After weeks of testing, we have thrown a few penalty flags on the field. This product’s excellent wheel system is mostly plastic; we wish it were constructed primarily of metal. Additionally, it packs up large and is heavy, making it difficult to find room for it in the trunk of just any car. It’s also more challenging to lift into and out of a vehicle alone, and although quite solid, the E-Z Up can be a little wobbly at full height. These caveats aside, this is still our number one when heading out to the playing field. If you want a lighter, more portable camp-style shelter, we highly recommend checking out the REI Co-op Screen House Shelter.
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 experts teamed up to develop a rigorous test plan, which we applied to every canopy tent in this review.
Akin to the Clam Quick-Set Escape is the REI Co-op Screen House Shelter. The Screen House is far more portable but less rugged than the Clam, and it also offers a fully enclosed system that keeps bugs at bay. Digging our toes in the sand under one of the best full-overhead coverage beach tents on the market. You may want to compare the Easy Up against the Qipi Beach Cabana, the Eureka Tagalong Shelter, and the Neso 1. Getting our hands dirty with one of the best sun shelters on the market.
Perhaps our two favorites are camping tent additions that connect to the frame of the shelter and leverage the stability of the 10×10 frame to support a camping tent structure. On hot, sunny days, we don’t think we could remain inside the Easy Up for long periods. Even with the drapes stowed, there is less ventilation than in larger, open canopies. And, despite effectively blocking the sun’s rays, this shader tends to remain quite warm, much like a backpacking tent would when it’s left in the sun all day. It also doesn’t perform well in the rain, primarily because of its open design.
And 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. Our versatile Ozark ozark trail backpack Trail 10′ x 20′ Canopy provides the protection you need for your next event. The innovative frame is powder coated steel with central hub locks for the frame and push button locking height adjustments. The 300D polyester top provides UV protection and is water and fire resistant.
When we compared the Taglong to beefier models, we had to score lower for this reason. Still, when we consider its niche, there’s no denying it has excellent properties, like double stitching, weather taping, high-tensile aluminum, and reinforced joints. This metric pertains to a shelter’s ability to offer protection from sun, wind, and rain. Some canopies perform well in one or two of these areas, but we gave the highest scores to those that could expertly handle all three functions. We even gave extra points to canopies that also protected against bugs. The Tagalong and Caravan V-Series scored slightly lower than our top scorers, but they still have straightforward setup processes.
There are 4 walls included and one of the walls has a zipper in the center for easy access under the canopy. The canopy also has an awning, banner ozark trail backpack holder, stakes and guy ropes. The canopy folds down to 52.5″ in length and easily fits into the roller bag with all of the accessories.
The frame is constructed with a rust-resistant steel and it comes with a water-resistant fabric top, making it durable, as well as able to withstand the outdoor elements. Four attached guy lines keep it upright while telescoping legs and a trigger mechanism enable height adjustment for easy setup. The canopy fabric is made with a heavy-duty 150D polyester for reliable shade and water protection. This Ozark Trail canopy also comes with a wheeled bag for convenient storage and transport between uses. Place Ozark Trail 20′ x 10′ Straight Leg Instant Canopy in your backyard or another outdoor venue and make the most out of your time outdoors. The Pacific Breeze Easy Up is a beach tent with a half-dome design and enough space to shade one or two adults.
Typically, the lower-priced options in this category will work for the short term. They usually weigh less, which is handy when lugging them around, but it generally means they are not as durable in inclement weather. The higher-priced models often weigh more or offer better construction technology.