Choosing and Caring for your Canvas ground tent - written by Morne Stevens (September 2002) The canvas and construction The best makes have an inner shell constructed of a combination of breathable fabric and mosquito netting. Choose one with a strong waterproof, built-in groundsheet, preferably one that rises about 15cm up the side. It must be easy to pitch the tent and should be a one-man job. An outer frame onto which the tent clips will make pitching much easier and allow for breaking down camp rapidly. Rip stop D250 or better canvas is essential. Artificial canvas imitations will cost you dearly in the long run. A tent with an outer flysheet will be considerably more expensive but could be a wise investment if you are planning to use it a lot in wet conditions or very hot conditions. Size and weight The 3-4-sleeper dome tent (2.5mx2.5m) will accommodate two stretchers and some luggage. Do not expect a huge living quarters. If your tent needs to sleep more than 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 kids comfortably then seriously consider a 3mx3m dome tent. The topmost space in the 2.5mx2.5 dome tent is 1.9m where as you can expect 2.2m in the 3mx3m dome tent. The average 3-4-sleeper canvas tents weighs about 34kg. (Poles included) Extensions Dome tent extensions have become very popular over the past few months. These extensions connect to the dome tents to form an add-on room normally used as a kitchen. The additional space is considerably larger than the dome tent but comes at a premium. The canvas for the extension is bulky and the poles are difficult to pack. Only consider an extension if camping for more than 4-5 days in the same spot and you are in the need of a second room. Tent Pegs Make use of the tri-angle pegs only. This is less hard on the tent under windy conditions and much stronger. Avoid aluminum pegs as they will not a last a season. Carry some spare pegs as well as some long nails. When the ground is very hard first drive the nails in to make a hole for the pegs. A rubber hammer is very effective and the shock of hitting a rock with the tent peg is greatly reduced in the rubber head. Locations and ground protection Camping on luscious green grass is always great but this is seldom to be found in the bush. A same sized tarp as the tent's groundsheet will protect the tent from sharp objects, dirt and moist. It is also much easier to pack the tent away while not having to worry about the groundsheet getting dirt into everything. Always try to pitch the tent on a flat surface, which is higher than the surround areas. In the event of strong rain the water will run away front your tent and not into it. Remove any rocks and sharp objects before pitching of the tent. Waterproofing of your tent Canvas tents are not always waterproof when bought. The canvas needs to be treated and the seams need to be sealed. The Campmaster waterproofing for tents are 100% effective. Apply generously over top of the dome and seems. Ensure that the canvas is dry and clean before application. The product comes in spray-on and paint-on options. Air flow and security Large opening windows that can be opened from the inside are very convenient. Even better is to have external flaps on the windows as well. This allows for much better waterproofing. An air hole in the roof is great for allowing the hot air of the day escape as the night cools down. Ensure that it is accessible form the tent inside. The door zip must be able to be closed from both sides. This will allow for locking of the tent. Note that the lock is to keep monkey out of the tent and nothing more. Caring for your tent Your tent should be fully sprayed with water before first time use. This will allow for the cotton threads to expand fully. Ensure that the tent is fully dry before long-term storage. Your tent should not be pitched near an open flame, sprayed with insecticide, stood on, stored damp or stored on a concrete floor.