PlayDo Cotton Canvas Bell Tent

March 28, 2023

The PlayDo Cotton Canvas Bell Tent is a spacious, 4-season family camping tent with a built-in stove jack and a heat-resistant port.

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Comfort and Space

Interior of the PlayDo Cotton Canvas Bell Tent

The PlayDo Cotton Canvas Bell Tent is a luxurious glamping tent that comes in five sizes, so you can find something to fit any group size. The smallest, the 3m / 9.8 ft tent will suit one or two people, while the largest, the 7m / 23 ft tent is enormous and will suit a group of 4 or 5 to live comfortably in.

It is a bell tent with vertical walls and a sloping roof. There is plenty of shoulder room and, with a height of almost 8.2 ft / 250 cm for the smallest size and 13.1 ft / 400 cm for the largest, there is plenty of headroom as well, allowing all campers to stand comfortably in it without having to stoop or slouch.

Unfortunately, this tent doesn’t have partitions for rooms, which might make for some privacy for multiple families or groups. It is a single room with no vestibules, storage compartments or porch. With the multiple sizes, you’ll be able to find the perfect size for you, but keep in mind that the walls of this bell tent slope so there’s some sacrifice on the space on the edges.

Breathability and Ventilation

PlayDo Cotton Canvas Bell Tent with interior lights at night

Ventilation in the PlayDo Cotton Canvas Bell Tent is achieved with the four windows with bug mesh and four air vents on the top that is waterproofed. All the windows have canvas covers and screens which can be unzipped from both inside and outside.

The top vents have stiffeners in their covers to hold them open, and these can be closed when pressed against the Velcro patch. Because these vents are high up near the peak height, it may be difficult to reach them without climbing up something.

During the cold seasons, you can make sure the vents are closed before setting the tent up, and during hotter weather, you can leave them open. However, you can also use a long pole or stick to open and shut the vents while the tent is erect.

A frame door with a full screen on the PlayDo Cotton Canvas Bell Tent

The tent has a frame door with a full screen which can be rolled up to allow the breeze to go through. There are also screens on every opening including the electrical port, to keep bugs and critters out.

Weather Resistance

This glamping tent is pretty rugged and will hold up in inclement weather. The fabric is treated to make it waterproof and UV-resistant, and the seams are taped to hold up in heavy rains. The thick metal poles are sturdy and will withstand winds while the pegs do their job.

A wood burning stove inside the PlayDo Cotton Canvas Bell Tent

It will hold up well in rains, snow, and moderate winds. The stove jack and heat-resistant silicone port will allow you to use a wood burning stove while the power cable inlet lets you run an air conditioner during hotter months.

Durability

The PlayDo Cotton Canvas Bell Tent is a top-quality tent meant for a luxurious camping experience. 300gsm cotton fabric is used for the tent’s body, while the zippers are heavy-duty, high-quality SBS zippers.

The floor of the tent is made of ripstop PVC, which is a tough, durable, rubberized material similar to what is used in making waterproof camping backpacks or dry bags. In addition to being able to last a long time, this material is not likely to be chewed through by rats and other pests.

The anchor points are made of thick, rubber-coated material and the floor can be completely detached from the body of the tent by a zipper for easy washing. Even the duffle bag the tent comes in is made of heavy-duty materials and has a waterproof liner!

Ease of Use

The PlayDo Cotton Canvas Bell Tent is not freestanding. It has 23 anchor points that must be pegged down with the included steel pegs. These anchor points are made of a strong and durable, heavy-duty, rubber-covered material that is firmly connected to the tent, as well as thick, heavy metal rings.

The tent comes with all the poles and metal pegs needed to set it up. The poles are made of aluminum, which is lighter and more durable compared to fiberglass poles which you’re likely to find in budget tents. The central pole is a thick steel tube with a diameter of about 1.6 inches / 4 cm.

Because it is not a freestanding tent, you will have to hammer pegs into the ground at certain points, so you need ideal pegging ground. Overall, setting up is pretty straightforward and can be done by just one person, especially if you have some experience in setting up non-freestanding tents.

However, the larger sizes are heavy tents that can weigh up to 60kg / 132.3lb so you’ll need to be a very strong person or you’ll need some extra hands.

Packed Size and Weight

The tent comes packaged in a big duffel bag made of sturdy fabric and has a waterproof lining. The packed weight of the smallest size is 19.25 kg / 42.4 lb while that of the largest size is 60 kg / 132.3 lb.

The smallest size measures 35.4 x 11.8 x 11 inches when packed while the largest measures 49.2 x 16.5 x 16.5 inches.

After unpacking, it may take some practice to fold the tent back up and fit it back nicely into the duffel bag.

The compact, space-efficient packaging of the tent makes it easy to transport in a vehicle. But because of its weight, the tent is unsuitable for backpacking or hiking. Keep in mind that this is a heavy-duty tent designed to be rugged enough to withstand most weather conditions.