The Clam also sets up and folds down with remarkable speed—we timed the process at 60 seconds. However, this model is too big to fit in the trunks of most sedans, and the muted colors look good when it’s sunny but can feel a bit gloomy if it’s already rainy out. The canopy tent has mesh walls on all four sides and an edge of polyester fabric (also DWR treated) at the ground that deters mosquitos and other critters from invading from below. Like many tents of this type, the REI Screen House Shelter has a fabric hook in the center of the ceiling that accommodates a small lantern or other light.
The REI Co-op Screen House Shelter is an intuitively designed, easy-to-erect picnic tent that offers protection from sun, bugs, and mild rain showers. Though the boxy design is basic, in our tests we found that this camping shelter offered the best combination of functionality, durability, and affordability of all the tents we tried. We used the shelters for sun protection, setting up camp chairs inside one and a play mat and toddler toys inside another, and placing the large Clam shelter over a picnic table piled with markers and coloring books. Our favorite canopy tent is a simply designed, comfortable shelter that offers protection from bugs, sun, and rain. Sure, you can retreat to your RV, but we want to enjoy the outdoors when camping. High-quality screen tents can help you do that with relative comfort.
The double-thick Polyguard 2X™ fabric stands up to the elements–season after season. Once it’s up, the UVGuard™ material offers 50+ UPF protection from the sun’s dangerous rays. When the fun’s done, the frame folds down for compact storage. Though all of these shelters are self-standing and staking them may not be strictly necessary in calm weather, it’s wise to always do so in case the wind picks up unexpectedly. Before staking out a tent, make sure all of its doors are zipped closed to avoid staking it too tightly and straining the zippers. Like regular camping tents, these camping gazebos are not intended to be left up for extended periods, as the fabrics are susceptible to UV damage.
You probably already have too much stuff, so your screen tent should be spacious enough to entertain but compact enough to store. A tent that comes with a storage bag makes it both portable and simple to store. Note that the mentioned area more or less corresponds to the shade that this screen house offers, the walls are completely vertical, see the picture below. But this is a large structure and in view of this, taking it down or setting it up is rather easy, and the word ‘instant’ in the name is quite justified.
Item prices do not include fees for pickup, shipping or delivery (if applicable) unless noted in the item description. Ships in the manufacturer’s original packaging, which may reveal the contents. The tent is covered by L.L.Bean’s one-year 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Mike Wendland is an Emmy award-winning journalist, traveler, and producer of RV Podcast, the RV Lifestyle travel blog, and the RV Lifestyle Channel on YouTube. Mike is not only an adept RV life enthusiast but also a skillful storyteller, bringing to his channels stories from the road that perfectly capture the magic and hardships of this lifestyle.
Bugs are tiny; they can crawl under almost anything, so with all the above, you can create a lovely outdoor space without them. So this Coleman Back Home Instant Screen House is really nicely built and it looks cool. It is incredibly tall and even the doors are with a stand-up height. It is heavy but the wheeled carry bag helps when you transport it around.
The majority of the time was spent making sure we were setting it up correctly, so once we get the hang of everything, it will be a breeze. With all that in mind, we found more than a dozen tents that met our criteria. Compared coleman sundome with our top day-tent pick, the L.L.Bean Woodlands Screen House uses arguably superior materials; it also comes with an unsurpassed warranty. But with a ceiling that’s 6 inches lower, it feels smaller and darker.
The Tailgaterz is the best screen tent for you if you go in and out of your screen tent a lot or like to have your hands full carrying food and drinks. The transport bag has wheels so that extra weight won’t feel that much heavier. The assembly is also easy at 45 seconds and weighs only 34 pounds for easy transport.