The design of a canopy tent dictates all other features. With this being said, you have to ask yourself the reason for buying one. Do you need something for backyard barbecues? Are you taking it camping? Is the sun beating down on your car? The way you will use it will determine the make and model of the perfect tent for you.
Which Canopy Tent Design?
If you will be going camping, something that can be put up and taken down easily is ideal. When folded, a good camping canopy tent must be very compact. You will be carrying lots of other camping gear with you like sleeping bags and maybe camping chairs, so you would not want a single piece of camping equipment eating up all the space. Still, You can choose something like a 4 man tent (4 person tent), or 8 person tent, and still have all the advantages of this great tent style.
Ozark Trail Hanging Tent Gazebo is Another Option
Similar to a canopy tent but more versitile and simpler to setup, the Ozark Trail hanging tent gazebo can be used without the tent under the canopy or gazebo piece, and becomes a garden party shelter for inclement weather. Its’ 10′X10′ size and over 8′ of headroom, make it a very comfortable way to protect your guests from the elements.
Tent Materials and Craftsmanship
To a great extent the quality of the construction determine what either tent can and cannot do. The one that you take camping with you has to be more robust than the one that you use as a backyard gazebo. But no matter what the application, a canopy tent has to have some common features. The fabric needs to be able to repel at fair amount of ultraviolet rays. Not just sunlight, but the harmful invisible light that causes skin cancer. Extended stays outdoors need not be made more uncomfortable by a shelter that cannot do its basic job adequately. A canopy tent also needs to be as good in summer as it is in the rain. Water repellency is also a primary concern. Seams need to be watertight and the fabric must resist collecting pools that distort the shape of the tent. Poles need to be rigid as well as light. Since you will likely be moving the tent around, a heavy set of poles can be a huge disadvantage. With today’s modern materials, something strong need not be heavy.
As with most things, you usually get what you pay for. Especially if you will be bringing along your canopy tent on camping trips, you need to go with a name you can trust. Coleman tents got to where they are in the camping equipment business by delivering when the stakes are high. If you will be just using it as a portable shelter a couple of times a year, a good amount of savings can be had by going with a lesser known brand.