Feature | A Canvas SoulPad | A Nylon Tent |
| Appearance | Simple and elegant form. Stands out from the crowd in an unassuming kind of way. No Fisherprice colours used here! Simple and effective design. | Hard to spot in a crowd, lacks individuality, over-the-top and childish colours often used. Overcomplicated design. |
Erection
| SoulPads take between 10-15 mins to put up, without swearing.
| Nylon tents of the same size can take up to 45 minutes to put up, and involve a lot of swearing.
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| Weight | Canvas tents tend to be heavier. However, technological advances in canvas material development has meant that canvas weights have decreased dramatically since guide and scout camping trips of old. All SoulPads can fit into the boot of a small car. Some can easily be carried across a festival site. | Nylon tents tend to be lighter in weight. This is their main redeeming feature. |
Pack Size
| Canvas tents do still tend to pack down slightly larger than their nylon counterparts. They are certainly more compact than they used to be.
| Smaller. There is not a lot of substance to a nylon tent.
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| Price | The canvas material is more expensive at the point of source, but the SoulPad tents are better value for money given their longevity. | The nylon material is cheaper at the point of source, but the nylon tents are often still very expensive despite this price advantage. Few nylon tent manufacturers pass this price advantage on to their customers. |
Degradation
| If cared for properly a canvas tent will outlive its nylon counterpart being less susceptible to the elements and easier to repair and maintain. See our FAQ's Cleansing your Soul...Pad and How long will a SoulPad last? | Nylon is prone to faster degradation, particularly from UV rays and is quick to lose it's elasticity, tear strength and water-repellance. Next time you're in a nylon tent that's over 2 years old - check out the tiny little pin holes in the fly.
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| Breathability | Extremely good. Indoor humidity is kept within a comfortable range, and condensation levels are almost non existant. Canvas is a natural fibre and is highly breathable. | Almost zero breathability, particularly on a single fly model. Manufacturers tend to over-treat single fly nylon tents to ensure their waterproofing, at the cost of breathability. Nylon is not a natural fibre, and is in fact a type of plastic. |
Durability
| Extremely durable. Think of summer weight denim. Canvas tents tend to last longer than their nylon counterparts.
| Durable at first, but never as durable as canvas and certainly not in the long term. Nylon tents are almost disposable today with some being used only once.
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| Water Resistance | The natural weave of canvas means there is no need for a main fly. The canvas is inherently water resistant, and SoulPads have further treatments that are integral to the fabric. Can be re-treated as required. No need for seam sealants in a SoulPad tent. | Surface treatments make the fabric practically waterproof, but at the cost of breathability. Retailers will claim nylon tents are waterproof, but a failed seam sealant will tell you otherwise. |
Seam Seals
| Not required. Any stitch holes simply tighten up when the canvas becomes wet, stopping water penetration.
| Every stitch hole in a nylon tent has to be seam sealed to make the tent waterproof. Nylon is unforgiving with any kind of hole. It is often at the seams that nylon tents fail, suffering leaks.
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| Internal Temperature | Cooler than nylon on a hot day, warmer on a cold day. | Extremely hot and humid on a hot day, often forcing its occupants to leave. Very cold on a cold day, not an effective barrier against cold weather. |
Tear Resistance
| Very good. Repairs to affected areas are easier to carry out on canvas and are completed to a more satisfactory level.
| Very poor tear resistance. Even modern rip-stop fabrics don't compare with canvas.
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| Sustainability | Canvas is a natural sustainable material and has been used in the production of shelters for centuries. Has a far lower environmental impact than nylon. | Nylon is not a natural material, nor is it sustainable. Environmentally unfriendly in many aspects of its production and disposal. |
FAQs