Portable, Pop-up Sun Tent Shelter for Beach Rick Steves Travel Forum

ozark trail instant cabinAnd if you can step into the next price bracket, the Eurmax Standard 10×10 is hands-down our top choice. The added cost will buy you stronger materials and a structure that you won’t have to worry about falling apart for many years to come — if at all. Our notes on this shelter are mostly positive — there isn’t much we don’t like about the Escape. In addition to costing you a few extra clams, this product doesn’t pack up very small. When stowed in its carrying case, it could easily be confused with a winter travel bag carrying snow skis. Its packed size is more the 6 feet, making it difficult to fit into an average-sized car.

Some, like the Tagalong, are lighter because of the high-end materials used in their construction. Others, like the Sun Ninja, are lighter because they employ less expensive materials. So it is important to distinguish that not all lightweight and portable products are also high quality. The Eurmax was followed closely by the Quick-Set Escape and E-Z Up Pyramid.

ozark trail canopy tentWe selected products best suited for farmer’s markets, corporate gigs, and beaches. We also chose canopies optimized for camping, spectator sports, and adventure. From there, we tested each product for several months in Utah and California, subjecting them to sun, wind, and rain. All the while, we assessed key performance metrics such as functionality, ease of setup, protection, craftsmanship, and portability.

Although we always recommend using anchors such as weighted sand bag or stakes with guy lines attached to the top corners. The Ozark Trail canopy very well might be one of the best selling 10×10 tent brands of all time. The easily recognizable logo has been seen by nearly everyone at youth soccer tournaments or beach vacations in recent years.

The frame is sturdy and can be customized to your preferred height. For those extra scorching hot days, the peak roof vent creates additional ventilation. It also helps to prevent it from easily blowing away, seeing as the wind doesn’t get caught on the large volume of fabric.

It springs into place with just the pull of a single chord, similar to opening an umbrella but in reverse. This makes it simple for one person to produce an instant sunshade in seconds. Simply fill the four attached anchor bags with sand or smooth rocks, stretch the canopy into an X-shape, and prop it up with the provided tent poles. We found this setup process easy because it didn’t require a lot of moving parts or analytical thinking.