Weather and Environment

CanvasCamp sells only the highest-quality tents and gear. Many of our tents are designed for all four seasons, featuring thicker canvas and enhanced UV and mold protection for durability. However, proper care is essential—tents should not be left up unattended. “4-season” does not mean insulated or built to withstand extreme weather events like heavy snow. It’s up to you to use and maintain your tent responsibly. Read on for tips to keep your tent in top shape.

Rain

CanvasCamp tents are treated for water resistance and are 100% waterproof. Additionally, the weave of the cotton fibers naturally creates waterproofing through swelling and the surface tension of water, leading to droplet formation and runoff.

To maintain your tent's sealing properties, follow our cleaning, storage, and re-treatment instructions and keep these tips in mind:

Avoid touching the canvas with greasy hands. Lotions, oils, and food residues can affect the canvas.
Pitch your tent properly to ensure rain and snow drain off quickly.
Do not use harsh detergents or cleaning agents on the tent.
Ensure furniture or other equipment does not come into contact with the inner canvas.

Wind

CanvasCamp tents are well-suited for harsh conditions, such as the windstorms at Nevada's Burning Man Festival. Properly pitched Sibley tents have withstood winds up to:

Sibley 400: 75 mph | 120 km/h
Sibley 500: 60 mph | 95 km/h
Sibley 600: 50 mph | 80 km/h

In extreme winds, the Sibley tent's central pole is designed to break before the fabric tears. Ensure:

Proper placement of stakes
Centered poles
Taut guy lines

Keep in mind, the tauter the tent, the stronger the tent—so make sure to adjust the tensioners at least daily, or more often in inclement weather.

Other important considerations:

Our exterior tent accessories are not wind-tested and shouldn’t be left up in extreme wind.
In high winds, consider using 45 cm long bent rebar stakes.
Wind resistance levels are general guidelines and weather predictions are not guarantees.
Variability in wind and weather conditions may affect outcomes. Contact us with questions or feedback for further assistance.

Snow

Snow and ice are not a friend of the canvas tent. The weight of snow, especially in damp climates, should never be underestimated. If you plan to leave the tent up in the winter (attended), you have to maintain it—i.e., scrap all ice and snow off every day.

A a single cubic foot of snow can weigh 10 to 30 lbs (depending on other factors like wind, moisture, etc.). That means, on average, two inches of snow can add 1,500 lbs of weight to a tent. To put that into perspective, that’s about as much as a snowmobile. But keep in mind, snow varies in weight and composition.

The term “4-season” implies that the tents are designed to last, which is achieved through features like a thicker canvas tent and enhanced UV and mold protection. However, “4-season” should not be misconstrued as insulated nor that it can withstand the accumulation of snow—it is the responsibility of the customer to practice care in the great outdoors.

To reduce snow and ice accumulation:

Brush snow and ice off periodically with a soft-bristled scraper, at least daily.
Keep a tent stove running to melt snow and ice.
Position the tent under a permanent room structure, if possible.

We do not refund customers for damaged products due to inclement weather so stay on top of weather forecasts, never leave your tent unattended, and practice common sense outdoors.

Lightning

Lightning strikes are not entirely random in their targets, but rest assured, your tent poles do not increase the likelihood of a lightning strike. Simply put, small ground objects like tents would only attract lightning if it strikes nearby. For instance, a 6.5' or 2-meter tent would only attract lightning striking within a 6.5' or 2-meter radius.

To minimize risks in lightning-prone areas:

Camp in low-lying areas, away from high geographical points.
Avoid flood-prone sites as floods cause more accidents than lightning.
If you are the tallest object in the area, take shelter in your car.

Setting Up Your Tent on Different Ground Types

The proper tent setup requires suitable stakes:

Rocky or frozen ground: Use steel stakes or tarzan pegs, which are essentially large nails with wide heads. A claw hammer is ideal for placement and removal.
Sand, snow, or loose soil: Wooden stakes are a must.
Hard or clay soil: Use our Pro stakes for guy lines and D50 nails for ground sheets with a rubber mallet.
Desert or mud: Opt for 45 cm long bent rebar stakes, driven in with a sledgehammer

Drive stakes deeply for secure placement and to avoid injuries.

Mold & Mildew: The Only Uninvited Guests

Mold loves damp, humid spaces—your canvas tent, not so much. Even the highest-grade tents on the market (read: CanvasCamp tents) can develop mold if neglected. But don’t worry, a little prevention goes a long way.

Our tents are built to battle the elements—treated for rain, UV rays, and mold resistance—but like all good things, treatments wear down over time. The key to keeping your tent mold-free? A few simple habits:

Store it bone dry. Even a little moisture can turn your tent into a science experiment.
Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate. Keep air moving with mesh windows and vents, especially in humid conditions.
Give it a once-over. Spot mold early while tightening your guy lines, so you can tackle it before it spreads.
Clean & retreat as needed. Follow our care guide to keep your tent adventure-ready.

Mold prevention takes minutes. Dealing with a moldy tent? Way less fun. For more details, check out our ‘Tent Use and Care’ section.