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Why are canvas tarps so expensive?

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Polly

Sep. 23, 2024
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The Difference Between Vinyl, Poly and Canvas Tarps

When it comes to choosing the right tarp for your needs, it can be overwhelming to navigate the various materials and types of tarps available on the market. Three common options are vinyl, canvas, and poly tarps. While all three are used for similar purposes, such as protecting items from the elements or creating temporary shelters, they have distinct differences that can make them more suitable for certain applications. In this blog, we will explore the differences between vinyl, canvas, and poly tarps.

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Material and Durability

Vinyl tarps are made from Vinyl coated polyester (PVC) material, which is similar to a rubberized sheet, and makes them highly durable, strong, and resistant to water, mildew, and UV rays. They are commonly used for heavy-duty applications such as construction sites, transportation, and industrial settings, where they can withstand tough conditions.

Canvas tarps, are commonly made from cotton or polyester. They are treated to resist mildew and are known for their breathability, allowing air to flow through the material. However, they are not a waterproof material such as vinyl tarps. Canvas tarps  are treated with a water-resistant coating to be used in wet conditions. While canvas tarps are less durable than vinyl tarps and may not hold up well in extreme weather or heavy use, they are still popular for outdoor applications, camping, and equipment covers.

Poly tarps are made from polyethylene, which makes them lightweight, waterproof, and resistant to tearing and UV rays. They are commonly used for temporary covers, landscaping, and construction. While they may not be as durable as vinyl tarps, they are more affordable and offer waterproof protection for many applications.

Weight and Flexibility

Vinyl tarps are often heavier than canvas and poly tarps, due to their thickness and material weight. While this can make them more difficult to handle and maneuver, it also makes them ideal for applications where weight and bulk are not a concern. For example, vinyl tarps may be used to cover heavy machinery, Flatbed truck hauling, or extreme weather conditions.

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Cost

The cost of vinyl, canvas, and poly tarps can vary depending on the size and thickness of material. Generally, vinyl tarps are more expensive than canvas and poly tarps due to their superior durability and longevity. However, the cost is often justified when  you need a tarp that can withstand extreme weather and heavy use.

 

Canvas tarps are generally more affordable than vinyl tarps but may require more frequent replacements over time. When it comes to cost, canvas tarps are generally less expensive than vinyl but more expensive than poly tarps. This is because canvas is made of natural fibers, such as cotton or polyester, which are more costly to produce and process than the synthetic materials used in poly tarps. In addition, canvas tarps are often treated to make them water resistant and resistant to mildew, which further increases their cost. Poly tarps, on the other hand, are made of lower cost materials such as polyethylene, and are often less durable than canvas tarps. Therefore, the cost difference between canvas and poly tarps depends on the specific needs of the user and the intended use of the tarp.

 

Oilskin and Canvas Tarps.... Are They Even Worth It?


Are great, lightweight, easy to work with, quiet and effective but I don&#;t know who is making anything like them anymore and when you can find ones like these they are sometimes expensive.

I realize this isn&#;t much help but it does help illustrate the current frustration you can have when looking to recreate some of the things that were used. Often folks are left with the impression that the old stuff is too heavy or doesn&#;t work well because they are basing that on what is available now. Simply put, for the most part, they don&#;t make them like they used to. The high quality of lightweight, tightly woven, highly waster resistant cotton fabric just isn&#;t being used for tents and tarps any more and if it can be found it will be very expensive.

You can find the heavyweight stuff like what is used in outfitters wall tents and such but the lightweight stuff seems to have disappeared.

You will also notice that those that do offer lighter weight fabrics are often coating them with wax or making them into an oil cloth. They are doing that because the material used isn&#;t acceptably waterproof on its own. You end up with something like a tarp made out of what the heavy waxed cotton packs are made from. In terms of weight, that&#;s a disaster.

Good quality, high thread count cotton that used to be used in quality tents and tarps was waterproof or at least highly water resistant all by itself. Additionally, chemical treatments that made them more waterproof have likely been regulated out of use today.

In the early part of the twentieth century, the mills that supplied the sail market were also supplying the military and outdoorsmen with amazing cotton. This continued through the mid s but slowly those producers faded away, never to return, replaced by the soulless synthetic creations we all enjoy.

It&#;s sad to see the countless failed but well documented attempts to convert things like bed sheets and drop clothes into serviceable shelter systems. Have you ever held up a drop cloth to the sky and looked through it? It&#;s basically a net that you are asking to shed water. People are left with the impression that the old woodsmen must have been crazy but that&#;s not the way it was at all.

Having inspected and used some tents that are over 100 years old, frankly I am shocked by the comparison of today&#;s materials and construction.

The problem is availability. Older style cotton Tarps like these, https://bushcraftusa.com/forum/threads/vintage-morsan-cotton-tarps./ Are great, lightweight, easy to work with, quiet and effective but I don&#;t know who is making anything like them anymore and when you can find ones like these they are sometimes expensive.I realize this isn&#;t much help but it does help illustrate the current frustration you can have when looking to recreate some of the things that were used. Often folks are left with the impression that the old stuff is too heavy or doesn&#;t work well because they are basing that on what is available now. Simply put, for the most part, they don&#;t make them like they used to. The high quality of lightweight, tightly woven, highly waster resistant cotton fabric just isn&#;t being used for tents and tarps any more and if it can be found it will be very expensive.You can find the heavyweight stuff like what is used in outfitters wall tents and such but the lightweight stuff seems to have disappeared.You will also notice that those that do offer lighter weight fabrics are often coating them with wax or making them into an oil cloth. They are doing that because the material used isn&#;t acceptably waterproof on its own. You end up with something like a tarp made out of what the heavy waxed cotton packs are made from. In terms of weight, that&#;s a disaster.Good quality, high thread count cotton that used to be used in quality tents and tarps was waterproof or at least highly water resistant all by itself. Additionally, chemical treatments that made them more waterproof have likely been regulated out of use today.In the early part of the twentieth century, the mills that supplied the sail market were also supplying the military and outdoorsmen with amazing cotton. This continued through the mid s but slowly those producers faded away, never to return, replaced by the soulless synthetic creations we all enjoy.It&#;s sad to see the countless failed but well documented attempts to convert things like bed sheets and drop clothes into serviceable shelter systems. Have you ever held up a drop cloth to the sky and looked through it? It&#;s basically a net that you are asking to shed water. People are left with the impression that the old woodsmen must have been crazy but that&#;s not the way it was at all.Having inspected and used some tents that are over 100 years old, frankly I am shocked by the comparison of today&#;s materials and construction.

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