While we recommend a minimum of two people to set up most shelters, the ease of this process can vary drastically depending on the design and quality of materials. While being timed, we set up and took down each product a minimum of 10 times. We also noted special features, like quick-release levers, that make setup easier. Our notes on this shelter are mostly positive — there isn’t much we don’t like about the Escape. In addition to costing you a few extra clams, this product doesn’t pack up very small.
Additionally, the point-to-point reinforcement webbing occasionally tangles during setup. However, overall, we think the Tagalong is still suitable for the adventurous type who likes to be on the go and doesn’t want to lug a heavy canopy. We also really like the E-Z UP Pyramid, Coleman 10×10 Sun Shelter, and the ABCCANOPY Patio Pop Up.
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. This metric pertains to a shelter’s ability to offer protection from sun, wind, and rain. Some ozark trail canopy canopies perform well in one or two of these areas, but we gave the highest scores to those that could expertly handle all three functions. We even gave extra points to canopies that also protected against bugs. The Tagalong and Caravan V-Series scored slightly lower than our top scorers, but they still have straightforward setup processes.
The frame is constructed with a rust-resistant steel and it comes with a water-resistant fabric top, making it durable, as well as able to withstand the outdoor elements. Four attached guy lines keep it upright while telescoping legs and a trigger mechanism enable height adjustment for easy setup. The canopy fabric is made with a heavy-duty 150D polyester for reliable shade and water protection. This Ozark Trail canopy also comes with a wheeled bag for convenient storage and transport between uses. Place Ozark Trail 20′ x 10′ Straight Leg Instant Canopy in your backyard or another outdoor venue and make the most out of your time outdoors. The Pacific Breeze Easy Up is a beach tent with a half-dome design and enough space to shade one or two adults.
Perhaps our two favorites are camping tent additions that connect to the frame of the shelter and leverage the stability of the 10×10 frame to support a camping tent structure. On hot, sunny days, we don’t think we could remain inside the Easy Up for long periods. Even with the drapes stowed, there is less ventilation than in larger, open canopies. And, despite effectively blocking the sun’s rays, this shader tends to remain quite warm, much like a backpacking tent would when it’s left in the sun all day. It also doesn’t perform well in the rain, primarily because of its open design.
Once setup is complete, simply twist the crank a few times to lift the center pole to its maximum height. This feature also tightly stretches the entire canopy fabric into place, giving it greater resistance to wind and rain. To uncover the best canopy tent, we use comprehensive test metrics and cover all manner of use cases and essential details. We also looked closely at the quality of each canopy tent for our craftsmanship metric and measured each tent when packed up to provide details on portability. We weighted each metric according to its importance before grading and ranking each shelter, side by side, on a scale of 1-10.