All things considered, the REI Screen House Shelter is our favorite portable model. This massive, 10×10 fully enclosed canopy packs down small coleman canopy 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 do admit there is a small learning curve to setting up the Escape, but once you’re locked in, popping this canopy into place is really fun and even somewhat addictive. The massive screened walls keep insects where they belong — away from you. This shelter is also fully surrounded by a 10-inch-wide ground skirt which goes the extra mile at keeping creepy crawlers and flying annoyances at bay. The included stakes are very short, thin, and somewhat ineffective; we recommend purchasing larger, thicker stakes for your Caravan V-Series. The canopy material is adequate but less rugged, and rainwater tends to drip through during a substantial downpour.
There’s a substantial difference if you are pairing it up against a canopy with no ventilation. A notable increased amount of airflow that you get from the vent gap in the ceiling. This gives it a lot more stability, as the pressure is weighted more evenly throughout.
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. But if you’ve got a big enough rig, this is a dream canopy tent to add to your campsite. The red comfort grips are designed for easy and secure setup and teardown.
We’ve also tested the best fire pits for your outdoor patio or backyard. No matter what gear you’re in the market for, chances are we’ve got info informed by years of rigorous side-by-side testing. Even though these are freestanding, we always recommend that you should tie them down.
This metric considers each shelter’s floor space and height, as well as any design element that may limit or enhance accessibility and maneuverability. We erected each model and measured the height and floor space to compare to other tents. Typical cathedral tents offered a 10×10 floor space, whereas many of the more niche tents had varying sizes. coleman cooler Another key aspect of functionality is the extra convenience features provided by various models. For example, hanging loops, storage compartments, and built-in pockets make canopy use easier and more organized. Our shade-loving experts poured over hundreds of the best canopy tents available before choosing 13 for side-by-side testing.
The Pacific Breeze Easy Up didn’t score as highly here, but we were impressed with its ability to handle the wind. Its stiff frame doesn’t bend or sway during heavy breezes, and it stays put as long as it’s staked down or weighted by its five built-in sandbags. It does hike the price up quite a bit, but it is worth it if you know you’ll be using it a lot in the sun.