Introducing Bell Tents by CanvasCamp—crafted from 100% cotton for an unparalleled outdoor experience. Our canvas, derived from the resilient cotton plant, is sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable. With a soft, earthy beige hue that illuminates both inside and out, our tents redefine camping aesthetics.
Our Bell Tent Canvas
CanvasCamp, the sole tent manufacturer with the official Seal of Cotton®, ensures authenticity and quality. The 100% Cotton canvas offers natural waterproofing and breathability. Its tight weave prevents rain penetration, while the fabric's ability to swell when damp allows water to bead and run off. Internal humidity stays low, minimizing condensation.
Weight or grade of canvas is generally measured in GSM - grams per square metre (gr/m2). Repairable and re-treatable, a properly maintained CanvasCamp tent can last for years. Double stitched, flat-felled roof and side wall seams, seam gussets, and double-layer construction at all stress points create a classic and durable bell tent.
Another factor in our quality canvas is the use of long fibre cotton. Different cotton varietals have different fibre lengths. We use only long fibre because it is stronger and fewer fibres are needed to spin it into yarn. This means it can be weaved more tightly which results in a more waterproof and durable canvas.
Bell Tent Biodegradable Waterproofing Treatment and Fire Resistance
There is the 'right way' to treat canvas, and the 'cheap way'. Our canvas is impregnated with biodegradable waterproofing and mould resistant treatments using a thermal bath and heat curing process before manufacturing your tent. This treatment protects the canvas inside and out while maintaining the canvas' natural breathability.
The 'cheap way' to waterproof canvas involves spraying the tent with a PU (plastic) coating. While this does waterproof the tent - it also completely eliminates the canvas' ability to 'breathe'.
Additionally, PU coatings are also much more susceptible to UV damage from the sun which can cause them to go white, flaky and start to crack. Aside from leaching microplastics into the environment, the failed PU coating eventually makes the tent useless.
Our tents are European tested to BS5852 standards. This is the ‘cigarette test’, which shows that the tent will not ignite when burnt by the likes of a cigarette.
Ultimate Series:
Made using our Classic (320 gr/m2) canvas.
Pro & ProTech Series:
Made using our Pro (360 gr/m2) canvas.
Bell Tent Groundsheet
Our groundsheets attach to the tent sidewall with a heavy duty zipper and are completely water and vapor impenetrable. The 'bathtub' style floor rises 4 inches high to keep you dry even in standing water. The floor can be unzipped to roll up the tent walls for maximum ventilation, or remove the groundsheet entirely for transport, storage, cleaning or to enjoy the grass beneath your feet.
A tail gate style system of secure hooks and loops allows you to drop the bathtub wall near the door and peg it flat to prevent tripping and facilitate easy cleaning. A small gap between the two zippers in the back allows an electrical cord to enter the tent without compromising protection from rain and bugs.
Ultimate Series:
Durable, thermally welded PVC 540 gr/m2.
Pro & ProTech Series:
Thick, thermally welded rip-stop PVC 650 gr/m2.
Mesh Walls
Keep out the flies, mosquitoes, midges and other insects with our integrated mesh walls and doors. Every sibley bell tent also comes with windows and vents covered in mesh for maximum protection, ventilation and privacy.
Ultimate & ProTech Series:
Includes a mesh wall that zips on to the groundsheet and canopy, allowing you to roll up the canvas walls for maximum ventilation while keeping your tent sealed against pests. The mesh walls connect to the mesh door with extra sticky Velcro for a secure seal, offering a full 360° of mesh. When not in use the mesh wall can be rolled up and stowed neatly with the built in hook and loop system on the inside of the canopy, or they can zipped out and removed completely.
Pro Series:
Includes a sewn in mesh door in addition to the traditional canvas door. The tent is equipped with loops on either side of the door to neatly tie back the mesh door when not in use.
Windows & Vents
Every bell tent comes complete with windows and vents covered in mesh to keep the bugs out while providing ventilation and airflow. Our half moon windows have zip up covers to allow you to customize your desired level of ventilation and privacy. Each window is equipped with loop fasteners to neatly hold the covers when the windows are unzipped.
Guy Lines & Tensioners
First time set up is a breeze with the guy lines being already pre-attached to the tent and threaded through our tensioners. All our guy lines have been upgraded with corded nylon rope to make adjusting the tension on the line easier. Our guy lines are 5mm thick and have an additional UV resistant treatment. Plastic tensioners prevent edges from cutting into the guy lines and prolong the life of your tent.
Stakes & Pegs
Specially designed for high wind or hard and rocky ground, our stakes are made from the same high quality nickel plated steel our poles are made from. Guy line stakes are 24cm, angled and serrated to hold up to pounding into hard or rocky ground. A 'T' shaped hook is welded securely to the top of the stakes to prevent guy lines from slipping off even in high wind. Pro groundsheet pegs are 50% thicker than standard pegs. The pegs for the floor are round to slip through the grommets on the groundsheet, and have a hook shaped top and hold the floor in place.
Bell Tent Maintenance and Care
'Season' Your New Bell Tent:
Seasoning, also known as weathering, is an essential process to ensure your new canvas tent stays water-tight and keeps you dry no matter the weather. Canvas tents, similar to denim clothing, shrink when you wash them. All that is required is a good soak and sun-dry to allow the canvas fibres to first expand, then shrink and contract as they dry.
Choose a nice sunny day and pitch your tent in the backyard ensuring the canvas is tensioned nice and tight. Soak the exterior of the tent with a gentle shower pressure and then let it dry. Repeat this process again if you want to be extra careful. That's all it takes to properly weather your new tent. Just ensure that the tent is totally dry before you pack it away - any moisture in the canvas can lead to mould.
Bonus Tip: if you don't want to spend the night glamping in the backyard, don't let the kids see!
Re-Waterproof your bell tent:
Any quality canvas waterproofing spray can be used to re-treat your tent. There are a large range of products on the market, choose your favourite. We recommend following the instructions on the bottle, most are as simple as spraying the treatment onto the canvas and letting it dry.
How to Remove Mould Stains:
If you do get mould stains on your tent, check out how easily they can be removed:
Here's a link to the product used in the video: StarBrite Mildew Stain Remover
Follow these simple care and maintenance steps to keep your canvas tent happy and it will keep you happy for years to come!
Bring yourself one step closer to your next glamping adventure, click here to shop our Canvas Bell Tents today!