10 Best Canvas Camping Tents for Sale (2021)

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If you’re someone who spends quite a lot of time in the great outdoors and is looking for a spacious, comfortable setup, then it’s probably time to consider investing in one of the best canvas camping tents for sale.  The best canvas tents provide a real home away from home.

A canvas camping tent is a top quality tent that can be used year round.  Whether you go camping in the hot summer months or camp in the cold winter months, heavy duty canvas tents for camping will keep you protected from the elements no matter what the conditions.

Also, unlike your typical tent, canvas camp tents are usually far more spacious, so you have plenty of space for all your gear and you usually have the option of adding a stove to keep you warm or cook your meals which is not possible with a standard tent.

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If you’re looking for one of the top rated canvas tents on the market – then you’re in the right place!  In this best canvas tents 2021 guide, we cover everything you need to know to purchase one of the top canvas tents, which is perfect for you.  First up, we go through some of the features you need to consider, and then lastly, we review some of the new canvas tents currently on the market.

This guide covers all types of canvas tents, including the best canvas bell tent, the best canvas wall tent, the best canvas tent with stove jack, and more.

So let’s jump into it and find you one of the best canvas tents for camping.

My Pick for the Best Canvas Camping Tent: White Duck Avalon

Don’t have the time to read my entire guide and just want a recommendation for the best canvas tent camping setup?  Well I recommend the White Duck Avalon bell style canvas tent. 

The White Duck Avalon tent is made from a thick 10.10 oz, double fill army duck canvas and has a zipped in 16 oz PVC high density groundsheet.  It also comes with multiple windows for great ventilation and a stock jack so you can use a wood stove inside.

Click here to buy the White Duck Avalon tent now or keep reading below for the full review.

Best Canvas Camping Tents for Sale Comparison Chart 2021

Below is a handy comparison chart that shows all the canvas tents which are reviewed in this guide.  This enables you to see the different tents and their features side by side to easily determine which is best for you.

Keep reading below for further information about each of these canvas tents.

Why Choose a Canvas Tent?

If you’re still on the fence about whether a canvas tent is the right tent for you, let’s start by covering the benefits of a canvas tent compared to tents made with synthetic fabrics.

All Seasons

One of the main benefits of having a canvas tent is being able to use it year round.  Canvas tents are breathable enough to keep you cool during the summer months, as well as providing enough insulation to keep you warm during the winter months.  All season canvas tents are also perfect for protecting you from all the elements, such as wind, rain, snow and the sun.

Breathability

A canvas tent is a natural material and so has better breathability and ventilation.  With a canvas tent, moisture is repelled while air and water vapor pass through the tent walls, so condensation doesn’t build up on the inside of the tent.  In other tents, sometimes the condensation can build up and result in wet patches in the tent.  Plus, with better breathability, the tent’s inside won’t get too warm on a hot day or too cool on a cold day.

Quieter

This one probably sounds a bit odd, but a canvas tent doesn’t make as much noise as a tent made with synthetic materials.  Synthetic tents make a rustling; plastic bag type sound as they flap in the wind, zipped up, or move due to the people inside moving about.  As canvas tents are made with thicker material, they absorb sound and are much quieter.

Heating 

One of the best things about a canvas tent is that often you can add a tent stove jack to the tent’s roof.  This means you safely have a stove inside your tent to keep warm, prepare meals and dry out wet clothes.  This is not possible with tents made from synthetic materials.

Space

Due to the canvas tents’ design, you’ll usually find you have more space.  Canvas tents tend to have higher ceilings and spacious round or rectangular shapes, which provide you with plenty of room for all your gear.

Durable

Unlike tents made with synthetic fabrics, a canvas tent won’t deteriorate over time with exposure to the sun.  The sun weakens synthetic materials over time, leaving them more susceptible to rips and tears.  While the sun will cause the canvas to discolor over time, it won’t affect its lifespan like tents made with synthetic materials.

Canvas is also much more durable against sharp objects.  Of course, it will still tear if the item is sharp enough – but compared to a tent made with synthetic fabrics, it won’t tear as easily because the canvas is far thicker.

If you take good care of your canvas tent, it will last you your entire lifetime.

Disadvantages

To ensure you have the complete picture when it comes to canvas tents, we should also cover the disadvantages of a canvas tent compared to a tent made from synthetic fabrics.

