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Whether its to escape the Tennessee sun or the unexpected downpoors, we've all come to realize the importance of shade/shelter at our campsites at Roo. I'm going to buy a new canopy for this year, but I'm not sure I want to drop a lot of money on one since it's only going to be used a few times (possibly only once) a year. From what I hear EZup is the standard, but might be a bit out of my price range. I know Wally World and Target have brands such as First-Up and Quickshade for around $70-$80.
I was wondering what you all use or have used at your campsites(whether its canopy, screentent, tarps), and the success or defeats you've had with them. (We've all seen the abandoned twisted and bent canopy frames on Monday morning.)
In '06, we purchased the Ozark Trail Screened Shelter below. It's nice for shade, but doesn't hold up to rain or wind. Ours pretty much collapsed during Phil Lesh & Friends. In '07, one of our friends managed to get a 12x12 EZup. It seemed pretty solid, but it wasn't really put to the test last year, weatherwise. And, we won't have it this year.
Post by universalmind on Jan 29, 2008 14:27:09 GMT -5
I got my hands on a Coleman Geosport for real cheap last year. I just checked ebay and there are still tons of them at a good price. It worked out rather well.
Easy to set up. BIG! 15x15
Now last years weather wasn't severe so I'm not sure how well it holds up in rain,but a few times some very strong winds came through the campsite and the tent didn't budge. There are some slits/air vents in the top of the tent so I think this helps keep it down in the wind.
Edit: Looked up the reviews on Amazon. One person said it withstood moderate winds at the beach, another said it got through a thunderstorm without even having the guy lines staked down. Apparently it does pretty well =) www.amazon.com/Coleman-15-GeoSport-Shade/dp/B0009PUTIO
same thing only considerably cheaper, i'm thinking this is what i would like to pick up. if anybody else has one i would love to hear more testimonials.
I got my hands on a Coleman Geosport for real cheap last year. I just checked ebay and there are still tons of them at a good price. It worked out rather well.
Easy to set up. BIG! 15x15
Now last years weather wasn't severe so I'm not sure how well it holds up in rain,but a few times some very strong winds came through the campsite and the tent didn't budge. There are some slits/air vents in the top of the tent so I think this helps keep it down in the wind.
Edit: Looked up the reviews on Amazon. One person said it withstood moderate winds at the beach, another said it got through a thunderstorm without even having the guy lines staked down. Apparently it does pretty well =) www.amazon.com/Coleman-15-GeoSport-Shade/dp/B0009PUTIO
I got the same one for roo and worked very well. The fabric is not as thick as an EZup (hence the price difference) but it worked just fine and went up very easy. Additionally, I used it several times after roo for tailgates and one in particular was very windy. We had it staked down (didn't bother with guy lines) and it managed just fine.
We have a Caravan Canopie It is a 10'X10' Aluma. This is it's fourth season. We use this for Bonnaroo along with four NASCAR races and backyard parties. It has been weathered on many of times. One of the options we have are sides, this works nice to block sun or driving rain. If you do purchase one make sure to get the nail type tent stakes to hold it down.
You can purchase them for around $100, check out their website.
I think a cheeper one will set you back at least $50, so my opinion is to cry once when purchasing something. You will be able use it down the road.
I swear by the wallyworld/ozark trail cheapie sunscreens. Haven't priced them recently but <$30, heavy as hell (steel frame) and not the easiest thing to set up, but... sturdy as hell, if you set them up right (all the guy lines, etc.). The one I'm thinking of is just a shade, no screens, comes in a green bag. I finally retired my old one after 4 'roos and a couple of trips to the Outer Banks. Very good in a storm, again provided you anchor it well. NOT something you'd take backpacking, but good for a short haul camp like 'roo.
Last Edit: Jan 29, 2008 21:18:20 GMT -5 by Leo - Back to Top
One thing I've noticed with screen tents (not canopies), is that the ones that tend to make it through storms better are the types that have "elbows" in the poles. Meaning, the poles are foldable and have springs or "hinge" type things halfway down each side. That allows the whole screen tent to move with the wind when it's staked down, and the hinges create give. It might look like it's going to blow over, but it never does. My friend has used his for every Bonnaroo, and it's never failed him.
Post by Mrs. Ferret on Feb 10, 2008 23:40:24 GMT -5
I have a 10'x10' First-Up canopy that I bought from Wal-Mart last year. I am buying another one for this year's Bonnaroo that I am going to use instead of a tent (the tent annoyed me last year).
I'm going to buy detachable walls for one of the canopies and will have both canopies set up side by side- one for sleeping, and one for sitting under.
*I've used an Ozark Trail brand screened shelter before for camping, and it leaked SO MUCH when it rained. I only used it once, but I will never use that thing again.
As my Inebriated buddy walks out of the Porto, he yells out, "Dude...I love this place...bonnaroo thinks about everything...they even put beer holders next to the toilet!"
Had to break it to him that that was the urnal. Good times good times!
