On sunny days and clear nights, take off the fly and enjoy the sky through the tent’s clear mesh canopy. Some testers, though, thought the tent was stuffy when the fly was fully closed and the sun was out. Slant-leg canopies tend to have lighter builds than straight-leg models, but they’re often a good choice for uneven ground because the angled legs give them added stability. It definitely doesn’t feel heavy duty, but the angle of the legs did offer some advantages when we tested it on a camping trip. Best Choice Products keeps things simple and affordable with its pop-up canopy, which goes together in a quick three-step setup process.
The tent weighs just 16 pounds, less than any other family tent we tested for this guide. Despite having the smallest capacity of the tents we tested—42.5 square feet—the Mineral King 3 easily fits two people with a full-size mattress, or two sleeping pads, and gear. Two large vestibules add nearly 40 square feet combined—that is, 18.75 square feet on either side. To test the tents, we first opened them, splayed out their parts, and tried to put them together without consulting the instructions.
The Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent is the best car-camping tent choice for couples. It has everything you need for three-season camping, with the bonus of being light enough to double as an occasional backpacking tent. Although it’s designed to accommodate three people—hence the “3” in its name—we found that at 42.5 square feet, the tent is more comfortable for two, plus gear and maybe a medium-size dog. Canopies come in a wide range of sizes, and most are shaped as squares or rectangles. The smallest models are typically 4 feet by 4 feet and designed to shade a single person or something akin to a portable changing station.
For most fabrics, rip strength is expressed as a measurement of the diameter of the fibers in their thread, or a denier—the higher the denier, the stronger the fabric. We found 40 denier up to 150 denier to be typical for car-camping tents; you can read more about these measurements in gear manufacturer MSR’s blog post and in this Outside article. An avid hiker, camper, and long-haul road-tripper, Claire Wilcox has slept ozark trail canopy tent in (and occasionally improvised) tents in 11 states. She covers outdoor gear for Wirecutter and worked on the most recent update of this guide, testing couples’ tents and family tents. A full rain cover, two vestibules, and an extra-sturdy pole structure make this the best choice for families who want to get outside in any weather. The first step usually involves clearing the space in which the canopy will stand.
This material often costs less than polyethylene or vinyl canopies and balances durability and price. Pop-up canopy material types often categorize these tent-like weather protectors. Polyethylene, polyurethane, polyester, and vinyl are the most common materials.
Though the Wireless’s fly kept water out of the tent’s interior, it took longer to fully dry once the rain stopped than some others we tested. If you don’t have time to let the fly dry before you pack the Wireless in its duffle, we recommend laying it out when you get home so it doesn’t mildew in storage. One night during testing, for example, clouds loomed in the distance with clear skies overhead. ozark trail instant cabin After we pitched the tent, the Mineral King 3’s adaptable fly let us leave half the mesh dome uncovered. At the first sign of rain, it took only a few seconds—and a quick hand stuck outside the tent—to unfurl the fly and secure it for a dry night’s sleep. When we awoke, we could roll back one part of the vestibule, make coffee, and watch the sky lighten even though it was still raining.
These canopies also went through a rigorous testing process where they were scored between 0 and 4 for different features, like waterproofing, setup ease, ease of transport, quality, durability, and value. Baseball games, days on the beach, and camping trips are just a few of the many times a pop-up canopy comes in handy. These portable sun and rain protectors come in various sizes and include features such as mosquito nets, sidewalls, and wheels for added portability. We put the best on the market to the test by using them in a number of real-life settings, including in Pacific Northwest rainfall.
But the roller bag makes moving it through a campsite or loading it into a trunk or pickup bed easier. One person could probably set this canopy up on their own, but having an extra person or two to help will speed things along. It’s not difficult to set up or take down thanks to the push-button release mechanisms on the legs and slider (the portion that slides the top of the frame into place). However, ABC Canopy only includes generic setup instructions that don’t specify how to set up the center pole, how tightly to crank it, or what to do with it during takedown. It wasn’t hard to figure out, but better instructions would’ve been helpful.