The Eureka Tagalong scored a little lower but still holds its own in terms of craftsmanship. It is a lighter-weight product, which inherently involves thinner, less durable materials. When we compared the Taglong to beefier models, we had to score lower for this reason. Still, when we consider its niche, there’s no denying it has excellent properties, like double stitching, weather taping, high-tensile aluminum, and reinforced joints. The Eurmax was followed closely by the Quick-Set Escape and E-Z Up Pyramid.
The REI Co-op Screen House Shelter is an intuitively designed, easy-to-erect picnic tent that offers protection from sun, bugs, and mild rain showers. In early March, we took our second trip to the oceanside Sycamore Canyon Campground (PDF) near Oxnard, California. A later check of the weather at nearby Point Mugu Naval Air Station confirmed top recorded wind gusts of 40 miles per hour. Its fully enclosed design protects users from sun, wind, rain, and bugs, making it a perfect shelter for camping.
Though all of these shelters are self-standing and staking them may not be strictly necessary in calm weather, it’s wise to always do so in case the wind picks up unexpectedly. Before staking out a tent, make sure all of its doors are zipped closed to avoid staking it too tightly and straining the zippers. Like regular camping tents, these camping gazebos are not intended to be left up for extended periods, as the fabrics are susceptible to UV damage. The canopy tent has mesh walls on all four sides and an edge of polyester fabric (also DWR treated) at the ground that deters mosquitos and other critters from invading from below. Like many tents of this type, the REI Screen House Shelter has a fabric hook in the center of the ceiling that accommodates a small lantern or other light.
One thing to note was that although the footprint is 13×9 ft, the actual covered area is not the same, being quite a bit smaller. The ozark trail screen house does its job but needs to be used with the proper expectations. An ideal situation would be when the weather is agreeable and the wind is gentle. The tent also had storage pockets to keep our small items off the ground, making it more convenient for us.
It’s a tale of a roller-coaster ride through the great outdoors, but with a few too many bumps along the way. While the tent’s ventilation was more than adequate, it’s not ideal for colder climates. The insulation of the tent could use some improvement since it doesn’t offer warmth even during chillier nights. The L.L.Bean Woodlands Screen House has a much more consistently glowing history of online reviews than does the REI tent. The add-on rain fly and tent-floor combo is also well liked.
Repaired the cracked gable with duct tape and was able to use it one more time but then gave up on the cracked part and bought another smaller screen room. We have the majority of the parts, including the screen room still intact. I purchased my tent a couple of years ago, but time passed and just got it out to put it up. I purchased Model #WT98010R and I’ve had it for 2 years and have put it up probably 6 times.