From youth football and soccer fields to motocross tracks and cross-country meets, this canopy fits the bill. If you spend much time on the sidelines, we think the E-Z Up is the perfect way to catch some shade while you cheer on your athlete or team. 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.
In our tests one camper took less than 10 minutes to put it up on the first try. Two shorter aluminum poles cross to support the roof while four longer poles join to the roof poles at the top of the tent and slide into pegs at the ground. The tent roof is made of polyester taffeta treated with a DWR (durable water repellent) coating. The walls are made of fine no-see-um nylon mesh edged with polyester taffeta. This polyester material is less susceptible to UV damage than the nylon that previous versions of this tent incorporated, but it generally has a feel that is not quite as soft.
Being protected from the suns harmful UVB rays is probably why you wanted a canopy tent in the first place, and this Ozark Trail tent meets all criteria in this department. The one complaint we have is that there is no vents in the fabric at the peak to release the build up of hot air under the canopy. Most new tents incorporate this ventilated canopy design to increase airflow and reduce the trapping of hot air, helping to keep those in the shade cooler and more comfortable.
Fellow campers and sun-baked spectators consistently gravitated toward the REI shelter over the L.L.Bean. Though the two tents have the same footprint, the REI’s roof is 6 inches taller; we found that the higher ceiling made the REI shelter feel significantly roomier inside. A lower roof makes this shelter feel notably smaller than our top pick, but it’s also durably made and ready to pair with a superior rain fly (sold separately). The shelter has a 10-by-10-foot footprint—the most common size for tents of this type—and a peak height of 7 feet.
Don’t be fooled; this is one of the most important aspects to consider, as it determines the amount of sweat and frustration a model will induce upon its owner. One thing we learned over our months of testing is that a heavy tent with a poor carrying case can be a real challenge. The Pacific Breeze Easy Up didn’t score as highly here, but we were impressed with its ability to handle the wind.
Getting our hands dirty with one of the best sun shelters on the market. Digging our toes in the sand under one of the best full-overhead coverage beach tents on the market. We also really liked the Neso 1, although it isn’t as sturdy, especially in the wind. We also recommend the Pacific Breeze Easy Up or the REI Co-op Screen House Shelter. A handful of REI customers complain that the tent is not stable in strong winds. Though the previous version came with four guylines—the stabilizing lines that allow you to stake out the tent for added security in windy conditions—the current version does not, which is inconvenient.
It will shelter a standard-size picnic table, but with little room to spare. If you love camping but hate eating your morning pancakes in the rain, a canopy tent can protect you from the trifecta of bugs, sun, and sudden showers. Getting our hands dirty with the top-rated 9×9 Neso Grande lightweight beach canopy tent. We explore the lightweight beach canopy that’s powered by the wind to see if its worth its hefty price tag.
Canopies in this category are the Eurmax, Quick-Set Escape, E-Z UP Pyramid, Caddis Rapid Shelter, and Caravan Canopy V-Series. The Eurmax and E-Z Up both received lower portability scores because they are heavy and more difficult to lift from the car to the ground. Likewise, they are larger and more difficult to fit ozark trail screen house into a smaller vehicle. However, once on the ground, their roller bags make it extremely easy to pull them over concrete, dirt, and grass. These tents can quickly become pricey, so focusing on quality versus cost is a great idea. Typically, the lower-priced options in this category will work for the short term.
Likewise, the roller bag is made from commercial-grade components and fabrics, and the frame is thicker and heavier than other canopies. It can be popped into place by just one person, and it boasts pinch-free lockers and height adjusters, which allow everything to glide into position easily. Our favorite setup feature for this model is its crank-style center mast.