• Weathering: Unlike a tent made with synthetic fabrics, a brand new canvas tent needs to be weathered before using – this make is completely leakproof.  To weather your canvas tent, give it a good hose and then allow it to dry completely before using it for the first time.  During this process, the cotton absorbs the water and swells, removing any tiny holes and making the tent leakproof.

• Heavy: A canvas tent is super heavy compared to other tents; this makes them unsuitable for backpackers or overnight campers.  A canvas tent is best suited for those looking to set up camp for longer periods.

• Longer Set Up:  Unfortunately, canvas tents tend to take longer than other tents to set up.  Typical tents use lightweight poles and integrated systems that make them go up in minutes!   Given that canvas is so much heavier than other tents, they can’t use the same quick setup techniques and so take much longer to set up.

• Upfront Cost: Given the better quality of canvas tents and the need for heavy duty weight bearing poles, they do tend to be more expensive than other tents – but the good news is if you buy one of the high quality canvas tents and take good care of it – you’ll never need to purchase another one.

How to Choose one of the Best Canvas Tents 

Unfortunately, there are no best canvas tents in the world because we are all different and have different needs from our tents.  To ensure you purchase a canvas tent that is perfect for you, consider the various factors below.

Types of Canvas Tents

There are various types of canvas tents available – with the main types being a wall/cabin tent or bell tents.  There are a few other types, but these are the two main types of canvas tents.

Canvas Wall / Cabin Tents

Cabin or canvas wall tents come with four vertical walls and have a pitched roof.  They come in a range of sizes and are very spacious with great head height – they are perfect for those needing a home away from home for long periods.

The downside with the wall or canvas cabin tents for sale is that they can be complicated and take time to set up as they come with multiple internal poles.  They are also fairly heavy to carry and usually fairly bulky to store.

Canvas Bell Tents

A bell tent is a circular tent with an internal pole in the center and another pole supporting the door.  These days bell tents are super popular, particularly for those looking for canvas glamping tents for sale or luxurious style tent setups.

Bell tents come in a range of different sizes, some small enough for a couple, others large enough for an entire family or group of friends.  They tend to be easier than wall tents to set up thanks to fewer supporting poles and pack down much more compactly.

Size

Perhaps the most important decision you’ll need to make is the size of the tent you purchase.  When it comes to size, you’ll need to consider how many people you need it to accommodate as well as how much gear you need to store inside.

When it comes to size, don’t necessarily rely on the number of people the manufacturer says it can sleep.  This number generally refers to how many people can lie side by side in the tent without any space in between or room for gear.  So always check the tent’s actual measurements and see if this is suitable for your camping setup.

One thing that people often overlook when it comes to size is head height.  For a tent with a spacious feel, you’ll want to ensure that you can easily stand up inside without having to stoop down.  A wall tent has much more headspace than a bell tent so consider this if the head height is a priority for you.

Also, consider the time of year you intend on going camping.  If you plan on camping a lot in the winter months, you’ll find you’ll spend most if not all of your time inside your tent – so you’ll need much more space than if you camp in the summertime where you mostly use your tent just for sleeping.

Material – 100% cotton canvas or hemp

Canvas is a tightly woven cotton fabric.  Most canvas tents are made with 100% cotton or hemp.  Sometimes you’ll see canvas tents referred to as being made with cotton duck (“duck” referring to the dutch word “doek”, which means “linen); this just means they are more tightly woven than standard canvas and have a higher thread count which makes them a heavier, higher quality fabric.

You can also get poly cotton (also referred to as polyester cotton) canvas tents which are a mix of both polyester and cotton.  The benefit of a poly cotton canvas is that it reduces the tent’s weight, increases the strength and reduces the tent’s susceptibility to mildew.

Portability

As mentioned above, canvas tents are not lightweight tents and are best suited for those looking for a spacious home away from home camp set up.  You really need plenty of space to transport your tent to your campsite as well as ample of space to store it when not in use.

Nevertheless, some canvas tents are more portable than others.  If the tent’s portability is an issue for you, you’ll want to consider both the tent’s weight and packed size.

