Screen Tent/House/Shelter Recommendations Please

[KristinU]

We're in the market for a screen tent, but after camping (near home) last weekend and getting some rain, I'm thinking we could use something for rain as well (we were hunkered down in our tent while the people at the next site over were reading magazines, sipping coffee, and having a great old time under their rain shelter!)

I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a good dual-duty shelter. The Coleman Insta-Clip thing I'm looking at doesn't seem like it would necessarily be an awesome rain shelter, but maybe I'm wrong. What do you all have? Anyone have anything that they love that keeps out both ain and bugs? Anyone have a Coleman Insta-Clip Screenhouse? The one I'm looking at is 11' x 13' and is only $60 at BJ's. Seems like a good deal...but any feedback or suggestions would be geatly appreciated.

TIA!

 

[stacktester]

Shannone1 suggested this one. She got it from Amazon and she was happy with it. If she reads this thread I'm sure she will tell you about it.

http://www.amazon.com/Eureka-262453...4616585-1233512?ie=UTF8&qid=1181340017&sr=8-5

 

[ctpooh]

We have an insta clip one and as long as the wind is not bad the we are fine. We love it, and it is nice not to have to be stuck in the tent. We got it at target and saved lots of money!

 

[clkelley]

I use something called an EZ-Up (that is a brand name), I actually own one from Wal-Mart called a "First Up" and one from Dicks Sporting Goods called a "Quest"

The First Up Shelters have straight legs and are the same size at the top as at the bottom. They also sell screen walls, and solid walls that attach to the frame.

The Quest shelters have angled legs and the dimensions are measured at the foot of the shelter not at the top. (So a 10x10 is actually an 8x8 at the top). The 12x12 is actually 9.5x9.5 at the top. The Quest Brand also offers screen walls, solid walls AND a fully enclosed tent with floor that attaches to the frame. The Quest 10x10 folds into a smaller package than the First-Up 10x10 but the bag does not have wheels. The Quest 12x12 folded up is about the same size as the First-Up 10x10 and has a bag with wheels.

These shelters are not for backpacking or light weight camping, they do have some weight to them, but work great. You need to coat the material at the seams to waterproof them, and you need to steak them down at ALL points to keep them from flying away in the wind and to stretch out the top so that the rain rolls off of them instead of pooling and weighing the unit down.

Our local Wal-Mart has been running the First-Up 10x10s for about $80.

Our local Dicks Sporting Goods usually has the 10x10 Quest for $69 and the 12x12 Quest for $89. (Sometimes they go on sale for $50 and $70 each).

The screen walls and solid walls usually run about $30 - $35 for either canopy.

 

[kmccain]

We lost our EZ-up on our last trip to Disney. Rain collected on it during the day and collapsed it and we didn't know it. We weren't coming back until last and never thought to check it. It bent the frame so bad, it couldn't be fixed.

We went to a screen tent like the Insta-Clip. The screen tent is nice, like you said, because of the bugs.

 

[Shannone1]

Shannone1 suggested this one. She got it from Amazon and she was happy with it. If she reads this thread I'm sure she will tell you about it.

http://www.amazon.com/Eureka-262453...4616585-1233512?ie=UTF8&qid=1181340017&sr=8-5

We do like our Eureka very much. It keeps out the bugs. As for rain...if the rain was coming straight down you would be ok, but if the wind is blowing it is going to come in through the screens...there is just no getting around that unless you get something with solid walls and no screening.

 

[KristinU]

Thanks everyone! You've given me a lot to chew on. Carol, I didn't know those types of shelters had optional screen sides...this is why I love the DIS - always a big help! Thanks again!

 

[Escape Artist]

I use something called an EZ-Up (that is a brand name), I actually own one from Wal-Mart called a "First Up" and one from Dicks Sporting Goods called a "Quest"

The First Up Shelters have straight legs and are the same size at the top as at the bottom. They also sell screen walls, and solid walls that attach to the frame.

The Quest shelters have angled legs and the dimensions are measured at the foot of the shelter not at the top. (So a 10x10 is actually an 8x8 at the top). The 12x12 is actually 9.5x9.5 at the top. The Quest Brand also offers screen walls, solid walls AND a fully enclosed tent with floor that attaches to the frame. The Quest 10x10 folds into a smaller package than the First-Up 10x10 but the bag does not have wheels. The Quest 12x12 folded up is about the same size as the First-Up 10x10 and has a bag with wheels.

These shelters are not for backpacking or light weight camping, they do have some weight to them, but work great. You need to coat the material at the seams to waterproof them, and you need to steak them down at ALL points to keep them from flying away in the wind and to stretch out the top so that the rain rolls off of them instead of pooling and weighing the unit down.

Our local Wal-Mart has been running the First-Up 10x10s for about $80.

Our local Dicks Sporting Goods usually has the 10x10 Quest for $69 and the 12x12 Quest for $89. (Sometimes they go on sale for $50 and $70 each).

The screen walls and solid walls usually run about $30 - $35 for either canopy.

