This Straight Wall Family Cabin Tent is exactly what its name says, a very typical cabin style structure with almost vertical walls. The tent is also very tall with its peak height of 86 inches (218 cm), so this is a good reason to include it in my list of very tall family camping tents. Wall tents are designed to be used more long-term, so they need to be extra durable and provide above-average comfort. They have traditionally been made from cotton canvas, and many still are, but the woven polyester canvas is becoming more popular due to its price, weight, and lower maintenance.
However, it is good practice to inspect your tent at least once a week and ensure there is no damage, all the pegs are securely in the ground, and the fabric is as taut as it should be. UV damage is your most significant risk in locations with high summer temperatures. In exposed areas susceptible to gale-force winds, you must ensure that your tent stakes are securely pounded into the ground, as the tension they provide will enhance the structure’s overall strength. ozark tent If you get a lot of snow in winter, you need to ensure it doesn’t get too heavy on the roof, which could eventually crush the frame under the weight. You will rarely see a fiberglass frame on a wall tent because fiberglass tent frames require some tension for them to provide support, whereas wall tent frames provide the support to create tension from the shell fabric. Flame-resistant canvas is super important if you plan to use a wood-burning stove inside your tent.
When pushed, most of those we talked to estimated five to 10 years, though the actual lifespan will vary widely depending on care and frequency of use (for more advice, read REI’s excellent tips). In conducting research for this guide, we heard multiple tales of careful campers who had been using the same tent for 15 years or more. We were surprised at first to see the Mineral King 3 come out on top. It was the only three-person tent—and therefore technically the smallest—in a test group that consisted primarily of four-person tents.
In this part of the guide, we share some of the features and specifications we highly recommend you seek to ensure you get the best canvas wall tent for your needs. As you read through them, try and imagine how each one would affect your camping experience, and close your eyes if you have to. We’ll be taking another look at family-size tents next, as a few readers have noted some issues with our top pick’s window design that we’d like to follow up on. We’ll be testing tents that would be ideal for a family of four camping in all terrains and in three seasons. On the Tungsten 4, the vestibule openings extend directly from the tent’s pentagonal doors, with protected areas flanking either side. This design does a great job of shielding the tent from incoming—and sideways—wind and rain, while maximizing storage space in two large vestibules.
In spring 2017, we put up our three new contenders in the same neighbor’s yard and left them there for a couple of weeks, during which time we had the chance to see how they responded to two smaller rainstorms. In 2020, we tested the updated version of the Eureka Copper Canyon 6—renamed the Copper Canyon LX 6—to make sure we still thought it was the best. We did, but after hearing some complaints from our readers, we’re now retesting it against other options. On most tents, these components are made of either nylon or polyester.