We wanted to sleep there for the night but ATV’s literally drive right through the stream and campground. Rather than deal with the potential buzz of people for the night, we pushed on to another camp spot 1.5 miles up. The tent sites that are waypointed on FarOut all seem to have a fire ring and chairs made out of flat rocks circling. There is space for 2-3 tents here, so we chose the flattest spot with the least amount of poison ivy to set up our tent. All things considered, the REI Screen House Shelter is our favorite portable model.
We can see a road down below, the cars and trucks look so small as they pass by, completely unaware of our presence. I spent the last 1.5 years mostly unemployed and healing my traumatic brain injury. It was a grueling task, that felt painstakingly slow and never ending. My day-to-day life shifted drastically after my last concussion, my ability to perform certain tasks diminished immensely.
This massive, 10×10 fully enclosed canopy packs down small and only weighs 13 pounds. It’s the ultimate mosquito net that is also lightweight and compact enough to hitch a ride on any adventure trip. We looked for features like double-stitched seams, weather taping, steel, robust fabrics, and fewer moving parts. The Eureka Tagalong is lightweight with stellar components, so if you want to be a bit more mobile with your canopy, this is one of our favorites. And 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.
I kiss my sleeping bag liner goodbye and tell myself I will get to try out being more like a true ultra-lighter for the remainder of trail. Though I am not terribly happy about it, my pack feels like a feather after cutting another 2.5 pounds, and that seems worth it. The Pacific Breeze Easy Up didn’t score as highly here, but we were impressed with its ability to handle the wind.
We are also very impressed with the overall value the Coleman 10×10 Sun Shelter brings to the table. It’s slightly more expensive than the cheapest options on our list. Still, we feel its ozark trail canopy price point is nearly perfect considering its quality and performance, specifically its extra features and beefier design. Not sure which canopy will deliver the best bang for your buck?
Below, we discuss the metrics we used to score each model and highlight impressive models in each performance area. 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.
Determining which features you need in a canopy will help you choose which one provides maximum efficiency at the right price. 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.
Likewise, the Pacific Breeze Easy Up does not require additional assembly. It springs into place with just the pull of a single chord, similar to opening an umbrella but in reverse. The simplicity of this design makes it easy for one person to produce an instant sunshade in seconds.
Kalee Thompson is an editor covering health, fitness, baby, and kid gear. She has personally tested a dozen tents and an equal number of hair dryers. “There’s less scissor material, which means less total metal – and that’s why some of these companies can sell a tent for under $100,” Gemmell said. “When the legs are slanted, it’s completely dependent on those connection points,” Gemmell said.