Canvas tents come in different shapes and sizes depending on the purpose and number of people inhabiting the tent. Originally used by nomads as a portable home, its main purpose today is for recreational camping.

Tents are not only made out of canvas; all-weather nylon and polyester variants are also available. Single-person to four-person tents are usually light in weight and can be strapped onto your backpack. These tents can be put up in barely 5 to 10 minutes on your own. Other tents that accommodate more people require a higher man power and take a little longer to put up. These are usually transported by car, when the whole family goes on a picnic. There are three main tent-types; 'single skin' with only one layer of fabric, 'single skin with flysheet', where the flysheet is suspended over the first layer and not touching it (the flysheet does not run all the way down to the ground), and 'double skin', where the flysheet runs all the way to the ground making it look like there's one tent inside the other. The flysheet acts as a waterproof layer and also an insulator in some cases. Most tents come with a 'groundsheet', a layer of water retardant material between the ground and the sleeping bag.

Today's modern tents also come in dome shapes where the poles that act as the frame are flexible. Over the years, tents have evolved into the smaller and lighter contraptions they are today. But even with tents of newer synthetic materials, the canvas still remains popular with camp goers and hardcore outdoorsmen.