Canvas Tents White Duck Outdoors Review
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Have you recently found yourself daydreaming about canvas tents? Perhaps you're a LARPer (AKA live-action role player) or a Civil War reenactor searching for the perfect faux encampment prop. Maybe you're looking for a more functional outdoor shelter, like a wall tent for your next backcountry camping adventure or a backup lodging option for a bug-out kit.
Whatever it is that sparked your curiosity in these old school fabric shelters, we're thrilled it brought you here. Come along as we discuss everything there is to know about canvas tents and introduce you to one of the country's top canvas tent manufacturers, White Duck Outdoors.
But first, a little history...
NOTE: If you want to skip the history, and jump right into the "White Duck Tents Reviews" CLICK HERE. In that section, we discuss each of the company's individual models.
A Brief History of Canvas Tents
In our research we discovered that there's no easy way to identify when the first canvas tents popped onto the scene. What we do know is that the Industrial Revolution made canvas fabrics much more accessible to ordinary Americans.
Check out this White Duck Outdoors "Prota Deluxe" by clicking this image!
Types of Canvas Tents
Since you're now aware of the historical implications and popularity of canvas tents, let's take a look at a few of the most popular shelters within this category of tents.
(The White Duck "Prota" family cabin tent shown just above to the left is a great example of a current popular style!)
Wall Tents
Wall tents are some of the most popular kinds of canvas structures. These tents tend to have vertical walls and open gable roofs. In many ways, they are comparable to broad, single-story Cape Cod houses.
Bell Tents
There's no denying the beauty of a traditional bell tent. Cotton canvas forms an elegant shape when it is draped over a raised central pole. Reinforced guys lines (which are anchored by large metal pegs) give these tents added stability and a signature style. Needless to say, these edifices are suitable for large gatherings and intimate overnight trips.
Cabin Tents
Cabin tents, or viz-a-viz tents, come in a variety of forms, all of which feature sloping roofs, vertical walls, internal dividers, and durable floors. These canvas structures are the most likely to resemble traditional nylon and polyester camping tents.
The "Prota" shown above is a perfect example, and we also look at this particular model in a bit more detail below.
Swag Tents
Swag tents are small, portable sleeping units. These tents are popular and widely used throughout Australia. The Outback is a great place for overlanding.
While we couldn't find a current canvas swag design in stock, we found one that is a little bigger than the typical "bivvy sacks" you see today. This one, the the Ionosphere 1 Man Dome Tent by Snugpak, at Amazon, gives you a pretty good idea of the design.
Whose Who in the Canvas Tent World
LARPers
LARPers (live-action role players) use canvas tents to make their medieval fairs, pavilions, and re-enactment campsites more immersive. They're the perfect backdrop for musters, jousts, and D&D fantasies.
Campers
While canvas tents aren't the most popular overnight structures for weekend getaways since they take a bit more effort to carry and put up, they're probably the top choice of glampers, or glamorous campers, and overlanders.Hunters
Hunters seem to appreciate canvas wall tents, which tend to be spacious enough for large hunting parties and stockpiles of supplies. These temporary structures can withstand harsh weather conditions. Plus, many of them boast wood stove jacks. As such, they allow hunters to warm up and eat a hot meal after a good chase.The Hospitality Industry
The hospitality industry seems to have a soft spot for canvas tents. We've seen them used as luxury camping accommodations, wedding and party venues, and festival gathering spots.
(After I posted this article, I suddenly seemed to notice a number of these! Of course this may be due to a lot more restaurants moving their dining rooms outdoors recently.)
Bug Out Structures
Given the durability and size of these structures, some people include them in their bug-out bags. Bug-out bags, or BOBs, are survival kits that people can rely on in the event of a disaster. If you and your family were displaced for an extended period, a canvas tent might be the perfect place for your layover.
Click here to see the Regatta Bell Tent by White Duck Outdoors Canvas Tents
White Duck Tents Reviews
White Duck Outdoors: The Ultimate 21st Century Canvas Tents
White Duck Outdoors is one of the preeminent makers of modern-day canvas tents. To get a taste of what consumers are looking for, we looked at some of their popular canvas tent offerings.
Introduction
White Duck Outdoors sells a wide range of canvas wall, bell, cabin, and swag tents. While we'll review them individually, below, one thing they all have in common is that all of their products are made from 100% cotton canvas fabric. The shelters are rugged enough to handle regular outdoor adventures, including camping, glamping, hunting, safari trips, and more.
The shelters feature plenty of modern upgrades and luxury features. Plus, White Duck's weightless water and mildew repellents and fire retardants never spoil the breathability of Dynaguard, the company's proprietary cotton canvas.
White Duck Outdoors's tents come in a variety of fabrics and fabric treatments. Their self-described “sweet spot” fabric is Army Duck double-fill TREATED Cotton Canvas. Customers can opt for water-, fire-, and mildew-resistant coatings, though these cost extra.
One of my favorite things about White Duck Outdoors is that they offer all sorts of replacement parts and accessories. You can add awnings, porches, and even cook shacks to most of White Duck's wall tents.
All of their tents also come as complete packages. You can expect a frame, canvas cover, and floor with every purchase.
10 x 12 Alpha Wall Tent - White Duck Outdoors Canvas Tents
White Duck Wall Tents are Very Popular
To give you a better look a White Duck Outdoor's canvas wall tents, we decided to in on a specific product. The company's 10-by-12-foot Alpha Wall Tent is advertised as a four-season, multipurpose shelter.
