Resources & Support

Our current lead time is 3-6 weeks from order placement. Nearly all our wall tents are made to order in our Denver shop, and we keep limited finished inventory on the shelf. Lead times can stretch during peak hunting season (July to September). If you need a tent by a specific date, call us before ordering and we will tell you where we stand in the queue. Planning a fall hunt? Order by July to be safe. September orders can push delivery into October.

Yes, and for custom sizes or configurations, we prefer it. Our team can walk through your setup requirements, recommend the right size and canvas weight, and confirm the order details before anything is cut. For standard in-stock configurations, the website checkout works fine. For anything non-standard, start with a call or email.

We ship within the US and Canada. International orders to other countries are handled case by case. Contact us before placing an order so we can confirm shipping feasibility, costs, and customs documentation requirements. Most of our international business is to Canadian hunting outfitters, where we have established shipping lanes. Duties and brokerage fees are the buyer's responsibility.

Because we are a small family operated company, returns can be difficult, but we are here to ensure every customer is satisfied. Call us to discuss a return. If there is a manufacturing defect, we will repair or replace the item at no cost to you. For custom sizes and configurations, we do not offer returns. We are not able to accept returns on custom work, which is why we encourage a phone consultation before placing a custom order to make sure we are building exactly what you need.

The 14x17 is our most popular size for exactly this scenario. At 238 square feet with a ridge height of 9 feet 1 inch, it comfortably fits four cots, a wood stove, a small table, and still has room to move around without stepping on gear. If you want a separate sleeping area and a living or cooking area, consider two tents: a 12x14 as a sleeper and a 10x12 or 12x14 as a cook tent. Most serious outfitters run this configuration. See the full Tent Size Guide for floor plan diagrams and capacity details across all sizes.

Our capacity ranges assume standard cot size (30 by 75 inches) with reasonable gear storage room and a center aisle. The lower number is comfortable; the upper number is feasible but tight. If you are using the tent as a cook or dining area rather than a sleeper, a 14x17 can accommodate 8 to 10 people seated at folding tables. The capacity math changes significantly with use case. One thing most people underestimate: you will have more gear than you expect. When in doubt, go one size up.

Yes. We make custom sizes regularly, most commonly for platform installs where the platform was built before the tent was ordered, or for specific transport constraints. Custom sizes follow the same construction standards as our standard line. Contact us with your dimensions, intended use, and any access constraints, and we will price it out. Custom orders have longer lead times and are non-returnable. We recommend a phone consultation before placing a custom order.

Sunforger is a branded cotton duck canvas treated for water resistance, mildew resistance, and UV protection during the manufacturing process. It is the American standard for canvas tents, and it is what we have been using since the beginning. The key advantage over untreated canvas: it will not shrink when wet (untreated canvas can shrink 10-15%), it will not readily mildew if stored slightly damp, and the UV treatment is integrated into the fiber, not a surface coating that wears off. 10.10 oz is our standard canvas and works well for most applications. 12.63 oz is a heavier canvas, more durable in high-use or permanent install situations. Do not apply aftermarket waterproofing sprays to Sunforger canvas. They block the natural breathability that prevents condensation buildup inside the tent.

10.10 oz (per square yard) Sunforger is our standard canvas. It is what the majority of our tents are made from, and it handles everything from backcountry hunting camps to full-season glamping installations without issue. 12.63 oz Sunforger is heavier and more abrasion-resistant. We recommend it for tents that will see very high traffic (commercial glamping, institutional buyers, and guide operations where clients are not always careful), tents that stay set up for months at a time, or tents in particularly harsh UV environments. The weight increase is real: a 14x17 in 12.63 oz weighs approximately 8 lbs more than the 10.10 version. For pack-in camps, stick with 10.10 unless you have a specific reason not to.