Stability

Provided the tent comes with quality poles and guylines and the tent is erected correctly, all canvas tents make sturdy shelters.  Most canvas tents should be able to handle reasonable amounts of wind, rain and even light snow.

If you plan on camping regularly in particularly poor conditions or where you’re likely to experience strong winds or heavy snow, then it’s important to check the tent you intend on purchasing is designed for such situations.

Heavy snow in particular, can impact the stability of the tent.  In such conditions, you’ll need snow load bearing poles that can withstand the weight or even an extra tarp.  Even still, during periods of heavy snow, you will need to remove the snow from the tent as soon as possible.  Having a wood stove burning during periods of snow will help to melt the snow, so it comes off the roof quicker.

Durability

The durability of your tent comes down to the weight of the canvas your tent is made from and the quality of the hardware used to erect your tent.

The thicker and heavier the canvas, the more durable it is.  The canvas’s weight is measured in ounces per square yard (oz/sq.yd) or grams per square meter (gsm) – look for this number when determining if the tent you’re considering is made with quality canvas.

A canvas made with 10.1 oz/sq. yd (340 gsm) weighted canvas is a good starting point for a canvas tent.  Anything less than this and the tent is not as well made, nor will it protect you properly from the elements.  A canvas tent with a higher rating will do a fantastic job of keeping you well protected from the weather for extended periods.

As well as the canvas, you also want to consider the hardware that it comes with for putting the tent up.  A top quality canvas is nothing without top quality hardware.  Look for 

• Poles: Thick poles made with iron, steel, or even bamboo
• Tent pegs:  Should be J hook stakes made with thick aluminum or steel.
• Zippers: Look for quality zipper brands such as SBS or YKK
• Guy lines: Look for quality thick ropes with a minimum thickness or at least ¼” (6mm) and guy sliders made from metal, aluminum, or wood.

The Best Canvas Tent Camping Reviews 2021

To help you choose a canvas tent perfect for you, below we’ve reviewed some of the best canvas tents currently on the market.

Kodiak Canvas Flex Bow Deluxe Tent

The Kodiak Flex Bow Deluxe tent is one of the small canvas tents in this guide.  While listed as a four person tent, with dimensions of 9ft by 8 ft, this is good for those after small canvas family tents or even a tent for a couple.  

These are heavy duty canvas camping tents made with 10 oz cotton duck canvas and feature #10 YKK zippers.  The canvas has been treated with Hydra-Shield, which makes the tent watertight and minimizes condensation – even during a downpour, this tent won’t absorb water.  The floor is made with 13.5 oz puncture proof vinyl with welded seams to keep water out.

Thanks to the flex bow frame, the tent is exceptionally sturdy and helps keep the tent nice and taut once set up.  The flex bow rods are made with quality ⅜ inch solid spring steel and the frame is made with 1 inch steel designed to stand up to strong winds.  The tent also comes with robust 12 inch steel stakes for keeping the tent securely in place.

With a height of 6 ft, you’ll have plenty of headroom in this Kodiak Flex Bow tent.  It also features two large D shaped doors – one in the front and one in the back and has four large windows with no-see-um-mesh to keep you well protected from bugs.  There is also a good size front awning (6 x 5 ft) for a covered entry and shade.  Inside you’ll find an organizer system to stow your gear.

Out of all the tents in this guide, the Kodiak Flex Bow is reasonably lightweight at just 55 lbs – this even includes the 6 lbs stakes.  Plus, as far as canvas tents go – this tent is pretty quick and easy to set, with one person being able to do it on their own.

The Kodiak Flex Bow is a good all rounder lightweight canvas tent perfect for year round use – although it’s not designed for extreme cold weather or heavy snow accumulations.  Unfortunately, this tent isn’t suitable for a wood fire inside.

Kodiak Canvas Cabin Tent

If you like the previous Kodiak tent, but after something a little bigger, then you’ll like this six person Kodian canvas cabin tent.  While listed as suitable for six people, at 12 x 9 feet, this would be a great tent for a young family or small group of friends.

Apart from the size, the main difference with this tent is it features 7.5 ft ceilings.  This provides ample headroom for even the tallest campers and gives a great spacious home away from home feel.  It also features a large D shaped front door and a side door and five large windows with no-see-um-mesh to keep you well protected from bugs.  Inside you’ll find an organizer system to stow your gear.

