I get check-in baggage for free and therefore don’t mind carrying the shelter with me. For casual outings as well as possible commercial use or for tailgating, this is a fantastic and trusted choice. With bonus stakes, guylines, and a wheeled carry bag, you’re certainly getting value for your money. In the low-cost range of outdoor shelters, the Ozark 10ft x 10ft Trail Canopy is definitely at the top in its class. It sticks to the classics, with a very traditional design that works. There may not be many bells and whistles, but we don’t think it’s necessary here.
The Easy Up is actually the lightest in our list of top scorers, but it has a longer packed size, which affected its overall score. I actually think I may have purchased another type of pop-up shelter once upon a time. I will investigate the garage and report back if I find anything worthwhile. The feet areas of the legs are also something to mention, as they are shaped like pads instead of a simple pole.
We suggest you don’t leave it outside if you know it’s going to rain. There doesn’t seem to be any information on the thickness level of the polyester, but this Ozark Trail Canopy model does have a 50+ UV protection rating. This is very important for gazebos, considering their principal purpose is to shield from the sun. In terms of being waterproof, we think it’s more so water repellent.
At the forefront of features, this canopy has a roller bag with large, wide-set wheels so one person can easily pull this beast across gravel, dirt, or grass. The E-Z Up also has a simple setup and can even be deployed solo, depending on age and strength. Its heavy steel frame and massive metal stakes easily hold this shelter steady, even during wind gusts, and glaring sun and rain are also no threat. Our shade-loving experts poured over hundreds of the best canopy tents available before choosing 11 for side-by-side testing.
This shelter employs high-grade, collapsible aluminum poles for its frame and comes complete with built-in guy lines and sandbags to help keep it sturdy. The polyester canopy effectively dampens the sun’s rays and is double-stitched and weather taped to keep out the rain. This metric considers each shelter’s floor space and height, as well as any design element that may limit or enhance accessibility and maneuverability. We erected each model and measured the height and floor space to compare to other tents. Typical cathedral tents offered a 10×10 floor space, whereas many of the more niche tents had varying sizes.
We love this feature because it won’t nip at your fingers and you can do one leg at a time. With the constant movement of the sun throughout the day, it’s nice to know that you can easily adapt the height to maintain shade underneath. You’re also getting 3 height options, so you’re not limited in the elevation that you need. With the massive influx of instant canopies taking over the market, it can be hard to find one that lives up to its claims. Next, we took a serious look at just how each product is constructed. We looked for features like double-stitched seams, weather taping, steel, robust fabrics, and fewer moving parts.
We do admit there is a small learning curve to setting up the Escape, but once you’re locked in, popping this canopy into place is really fun and even somewhat addictive. It doesn’t leak during rainstorms and is rock solid in the wind. The massive screened walls keep insects where they belong — away from you. This shelter is also fully surrounded by a 10-inch-wide ground skirt which goes the extra mile at keeping creepy crawlers and flying annoyances at bay. Over the years, we have utilized an impressive team of experienced canopy tent users, from market vendors to beach lovers.
ozark trail canopy tentHowever, once on the ground, their roller bags make it extremely easy to pull them over concrete, dirt, and grass. The Eureka Tagalong scored slightly lower but still boasted an impressive score. It sits lower than cathedral-style canopies, which more effectively blocks the sun’s rays as their angles change during the day. Additionally, its weather-taped seams and waterproof canopy create an excellent barrier against rain. As for the Caravan V-Series, we feel it provides excellent coverage from the sun.
ozark trail shower tentAnd compared to some of the tents in the EZ-Up lineup, it sells for almost a 70% discount. One could, in theory, purchase a new Ozark canopy every year (which they might need to!) and still come out ahead over the years vs. purchasing a more expensive alternative. In windy conditions high stress is applied to each side and the frame begins to break down at the unreinforced joint connectors.