Good Canopy for rainy days

Doogie in Elk Grove wrote:
I've has a 13' Colman for years and love it.

https://www.coleman.com/13-x-13-instant-eaved-shelter/2000023972.html?gclid=CjwKCAjws6jVBRBZEiwAkIfZ2vYNJAYcnEt0F2qnozLUh38_MW-jBDMDLJjTiYZXxaD0G_QoIjqQFhoCENIQAvD_BwE

SoundGuy wrote:
Good to hear as I just bought this same Coleman branded eaved shelter at our local Costco for $160 Cdn. :B

As a followup to this ...

Yesterday my wife & I went over to Costco for a few items so while there she took a look at this Coleman shelter and pronounced it as "way too big". :R I noticed the display model, although indoors, already had several pinholes in the material and other areas where the fabric had already failed. :E Online research also indicates that replacement parts, particularly fabric, aren't available so although I haven't even taken ours out of the bag it's going back to Costco. In the meantime I've been doing some research and it looks like the latest generation of E-Z Up Shelters is probably our best bet. Quality appears to be better, albeit at a significantly higher cost, but aside from a 3 yr warranty the biggest advantage is replacement parts are readily available, including here in Canada. :) BTW, for those also looking for one of these shelters I discovered that when a manufacturer like E-Z Up says a given model is 10' x 10' that refers to the footprint ... if it's a straight leg model then the top coverage will be 10' x 10' as well but if it's a slant leg model top coverage will be closer to 8' x 8'. Based on this I'm wanting a 10' x 10' straight leg model, probably an E-Z Up Pyramid latest generation G3 model which features improved fabric and more reinforcement at key points. :B

We use an EZ-Up brand. Like most others, it will collect water in the sag of the fabric. So I use four Gator-clip type "clamps" that latch onto the bottom edge of the fabric tarp overhang in the middle of the span, then connect the two clips opposite each other with by-the-foot bungee cord (like a piece of rope, just stretchy). Do the other two clips the same way, so you have two bungee cords crossing each other in the center of the shelter. This tensions the tarp so that there is no sag to pool the water. On mine I also ran a bungee cord from the middle of each cross-beam up to the top of the post to provide an extra ridge all the way down the length of the tarp.

Some day I plan to replace the Gator-clips with sewn-on loops of webbing to provide attachment points for the bungee cord, just to neaten things up, but so far they have worked just fine.

Good luck!
Regan

Quite a few years ago we bought a First Up screen room, same thing as an E-Z Up, and it sure didn't sag from trapped water nor did it need any "grommeted holes" as we never had any issues at all with rainwater draining off.



It's greatest downside - it was just 10' x 10' whereas this new Coleman I just purchased is a much more useful 13' x 13'. For our use we also found the screen sidewalls to be a PITA and eventually didn't bother with them. When we camp in early spring / late fall with friends with their own shelter we've found that hanging a tarp or two across a couple of the sides helps enormously to block the wind. IMO a shelter is a great campsite accessory if you're willing to put it up & take it down. :D

WeBeFulltimers wrote:

3. Install small (1/4 or 1/2") grommets where the water pools. Should take only 1 or 2 on each of the 4 sides.

This will allow the water to drain and not collapse the canopy. The grommet kits are very inexpensive.

So 4-8 half-inch grommet holes are needed? Kind of defeating the purpose of staying dry under the canopy isn't it? :h

WeBeFulltimers wrote:
All of them will allow water to pool right out of the box. This modification has worked for me on 2 or 3 of them.

1. Set the canopy up and determine where the water will pool on it.
2. Go to Harbor Freight or good hardware store and purchase a brass grommet kit.
3. Install small (1/4 or 1/2") grommets where the water pools. Should take only 1 or 2 on each of the 4 sides.

This will allow the water to drain and not collapse the canopy. The grommet kits are very inexpensive.

XLNT idea! Thanks.

Thanks to everyone who replied. I saw those Coleman canopies at Costco and they seemed a little large. I might consider on in the future.

We have had good luck with E-Z Up canopy. Available on Amazon, I believe.

Lakeside

All of them will allow water to pool right out of the box. This modification has worked for me on 2 or 3 of them.

1. Set the canopy up and determine where the water will pool on it.
2. Go to Harbor Freight or good hardware store and purchase a brass grommet kit.
3. Install small (1/4 or 1/2") grommets where the water pools. Should take only 1 or 2 on each of the 4 sides.

This will allow the water to drain and not collapse the canopy. The grommet kits are very inexpensive.

We have gone through several canopies over the many years. I learned many are made by the same company. I have 2 12x 12 quick shade canopies. One is designated for over the camp fire. It goes up super high. The other is for the camp table. Both are lowered at night. If the skin is not taught they will collect water and implode. With a little velcro this is doable. Parts are reasonably priced as well. Happy Trails

Doogie in Elk Grove wrote:
I've has a 13' Colman for years and love it.

https://www.coleman.com/13-x-13-instant-eaved-shelter/2000023972.html?gclid=CjwKCAjws6jVBRBZEiwAkIfZ2vYNJAYcnEt0F2qnozLUh38_MW-jBDMDLJjTiYZXxaD0G_QoIjqQFhoCENIQAvD_BwE

Good to hear as I just bought this same Coleman branded eaved shelter at our local Costco for $160 Cdn. :B