Like the previous Kodiak tent, this tent is made with 10 oz cotton duck canvas and features #10 YKK zippers.  Again, these great outdoors canvas tents have been treated with Hydra-Shield to make the tent watertight and minimizes condensation.

The floor is made with an even thicker 16 oz puncture proof vinyl with polyester reinforced seams to keep water out.  The frame is made with 1 inch galvanized steel tubing with welded corner braces and the tent stakes are heavy duty 12 inch steel rods.

A great feature of this Kodiak tent is the ability to roll up the sidewall when additional ventilation is required – or you can even extend it out with poles for a second small awning.  This is in addition to the front awning (8 x 8.5 ft), which provides a great covered entry and shade.  

This tent is much heavier than the previous lightweight Kodiak tent at 92 lbs and unlike the previous Kodiak tent, you will need two people to set up this tent, but it is relatively easy to do. 

If you’re after a good-sized, reasonably inexpensive canvas cabin tent – this 12×9 Kodiak canvas tent is a great one to consider.  It’s perfect if you’re after the best canvas cabin tents for year-round use – although it’s not designed for extreme cold weather or any heavy snow accumulations.  Unfortunately, this tent isn’t suitable for a wood fire inside.

White Duck Outdoors Avalon Canvas Bell Tent

For those after the best canvas bell tents, you’ll love these next few tents from White Duck.  These are by no means cheap canvas tents; they are premium, super spacious, high quality tents and feature stove jacks for the ultimate luxurious canvas tents.

This Avalon White Duck tent, with a diameter of 13 feet, sleeps up to 6 people.  These large canvas tents have a peak of 8.2 feet and a standard wall height of 3 feet, giving them a spacious feel.  

They have a large bug mesh front door and four windows, all of which have military grade YKK zippers.  The tent also features four large roof vents with bug mesh for maximum ventilation and an additional three windows without bug mesh which can be used to attach a sleeping pod (not included). 

The tent is made from a 10.10 oz, double fill army duck canvas and treated with water and mildew repellent.  It has a 16 oz PVC high density groundsheet that is zipped in so that it can be removed and the walls can be rolled up, which is great when you’re just after a canopy rather than a full tent set up.  Plus, this gives great ventilation on hot days.

For an easy setup, all the ¼” polyester UV resistant ropes are pre attached with triangular metal rope tension adjusters and elastic cords.  Just one person can easily set up the tent.

The Avalon has a 5” wide stove jack opening made from vinyl fire retardant material with a flap to enable a stove inside the tent.  Other features include four utility pockets for storage, an electric cable outlet, heavy duty galvanized steel pegs and center, and door poles made from thick galvanized steel.

This is a true 4 season tent that can be used year round.  It will keep you cool in summer and warm in winter, thanks to the ability to add a wood stove inside.  It is a spacious tent and a family or group of 6 will easily be comfortable in the White Duck Avalon tent.

WHITEDUCK Regatta Canvas Bell Tent

Another stunning all season bell tent from White Duck, this time their 13 ft Regatta tent.  While this tent is the same size as the previous White Duck Avalon tent and still accommodates up to 6 people, the Regatta is made with slightly lighter canvas and comes with a more affordable price tag.

The White Duck Regatta bell tent is made with 8.5 oz army duck cotton, compared to the Avalon’s 10.10 oz.  This results in a much lighter tent, with the Regatta weighing just 66 lbs compared to the Avalon’s 98 lbs.  However, it is still a spacious tent with a standard wall height of 2.7 feet and a peak of 8.2 ft.

The Regatta still comes with a detachable 16 oz high density PVC groundsheet, a bug mesh door and three windows which all have military grade YKK zippers.   The tent also features three large roof vents with bug mesh for maximum ventilation.  Plus, the walls can be rolled up for maximum ventilation. 

For an easy setup, all the ¼” polyester UV resistant ropes are pre attached with triangular metal rope tension adjusters and elastic cords.  Just one person can easily set up the tent.

To enable a stove inside the tent, the Regatta has a pre-installed heat resistant silicone coated stove jack with a 5” pre cut pattern.  Other features include two utility pockets for storage, an electric cable outlet, heavy-duty galvanized steel pegs and center, and door poles made from thick galvanized steel.

