However, this fabric didn’t feel high quality and neither did the zipper or hook-and-loop straps. While we enjoyed this canopy for camping, we wouldn’t expect it to last very long if used regularly. This isn’t a lightweight canopy by any means, and it’s 66 inches long when in the roller bag.
However, once we stepped away from it, we realized that no one could see what was going on inside the tent. Finding a small, light tent is the logical approach when you’re backpacking. But with car camping—the industry term for what most people consider just camping—you’ll likely be parking next to your campsite and unloading. If you won’t be carrying your tent more than a couple hundred feet, more space means more comfort (as well as more room for your stuff). Many canopy manufacturers give canopies a polyurethane-resin coating that offers some water and sun resistance. Polyurethane does add some weight but is generally lighter than vinyl canopies.
For example, on a sunny day, users can choose to have two sidewalls on the backside to provide extra shade. They were all set up outdoors in inclement weather, namely Pacific Northwest rain showers and wind. We also put their functionality to use by carrying them along to real-life events like camping and backyard parties.
Car campers who plan to brave miserable weather will appreciate the extra strength and protection of the REI Co-op Base Camp 4 Tent. The main bodies of our other picks are structured with two main poles with added support from smaller brow poles. The Base Camp, by contrast, has four full-size aluminum struts woven throughout it, somewhat like a basket, plus an additional brow pole that frames the front entrance and supports the larger of the two vestibules. The Base Camp also offers more privacy compared with our other picks—with or without the rain fly.
While this model is heavy, it comes with a roller bag that makes transportation easier. The instructions were generic and didn’t include any specifics for a model this size. It was also difficult to fit the frame, canopy, and sidewalls into the roller bag. This big canopy has a sturdy ozark trail instant cabin powder-coated steel frame with adjustable legs that have a push-button mechanism to adjust to one of three height options. It comes with four sidewalls, one of which has two zippers so users can roll open a door. The configurations can change based on need, allowing for versatility.
For this guide, we focused on tents that suit the most common terrains you’re likely to encounter when car-camping—grassy lawns or clearings, beaches, dirt campsites, and basic platforms—in spring, summer, and fall. We’re not looking at tents designed for such specialized activities as mountaineering, backpacking, or winter camping, though some of our recommendations have cross-over potential. A senior staff writer at Wirecutter, Kit Dillon has written about everything from backpacks and cooking gear to luggage and road-tripping. Pop-up canopies are available in sizes that range from small 4-foot-by-4-foot models to wedding canopies that span well over 10 feet by 20 feet. You want to think about what you need to do to set it up, determine whether its size and weight are impediments to transporting it, and note what accessories are available. We greatly appreciated the push-button release mechanisms, which helped us avoid pinched fingers.