Fully enclosed and ready to protect you from sun, wind, rain, AND bugs, the Clam Outdoors Quick-Set Escape is a perfect shelter for the campground. No assembly is required; this shelter is ready to go right out of the box and can be fully deployed in less than a minute. 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. Its fully enclosed design protects users from sun, wind, rain, and bugs, making this a perfect shelter for camping.
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 coleman chairs 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.
Its drawstring stuff sack offers a long strap that can be placed over one shoulder or across the chest, giving you hands-free mobility. This shelter employs high-grade, collapsible aluminum poles for its frame and comes complete with built-in guy coleman chairs lines and sandbags to help keep it sturdy. The polyester canopy effectively dampens the sun’s rays and is double-stitched and weather taped to keep out the rain. Our most portable models are the Sun Ninja, Neso 1, and Eureka Tagalong Shelter.
Determining which features you need in a canopy will help you choose which one provides maximum efficiency at the right price. The Eurmax Standard 10×10 is very functional, followed closely by the E-Z Up Pyramid, Clam Outdoors Quick-Set Escape, and Eureka Tagalong Shelter. All four of these models maximize space and offer several features that make them very livable. The Quick-Set Escape offers a massive, fully enclosed living space, and the Eureka Tagalong dons extra pockets, hooks, and attached sandbags.
The Pacific Breeze Easy Up and the Qipi Beach Cabana came in just behind the top scorers. This is primarily due to their larger packed sizes, which makes them slightly more difficult to carry and store. The Qipi, in particular, has a much longer packed size and, at nearly 10 pounds, it’s heavier than the others mentioned above. The Easy Up is actually the lightest in our list of top scorers, but it has a longer packed size, which affected its overall score. The Eurmax was followed closely by the Quick-Set Escape and E-Z Up Pyramid.
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.
It’s the ultimate mosquito net that is also lightweight and compact enough to hitch a ride on any adventure trip. 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.
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. 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.
Top-grade canopy textiles, quick-release tabs, reinforced trusses, and a beefy steel frame allow the Eurmax to tower over other models we tested. It makes easy work blocking the sun, stands firm in the wind, and is impervious to rainwater. It’s a perfect shelter for any outdoor activity, but we feel it excels in settings that include commerce, command posts, campgrounds, and outdoor sports. We believe in offering the very best value, quality, and selection.
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. Because the canopy is made from an outdoor fabric, it will experience deterioration if not cared for properly. Also, varying regions experience different climate conditions that may contribute to a shorter lifespan of the replacement canopy. All things considered, the REI Screen House Shelter is our favorite portable model. This massive, 10×10 fully enclosed canopy packs down small and only weighs 13 pounds.