If you’re looking for a high-quality lightweight bell tent for up to 6 people, but without the expensive price tag, the White Duck Regatta is a great choice.  It’s a gorgeous bell style tent, perfect for those wanting to camp in style.

Bushtec Adventure Alpha Kilo 4000 Bow Tent

The Bushtec Adventure Alpha Kilo 4000 Bow tent is the only dome tent featured in these guides.  These canvas dome tents are made from top quality materials to withstand all kinds of weather – perfect for those after canvas winter tents or canvas hunting tents for any time of the year.

The Alpha Kilo is made from durable military grade 550gsm canvas.  The canvas is waterproof (up to 550mm),  breathable, UV resistant, and fire retardant, so it is safe to use with internal heating.  It has a built in 450 gsm PVC floor with 6 inch flood walls to ensure water stays out; plus, it has been designed to withstand strong winds (up to 100+mph).  

At 10 x 10 feet, it is one of the smaller tents in these reviews, so although it’s supposed to accommodate six people, it’s probably best for 3 to 4.  It has a spacious head height of 7 feet, so plenty of room for standing.  

This tent has a fairly simple design, with one door and two large windows with inner and outer flaps – the door and windows all with bug mesh.  It also has an extended front porch.  Other features include an electrical supply socket outlet, heavy-duty 10 YKK zippers, powder coated 1.2 mm steel poles, unbendable steel ground stakes, zinc coated D rings, and brass eyelets.

This is all seasons tent is a relatively easy set up canvas tent, with set up done in around 30 minutes.  It is reasonably bulky though when packed down and it is quite heavy at 86 lbs – certainly the heaviest six person tent in these reviews. 

However, if you’re after a top quality canvas tent that will keep you well protected year-round and will last you a lifetime of camping trips – then the Bushtec Adventure Alpha is a great one to consider.

Bushtec Adventure Echo 2200 Luxury Camping Tent

For the ultimate luxurious canvas safari tents, they don’t come much better than the gorgeous Bushtec Adventure Echo 2200.  This tent is just stunning and just what you’d expect to see at a 5 star glamping resort.  It’s pricey too – but if you want the ultimate canvas tent – then the Echo 2200 is well worth checking out.

At 23 x 17 feet, this is by far the largest tent in these reviews.  These big canvas tents are heavy too, at a whopping 500 lbs, so it’s certainly not something you want to be setting up for a short weekend away.  But for a week long trip it’s perfect for a family or group of friends.

These safari canvas tents have a spacious layout with three rooms, so you have a range of choices on how you set it up – whether you have multiple bedrooms or set one of the rooms up as a kitchenette – the choice is yours.  Alternatively, you can remove all walls and have one large room.  It also comes with a huge awning, so you’ve got the perfect covered outdoor area too.

With a height of 10 feet – this is one spacious tent – you can easily stand up in here.  The tent also has six large windows with bug mesh and a double roof for excellent airflow and ventilation.  There is even a built in chimney port.

The tent is made from 650gsm ripstop military grade canvas, which is waterproof (to 550mm), UV protected, resistant against winds up to 50 MPH, and fire retardant, so it is safe for internal heating or even plumbing.  It includes a built in PVC floor with 6 inch side walls to ensure water can’t come in.  

The frame is made from premium powder coated lightweight galvanized steel and the tent features heavy duty 10 YKK zippers.  Other features include storm straps, unbendable ground stakes and electric supply socket pockets.

Bushtec Adventure tents are actually the preferred supplier of tents for the military, United Nations, Unicef, and more – so you know with this tent, you’re getting a premium product designed to protect you in a range of conditions.  It is a true four season camping tent so that it can be used year-round.

Danchel Outdoor Indian Tent

If you’re after canvas teepee tents, then you may be interested in these Danchel Outdoor Indian cotton canvas tents.  Unlike your typical bell style tent, this canvas teepee camping tent doesn’t have any straight walls.   Rather the tent has just a single pole in the center to pitch the roof.

This is a reasonably lightweight tent weighing 70 lbs – one of the lightest six person tents in these reviews.  It has a diameter of 16.4 ft, making it a roomy tent, but given there are no vertical walls, you can only stand up towards the center of the tent, which has a height of 12.6 ft.  Nevertheless, the sides of the tent are a great place for storing gear as well as sleeping.

