Popup Canopy

[Burl]

I'm looking for a canopy, something that I would be able to put up by myself, a 10 X 10 would be great. I bought one at Harbor Freight a couple weeks ago, what a piece of junk. Can anybody suggest a nice one for a decent price? I don't use it but a couple times a year, but when you need it you need it. I figure some of youns have experience at this. Thanks!

 

[dclassical]

I don't have hands-on experience with it but a friend bought one at Academy and he likes it. Easy to put up (though I think he always has help). He got the one with the straight legs, not the slanted ones.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I can't help but I feel your pain. The cheap ones are total garbage, but the good ones are tough as nails. A quality one will be stiff enough that putting it up alone will be easy.

 

[Zaxxn]

I actually grabbed the HF one last year when I started building my shop, for some sun protection while building walls on the ground and also to store some tools under it for a little bit of protection. It totally worked for everything I needed it to, and I dragged that thing everywhere across the construction site many, many times, never gingerly.
Yes, it's probably not a beautiful tent to leave on a patio or so, and not built like a tank either, but I remember I had a coupon to get it at an amazing price and it certainly has paid for itself over the last year. And it's still perfectly usable and probably will use it should I ever want some shade at a picnic or so.

--Zax

 

[Lucid Moments]

I've got a First Up branded one that I have had for at least a decade now. I don't use it all that often, but when I do I am most likely to be putting it up by myself.

 

[astroracer]

I have an EZ-UP that is going on 20 years old. haul it to every car show I go to. Kinda showing it's age but not enough to pitch it...
Mark

 

[rlitman]

I've got a straight sided 10x10 and also a 6-leg 10x20. They can ll be raised by one person, with some difficulty and time, but if you have one person per leg, they go up and down in mere seconds. But this style is neither wind nor rain resistant.

 

[teamextreme]

You need the original, an EZ-UP brand. Great quality, although the new ones aren't nearly as stout as they made them back in the late 90's when I bought my first one. I had to replace it a couple years ago, going on almost 20 years old and still perfectly fine, because a huge gust of wind grabbed it while it was being set up and trashed it.

 

[MikeinNorthWales]

This is something where you get what you pay for. The cheap, $69 canopies that you find at bargain stores are light and flexible, with so-so fabric. You pay more for good ones, like EZ UP. First Up is good, in my experience. The straight legs are usually better. Fabric that has a vent at the top keeps them from lifting and blowing away in the wind.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[niget2002]

This is something where you get what you pay for. The cheap, $69 canopies that you find at bargain stores are light and flexible, with so-so fabric. You pay more for good ones, like EZ UP. First Up is good, in my experience. The straight legs are usually better. Fabric that has a vent at the top keeps them from lifting and blowing away in the wind.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

I agree with all of this.

Mine is a cheapie from wal-mart. It's served me well for at least 10 years now, but I noticed last season that the canopy is starting to fall apart. I'll probably be getting a new one next year.

I can take the cheap one up and down by myself, but it's because I've done it a few times to figure it out. Basically, I stake down one corner and then bounce the canopy while walking away from the corner I staked. Then I start walking circles around it extending each leg one by one until it's all the way up. Lastly, I go back and stake the other 3 corners.

Having the one leg staked down allows you to pivot the rest of the canopy on it for expanding/contracting.

 

[mysery]

Rent one?

 

[Monza Harry]

I agree with all of this.

Mine is a cheapie from wal-mart. It's served me well for at least 10 years now, but I noticed last season that the canopy is starting to fall apart. I'll probably be getting a new one next year.

I can take the cheap one up and down by myself, but it's because I've done it a few times to figure it out. Basically, I stake down one corner and then bounce the canopy while walking away from the corner I staked. Then I start walking circles around it extending each leg one by one until it's all the way up. Lastly, I go back and stake the other 3 corners.

Having the one leg staked down allows you to pivot the rest of the canopy on it for expanding/contracting.

Mine is a "First Up" I believe [I'm pretty sure but to lazy to go look], it has been a good value I bought it (with a matching "Friend") from a local close-out store for like $70 (+ Tax). Mine came with 2 tops 1 with a licensed team logo and a plain Red one (will match the HotRod nicely)which I am keeping Nice for the HotRod displays/shows etc. I use the logo'd one for plain shade. I put it up pretty much the way it was suggested above [+/- according to circumstances]. The best probably not but it does what I need for a price that worked ok for me then, 5 years or so ago. I use mine a couple of times a year as others have mentioned with theirs. Harry

 

[David99]

Just recently (early April) got this Coleman from Target-
https://www.target.com/p/coleman-174-instant-canopy-with-sunwall-10-x10-gray/-/A-14347451

It replaced a First-up that I got in 2012.

