Any thoughts about a EZ-up shade canopy?

Nomenature · Post by **Nomenature** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:01 pm

We recently received a used 10 x 10 "EZ-up" Dome canopy (in blue). We put it up today (not all that EZ without directions, but it went up-OK) and were wondering how this thing might do on the playa...particularly in a high wind.

Does anyone have any direct experiences with EZ-up Dome canopies?

They advertise sand bag accessories for these on the website - to use in wind. Any thoughts about those?

Thanks for your weesdome.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:01 pm

I had a EZ up for four years at BM. Worked fine, Just had to tie it down good.. Drove a rebar about a foot into the ground and placed the leg over it at each corner.. That kept it from walking.. Skip the sand bag thing.. Just stake it to the desert floor like the rest of us do..

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:40 am

You will want some sort of shade panels to lower during the day, the ez-up patch of shade moves around with the sun. We have used ours at regionals as is, and we use it as a shade support at Burning Man. The canopy is a sail in high winds, so practice staking it down. They can fail, but most of the ones which did were the cheap ones, or the wind was too high during set up.

We don't use the canopy at B-Man, ours is stuffed between two carports holding up doubled over camo netting.

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:09 pm

Got 'em, use 'em. But anchor it using good rebar, because they do love flying, or at least walking really, really fast, in a breeze. Sand bags won't work (tried it, really ineffective). Also you can tie them together where the canvas meets (the legs splay) and put a sizeable chunk of shade down. We use 3 for a kitchen space and they work really well!

bb

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:40 pm

Anti M is right about putting them up in the wind.. I was fighting the wind with mine in 04.. The joints started cracking..I had to keep at repairing all week..Have a new system now, It's harder to put up.

Cabana Springs · Post by **Cabana Springs** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:20 pm

Our EZ-up got caught in the Tornado this year at BM. We rebar'd and duct taped it back together but alas we had to put it to sleep when we got back to default.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:36 am

I've been hauling EZ Ups around to art fairs and camping for years- There is a distinct degradation in the quality of materials used in their construction, I notice. Agreed, no weights are necessary. Try NOT to let the frame get twisted or sheared, since that will effect the mechanism for opening and closing. Should you be in a heavy rainfall situation, try to release the corners of the canopy from their Velcro fittings to avoid "rain bellies" that can rip the corners out. They can hold an astonishing amount of water before collapsing, though, and I've had to siphon many gallons out of the one we keep in the yard for the Summer.
If it's one of the older bare-steel tubing models, you might want to spraypaint the feet and even the pivots, to avoid rust. (The newer models are powdercoated.)

getitgoin · Post by **getitgoin** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:29 pm

When tied down really well, EZ ups are great!
I own 2 and have talked 4 friends into buying them.

Here's a tip:
Go to Home Depot...
in the tool dept, buy a bunch of clamps.
The spring loaded kind that look like giant metal clothes pins.
Then go to the garden dept and buy yards of screen material.
Wrap the material from leg to leg of the EZ up and clamp it on.

Instant outdoor living room/kitchen/whatever!
Keeps the shade where you want it.

(It's important that you use material that the wind can go through and not catch)

Jordan 10-E · Post by **Jordan 10-E** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:57 am

Remember folks, like any canopy/tent structure, merely placing the legs of the canopy over rebar alone is not sufficient to secure the structure. It will prevent it from moving sideways, but not up. Many people pound in a stake of rebar, put the leg over it and think it is done. Any sizable wind that comes along (while you are nowhere near camp) will make the canopy act like a sail and fly away, likely causing damage. In 2005 I saw an entire 40' x 40' shade structure canopy pick up in one big motion and fly across the street wrapping itself around three or four cars. I have seen other things too.

Rebar is your best bet, rather than sand. Sand is extremely heavy and the load never really centers. Basically for each leg pound in one piece of rebar and then use duct tape (bring enough) to secure the leg to the rebar, therefore completing the anchoring. Other good options include using guylines on the sides or corners to add more resistance to the wind, or securing one or two legs to something like the bumper of a car.

The ezup canopies are nice to have because they set up so easily, just protect your investment and others by properly securing it against the inevitable wind.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:12 am

Words Of Wisdom, except for the duct tape. Out there in the heat it turns to funky crap, and leaves nasty residue on the uprights of your canopy. I prefer to drive a "candy can" rebar in for each corner, lash the upright to the rebar instead of sliding over, and then run a line from the 'cane to the crosspieces to keep it down. Downside of this is that you have to really wham the rebar in, to avoid pullout. If you're patient (and strong) enough, use the groundscrew type of anchor, making sure to get below the "flaky pastry" part of the playa. Since they're good to go with a handy loop, you can thread line around the leg, up, over, and down.
Now if there's a really serious windstorm, you can simply release the lines and lay your shelter down instead of having to run around in a whiteout, waving a knife.