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Tent Care 101

  • 3 min read

If you’ve just purchased a high-quality canvas tent from our website, you can be rest assured that you’ve made the right choice. These tents are built to last! We select only the highest quality fabrics that are guaranteed to be durable against the elements (and we would know - we’ve been around the block a few times to test these tents!).


But as with all tents, especially full cotton canvas, they do need just a little bit of care and nurturing… Consider this your comprehensive guide on all things tent-care!




What you need to know


1. First things first, the golden rule for ALL tents, is that you don’t want to store these bad boys away while they’re wet. If you’re packing it up because you’ve been rained out and it’s time to go home (we know the struggles!), no sweat. Just open it up again when you get home and lay it out to dry (the sooner the better). You want all of the tent - including the groundsheet, poles, pegs and guy lines - to be completely dry before you pack away for long-term storage.


While these fabrics are durable, they are 100% cotton, which is mold heaven. The fabric has been treated for water, mold and UV resistance, but natural fibers don’t contain the synthetic nasties that plastic tents do - so that means that you have to play your part to protect them!


2. Remove dirt and leaves from your tent before packing away. These can also promote mold growth, so give it a quick sweep or wipe, inside and out, before packing away. (Hint: This is much easier to do with a dry tent, while it’s pitched!)




3. Store your tent in a cool, dry place, ideally off the floor. If you’re storing it long-term in a garage or storage unit, you might want to consider putting it inside a plastic box or bin to prevent any mice or bug friends from making themselves at home.


4. Deal with any mold patches ASAP! If you find that patches of mold have slipped through the cracks of your care, these need to be dealt with immediately to prevent it from spreading. To get rid of the mold, you can use diluted vinegar (4 part water, 1 part vinegar) or an alternative canvas-specific cleaning product (WET&FORGET is an affordable option). Spray the vinegar solution onto the spot to first kill the mold, allow it to dry, and then scrub it gently with a solution of salt, lemon and hot water to clean.


5. Clean and retreat your tent from time to time. The CanvasCamp manufacturers recommend this as part of standard tent maintenance after 12-25 weeks of use.


Mild

To clean the whole tent, tent, lay it out flat, peg it down, and remove any loose dirt or leaves with a brush or vacuum cleaner. Hose down the tent and use a soft brush or sponge with your cleaning product to address any areas of dirt or mold growth. Once you’ve cleaned the hard-to-reach areas at the top of the tent, you may wish to pitch the tent to get to the sides of the tent more easily. Rinse as you go, then rinse again at the end. Never use a pressure washer, washing machine, bleach, all-purpose cleaners, laundry detergent, or dish soap.


Extreme

If your tent has succumbed to the power of nature, and you have a mold takeover, we suggest the following. Find a barrel or container that could fit the whole canvas fly. Make a Napisan soak, and leave overnight. Rinse the tent thoroughly, then pitch the fly only to dry. You should see major improvements, but if there are still some signs of mold, you can repeat this process.


You must retreat your tent after cleaning it - we recommend Dynaproof.








With the right care, these tents will serve you for years to come. A few extra measures taken while packing and storing your tent will pay off in the long term!



References:


 
 
 

The True Nomadics

  • 3 min read

Updated: Aug 13, 2021

What does it mean to be ‘nomadic’?


A nomad is someone who for many reasons, roams from one place to another; a wanderer, with no permanent place to call home for . In a traditional sense, the word ‘nomad’ has it’s origins from a Greek word which translates to “roaming to find pasture”, although nomads may also roam in search of food (nomadic hunters and gatherers) or to make a living (trading nomads).


While the typical nomads are associated with being tribal or ethnic communities, with their way of life spanning thousands of years, anyone who fits this description could be considered a nomad. In our current day society, consider the homeless people who move around in search of food or shelter, or the gypsies literally driving their home from one town to the next to trade their goods or services. Or think perhaps to that high school friend who never got a ‘real’ job and who has spent their years travelling around the world instead.


MONGOLIAN YURT


The agricultural revolution transformed many nomadic communities from hunter-gatherer, travelling tribes to farmers. Instead of making lengthy and exhausting journeys from one place to the next, they realised that they could grow their own food from a plot of land at home! Fast forward to now, and all it takes is a drive to the supermarket to fill the pantry. Better yet, online order.


Society has moved so far away from the nomadic lifestyle that we wonder how people ever lived like that. How could one person carry all their belongings on their back? Their bed, their clothes, their television?! The days of the ‘true’ tribal nomad may seem long gone, however this is not the case. Believe it or not, there are still millions of people around the world who continue to live in their traditional nomadic lives. The draw of a modern, easier life, external pressures from the likes of government, land ownership, and habitat loss from encroachment are all things making it harder for these communities to sustain their traditional ways.


Here is an interesting handful of amazing nomadic communities that still exist!


  1. The Kochi

Based in Afganistan, approximately 1.5 million Kochi people live the nomadic lifestyle. These tribes are pastoral nomads, meaning they roam in search of pastures for their stock. Using camels for transport, they migrate with the seasons. By raising sheep and goats as a source of meat, dairy and wool, they can sell these products in exchange for other food sources such as vegetables and grain.



2. The Maasai


The Maasai tribes, based in Kenya and Tanzania have also stayed true to their nomadic ways, despite being urged by their governments to adopt a more settled way of life. They live among wildlife such as lions, elephants, leopards, zebra and giraffes, allowing their cattle to graze in natural parks. The Maasai decorate their body with piercings, beads and stretched air lobes, and are known for being courageous hunters and warriors!










3. The Irish Travellers


Originating from Ireland as the name suggests, these nomadic communities make up an estimated 0.6% of the population (29,000-40,000 people). While originally believed to have developed as a result of the Great Famine of 1845–1852, DNA analysis suggests that they have actually been around for much longer! Irish traveller communities move around the rural parts of Ireland to provide seasonal labour and trades. Socially isolated from other settled Irish, they are categorised as their own ethnic minority group, and DNA analysis suggests that their genes are as different from the Irish as they originate from the Spanish.


These 3 examples of nomadic communities show that a nomadic life is still possible, despite society pushing towards increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Imagine living like this - a simple and minimalist life, clutter free, mortgage free, and always on the move to new, exciting places.


The founder of Nomadic NZ, Josh Purcell, was know as the ‘nomad’ to some of his friends early on - sort of like the school friend mentioned above who never wanted to settle. Josh travelled far and wide to 60 odd countries, and became as an outdoor adventure guide and expedition leader. His early work exploits and travels solidified his nomadic ways and passion for exploration and adventure. When starting the business, Josh wanted to start a brand that would encourage adventure - people to enjoy being nomadic. The industry seemed flooded with “NOMAD”, so he decided NOMADIC would fit perfectly.


Where do you sit on the nomad vs. settler scale? Could you live like these true nomads?



References

 
 
 
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