EZ-Up Story- Tent quality and anchoring

So, I know a lot of people are pretty own on EZ-Up's but I want to share a story...

We have the mid-level professional set up (I believe it's called the Encore but I can't remember and I don't have the paperwork). I bought it from BJ's Wholesale Club for $200. Carrying case, tent, sides, sign holder and awning. I've had one for over 5 years, and added two this year. We anchor it with homemade PVC weights.

Yesterday, at a festival, we were evacuated for a tornado. The tent was dropped to the half-way mark before we evacuated. Upon returning to get the tent today my girl came back to find the two, lesser quality tents on either side of us wasted in a twisted mass of metal and fabric while ours was exactly as it was left. She didn't think to take a photo which I understand (we have more storm warnings for today so she got in and got out asap).

More than ever I am thrilled with our set-up and wanted to share.

Wow! Glad you were all safe and thanks so much for the great EZ-Up recommendation! I will definitely remember that when I am tempted by the cheapie deals!

I remember you saying something about putting the tent at half mast in wind. It really helped us when a storm decided to boomerang and come back at the fair. I put it half way down and we rode out the blowing for 20 mins and stayed for the rest of the night. Other tents had to have 4 people, one at each corner, holding it down through the wind.

It also has the inner trusses that we could hang onto (I only had spikes in the corners) to hold it down.

The only thing I haven't liked are the three velcro tabs/tie downs when you have the front wall off. I might have to add more so they won't bow out in the wind and "rip" open.

Thanks for the tip.

D.

Wow, glad you are all okay!

Good to know that tents do so much better at half mast in strong winds...I'm still debating on how much use I'd get out of one vs. the hassle of keeping it somewhere (storage is an issue) and putting it up/taking down by myself...

E-Z up seems to be a good company, and their chairs are a tad taller than most and very sturdy, altho' mine had one leg a smidgen shorter than the other three. I haven't figured out a solution...nd only bugs me when I am on a flat surface---but grass, carper, etc. is fine. However the day it arrived my daughter noticed it, so I called E-Z up to notify them, and they sent a replacement & told me to keep the faulty one...

So, would dropping a tent to half-mast work for any tent? Does that just mean pulling the top post down so the peak doesn't stick up? It seems like such an easy solution to the wind problem. Also, has anyone used this tent?

It's the Undercover® 10’ X 10’ Instant Canopy Zippered Wall Enclosure

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11538950&search=canopy&Mo=17&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=canopy&Ntt=canopy&No=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1

Thanks for sharing your EZ-Up story! I'm on my second one and have been very pleased with the quality. I love that the peak in the middle is higher and looks more like a festival tent than some of the generic brands. I'm not crazy about the tarp-like side walls. I'd rather have sidewalls made from the same fabric as the canopy, but I rarely use them anyway so it doesn't matter too much.

When we have multiple day festivals we always drop the tent down halfway, and raise it again in the morning. It really helps with wind and also discourages people from wanting to maybe slip inside and see what's in there.

Earthorange, dropping the tent would mean lowering the legs down as low as they will go, from 6 feet to about 3-4 feet at the sides.

I use the undercover tent. Love it!

Thanks Angie and lady jayde. Can I ask what kind of weights you use with it? So far I'll be using it for concrete. The Undercover weight system seems easily duplicated (PVC pipe and hanging bags).

I have disc shaped weights that slide onto the feet of the tent. Then if it's extra windy I take sand bags to lay over the weights.

I am debating whether or not to buy this tent/gazebo
It's on sale - $170 down to $99.
I'm not a fan of the colour, but the price is right.
It is a pop-up variety and the walls are totally removable.

To date, I have been using a 2.7m market umbrella - which has pros and cons. It's easy to set up and pack down by myself, BUT... I have to move it a couple of times to stay in the shade. The base is heavy, and it hasn't been tested in a strong wind yet. Although if it were windy enough, I'd put it down and pack it up in under 5 mins. No big deal.

The gazebo/tent would have the advantage of being sunsafe... I like the netted sides too. But what am I in for in terms of setting it up/packing down? How long might it take on my own?
What do you think about the khaki colour? It's not cute, but I'm hoping I can at least partly disguise it with some banners?

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The color will probably make it dark inside your tent and also might cast a greenish color on your paints... The screened walls are probably good for keeping a lot of insects out, but can you get solid fabric walls for it, too? You may find yourself at an event that's windy and/or wet and you'll want that protection. I don't believe this is a commercial tent so it may not stand up to constant assembly and dismantling. Just some things to consider....

I have the slide weights, but they are not strong enough for big wind. So we do what Fesspainter dos on the really big storm days, we fill the five gallon paint buckets with water, and stake them to the poles. Have water that way too. Works great!

Glad this topic was posted im debating a tent purchase currently... Storms are ever so present in florida too.. thanks for the info.