The tent is made from 285gsm cotton canvas, which is designed for year round use.  The canvas has been treated with a mold resistant coating and the conical design is perfect for protecting you from snowfall, rain and high winds.  The zipped in groundsheet is made from a heavy duty 540 gsm PVC and sits 4 inches off the ground to ensure no water comes inside.

The tent comes with one large door, which is double layered, including a bug mesh screen and a zippered panel.  There are also three double-layered zippered windows.  All zippers are high quality SBS zippers.  The tent also has four roof vents for ventilation and a chimney stove jacket for internal heating.  

This tent is perfect for those after something lightweight and easy to set up.  The tent goes up fast and packs down compactly, so it is easy to transport and store.

Danchel Outdoor Bell-Style Canvas Tent

Another canvas tent from Danchel Outdoor – this time a typical bell style tent.  This tent comes in a range of different sizes, from the 10 foot tent suitable for up to 4 people, right up to the huge 20 foot tent suitable for up to 8 people.

These are spacious tents with a height between 6.5 feet to 11.5 feet, depending on the size of the tent you purchase.  This means that you have ample room to stand up.

The Danchel Outdoor bell canvas tents are made with a 285 gsm cotton canvas with a 3000mm waterproof rating.  The tent comes with a detachable 540 gsm PVC groundsheet which has raised sides to prevent water from coming in.  The tent’s sides also roll up, so together with the detachable groundsheet, this is perfect when you just want a canopy on a hot day.

The tent features one large door, which is double layered, including a bug mesh screen and a zippered panel.  There are also four double layered zippered windows.  All zippers are high quality SBS zippers. 

The tent also has four roof vents for ventilation and comes with two 5 inch stoves jacks (one in the wall and one in the roof), so these are the perfect winter canvas tents.

These are lightweight tents for their size, with the smallest sized tent weighing just 43 lbs and the largest one weighing 106 lbs.  However, keep in mind that the tents’ canvas is a much lower gsm than the heavier tents in these reviews.

Wildcat Outdoor Gear Premium Family Camping Tent Bobcat 500

If you’re looking for the best family canvas tent that is large and spacious and provides a little privacy by having multiple rooms, the Wildcat Outdoor Bobcat 500 tent may just be what you’ve been looking for.

This tent is unique compared to the other canvas tents in this guide because it features inflatable beams rather than poles.  These inflatable beams are double layered with a PE material zipped closed.  The inflatable beams make for a really easy setup and pack down.  No need to work out which poles go where; simply use the included air pump to inflate the beams.

The tent has two bedrooms which are great for families or groups of friends wanting a bit of privacy. You can even combine the bedrooms into one large room if necessary.  In addition to the bedrooms, you also have a huge living room, side room, and a huge covered outdoor area.  Combined, you have an area of  200 sq ft, plus you have plenty of headroom with a height of 6.8 feet.

This canvas family camping tent is made from a high quality poly cotton canvas that performs well year-round.  The tent features two large doors and numerous windows for excellent airflow.

For those looking for large canvas wall tents that are spacious, have a versatile setup, is lightweight, and super easy to set up and pack down – the Wildcat Outdoor Bobcat 500 really does tick all the boxes – it’s well worth checking out.

Dream House 10 Person Cotton Canvas Tent

If you need something huge but don’t have a huge budget to match, the Dream House canvas tent is one to check out.  This is one huge tent, with dimensions of 16.4 ft wide by 13.1 ft long and a height of 9.8 ft; the Dream House is spacious enough for up to 10 people.

The tent is made with a 285gsm cotton canvas and features a heavy duty 540gsm PVC fabric groundsheet.  There is double sticking all around with reinforced key points.  The tent has a 3000mm waterproof rating and is designed to withstand winds of up to 30 MPH.  All poles are made with thick galvanized steel.

The Dream House comes with two large doors and four triangle shaped windows – all with bug mesh to prevent insects from coming in and helping with airflow.

Despite being such a large tent – there is just one room in the Dream House – so there are no separate rooms which would be nice for families.  Nevertheless, there is plenty of room inside for everyone.

So that’s a wrap, I hope you found this post on best canvas tents for camping useful!

Happy camping!

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Best Canvas Camping Tents Reviewed

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