Trek Canvas Tent 246C: Definitive Review (2024)
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This is the TopNotch Ultimate Trek Canvas Tent Review 2024….
Your guide to the 246C spacious cabin shelter.
We’ve covered the most popular option but made sure to touch on others too.
After some rigorous testing, we discovered just how effective this shelter is.
Keep reading… In this comprehensive review we’ll cover:
- How this shelter handles rough weather
- How it fared in our comprehensive tests
- Who would benefit most from this product
- Lots more…
So if you want an easy-to-live-in, comfortable cabin shelter, you’ll get a lot of value out of this guide.
Let’s get started.
- Dimensions:10 x 14′ (140 sqft)
- Weight: 64 pounds
- Living Capacity: Up to 9-Person
- Waterproof: Yes
- Manufacturer: Trek
Bottom Line : 4-season tents specifically designed to withstand the elements and allow extra space
Pros
- 4-season shelter
- Extra high center point
- Straight walls for added space
- Easy set-up with chain-linked poles
Cons
- Heavy and a little awkward to handle
- Large packed size
Our Verdict: Trek Canvas Tents
Hardened adventurers who love camping year-round will love this heavy duty outdoor shelter.
We found it to be TopNotch for taller campers who need extra head room.
It’s suitable for all weather conditions, whether you need airflow or heat retention.
The downside of this particular one…
Is that campers who are short on space may struggle to fit it in the car.
The packed size is large and it’s quite heavy.
You definitely can’t carry this around with you.
For settled, all-weather camping, the Trek 246C would be a great option.
Related: 10 Best Wall Tents
Analysis Comparisons and Test Results
This is specified as a 4-season shelter- we were hopeful it would stand up to anything we threw at it. We put it through a series of testing situations in the heat, the cold and the wet.
We found it to be a durable and tough canvas tent for camping in all weather conditions.
We also tested its various other features and rated them based on a specific set of metrics, which we’ll go through below.
Based on our testing, we figured this canvas cabin would be fantastic for groups from 4 people to 8 people, depending on how much space you want for each person.
If your car is short on room, this may not be the easiest to take around with you. We’d recommend the Coleman 8-Person Instant Tent if packed size is an issue for you.
Let’s have a look at how this canvas camping tent did against its competitors.
Performance Comparison
All the shelters we test go through similar experiments, and after comparison, we decided this one is TopNotch for groups of 4 people to have a spacious and comfortable camping experience.
Stick around to learn why…
It’s a good large tent that’s geared for keeping you safe and dry in all 4 seasons.
Trek’s canvas tents make use of a chain-linked pole system for easier set-up, which should make it possible for even 2 people to set up without much hassle.
Let’s see where this canvas cabin scored and where it lost points.
Livability
Although it may seem like this canvas cabin is far down on the list for livability, it scores a healthy 8 out of 10 – remember it was up against the best of the best in its class.
It has some great features to improve comfort.
One of the best features is the extra high ceiling, which means that even tall campers wouldn’t need to bend to fit comfortably inside.
Livability Rating
The 7’6” door and ceiling height makes this a great option for every shape and size of person. The side walls are straight which increases the living space slightly more and allows for the addition of camping cots to save floor space.
It has three No See Um mesh windows for ventilation, and a variety of pockets around the inside for storage.
It loses points for…
The frame design, in which a pole comes right down the middle of the doorway. This could be a slight injury hazard, or just quite an inconvenience.
Also, for a big shelter, the single front door may become difficult if there’s a lot of thoroughfare.
There’s no stove jack on this canvas cabin, so cooking will need to be done outside, no matter the weather.
Weather Resistance
This canvas cabin tent also scores a solid 8/10 for weather resistance. It’s designed to be a 4-season shelter, so this is to be expected.
What makes it great for all weather?
Weather Resistance Rating
This tent’s canvas is 100% cotton and has no mesh other than the windows. The floor is coated with heavy duty vinyl, and aside from keeping water and wind out, it’s fire retardant too, meeting the CPAI-84 flammability specifications.
