i'm considering purchasing a "shelter" for my many escapades to the racetrack this season and henceforth and had some questions. i haven't looked recently, but if my memory serves me right the "EZ-Up" is like a $300 unit for a 12'x10' and other knock-offs are more like $150. i thought before i went out and purchased one or the other i'd ask the opinions of people that use them the most.

?'s include:

how are these things tied down in case of strong winds anyway?

how long can one expect to use both name and generic brand canopies?

does one stay cooler than the other?

what structural or other material differences are there?

where have you guys purchased from?

 

EZ-UP are superior by far!!! In construction and materials. All of these units will take off w/heavy wind. I have a copy of an EZ-UP that I purchased at Price Club it is a very nice unit and half the price so when it get destroyed I'll just buy another. If you have the budget get an EZ-UP. MY two cents.

 

the two price club copies we used at the 12 hr held up great, we tied them down with wheels we werent using and the even came with the covers that velcro onto the sides of the canopy - kept the wind/rain out (although it just puddled up under the canopy from outside anyways).

i saw them last week at costco for $150 i think

 

EZ-up's are way overpriced. 10x10 Caravan canopies are $200 at Costco. They are every bit as sturdy and easy to open as EZ-up's, and the Caravan canopies come with velcro walls, tie-downs, and sand bags. For the money, Caravan is the way to go.

$.02

 

You can get a 12x12' EZ-Up at BJs for like $160 which is $40 more than my 10x10'. And the ones they have now are more sturdy than mine that I got 3 years ago. I remember the first EZ-Up I had and left it out on the deck for some shade, and it thunderstormed that night. ALl the rain collapsed my tent into bent aluminum rods.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johng &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">EZ-up's are way overpriced. 10x10 Caravan canopies are $200 at Costco. They are every bit as sturdy and easy to open as EZ-up's, and the Caravan canopies come with velcro walls, tie-downs, and sand bags. For the money, Caravan is the way to go.

$.02</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

I got a 10x10 Quickshade canopy here in charlotte at The Sports Authority, for $89. And I have seen them on sale for less there at at Dick's.

 

Yeah, I got the cheapie at Dicks for $80. Sounds like Sports Authority was selling them for $50...

Anyhow I've used mine twice and there is some fraying at one of the corners. It did keep the rain out though.

Ask me in a year and I'll tell you if it was worth $80.

Scott

 

are the knockoffs like an EZ-up in that it folds out, and you dont have to spend 30 minutes putting together rods?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elgorey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">are the knockoffs like an EZ-up in that it folds out, and you dont have to spend 30 minutes putting together rods?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes

 

Saw a 10 x 10 EZ-up Saturday at Sam's for $179. Thinking of going back and snaggin' one!

 

I just browsed through sportsauthority.com, and the generics are actually about the same price as the EZ-up brand. (~$170) do a search for canopy.
No $80 specials

 

We (two friends and I) went in on a rectangular one (roughly 180 bucks) and one very gusty day broke the turnbuckles. A lot of duct tape and zip ties helped it last another year but it was forever a POS. Unfortunately, I could not find the replacement bits I needed for this one. I have never seen another one do this so it might have just been bad luck.

 

what about on tear-down.........do both ez-ups and generics collapse to the same size? since i sometimes only bring my 240 to the track, luggage/cargo space is limited.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tnord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what about on tear-down.........do both ez-ups and generics collapse to the same size? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes...

 

I disagree i've been using my ez-up for the past 3 yrs that I've been racing jet skis and man is it worth it.....thye are 100% more steardier (spelling) and set up in less then a min....my .02....-Roger

 

I bought my 10x10 EZup® last fall/winter at Sport's Authority. I actually sat and watched the price drop - $150... $129... $100... $89... $69... SOLD! Moral of the story is that as summer slips to winter prices will drop (if you are willing to sit though another summer).

Can't comment on durability yet, as I've yet to test out the new canopy (or camera or car! ). IIRC, I had to put it in the backseat of the 240 (collapsed) to get it home and will need a friend to take it along in the Miata

Mark - who needs a tow vehicle just for his chit.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by trutuner &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I disagree i've been using my ez-up for the past 3 yrs that I've been racing jet skis and man is it worth it.....thye are 100% more steardier (spelling) and set up in less then a min....my .02....-Roger</TD></TR></TABLE>

Depends are what model you are comparing it to. The quality of the E-Z up models varies. The Cravan that Johng & I have are pretty damn stout. I would say it close to the Eclipse model. I also have a lower model E-Z up. It isn't made as well as the but would be comparable to a 'Quickshade' type.

 

Let's talk apples and oranges. I'm referring to the "skeleton" frame canopies, not the "tent-pole" style where you connect the roof poles together in the middle. I used to have a EZ-up brand like that and they are not durable IMO.

Skeleton pop-up frame


We had 5 total 10x10 Caravan's as part of our pit area at the last regional. Notice the sand bags hung at the top corners for added weight. The same size canopy from EZ-up is more than double the price of the Caravan.



Four flexible tent-poles connect together in the middle to support the roof in the lower-end EZ-up canopies. These are the "inexpensive" models I believe most of you are seeing at the sports stores.

 

Yeah that last one is the one I had collapse on me. But I got a newer model that has a different roof interior.

The first ones you showed is the ones sold at BJs and I think other club places. Those are more sturdy in my opinion