This four-walled structure is made from 100% cotton 10.10 oz. Army Duck Canvas. Naturally, it has White Duck's proprietary no-weight mildew & UV resistant, water repellent, and fire retardant finish.
All the tent's seams are double-stitched and reinforced for added security. Meanwhile, an aluminum frame is what keeps the structure altogether. At the base of it all, a free-floating PVC groundsheet keeps campers dry and away from the clutches of nature.Like many of the White Duck Outdoors's canvas tents, the Alpha features a stove jack, should you want to venture into the north country. If you're more of a warm-weather camper, you'll appreciate the removable bug mesh panels that cover all of the Alpha's windows and doors.
We also checked YouTube in hopes of seeing this canvas tent in action. We are happy to have found this gem of a video, below. After viewing White Duck's footage, we can confirm that the Alpha is a good fit for technical campers, hunters, and glampers alike.
I think it's safe to say that White Duck's wall tents should not be judged as Renaissance fair props. Nevertheless, we wouldn't mind watching an armored battle from the comfort of one of these structures.
Check out this video, then rejoin the White Duck review below...
Nice Selection of Bell Tents
Our review of these White Duck tents wouldn't be complete without a bell tent. For the sake of this article, we took a look at their Regatta Bell Tent, exactly like the one we mentioned earlier. Like all White Duck shelters, the Regatta is made from 100% cotton 8.5 oz. Army Duck Canvas. It has a lovely natural beige color and a signature conical shape.
Click here to see the Regatta Bell Tent by White Duck Outdoors Canvas Tents
The Regatta Bell Tent comes in a variety of sizes: 8-foot Mini, 10-foot, 13-foot, 16-foot, and 20-foot. See them all on the main Regatta Bell Tent page here.
One of the big differences between this canvas bell tent and the Alpha wall tent is a sewn-in PE groundsheet. However, like the Alpha, the Regatta is held up by galvanized steel poles and high-tension guy lines.
The three-way zippered doors and windows, double-stitched seams, and 5-inch stove jack ensure that the tent is ready for cold nights. Naturally, this all-weather shelter also has enough ventilation to provide comfort during hot, humid nights.
I was skeptical about this tent's set up. Fortunately, the unboxing video, below, put my mind at ease. The White Duck representative in the video sets up the bell tent by himself. The entire process only takes a few minutes. As someone who is constantly braking threaded fiberglass tent poles, I'd be willing to give the Regatta a try.
The Avalon Bell Tent is Also Nice...
I'd be remiss if I didn't show you just one more version of White Duck's bells. Check out the Avalon, shown below.
One of the things that struck me in this particular picture is that the people who have set up this exceedingly tranquil spot include what looks a LOT like one of the Solo wood-burning firepits that we like so much!
Actually, this looks like a honeymoon "cottage" photo from a resort? White Duck gave me permission to use these photos, and I don't know exactly where this particular one was taken.
I could stay here. Yup.
Avalon Bell Tent with Solo Wood Stove - White Duck Outdoors Canvas Tents
White Duck's Cabin Tents
White Duck also offers some charming family tents, such as their 10-by-10-foot Prota Canvas cabin tent that we pictured above, and show you again here. Unlike run-of-the-mill family camping tents, the Prota has a nearly 7-foot high ceiling.
Check out this White Duck Outdoors "Prota Deluxe" by clicking this image!
More About the White Duck Prota Cabin Tent
Its 100% cotton exterior slopes over a durable aluminum frame, complete with standing and ridge poles.
There are all sorts of luxury elements sewn into the tent's skeleton, including 0 rings for décor, lights, and other accessories and a large (72-by-78 inches) awning that will protect you from sun and rain.
As you can see in this next video, the Prota is designed to serve families, hunting parties, and other groups.
We weren't expecting to say this, but the Prota is probably one of our all-time favorite outdoor structures. It's just that it's super durable, roomy, and versatile. Not to mention, it is easy to set up. What's more, it is very affordable as far as canvas tents are concerned.
Whenever I go camping, it's either bitterly cold or unbearably hot. For this reason, I like the Prota's all-natural ventilation and weather protection.
Paying for your Tent
White Duck Outdoors Coupon Codes
Since we've been reviewing the products from White Duck Outdoors, we've noticed an increasing number of folks who have expressed an interest in discount or coupon codes. We've approached the company about this, and they HAVE, in fact, begun offering a variety of sales and discounts - especially around different holidays.
With that in mind, we created a page dedicated to White Duck discount codes and sales HERE. Please bookmark the page and check back often, because their offers will change, depending on the season and occasion. Thanks!
Other Payment Options
Another thing that may help you make your decision to purchase a White Duck tent a bit easier is their flexible payment options. The company offers the option to pay in 4 easy installments using either Klarna or Afterpay. If this will work for you, simply choose either Karna or Afterpay at checkout, and then your initial payment will be taken when the order is processed. The remaining three payments will be automatically taken every two weeks.
Some Final Thoughts on White Duck Canvas Tents
While White Duck canvas tents are undeniably more expensive than a simple pup tent on Amazon, they also seem to be worthwhile investments. After all, where else are you going to find a tent that can house an entire hunting party?Wrapping Things Up
Phew! Who knew that there was so much to discover about canvas tents?Other Options Besides Canvas Tents
Thank you so much for reading our White Duck Tents Review! Now I know that every time I see a canvas tent, I'm going to be wondering if it's a White Duck!
