Are canvas tents more work than synthetic tents?
When your tent first arrives we recommend 'seasoning' the canvas. Pitch your tent on a sunny day and soak the canvas with water, especially around the seams, then let it dry. This swells the fibres and then shrinks them as they dry, tightening up the weave and seams of the canvas. If you want to be extra careful repeat this process again and that's all it takes!
After a while (exact time dependant on how often you use your tent) the canvas may need to be re-waterproofed. This is as simple as spraying your favourite brand of canvas waterproofing treatment onto the tent and letting it dry.
The only other thing to be wary of is mould (never pack away your canvas tent while it's wet!). If your tent does start to get mouldy, it can be easily cleaned by spraying on mould remover, lightly scrubbing, then rinsing off after a few minutes. Here's one of the many products you can use for this: StarBrite Mildew Stain Remover. Once you've cleaned away the mould we recommend re-waterproofing your tent.
That's the extent of the upkeep required for canvas tents. We believe the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks - have a read of our blog post here to see why!
Are bell tents hard to set up?
We find setting up a Bell Tent easier than any other design. With only a single centre pole and a couple of poles for the door, the design is very simple. Our standard bell tents can be set up with just one person, however the twin design needs two people as there are two central poles.
- Pitch the tent on firm, even ground
- keep the centre pole vertical, and ensure pole feet are attached
- set the guy line stakes in line with the tent seams
- firmly tension the guy lines so the canvas is pulled tight (retention as needed as the tent shifts and settles)
Check out our video on this page on how to set up a Bell Tent for more detail.
How do I safely store my tent?
- Never store your tent while it's wet. If you have to pack up in the rain (we've all been there!) loosely pack everything away and then within 24 hours unpack everything to dry. Ensure the tent, groundsheet and guy lines are all completely dry.
- Cleaning you tent before pack up is also recommended. Not only will you have a nice fresh tent ready for next time, any dirt and vegetation can hold moisture which can lead to mould growth.
- Storing your tent high and dry on a garage or shed shelf is ideal, avoiding any damp areas or spots that puddle in the rain.
- If your going to store your tent for a long period, consider storing it in a big plastic container to deter mice and bugs.
How long does shipping take?
Our shipping is free Australia wide. Generally orders are processed and shipped the next business day from our warehouse in Orchard Hills, NSW. We ship with Startrack Express. Shipping time is between 2-10 business days, with an average of 3 days.