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 ozark trail wall tent 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.
It also comes with a tailor-made anti-abrasion groundsheet to protect the tent from wear and tear. This is a minor benefit and maybe something you’ve never thought of before, but cotton canvas wall tents are much quiet than polyester tents, especially in the wind or rain. Wind can cause the material to flap about a bit, even if it is tightly secured, which can disturb you at night if you’re a light sleeper. Rain pattering can be relaxing and peaceful, but heavy rain can make a real racket on lightweight tent fabrics, whereas cotton dulls the sound better than other types of canvas.
Designed as 4 season shelters, they often feature a special panel on the roof with heat-resistant fabric to run a log-burning stove exhaust through. Despite having the smallest capacity of the tents we tested at 42.5 square feet, the Mineral King 3 easily fits two people with a full-size mattress, or two sleeping pads, and gear. Two large vestibules add nearly 40 square feet combined—that is, 18.75 square feet on either side—of potentially protected ground space. That gives you a lot of room to maneuver both inside and around the tent.
Please use inspection time to preview and test before you bid. All Items Sold AS-IS Where-IS with ozark trail canopy no warranty and no return. All item descriptions are believed accurate but are not guaranteed.
In this guide to the best canvas wall tent, we share our recommendations for straight-walled tents made from canvas material. You will learn the benefits of canvas tents as well as the advantages of having straight walls on your tent. Finally, we give you the reasons why canvas wall tents are so good and how long you can expect them to last. Without the fly, the Mineral King 3 has a full mesh dome with a waterproof, tape-seamed bathtub-style polyester floor. The overall feeling inside the tent is airy and comfortable. The tent doors are nearly wall-sized, and when they’re unzipped, you simply stuff them into pockets, rather than having to roll and toggle-tie the fabric.