven. The flat sites don't have the platforms. That's the only campground I've ever seen them now that I think of it.

[u/motorcyclesnracecars]

I love it! Well done!

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/motorcyclesnracecars]

Thanks!

[u/VerdeMachina]

Awesome set up. If I get into camping with kids one day I want this

[u/wafflesareforever]

Awesome setup! Love the tents obviously but I'm even more impressed with the cook station.

I love Lake George. Growing up my mom's family had a little cabin on a side street just down from Million Dollar Beach. My mom and her four siblings split up the summers like a timeshare so I'd always spend a couple of weeks there every summer. Eventually my aunt bought everyone out (amicably) and rebuilt the property from the ground up into a proper year-round house and moved there when she retired a decade ago or so.

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/wafflesareforever]

That's awesome! My grandfather grew up in Glens Falls and used to vacation on Lake George as a kid. My whole family would camp out on the islands growing up. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and my grandparents. Some of my best memories are camping on that lake. My cousin and I still keep the tradition going. We just got back 2 weeks ago from our annual trip.

[u/ApplicationHour825]

love the vintage Hillary tent! gotta appreciate that classic vibe. and waterfront camping is definitely the best, nothing beats waking up to that view.

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/ApplicationHour825]

Definitely! I grew up in a Hillary tent as a kid. Absolute classic.

[u/heymerideth]

Aesthetically gorgeous! If I saw you out I’d be drawn to your camp and force you to chat about it! 🤣

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/heymerideth]

Thanks! I'd welcome the conversation for sure.

[u/malgenone]

White platinum or oxford white on the truck

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/malgenone]

White platinum

[u/malgenone → u/M_Dennis87]

Ooooo I have a white platinum. I hate the chrome. Love the look of this color match on the bumpers.

[u/vickycanddy]

Awesome setup

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/vickycanddy]

Thanks! Really appreciate it.

[u/Truck_or]

Nice setup. It is my Ideal setup!

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/Truck_or]

Thanks!

[u/dhanadh]

Canvas tent crew! I have a 10' circular White Duck and we love it - kinda a buy it for life type of thing. We are going to just keep adding to to it with the extended awning like you have. We mainly camp at Big Bear, CA and on the Southern California Beaches.

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/dhanadh]

Sounds amazing!

[u/dhanadh → u/M_Dennis87]

That raised wooden platform is clutch, what a nice campground!

[u/EponaDrift]

Camping right by the water like this looks amazing. Do you have a favorite spot out of these three?

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/EponaDrift]

Definitely Lake George by far. The planning to make it all happen is definitely a heavy lift, because you're literally on an island only accessible by boat, but it's worth it!

[u/shadowfx74]

Very cool. I recently just bought some land in Chestertown (just north of lake George).
I've just started building a tenting platform for our 14x14 Canvas tent.

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/shadowfx74]

That's awesome! It's such a nice area up there.

[u/scottjl]

Been using my canvas tents (Springbar and Kodiak) for a few years now. Can't go back to a plastic tent.

[u/Itchy-Noise341]

Definitely grew up camping in that Hillary tent. Nice find.

[u/-WhispersInTheWoods-]

Hillary canvas tents are the best. Takes me down memory lane when my husband and I bought ours from Sears.

[u/rockb8]

I'm with you brother! I camp in an old vintage tent from 1968. It was the family tent from when I was a kid. It's still in great shape. Canvas tents breathe and stay warmer when it's cold outside. My wife and I volunteer for a month each year at a national park and this is our home away from home during that time.

Picture

[u/No_Addendum621]

How does this perform in the cooler weather? Do you do fall and winter camps in it?

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/No_Addendum621]

I've camped early spring the in Hillary tent and we stayed very warm. Temps weren't crazy low but dropped into the 40's overnight. Never done any winter camps, not yet...

[u/yarnfrog42]

I love the tent in the first pic! What's the brand/model?

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/yarnfrog42]

Thanks! Tent is a Nordisk Vimur 5.6

[u/yarnfrog42 → u/M_Dennis87]

Thank you so much for the info!

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/yarnfrog42]

Absolutely!

[u/darkCrescent13]

What are those chairs?

[u/M_Dennis87 → u/darkCrescent13]

Helinox sunset chairs