Seems to be a little nicer with a heavier frame, the leg & top releases are easier too.

of course after I bought the Coleman Sam's puts theirs on sale for $69 & in the clubs around here.

 

[slow]

Make sure you get a straight leg 10x10 not a 8x8 canopy that says it is a 10x10 due to the legs being sloped. I made that mistake, bit it was a cheapie 40 walmart one, worth it for the few days at the beach, but i wanted it a little bigger

 

[hrichard]

I do competition bbq, and was using a cheap straight leg 10x10 from Tractor Supply. It served me well for what it was but was worn out for sure. I looked around at what other teams were using, and talked to some about the canopies. Now mind you, some of these teams have canopies up 100 nights a year in all kinds of conditions, so they are happy to get a year out of them. The clear winner in my case was Eurmax brand, as most teams said that even the cheapest ones hold up for several years. I purchased 2 of their display canopies, which come with a decent frame, a heavy nylon top, and 4 walls, one with a zipper door, for $219 each and I couldnt be happier! The Canopies stand up to wind and the elements pretty darn good, but this series is still light enough to be handled by one person. I considered their heavier series, but at over $600 dolloars and almost 250 lbs, it's overkill for what I need.

Eurmax Canopies for me

 

[Specracer]

EZ up!! But all EZups are not the same (different quality levels). We have one that was $6xx. Would have bought 2 or 3 cheap ones by now, and this one is still perfect. The tent material is heavier, and the frame is VERY heavy duty. We tailgate several times a year, and as we build our "tent city" (series of tents together) you can really see and feel the differences.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I do competition bbq, and was using a cheap straight leg 10x10 from Tractor Supply. It served me well for what it was but was worn out for sure. I looked around at what other teams were using, and talked to some about the canopies. Now mind you, some of these teams have canopies up 100 nights a year in all kinds of conditions, so they are happy to get a year out of them. The clear winner in my case was Eurmax brand, as most teams said that even the cheapest ones hold up for several years. I purchased 2 of their display canopies, which come with a decent frame, a heavy nylon top, and 4 walls, one with a zipper door, for $219 each and I couldnt be happier! The Canopies stand up to wind and the elements pretty darn good, but this series is still light enough to be handled by one person. I considered their heavier series, but at over $600 dolloars and almost 250 lbs, it's overkill for what I need.

Eurmax Canopies for me

+1 on Eurmax. I bought one for my bbq setup based on all of the reviews from people who have food concession stands. They seem to be made pretty stout. I still can’t see how anyone can put any of these pop ups up alone. My wife and I put it up and I still wish for 2 more people. Chris

 

[hrichard]

+1 on Eurmax. I bought one for my bbq setup based on all of the reviews from people who have food concession stands. They seem to be made pretty stout. I still can’t see how anyone can put any of these pop ups up alone. My wife and I put it up and I still wish for 2 more people. Chris

Well, it helps that I am a rather large fellow, but i stand it up and pull the corners apart as far as i can reach, then work my way around pushing up on the roof structure and pulling one leg out at a time. usually 3 times around has it all locked in, then just slide the legs up and its done. 5 minutes to put it up tops

 

[racerex]

Check out econopy....they sell a number of different brands. I picked up a 10x10 Caravan (I think that’s the brand). It’s intended for craft show use and it’s heavy duty....also easy to set up. I also have the four side panels because I’m using the canopy as a parts paint booth.....with a small furnace fan for the exhaust and air-handler panel filters on the fresh air intake and exhaust sides. As DIY paint booths go, it works amazingly well.

 

[reader2580]

The 10x10 straight leg canopies that sell for about $200 at Sam's Club or Costco are great. Tops are very heavy duty and the frame is stronger.

Sam's Club used to sell a real EZ-UP for that price, but they switched to a different brand that still seems good. Sam's has real EZ-UPs on their website for $220 to $250.

I have the real EZ-UP from Sam's from when they still sold it in stores. It is still in good condition. I am vert particular about staking it well for winds.

 

[Ck1]

EZ-up Commerical or caravan canopy. Most everything else will fold up with a little wind. Heavy is a good thing

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Original E-Z Up dome top. They don't collapse in the rain, unlike all the ones with a center post that holds the canopy up (except for true commercial/industrial units or ones with rain gutters that cost a bazillion dollers). Mine's almost 25 years old and has survived 16 years of racing, where I've seen downpours tear down about 75% of the other ones around me.

https://www.ezup.com/dome-g3.html

Tommy