Hi all. I have never camped in the dead of Winter before, but the idea interests me. Been checking the posts here as well as many other online one and one thing I wondered about is why are all the winter tents white? Looked into the material needed for making a quality winter cotton canvas tent and there are many colors to choose from. Am I missing something here? One thing I will say is the glow from the inside of a white tent at night looks pretty darn cozy, but wouldn't a tent made with say black canvas be better for Winter as it would attract the suns heat. I'm sure there's a reason to it, just wondering. What say you?

I am under the impression that it is because white cotton is less expensive in bulk for tent makers. But do not quote me on that.

I like white for all things winter for a couple of reasons. First for tents at least its brighter. A friend made a tent with blue canvas and it was like a cave even during the day...VERY dark inside. Second, and this includes clothing, dark colors do warm up but that leads to melting of snow on the surface. Melting snow means wet...

I have nothing to back this up. Just my personal opinion.

Possibly part of the reasoning is similar rational as to why green tents & tarps are more prevalent in the summer. To more readily blend into the landscape. But, what Merlin said also makes good sense.

I must have a fall tent then since its in orange and yellow hues :)
So glad Sept/Oct is my favorite time to camp.
Great points Merlin and Tusc. And I really have to admit that blending into the landscape is something very ideal to me. Just like there is noise, air, and light pollution, color polution is something that tends to bother this guy. Not that I mind a little color here and there, but when the BW or any other outdoor region starts looking like the circus is in town I get pretty annoyed. The fall tent I mentioned above are dull shades of those two colors yet I still leave it at home more often then not since it can stand out.

There may be many reasons, but the main one I can think of is what Merlin said. A colored tent is a dark cave in winter. I had a tan canvas tent a few years ago, it wasn't that dark a color either, and it was dark and depressing inside. Since winter light isn't very strong it's good to maximize all the brightness one can get. Also bear in mind that traditionally the tents are lighted at night (and most times the tents are primarily occupied from dusk to dawn) by candles. A white tent will maximize the reflected light.

And, it's pretty cool to lay in the bag at night and see the moon light filtering in through the tent.

The light inside is my guess. I enjoy a white tent summer or winter.
One led ring light will keep my 12' octagon shaped tent bright enough at night to do all the cooking, drying and photo chimping.

Well I figured there was a reason for just white. Was thinking a darker tent would be somewhat conducive for Winter camping but never gave a thought about that it would melt snow, or for that matter, be a cave inside. Thanks all.

quote Sobi: "I must have a fall tent then since its in orange and yellow hues :)
So glad Sept/Oct is my favorite time to camp.
Great points Merlin and Tusc. And I really have to admit that blending into the landscape is something very ideal to me. Just like there is noise, air, and light pollution, color polution is something that tends to bother this guy. Not that I mind a little color here and there, but when the BW or any other outdoor region starts looking like the circus is in town I get pretty annoyed. The fall tent I mentioned above are dull shades of those two colors yet I still leave it at home more often then not since it can stand out."

I get pretty bummed about the colors tent makers choose but there is a reason for it. High quality alpine 3 and four season tents tend to be brighter in color to help locate people in case of rescue and also so you your self can find your camp. they stand out both from the ground and the air. tents that are more of a 1 to 3 season back packers style tents tend to come in more earthy tones to blend in better with the surroundings. boundary waters campers tend to fall somewhere in the middle of thies two camping styles. my eureka and kelty tents are greens and grays, my North Face and Mountain Hardware tents are orange and red. as far as canvas winter tents go I never thought about the idea light reflection but it makes perfect sincee. I just figured it was cause its the cheapest and easiest to find.

quote Merlin: "I like white for all things winter for a couple of reasons. First for tents at least its brighter. A friend made a tent with blue canvas and it was like a cave even during the day...VERY dark inside. Second, and this includes clothing, dark colors do warm up but that leads to melting of snow on the surface. Melting snow means wet..."

+1

quote MeatHunter: "Hi all. I have never camped in the dead of Winter before, but the idea interests me. Been checking the posts here as well as many other online one and one thing I wondered about is why are all the winter tents white? Looked into the material needed for making a quality winter cotton canvas tent and there are many colors to choose from. Am I missing something here? One thing I will say is the glow from the inside of a white tent at night looks pretty darn cozy, but wouldn't a tent made with say black canvas be better for Winter as it would attract the suns heat. I'm sure there's a reason to it, just wondering. What say you?"

The nights are looong. In a lighter tent, you spend less time 'praying for morning'!

quote PortageKeeper: "
The nights are looong. In a lighter tent, you spend less time 'praying for morning'!"

LOL, lots of truth to that

While growing up after WWII, our family camping tent was a military surplus dark green, canvas umbrella tent. Dark as a dungeon, even on the sunniest of days.

I now own a Snowtrekker white canvas tent and the difference during the day time between the military surplus tent and the Snowtrekker is (excuse the pun) like night and day. You really enjoy the amount of light that shines through that tent.

However, I can see why the military tents are made so dark, the light really shines through the white canvas from the inside at night, which would make too easy a target for military applications.

It's so you can hide all of those illegal walleye carcasses from the DNR when they fly over you.