We've been using the 10x10 canopy's ever since our test camping days. We never anchor them down in any way. They are always free standing. If the wind gets a little testy, I'll use a simple strait nail type tent peg through the hole in the foot. If on asphalt or a hard surface, I'll put some kind of weight on the foot and wrap the leg to it with a bungie cord. This works pretty well.
There are times you don't want to leave the canopy up: When it is real windy and when it is raining.
When it is windy, the canopy is just not THAT strong. It's not like a stick-and-brick house. The wind will catch the cloth and blow it off, or rip it to shreds, or worse, pick up the whole thing and toss it across the campground destoying it and damaging everything in it's path. So when very windy, take it down.
Second, when it rains. Rain will pool in the canopy. It will not all run off, once it starts pooling, it pools more and more and more until the shear weight of the water will collapse the entire canopy destroying it.
We always take the cover off before we retire for the night and leave the frame standing. If the feet are anchored down, it's harder to lower the legs to get the cover off. But it's never left up over night. Too vulnerable to rain and wind.
We had 1 Quick Shade for 15 years or more. The fabric finally just gave up and started shredding. We purchased 2 more to replace them and use them together for more shade. Always mobile so they can be moved around. The sun never sits in the same spot all day, shade is always moving, so the canopies are moved often too... another reason for not anchoring them down.