WeatherMax 80 is a high-performance synthetic marine fabric: 8 oz per square yard, 36% lighter than standard canvas, with welded (needle-hole-free) seams and 6x the abrasion resistance of canvas. It is also 100% recyclable. It is a legitimate option for people who prioritize weight or need a non-absorbent material for specific applications. It does come with trade-offs compared to cotton canvas. It does not breathe the same way, so in hot weather or with propane heat, condensation can be higher. The feel and aesthetic are different: some people love it, some do not. It cannot be repaired in the field with a needle and thread the way canvas can. And it is more expensive than comparable canvas tents. See our full Canvas vs. WeatherMax comparison for a side-by-side breakdown of both materials.

Our standard Sunforger canvas is treated for water and mildew resistance but is not automatically fire resistant. Fire-resistant treatment (CPAI-84) is available as an upgrade, and we strongly recommend it if you plan to use a wood stove in the tent. Fire-resistant canvas will not readily catch fire. It will only burn when a direct flame source is present and continuously applied. A spark from a stove landing on fire-resistant canvas will typically char without spreading. Do not apply aftermarket fire retardants to canvas. As with waterproofing, these products plug the weave and destroy breathability. The treatment needs to be done at the fiber level during manufacturing. If you are ever uncertain, assume you do not have fire treatment. Verify the spec when you order, and keep a stove mat under your stove regardless.

Canvas weight alone is not a quality indicator. What determines quality is the weave construction and the treatment. Army Duck (double fill) has both crosswise and lengthwise threads doubled, the highest quality weave. Dual fill has only the crosswise threads doubled, a mid-grade weave. Single fill uses all single threads, an entry-level weave. A 12 oz single-fill canvas is inferior to a 10 oz Army Duck. The treatment (water, mildew, and fire) further determines long-term performance. When comparing tents, ask about weave type and treatment, not just the oz weight.

No, the tent body and frame are sold separately. This is standard for canvas wall tents, and it is intentional: different customers need different configurations (external versus internal frame, different ridge heights, porch attachments, and so on). Our internal frame is 1-3/8 inch 16-gauge steel tubing with swedge-fit couplers. It is sized to match your tent exactly. The frame breaks down into manageable lengths for transport and can be staged at a base camp ahead of the season. Always order frame and tent together, or verify frame dimensions before ordering separately. Frame sizing is specific to tent dimensions.

Yes, with caveats. External frame systems (for example, lodgepole or fabricated external frames) are common in some regions. Our tents will work with an external frame if the ridge and wall dimensions match the tent opening sizes. We recommend our internal frame for most customers because it is sized to the tent, maintains proper wall plumb, and is easier to set up solo. If you are using an existing external frame or building your own, contact us with the frame dimensions before ordering so we can confirm fit.

An experienced two-person crew can set up a 14x17 in about 45 minutes to an hour. First-timers should budget 2 to 3 hours and do a backyard test setup before the trip. Key steps: lay out the tent, assemble the frame inside the tent body, lift the ridge, stake out the corners and guy lines, and attach the fly if using one. The frame assembly is the most time-consuming part. Always do a setup at home before your first trip. Label frame sections for faster field assembly. For pack-in camps, pre-drill stake positions if possible.

Yes, many of our tents are used on permanent or semi-permanent platforms for glamping operations, youth camps, and ranch facilities. If your platform is pre-built, contact us with the platform dimensions before ordering so we can match sod cloth height and door placement. Platform installs typically use our attachment D-rings and a vinyl floor on top of the platform decking, rather than the full tent floor system. Standard platform height is 18 to 24 inches off grade. We can adjust sod cloth length to accommodate custom platform heights.

New canvas tents need to be weathered in before their first rain. Set the tent up and soak it thoroughly with a garden hose, let it dry completely, then repeat 2 to 3 times. This causes the cotton fibers to swell and close the needle holes from stitching. Until this process is complete, the tent will leak through the seams. After 2 to 3 wetting cycles, the seams become essentially watertight. This is not a defect, it is how cotton canvas works. Do not apply Thompson's Water Seal, silicone spray, or any other aftermarket waterproofing to the canvas. These products plug the weave and trap moisture inside the tent, causing condensation and potential mildew.

