We explore the lightweight beach canopy that’s powered by the wind to see if its worth its hefty price tag. Advertising does not influence our gear reviews and it never will. While we always focus our coverage on standout products—because we want our readers to be aware of the latest and greatest gear—we also cover the flaws and quirks of any given product.
Take the Ozark Trail instant canopy anywhere with the included wheeled carry bag. There are also stakes and tethers for keeping it upright, balanced and pulled taut. Our versatile Ozark Trail 10′ x 20′ Canopy provides the protection you need for your next event. The innovative frame is powder coated steel with central hub locks for the frame and push button locking height adjustments. The 300D polyester top provides UV protection and is water and fire resistant. Four included walls have mesh panels with curtains and one of the two end walls rolls up for easy access under the canopy.
They even asked if they could trade their typical family tent (a similar cabin style to the below models) for this tent at the conclusion of testing. Shop Costco’s selection of patio heaters, sure to keep everyone comfy all evening. Whatever your outdoor event or patio needs, Costco.com has everything required to make your event a success.
If you expect there to be limitations to how much space you’ll have to set up your tent, it’s better to opt for something smaller. None of these came close to fitting on a standard tent pad, which is increasingly a requirement at the most popular campgrounds. Adventure is where memories are made, whether it’s campouts in the backyard with the kids, Saturdays at the river with friends, or a week in the wilderness alone. Ozark Trail helps you and your family create everyday adventures with gear and accessories built with you in mind.
They mention that it is a good size and height, both when packed up and when opened, and that it fits their needs perfectly. Bigger tents offer more headroom, and more space for families to spread out. On the other hand, they are more difficult to set up, and they take up more space. In my tests, the best 6-person tents still fit comfortably on tent pads at most campgrounds.
Ozark Trail canopy tents can come with a variety of different wall panel configurations, including all netting, all sunscreen and any combination of the two. Common features include one wall with a zipper to allow passage once all walls have been lowered and secured in place, a screen for movie projection and hanging storage shelves. The Ozark Trail canopy is lightweight and easy to set up or take down, making it a popular choice for day trips, picnics and even overnight camping. Understanding how to properly use the canopy makes a big difference when you are setting it up or taking it down. 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. In windy conditions high stress is applied to each side and the frame begins to break down at the unreinforced joint connectors.
Customers are mixed about the sturdiness of the portable freestanding shelter. Some mention it’s well built and durable, while others say the joints broke easily with the weight of rainwater on the cover. Customers are satisfied with the ozark trail canopy waterproofness of the portable freestanding shelter. They mention that it has a windproof peak, a vented top, and a sturdy frame. The cover is made of nylon with weatherproofing and withstands fairly strong wind without any damage.
You can’t simply fold up the poles separately and do whatever you need to do with a sopping wet rain fly and tent body. The canopy fabric is made of a lightweight denier polyester, offering water resistant features and 50+ UPF, which we love. Being protected from the suns harmful UVB rays is probably why you wanted a canopy tent in the first place, and this Ozark Trail tent meets all criteria in this department. The one complaint we have is that there is no vents in the fabric at the peak to release the build up of hot air under the canopy. Most new tents incorporate this ventilated canopy design to increase airflow and reduce the trapping of hot air, helping to keep those in the shade cooler and more comfortable.
They mention that the storage bag goes on pretty easily, and the initial difficulty installing disappeared quickly. Customers like the appearance, ease of installation, and waterproofness of the portable freestanding shelter. For example, they mention it looks good, is easy to put up and take down, and has a windproof peak. That said, opinions are mixed on sturdiness and performance. The rainfly provided sufficient coverage, and there were a reasonable number of windows and doors, which also helps to prevent water incursion.
Larger tents, including the best 8-person tents and the best 10-person tents do not. Plan to bring along the directions if this is your first time setting one up. Better yet, test it out in your backyard before heading out. With the canopy arranged on the frame and attached at the corners, push the roof framework up the leg poles until the orange locking button clicks for each leg. Once the canopy roof is locked in place at the top of each leg pole, extend the legs until the silver locking button clicks for each leg.