One of the reasons this camping tent gets a thumbs-up for weather resistance is that it has a tough floor. Nothing is getting in underfoot.
The mesh windows can be opened for a breeze or zipped shut with the internal storm flaps, and the door can be tightly zipped to keep the cold out. The heavy fabric is effective at keeping heat in.
Our verdict?
While it could do with some extra vents for better airflow when it’s closed up, we felt safe and cosy inside when the weather was doing its worst on our trip.
Value For Money
The price of this canvas cabin tent is roughly on-par with others of its standard. For a shelter that adequately protects against all weather, it’s not wildly overpriced.
But…
We did feel that it could have come with more features for the price tag.
Value For Money Rating
This canvas cabin tent costs less than many other tents claiming to be totally weatherproof. The price is definitely worth it for a 4-season, large space shelter.
Bottom line…
If you’re paying for the option to use this at any time of year, with 4 to 8 people, no matter the climate, it’s a great deal.
If you’re looking for luxury, this may not be the one.
Durability
The steel frame was tough and hardy and should easily withstand winds and even a load of snow.
The material was also heavy and thick, which accounts for its weight but makes for a durable product.
Between these two, we can tell that Trek tents are made to be durable.
Durability Rating
The steel frame was constructed of 1” powder-coated poles that were strong and sturdy. There was no mesh on this shelter other than the windows, so the entire outer fabric was durable cotton canvas. The vinyl-coated floor was a great touch for longevity.
Our thoughts?
If you treat your tents right, you’ll get 10x more use out of them than if you don’t take care of them.
This one is no different – look after it and it will withstand pretty much anything you put it through.
Ease Of Use
Tents that are as heavy as this one can be harder to use, so it scores slightly lower in this area. It also takes up plenty of space when packed, so it’s not that easy to transport.
The bright side?
The chain-linked poles make it much easier to set up, so even a couple can do it fairly quickly and efficiently.
Ease of Use Rating
If you’re in for some settled camping that’ll last a week or more, then it’s worthwhile taking the time to set this up to spend time in it.
If you’re a stop-and-go camper who likes to move from one place to another, there are other tents that would suit you better.
In a nutshell…
If you have the space to transport it and the time to set it up, it’s a good option. If you want something super quick and simple, a flex bow tent might be more your style.
Versatility
There’s not a whole lot you can do with this shelter. You need space to set it up, so location options could be quite limited.
Where it does get the thumbs-up…
Is its ability to be used in any weather and withstand any climate. A 4-season shelter means year-round camping!
Versatility Rating
Our Final Verdict:
Trek Canvas Tent 246C
These tents scored pretty well in our stringent tests, coming out with a solid 70/100 at the end of it.
It’s TopNotch for weather-resistance and durability, although it scored a bit lower on ease of use and versatility.
For flat-ground camping where you’ll be settled in and braving either heat or cold, it’s well worth the purchase.
Our Final Verdict Rating
Conclusion: Trek Canvas Tent 246C
We’ve come to the end of our Trek Tents review, and hopefully you have a better idea of whether this tent lives up to the hype.
Here’s our final say:
For no-frills, solid, natural camping, you’ll love it.
If you’re interested in luxury glamping, it’s not going to be the best for you.
Year-round adventurers will appreciate how weatherproof it is.
Though it looks like it scored poorly – we did have it up against the Top 10 Wall Tents on the market for 2024.
We put it through its paces… Now it’s up to you to do the rest – over to you to make the perfect choice for your next trip…
Other Versions: Trek Canvas Tents
These tents come in various shapes and sizes. We tested the 10 x 14’ cabin version, but you can also choose from:
- 80″ x 106″, 3-person
- 96″ x 96″, 3-person
- 8′ x 10′, 5-person
- 10′ x 10′, 6-person
- 8′ x 13′, 7-person
- 10′ x 16′, 8 – 10-person
- 10′ x 20′, 10 – 12-person
These tents come in various designs and are at different sized groups of people.
