Swiss Gear 10- by 10-Foot Smart Shade Canopy

We set it up just as it was starting to rain. By the time the rain really got going, we were all set up and sheltered. The carrying case with wheels is excellent.

The tent is easy to put up and light enough for one person to easily carry it. Well, yes, it is a bit bulky, but all pop up tailgate canopies are...It is lighter than all the EZ-up tents we have.

We've been tailgating several years with 2 old EZups. The are heavier and a little hard to get to lock in position when raise the canopy on the legs. Three years ago we started looking for an additional tent. We got several off-brand ones around town that tore up after a few uses. One the locking buttons just fell out and got lost...and the leg followed soon after; another was a non-easy-up and had to be put together, which is not convenient. Last year, we gave in and bought an additional EZup, an Embassy II with duralast top. Well, it was so stiff that mid-way through this tailgate season, we ripped one of the support bars trying to lock the canopy in the open position. I'm not kidding - it took a ton of force to open it up. We were not "doing something wrong"; we are experienced with pop ups. Fed up, I looked to Amazon and read reviews. I am completely happy with this tent the two times we got to use it. It is more of a silverish tent than pure white, but we didn't have a problem with that.

The only downside to the tent is it does feel a tiny bit flimsier than EZups we have. However, it still seems sturdy enough. I'm not sure that it would stand up in high winds, but we don't tailgate in tornados. Also, we did not stake it, which would probably help some.

In summary, the price was right, amazon prime delivered on time, the tent is great.

I researched into other brands of canopies and I am glad I bought this one. This is not heavy at all. Very easy to set up and a good value for your money. I would recommend this product to everyone.

This product is well worth the few xtra bucks. It is top grade material with lots of quality features. Tie downs, velcro tabs, quality fabric, beams, etc. If your looking for something that will last, this is your canopy.

I attend a lot of outdoor dog agility trials during the year up here in the northeast. At dog shows it's always bring-your-own shade. I need something that is not too heavy to lug from the van, easy to setup and take down, shade me & the dogs from the sun and hold up to the elements (rain & wind).

I was replacing an old, heavy, EZ-Up after the canopy ripped and one of the release buttons "got lost" inside the leg.

I have used the Swiss Gear canopy 5 times now in intense sun, heavy rain, and LIGHT wind. It is very easy to setup and take down - love the fact that there are no steel buttons to push in (and pinch your fingers) when you are releasing the canopy downwards. The duffel bag is designed well and expands a little, making it easy to stuff the canopy back into it. (Note, like all canopies, it's still going to take 2 people to set it up and take it down.)

The coated canopy keeps the inside MUCH cooler than standard white canopies. I always use the guyouts to tiedown the canopy and stake down the legs - it has stood up well to light wind and heavy rain, but the steel frame doesn't seem sturdy enough to trust it in heavier winds. (The EZ-Up stood up well in high winds)

I think this is an excellent product for this price category. In this price range it seems to be better made and sturdier than most other "cheap" ones I see at the shows. If you don't mind looking like you're the first-aid station (the red cross) - go for it!

2008-07-13