They allow us to convert the screen room into a bedroom on one trip and a bug-free front porch on another, making this tent incredibly versatile. The 190T polyester fabric provided great shade from the sun, and the included zippered storage carry bag was a thoughtful addition for easy transportation and storage. Like the REI and L.L.Bean canopy shelters, this Clam tent has a generous fabric skirt at its base that is designed to keep determined insects—and pooling rainwater—out. If we were camping somewhere infested with mosquitoes or no-see-ums and could fit the Clam in our vehicle, we’d prefer it over any of our other picks. The whole thing is remarkably easy to set up, even for one person; the family at the next campsite was amazed at my tent prowess when I set it up solo. Takedown is similarly simple, though Clam provides an instructional video if you need help.
Any attempt to lift a corner and insert a leg pole resulted in pipes flying everywhere. I thought of resorting to duct tape, but since I had none handy, with great finesse I managed to lift each corner one pipe segment at a time. Some middle sections fell out but I had a standing frame of sorts, swaying and wobbling. But, the slightest wind or rain and the whole thing comes down because of flimsy roof design. After multiple storms/fall downs, the screen portion has suffered some massive wounds.
It sits lower than cathedral-style canopies, which more effectively blocks the sun’s rays as their angles change during the day. Its weather-taped ozark trail chairs seams and waterproof canopy also create an excellent barrier against rain. It doesn’t perform as well when it is breezy outside, though.
It is of poor design, in that this could be avoided using 2 more yellow, curved roof poles which would not allow the rain to puddle on the roof. My husband and I were in the screen room, keeping the rain from puddling for more than a half hour. We used it to put it over a little swimming pool for our children and it works great.
Its stiff frame doesn’t bend or sway during heavy breezes and stays put as long as it’s staked down or weighted by its five built-in sandbags. We also really like the E-Z UP Pyramid, Coleman 10×10 Sun Shelter, and the ABCCANOPY Patio Pop Up. All three models offer the same shade coverage as the Eurmax, but their roller bags don’t offer the same quality. To ensure the longevity of your , proper maintenance is essential. Regularly clean the screens and frames, and consider applying a protective coating to the materials to shield them from the elements. It is also essential to secure the screen house properly, especially in windy conditions.
The set-up is extremely complicated and took two persons over an hour to complete, including all staking of the structure and guy lines as required by the instructions. We placed the screen house over a picnic table at the campsite and it did a fairly good job of keeping insects out while we were eating. Trailspace’s community of gear reviewers has field-tested and rated the top tents and shelters.
These tents can quickly become pricey, so focusing on quality versus cost is a great idea. Typically, the lower-priced options in this category will work for the short term. They usually weigh less, which is handy when lugging them around, but it generally means they are not as durable in inclement weather. The higher-priced models often weigh more or offer better construction technology. Increased weight is generally the result of more durable and stable materials like steel and higher-denier tent canopies. Determining which features you need in a canopy will help you choose which one provides maximum efficiency at the right price.