RE: What is the best dining shelter to purchase

[Clark]

 
I have a Coleman SeaPine and rather than use my add a room as a dining shelter I would like to purchase a stand alone screened dining shelter.   Does anyone have a suggestion on what make or model I should purchase.  I would like something that is very very easy to put up and take down.  
 Thanks for your help
 

[MtnCamper]

 Clark
We have a [link=http://www.ezupdirect.com/instant_shelters/dome2.htm=]EZ Up DomeII[/link]. It s pretty heavyduty, and I think it will last for a very long time. You can also add a screen room to it. 2 people can set it up in about a minute. And it handles the wind and rain well.

[Gamecock Camper]

 Clark
Target makes a good easy to set-up gazebo shaped dining canopy with screening called Greatland.  Coleman also makes a gazebo canopy with open sides that is easy to set-up.  We use one or the other depending on where we are going and how bad the bugs are going to be.  Most of the time we use the Coleman and set-up the camp kitchen under it (i.e- Camp Chef stove, tables with all the cooking gear, coolers, etc...)
 
 I would recommend either one.  The Eddie Bauer easy up models looked nice too, but they were double the price of Greatland and Coleman.

[tlhdoc]

 Clark
How about one of the Paha Que Screen Rooms?  Several people here on the board have them and recomend them (I have one on order) and you could bet it at a discount here at PUT.
 
 http://www.popuptimes.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=P&Category_Code=New

[Trlrboy]

 Clark
I have a Greatland screenhouse that takes about 5-6 minutes to set up and it works great.  Here s a link to some pictures... http://community.webshots.com/album/42204210ZcDWgJ

[garym053]

 Clark
I have a 13 x 13  H.D. Easy-up with the screen room sides should I need them. It works very well, and should last a long time!

[DiW]

 Clark
I ve used a 10  X 10  EZUp (Enterprise 1 or Express - can t remember which) for 3-4 years now. It s easy to set up even though it s heavy. It s been through a bunch of storms without a problem. We originally bought it for a sun/rain shade at outside festivals (have 2 redheads that burn easily) and it served that purpose well. We often have 8-10 dancers hanging out under it. We use it 10-20 weekends a year. It s the same one that many vendors use, with the high white top.  We bought this at BJs (about $200 with 2 sides) and it came in a carry case that has handles and wheels, so you just pull it along. Most times we bring it to dance festivals, I put it on my wagon (since I have dance costumes, coolers, blankets, chairs, etc) so the weight (about 50 lbs) hasn t been an issue. Now that we bring it camping, weight has become more important.  
 
 We have 2 white fabric sides that we use sometimes to block out rain and/or sun coming in from one direction. More often, the sides get used to form a square in 1/4 of it to use as a dressing room for dancers. Our sides (older version) velcro together but I believe the newer ones have zippers. We generally don t like having the sides up camping because they block the view, which I guess could be a good thing if you don t want to see your neighbors. EZUp also makes sides with clear vinyl sides on the top half and fabric on the bottom half. That might be nice (but they re expensive). We also have hung one of the EZUp sides on the back side of our Coleman awning to provide a rainfree area to cook).
 
 Has anyone used the EZUp screen sides? I see they are on sale on the EZUp site and was wondering how the sides work (like do they keep out noseeums?). Not sure how screening is rated but the EZUp customer service couldn t tell me how fine the screening is. Is there an industry standard for screening hole size?
 
 We see many kinds of canopies at these dance festivals and although they all sound the same by description, they aren t so look closely at all the features.  In some, the top is smaller than 10x10 but the legs extend outward forming a 10x10 square. Less shade is provided with this kind. Same goes for the ones without a fabric valence - less shade or rain protection. Some of the legs/frame are cheaply made and may not hold up well to the elements. On our older canopy (sorry I don t remember the brand), two of the legs bent and the whole thing collapsed. I m sure my DH was tempted to say " told you so."  Our model has been improved to allow more headroom in the center s check out how the frame works if you re tall.
 
 Personally I d like to have a slightly bigger one, esp. if we were to screen it. We camp with 5-6 people and the extra room would be nice. The 10 x 10 fits nicely over a picnic table and will protect your camping chairs at night, etc but trying to fit bikes under there in a rainstorm is tight. I agree with the people who say it makes more sense (less buggy) to have the screen room/AAR on the popup itself and if it were just my DH & me, I d go that route. But we use that area for cooking and there simply isn t enough room to eat/relax there as well for 5-6 people.
 Diane
 

[kathybrj]

 Clark
I snagged a Hillary screenroom from Sears at the middle of the summer last season, so I got it for $99. They have them now for $129.
 
 We like it because it has an exterior frame, making it very easy (under 5 minutes) to set up. It s hexagon shaped and fits nicely over the picnic table.
 
 We wanted the Greatland one at Target but they were out very quickly last season.
 
 There s a couple of shot of the Hillary set up at our site at letchworth last summer:
 
 http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=44888902

[tlhdoc]

 Clark
I got my Pahp Que Yesterday.  It is too cold for me to set it up outside and we don t have enough room to set it up inside, but it looks very well made.  The directions are very simple and they are attached to the pole bag.  The poles are shock corded so they are easy to put togher.  The mesh is very fine so I am not worried about insects getting through it.  It has a livetime warranty and I love the teal green roof color. []

[bikolee]

 MtnCamper

We have a EZ Up DomeII. It s pretty heavyduty, and I think it will last for a very long time. You can also add a screen room to it. 2 people can set it up in about a minute. And it handles the wind and rain well.

 Gary,
 I ve been looking at one of these. I m waiting for them to go on sale before I buy. Is it difficult to setup over a picnic table? I guess what I mean, is it seems the way they set up, you have to open it up then drag it so it would be over the table.  Any info would be appreciated.

[MtnCamper]

 Clark
Yup, That how you do it. To put it up, it works best to have 2 people. Then you just grab a leg, and pull out and away from each other. Extend the legs, then it will straddle the table. And just walk it over the table. DW has MS, and isn t very stable. But with a little patience and practice, we get it done.  After all, what s the hurry, we re camping!
 
 But I looked at a lot of  em. This one handles the wind really well, the dome just flexes and it s got stake down tabs on each corner. They are heavy duty and you just drive one of the " big nails"  thru them. Doesn t move.

[sandykayak]

 Clark
Before buying the Sam s Club 10x10 EZ-Up, I had a 8.5 x. 8.5 one with a lovely green canvas top and attached screen sides.  It was great with the 8  box Qwest, but the legs crumbled during a storm (didn t have a pointy roof).
 
 It will cost me $109 + S/H to replace the frame and I m tempted (when funds are available).  Must remember to lower two legs at night.  I hate to throw away the roof and screen sides!  It is a lot lighter and smaller than the one in the rolling bag.

[wssfetch]

 Clark
Sandy,
 
 Don t throw that top and side screening away.You might be able to use it in your project to make a screemoom/AAD.  Or you could just send them to me and I ll use them to make my own screeenroom.