Canopy Suggestion

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B

blinkers

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2010
Messages
12
Location
Mchenry Illinois
I need a suggestion on a good canopy 10 x 10 to purchase. I had a failure during my last craft show with high winds and it was ugly and needless to say was my worst day in a very long time so I need a new canopy and I am done with the junk so please I could use some direction on which one will stand up in wind and rain. Thanks and I hope this never happens to you.
 
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Well Allan,

The best canopies take a while to put up and take down and they cost a fortune (over $500 when we priced them).

In over ten years of shows all summer, we went through five ez-ups. Used three at a time (30 feet) some weekends and yes, we grabbed them when the wind picked up.

But $200 each and ten minute setup was hard to beat!!!
 
It takes me less than 25 minuets to set up and 20 to tear down my Lite dome, yes thats longer than an EZ-up but during a heavy rain my top just rolls the water off and we're dry as a desert inside, and during heavy winds we're still standing while some EZ=Up type are just a twisted mass. Yes they are much more expensive and every time you spend $200 to replace one EZ-Up adds up. Mine I bought used and is still like new and I avraged 22 outdoor shows a year for the last 3 years. You couldn't pay me to buy another EZ-UP
 
As you say, Roy, you do shows frequently and use ONE booth.

Under those conditions the expensive tents are a good investment. VERY few here meet those conditions.

Allan is doing shows in the same area we did. Although high winds DO happen, they are NOT a regular occurence.

IF you can afford the better tent, by all means buy it!!

In ten years, I NEVER lost an EZUp. Even in a 60mph storm with two tents up. I got REAL WET (So did Dawn)--but the tents did not bend. (IN TRUTH, I expected them to!! Oh, and the expensive tent right next to us did VERY well, the artist never left his chair--he was MUCH more confident than we, as he should have been!!)

Setting up two to three tents each show, the 25 minutes adds up to three hours (up and down) We did not HAVE three hours every week.

The LightDome at the time was nearly $1000. With shows on the "downslide", certainly buy one used if you can find a reasonable deal.
 
I use the ez up with a modification: we put vents in the top of the canopy, so that when the wind gets under the canopy the vents open up and let out the pressure, plus I have 60 to 70 pound sand bags on each leg holding the thing down.

And now we have the walls that cover two sides, I doubt if the thing will blow around much, but ya never know. :rolleyes:
 
I have never done a show but we have an EZ-Up that we take to the beach where the winds are a constant. I take buckets and fill them w/ sand and tie them down so they don't blow away. They have vents cut on top to allow the pressure under them to release when the wind is blowing. The feet have holes for steaks that could easily fit a 3/8" bolt. You could take a couple if small buckets and fill them w/ concrete and press some allthread w/ a couple of nuts and washers in the concrete as anchors to use as weights and just not extend the legs as far.

One thing I surely recommend is the full size. Ours is a true 10'x10' (100sqft) canopy. The cheaper ones have the same footprint but they taper up and are actually only 80sqft. That is a big difference when the sun is beating down.
 
Check out Caravan, they make one with steel tubing. We have had ours for 3yrs, with one bad wind which lifted it up and slightly put in on it's side. Nothing bent and no rivets pulled out. Very easy to put up. Now we have weights.
 
If you are going to use an EZ up then I suggest the following modifcations:

1. add stablilizing bars connecting the sides and back

2. add vents in the top front and back

These two features will add booth stability and peace of mind when it gets windy. It only takes one high wind to flip an EZ up. It is not just the loss of a tent and part of the inventory but the potential injury to yourself and others. How much is safety worth?
 
+ 1 on the Caravan shades! We have a Caravan 10 X 10 Monster. It is about 50% more than the LiteDome or the Trimline (You can find these at $1,299 instead of the MSRP of $1,699).

We have been through a toronado with this tent and it was one of the only ones left standing. It sets up as fast as an EZ Up but has very heavy duty powder coated legs and truss system.

Additionally, The top is twice as heavy as the EZ ups or the Trimlines (600D) and is actually water proof. The top actually straps to the frame so there is no sags to allow water to pool.

This canopy has worked great for us. the EZ ups...not so much.
 
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