In windy conditions high stress is applied to each side and the frame begins to break down at the unreinforced joint connectors. Every year at the beginning of camping season I get it out of the attic, set it up, and spray the entire thing with campdry. I have never had any trouble with the the tent or poles. REI’s Flexlite Chair has been replaced by an entire flock of Flexlite chairs; the one that is the closest to replacing the original Flexlite in the lineup is the Co-op Flexlite Camp Chair. The design, size, and weight is nearly identical, but the nylon fabric has been replaced with polyester. Overwhelmingly, the Coleman came out on top, with campers praising its comfort and stability.
Tyler has hiked every mountain range in the US and summited Highpoints in several US states as well as Germany. His favorite outdoor destinations are the Canadian Rockies, the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mt. Tongariro in New Zealand, and the San Juan Region of Colorado. As well as plenty of room on the ground, the height is tall and allows even the tallest in your family or friends to stand up everywhere, not just at the peak. The second purpose is to prevent it from blowing away. Think about it like an umbrella, where you may often feel a whirl of air getting stuck between your head and the umbrella. This is where it would usually flip inside out, if the wind is strong enough, and it can damage the frame.
The durability and wind resistance varies from model to model. Most canopies, even lightweight models made of polyester or nylon, can withstand light 5 to 10-mile-an-hour winds without a problem. Heavier materials like polyethylene, polyurethane-coated canvas, and vinyl ozark trail canopy weigh more, which gives them extra wind resistance. However, unless you securely anchor them, they could still blow away. Most people need a balance between weight and portability. For family trips to the beach, a lightweight aluminum frame can withstand general use.
Overall, we think the Ozark Trail canopy serves its intended purpose – a value brand 10×10 instant shelter that caters to price conscious consumers looking for an affordable shade option. And compared to some of the tents in the EZ-Up lineup, it sells for almost a 70% discount. One could, in theory, purchase a new Ozark canopy every year (which they might need to!) and still come out ahead over the years vs. purchasing a more expensive alternative. The biggest issue in all of this is the inability to withstand any rotational pressure during medium and high impact weather conditions as the joints become unstable and collapse at the mid points.
I had to leave a day early due to no place to sleep. The poles ripped through the rain fly, rendering the tent useless. I borrowed this from a friend trying to save money, now I’ll need to buy a replacement tent. A low-to-the-ground chair can be ideal for outdoor movies, concerts, theater performances, and other events where you want to avoid blocking other people’s view. Our testers liked the comfort and back support of the GCI Outdoor Everywhere Chair, as well as the ability to adjust it to sit on uneven ground. They also appreciated its cupholder (rare in chairs of this sort) and its quick close-up-and-carry design.
Even so, the roof openings have hoods over them, so there’s no easy way for water to leak through. Instant set up has become a huge selling point for many models out there. A lot of gazebos on the market, soft tops and hard tops, can take an hour or more to pitch which can be a big downfall when you want something quick and easy.
With bonus stakes, guylines, and a wheeled carry bag, you’re certainly getting value for your money. We love this feature because it won’t nip at your fingers and you can do one leg at a time. With the constant movement of the sun throughout the day, it’s nice to know that you can easily adapt the height to maintain shade underneath. You’re also getting 3 height options, so you’re not limited in the elevation that you need. For adjusting the height of this model, there is a push switch system that is designed to make things as easy as possible for the user.
I have used it many times, never had a problem with it, love the design and the light weight. Went through a major rainstorm last weekend no problems at all. We usually do our camping in the Northern part of AZ, either Woods Canyon Area or Flagstaff. The tent was relatively easy to put up after the first time doing it. I have a hard time folding it to fit in the bag but other than that, I have no major complaints. Before we went on our first camping trip together, as the instructions stated, I sealed all seams and I even waterproofed the tent with spray Coleman waterproofing.
These push locks get very difficult to use over time, especially if the tent is used on the beach and exposed to sand and saltwater, causing rust build up. Many newer tent brands like EZ-Up use revolutionary thumb lock sliders or larger easy to release buttons, which are a much better user experience when setting the canopy up or taking it down. With the push buttons you need to worry about pinching fingers or not being able to release the button when it gets rusted, which is never a pleasant experience.