Post by rideincircles on Feb 12, 2008 1:01:20 GMT -5
We had a screened gazebo canopy and a cheap easy pop shade thing and we attached tarps to everything. Your tent will stay cooler if you can put a canopy above it that does not touch it. That might be harder if it rains though. We set up ours so that our gazebo wasnt easily accesible, and kept us in the shade, while keeping shady people out.
rideincircles, what kind of screen room did you have? We want to get a screen room kinda like yours for hanging out in, and put our EZ Up from last year that we used for shade over our tent this year with reflective tarps on the sides. I'm pretty sure the EZ Up and tent won't touch... if they do touch at all will that totally ruin it??
And while I can appreciate keeping shadesters out, is there fairly easy access in and out of the screen room? I don't want it to be as much of a hassle as getting in and out of the tent.
Oh and: this is probably a very stupid question, but why would it be harder to have an EZ Up over your tent if it rains? Provided you have other shelter of course... which makes me think, is a screen room adequate shelter from rain? They have rain flys, right?
Oh and: this is probably a very stupid question, but why would it be harder to have an EZ Up over your tent if it rains? Provided you have other shelter of course... which makes me think, is a screen room adequate shelter from rain? They have rain flys, right?
Well, the only thing I can see being a problem is that the EZ-up will direct rain right onto your rainfly, which can be a pain. If the EZ-up is touching the rainfly, any water will go right into your tent.
A screen room *might* be adequate, depending on how large it is, and whether the rain is coming at an angle. I wouldn't depend on it as your sole source of shelter from the rain, though.
Last Edit: Feb 12, 2008 1:26:37 GMT -5 by joga - Back to Top
Thanks joga. I think we might actually just go with another EZ Up instead of a screen room, the more I think about it. We are planning on attaching tarps to the EZ Up over our tent so hopefully that will help if it rains??
Post by rideincircles on Feb 12, 2008 2:23:15 GMT -5
I forgot what brand mine is, but it was a seperate tent from the screen room. The tent with the screen room in the picture was our neighbors. \My screen room did rip slightly from staking it in crooked, my friends bad idea. I was thinking about getting pvc pipes to support the tarp up this year. Us and our neighbors tried to make as much shade as possible. You can always bring extra tarps. The heavy duty ones last much longer. As soon as the sun hits your tent, the tent will start to boil. any type of shade over the tent will help a lot. We chilled in our screen tent, and kept our beer and food inside. 4 more months to go.
I shopped around on the internet and paid under $100 for mine. It only weighs 12 lbs, but has survived high winds and heavy rains on different camping trips. (as long as it is staked out well.. the ground at roo is hard so I have upgraded my tent stakes to the nail type like this:
Post by StreetBum87 on Feb 15, 2008 14:50:08 GMT -5
i have the 10x20 KING CANOPY www.kingcanopy.com/product/kmk1pcs works wonders and will have our own added roll down sides...keeps good ventilation, and keeps the sun out at all times of the day........if im there to do it
Post by Mrs. Ferret on Feb 18, 2008 11:19:07 GMT -5
rb3312 said:
I have a 10'x10' First-Up canopy that I bought from Wal-Mart last year. I am buying another one for this year's Bonnaroo that I am going to use instead of a tent (the tent annoyed me last year).
I'm going to buy detachable walls for one of the canopies and will have both canopies set up side by side- one for sleeping, and one for sitting under.
*I've used an Ozark Trail brand screened shelter before for camping, and it leaked SO MUCH when it rained. I only used it once, but I will never use that thing again.
By the way, have any of you ever tried doing what I'm doing- having 2 canopies WITHOUT a tent under one of them? I'll bring some extra tarps... just in case...
I'm also bringing some camping hammocks or cots to sleep on this year rather than sleeping on the ground again.
Last year, we had a canopy with a wall and floor and I slept in that... it was much cooler than using a tent (though tents and strategically placed fans is where it's at). The only negative of having a canopy is... I really can't think of one... all I know is that last year, one of the people in my rather large group got wasted and got the munchies in the canopy... the rest of the weekend, the canopy was infested with ants.
I built one from PVC pipe and a normal tarp last year and didnt have any problems with it. Im hoping the weather stays pretty nice this year so I dont have to worry about it falling.
Post by Mrs. Ferret on Feb 18, 2008 16:02:02 GMT -5
mothersky said:
Last year, we had a canopy with a wall and floor and I slept in that... it was much cooler than using a tent (though tents and strategically placed fans is where it's at). The only negative of having a canopy is... I really can't think of one... all I know is that last year, one of the people in my rather large group got wasted and got the munchies in the canopy... the rest of the weekend, the canopy was infested with ants.
Thanks for the info. I will now bring a small broom and dust pan to keep the inside of the canopy (the tarp I will place on the ground) free of food particles. Have some karma.
P.S.- I, too, wish they would have gone further with the short-lived Tapeworm project. It would have been nice.
So... we want to attach tie-dyed sheets to the sides our EZ Ups for shade, but I just realized we might feel a bit walled off... has anyone devised any methods for tying back and/or rolling up?
Side, unrelated question: Is a sheet thick enough for sitting on at Centeroo? We brought a quilt last year and it was hella thick/heavy, so I thought we'd downside for portabiiity's sake.