Carol, do you prefer one brand to another? Is one easier to set up or more sturdy than the others? I've been wanting to buy one of these for awhile, and I really appreciate your experience and recommendations!

(BTW, your teardrop is adorable! )

Sue in Texas
...who knows camping is so much better with help from the DISboards...

 

[clkelley]

Carol, do you prefer one brand to another? Is one easier to set up or more sturdy than the others? I've been wanting to buy one of these for awhile, and I really appreciate your experience and recommendations!

(BTW, your teardrop is adorable! )

Sue in Texas
...who knows camping is so much better with help from the DISboards...

Not really. The First-Up from Wal-Mart has three height adjustments, and has a "vent" in the top of the canopy.

The Quest does not have any height adjustments and you need to pick up a set of nail stakes at for the legs. (The Wal-Mart one comes with them.).

The Wal-Mart one has come out with additional covers in different colors that you can purchase. It comes with Blue, you can purchase white, red, (and maybe green??).

The Quest 10x10 comes in Blue. The Quest 12x12 comes in Green.

 

[marybrat]

I use something called an EZ-Up (that is a brand name), I actually own one from Wal-Mart called a "First Up".

This is what we have too. We bought the screen and rain side for it. Love it!!! One person can set it up independently.

 

[always quiet]

We're in the market for a screen tent, but after camping (near home) last weekend and getting some rain, I'm thinking we could use something for rain as well (we were hunkered down in our tent while the people at the next site over were reading magazines, sipping coffee, and having a great old time under their rain shelter!)

I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a good dual-duty shelter. The Coleman Insta-Clip thing I'm looking at doesn't seem like it would necessarily be an awesome rain shelter, but maybe I'm wrong. What do you all have? Anyone have anything that they love that keeps out both ain and bugs? Anyone have a Coleman Insta-Clip Screenhouse? The one I'm looking at is 11' x 13' and is only $60 at BJ's. Seems like a good deal...but any feedback or suggestions would be geatly appreciated.

TIA!

OOOHH!! I can answer this one!!

As soon as I read your thread title, I was going to recommend one we just got a few weeks ago.....yes, you guessed it! It's the one from BJ's! BTW, I researched it on line at coleman.com (more about that in a sec!) and it retails for $130! Have to love the price.

Now on to the rest....about 2 weeks after we set it up in the back yard, we had a HORRENDOUS storm it...totally out of the blue! Wind gusty to about 50 mph, nickel size hail........really bad! While the enclosure never blew down in the wind, the large branch that was hit by lightning and smashed down on it did bend the back 2 legs in half! I checked with coleman.com and for under $10 each, bought new replacment legs. They arrived in about a week and my DH has it back up again (only this time NOT under the tree! )

I highly recommend this!

 

[Escape Artist]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Your experience really helps me in shopping for one of these, and I was nervous about the one from Wal-Mart. I just wanted to make sure it was durable and sturdy, and I'm thrilled to know that one person can set it up.

I feel like a weenie, but one of my requirements is that it has to come in a bag with wheels! (Sometimes camping with the Girl Scouts or for swim meets, we might not be putting it up anywhere near the car, and I'm not getting any younger.)

So now I've gotta make a decision, but you all make it so much easier, thank you!

Sue in Texas

 

[KristinU]

OOOHH!! I can answer this one!!

As soon as I read your thread title, I was going to recommend one we just got a few weeks ago.....yes, you guessed it! It's the one from BJ's! BTW, I researched it on line at coleman.com (more about that in a sec!) and it retails for $130! Have to love the price.

Now on to the rest....about 2 weeks after we set it up in the back yard, we had a HORRENDOUS storm it...totally out of the blue! Wind gusty to about 50 mph, nickel size hail........really bad! While the enclosure never blew down in the wind, the large branch that was hit by lightning and smashed down on it did bend the back 2 legs in half! I checked with coleman.com and for under $10 each, bought new replacment legs. They arrived in about a week and my DH has it back up again (only this time NOT under the tree! )

I highly recommend this!

Thanks Always quiet. Do you think it would have kept you remotely dry had you been outside in that storm? I mean, I guess if it wa sgusting that bad when we were car camping we'd likeliy pack it in and head home, but in a regular rain I'd like to be able to sit and enjoy ourselves.

The Quest ones are on sale at Dick's this week (I'm pretty sure that's the ad I saw it in)...but I'm worried about the bulkiness for us - our little RAV4 with a roof rack is packed to the gills as it is when we go camping...I can't afford to add too much bulk to our gear.

 

[DMRick]

I love my Eureka screen room. Boy, has that come down in price since we got ours. Our poles do look like they are heavier than the one shown. We paid double that price for ours. They had just come out.
We've tried the ez up time shelters, and found in rain..well, that they were really meant more for shade. We do put our chairs in the middle when we leave for the day, because if it pours, if they are near the edge they will get wet. It does hold up though in very high winds.
I can put it up by myself in less than 5 minutes, and I'm old as dirt.