Which brand of tent do you use?

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

 
Frustrated! I did a three day fest in a huge parking lot for the Chicago Fire Soccer stadium.
Bought MY OWN (I borrowed my brothers before) pop up tent at Hobos for only $69.
Love getting a deal. Yeah!

Just as I was putting it up, the wind decided to move it and make it fly. The vendor next to me,
used his duct tape and taped my paver bricks to the legs. Took it down that night, and left it there.
They had security. The second night it rained, no big deal. THEN on day 3, we were putting it up and
several of the side pipes (the crisscross pieces) had disconnected. Just a mess of broken side pieces.

So got out my tape and tried getting to work for just the day. The wind was crazy, so my sweet, loving
hubby held onto one of the legs for 7 hours!

I will be returning the awful thing back to Hobos. So now I want a BETTER tent that actually stays up for more than 3 days before it breaks. Any suggestions on brands? I noticed another vendor had criss cross
pipe sections through the middle as well as the sides. Seems a lot more secure! Please let me know what brands your happy with and how much you've paid! Thanks!

[Sherry]

I haven't heard of Hobos, but I'll now know to STAY AWAY.  I haven't tried a lot of brands.  I bought the First Up from Wal-mart when I was first starting out and it's lasted for over 3 years now.  It is looking a bit shabby in the fabric part, but it's still standing strong.

[reginanewsum]

I am sold on an EZ UP TENT.  You can purchase one threw Sam's club. I have nothing but great things to say about my EZ UP TENT. My first one (I had it for over 25 years) was lost in August to a monster thunder storm!  It might have been my fault!   I didn't have the tent secured to any thing! I should have dropped it down to about half way and I should have had it bungie corded to the trees. The high winds picked it up and twisted it up like a pretzel! I cried!  So hubby went to Sam's and bought me a new one. I know take it down after a weekend gig and put it back up the next weekend!  I never leave it all week long!  When I bought mine 25 years ago, it was $200.00,  it did not come with the sides, they were extra, at $50 each, so I just bought white tarps and used them for the sides. Now it is amazing!  Sam's club runs a great deal on the EZ UP, it is $199.95 and you get all four sides with it, a canopy top for the front as a sun protector, four medal driving stakes to secure it to the ground also four steel plates to help it stay in place, and a great carrying bag on wheels, the frame is made so very  great.  And I can put it up and take it down alone. But yes it is very heavy! So get ready for a work out!  So I hope this helped you, and I can tell you that you will be very happy with it! Don't order it from the company it will cost you double after shipping charges. Go to Sam's. They are the only place I know that sells them.  Or you can check craigs list, I have seen them on  there also. But remember they are used.

[sealmom]

I'm with Gina... EZ UP is GREAT, but don't get the cheap ones!  Mine withstood a 50 MPH wind while the cheaper ones around me either took off or broke or both including a "cheapo" EZ UP from K-Mart.  I got mine @ Sam's Club for $200.  It came with 4 side curtains, stakes, a bag with wheels, and a front "visor".  I have had it up in all kinds of weather and it is a champ!  I have found that when it comes to canopies... you get what you pay for. javascript:void(0);

[Psalmbook]

I use & love my EZ UP. When you buy a tent go for the white canopy. Reds, blues, tans all mess w/ your lighting & cast their hue onto your designs(red=pink skulls:-)
I also link bungee cords together & to the top of the canopy & have 4 25 lb weight lifting weights that attach to the cords. I've been at some windy beach side events where everyone's tents were taking flight but mine. I had one event where I had to keep grabbing the tent next to me & holding it down while painting

[reginanewsum]

I love my EZ UP TENT, and I would have to agree ----- get white.   As I said I had my last one for so many years and it was still in great shape.  Even with my new one this is what I do, if it rains or did rain during a gig, I always wipe down the canopy when I get home. I just set it up in the back yard and take a couple old towels and wipe it down.   Just drop the tent down to the last peg, you can reach it that way, and then I close it alittle bit to reach the middle.  Also I always have a few towels in my suv to use.  So I always try to walk around the tent before it goes completely in the bag and wipe off all the dirt and dust. Thats what makes the canopy so dirty looking after the dampness dries, this will keep it looking great .   I think a white clean tent looks very professional. I have seen some really dirty ones up!

[vegaburm]

I'm considering replacing my tent, since I bought a $50 cheapie at a discount store, and it is RED. Which I thought at the time would stand out nicely and be carnival-like, not realizing that everything under it looks red! I haven't even had it a year. lol.

But I was looking at the easy-up's from Sam's online and they had terrible reviews. Lots of reports of them breaking at the trusses. The first up's from Wal-Mart have a much better rating and are half the price. Now I am debating.

Also, someone saif that the EZ ups are made just for Sam's and they had them make that model cheaper so they could sell it super cheap still with the EZ up name. Notice it doesn't have any of the model names that the regular EZ ups have.

I am not sure what to think.

[vegaburm]

Does anyone have experience with the King's canopy from Wal-Mart?

[reginanewsum]

yes I know of the one you are talking about, I have never had one but I have been in events many times with them around me, I also talked to the guy next to me that had one.  He said he had lost a few of the tents from wind, I did notice because the frame is like an accordian frame it does wiggley and move alot, but I was really surprized!  The guy next to me had taken 4 pieces of 1" by 2" wood, cut  each one a little longer than the length of the tent, and then bowed each piece into the inside of the tent to re enforce it, and the wind was blowing that day and his tent hardly moved!  So thats all I know about those types.  I think the wind and weather can do any tent damage. Except for them tents that they have at the Ren Faires, when I lost my tent in Aug at the Ren faire, there was 9 of us with EZ UPS and they were picked up and twisted like a pretzel!  Everyone of ours. And those big heavey duty tents never moved!  I don't remember the name of them but they are just like the army tents, soo thick and heavey.  My neighbor at ren faire bought hers used, 8 by 10 for $2500.00! and it had a 6 by 10 thing you put on the front for a sun roof!