The most important rule: the tent must be completely dry before storage. Even Sunforger-treated canvas will mildew if stored damp for more than a few days. If you break camp in wet weather, hang the tent as soon as you get home and let it dry fully before packing it away. Store in a cool, dry location, and avoid attics that get very hot in summer. Store loosely folded or in the provided tent bag, not compressed under weight. Air it out once a season, even in off-season storage. Keep rodents away from canvas storage, because they will chew it.

Surface mildew can be scrubbed off with a stiff brush and a diluted mix of white vinegar and water (1 part vinegar, 4 parts water). Let the tent dry completely in the sun after cleaning, since UV exposure helps kill remaining mildew spores. For heavy mildew penetration, commercial canvas cleaners are available. Avoid bleach, because it will weaken the cotton fibers and strip the Sunforger treatment. Mildew staining is cosmetic, and it can be difficult or impossible to remove completely once it has set in. The tent is still structurally sound. Prevention, which means dry storage, is always better than remediation.

Yes, canvas is one of the few tent materials that can be repaired in the field. A canvas repair kit with a needle, waxed thread, and patch material lets you handle most tears on the spot. This is one of the key practical advantages of canvas over synthetic tent materials. For permanent repairs, we can handle them in our Denver shop. Send the tent back with a description of the damage, and we will repair it to original specification. We recommend keeping a small canvas repair kit in your camp kit. It takes up almost no room and has saved many trips.

We can customize nearly any dimension or feature of a standard wall tent. Common customizations include non-standard footprint dimensions, a porch (enclosed front extension) or awning (open roof extension), a cook shack or kitchen extension, custom sod cloth height for platform installs, additional windows or modified window placement, stove jack placement adjustments, heavy-duty eave socks for external frame connection, and 12.63 oz canvas on standard tent sizes. Custom orders start with a phone call. We will scope the build, give you a quote, and confirm lead time before anything is ordered.

A porch is a covered extension of the tent's front wall and roof: the sides are open, the front is open, and the roof continues out from the main tent body. It gives you a covered area to remove boots, hang game, or keep gear accessible without tracking into the main tent. An awning is just a roof extension with no side walls, better for shade and less useful for weather protection. A cook shack is a fully enclosed extension with a roof, walls, and a door, used as a separate cooking and dining area attached to the main tent. For extended hunting or base camps where cooking smell management matters, a cook shack is worth considering. For most family camps, the main tent at the next size up accomplishes the same goal with less complexity.

A fly is not required, but we strongly recommend one in several cases. If you are using a wood stove, sparks can ignite canvas roofs. If the tent will stay set up for extended periods, UV is very damaging to canvas. If you camp in heavy snow country, snow sitting on canvas adds significant weight and moisture. And a fly gives you maximum weather protection in heavy rain. Our vinyl fly has a pre-cut opening for the stove jack, so you can still use your stove safely with the fly in place. For glamping installations or permanent setups, the fly will noticeably extend the life of your canvas.

A sewn-in floor is permanently attached to the tent body. It provides the best seal against drafts and insects. However, it is very difficult to set up with an internal frame, because you typically need a lot of stakes to hold the tent body down while the frame is assembled inside. A D-ring floor (our standard) attaches to the tent's perimeter D-rings after the tent is set up. It is much easier to install and remove, makes cleanup easier, and allows you to remove the floor entirely if you are using a stove on bare ground. Unless you have a very specific reason to want a sewn-in floor (lots of snakes or insects in your camp area), we recommend the D-ring system.

Contact us and we will walk you through the warranty on your tent.

Yes, we do canvas repair work on tents from any manufacturer. Send us photos of the damage before shipping, and we will give you a repair estimate. Standard turnaround on repairs is 1 to 2 weeks. We can repair torn canvas, failed seams, damaged zippers, deteriorated sod cloth, and most other common failure points. If a tent has significant mildew damage or UV degradation, we will be honest with you about whether repair makes economic sense versus replacement.