Do you have a pop up canopy?

[mjs1973]

Does anyone here have one of those pop up canopies like you see at craft fairs? I have been having some success selling prints and note cards I make out of my photos at our local farmers market, and I'm thinking about getting a canopy to set up a booth at larger venues.

The EZ Up brand is what I see most, but there are several others as well. I don't want to spend a lot of money on one, but I don't want to get something cheap and flimsy that will fall apart if the wind picks up.

Does anyone here have any experience with these things?

[RP Racing]

I have a 10X10 Quik Shade. About 8 yrs old and still running.

[Jimmy B]

I personally would get the E-Z UP. What ever you get bring some thing to weigh it down well.
Jimmy B

[mjs1973]

I personally would get the E-Z UP. What ever you get bring some thing to weigh it down well.
Jimmy B

That's one of the things I've been looking at. A lot of the vendors I saw have large weights holding down their canopies. Many of them have them hanging from the top of the canopies and I'm afraid that the cheaper versions won't be able to hold that much weight. Some of the people had big chuncks of cement hanging from them!

[Old Timer]

I have one that I have used for just the purpose that you mentioned. I don't remember the brand but it was not one of the more expensive ones. I got it at Wall Mart. It goes up easy and come down easy and is fairly heavy with a nylon canopy. I looked at the better ones at Sam's Club but they were too heavy for me to lug around and put up by myself. I would have like to have one that had the detachable sides but given how seldom I used it just couldn't justify the expense. I also use it when we have Bar B Ques. Great way to get people out of the sun and let them relax and enjoy the food.

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

Michael -

I have a few of them -

1 is an ezup that I got used and needs some work - It is the heaviest one of the ones I have -

1 is from walmart - got it for under 90$ use it all the time for when I go race my R/C's very light - easy to put up - and durable - never had a problem with it and the wind

[mn shutterbug]

I've had one for many years. I don't recall the brand but I can set it up in less than 5 minutes. It helps to have a chair to stand on because it's quite high. It also has holes in the legs and includes stakes to run thru the holes for when you are set up on grass.

[drg]

Takes a lot of wind to destroy a well staked tent! You can always add a few extra lines if needed and they are easily available at any camping/outdoor supplier (including W-M).

I've used what Coleman calls a dining fly with extra long poles to let people easily stand under it. It also has some 'wind flaps' that give a little extra shade along the edges. They change the color selections every so often and the off white one I have they haven't sold for 3 or 4 years.

I've seen lots of EZ's that have survived pretty foul weather!

Good luck and hope you have lots of sales!

[mjs1973]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. We only have 3 markets left for this year, so I think I will put off the purchase for a while, unless the weather is going to be bad for the last market of the year. That market is at the same time as the local fall art tour and there will be a ton of people in town looking at and buying art. That is the one I want to be prepared for in case the weather is bad.

[RP Racing]

My Quick shade held up hanging a rim and tire from my racebike on each corner. Only complaint is you do have to check the bolts once in a while since they do start backing out.

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the info Rob. That's one of the big concerns I had with the cheaper canopies. I didn't know how much weight they could handle hanging from them. I have seen some at craft shows with huge chunks of cement hanging from them.

The wife bought me a cheaper one from Wal-mart but when you take it down, you have to take the canopy off of it. I didn't like that.

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

Michael -

I have the unit from walmart and don't have to take the canopy off it when I take it down ...

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the info Ben. Is the canopy on your permenently attached to the frame? The one the wife bought was held in place by some velcro in the corners, and a couple small velcro taps on each side. I'm pretty sure the instructions said to take it off. I only set it up once and when I took it down, I took the top off. Not sure if it would fold up small enough to get it back in the bag with the top still on it.

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

no the canopy is attached with velcro - I am pretty sure they all are -

It will fit in the bag - too much of a pain to take it off every time

i am guessing it is a blue bag - wheels on the bottom -

If so - always put the bottom in first by the wheels - then zip it up to get the strap around it and clipped - then pull the bag over the top and finish closing it up ....

[mjs1973]

Yup, that's it. Blue bag with wheels on the bottom. First Up I think was the brand name.