outdoor trial sun/rain protection?

[stardogs]

I'm trying to find something I can use at outdoor trials and can't figure out if I want to trade floor space for weather resistance. Hence the poll/thread LOL

I'm looking at both of these for $60:

Kelty Cabana

• Waterproof, has tie downs and sand bags included, windows that can be covered, front flap can be used as ground cover or door.
• Can be set up by one person using tent pole setup.
• 41 sq ft, 53" tall
• Bought new at Target.

Coleman Instant Screen

• Top is waterproof, sides are screened.
• One touch setup.
• 195 sq ft, 72" tall
• would be bought used off CL.

The canopies (EZ Ups, the Coleman Screen, etc.) seem good for shade given the larger floorspace, but in rain they suck unless you buy panels/shade and I'm trying to do this for as little $ as possible.

That being said, I know the cabanas aren't as good for hot weather (less ventilation) but it can be completely closed up in rain.

So what are your thoughts?

 

[MafiaPrincess]

Not sure there is a catch all solution. We've seen so many easy up, or first up or other knock offs and other brands blow inside out in the wind and snap - even in not impressive storms I've been trialling 5 years and don't have one.

Dekka has dining tent that has rain panels on all 4 sides I like but it's a pain to put up, and can't be put up alone without a ton of effort.. and Kaiden managed to reach a screen and eat it during a trial..

I have the wrong car for it... but something with a hatch, dogs in crates in the car with aluminet over it.. Stake a couple of tent posts to make it stay up and out and we found the car stays cool, and if quality aluminet it stays rain resistant until a down pour.. but if dogs are in the hatch.. it's not an issue.

We have a small tent like that cabana to play with, but it seems like a pain with lack of height.

Most trials, I crate my dogs out of my car, possibly put up an ex pen for Smudge, throw a blanket over them and they stay sun and rain safe. No added cost... Since it's worked for 5 years it's hard for me to justify buying new stuff.

 

[stardogs]

Oh yea def - I've crated out of my car for trials for 10 years! I'm just finding that at DDing competitions I'm in more need of shade for *myself* at times LOL, plus at those events the parking area is further away than at agility trials, so crating nearby is harder without a tent/canopy. I won't crate where I can't see my dogs basically.

 

[adojrts]

I love the EZ-Ups, easy to pack/transport, don't take up too much room traveling and super easy to put up and down. And for the little extra money, stand up to high winds. The extra side panels are easy as well for those days when you need extra shade or protection from the rain. So I voted 'other'.

 

[BostonBanker]

I have a Coleman screen room similar to the one you posted. I *love* it. I can get it up and down by myself in under 2 minutes (and I am a tent moron), it is light and easy to carry. I have one of those big silver mesh sun screens that I clip to the side to block the sun, and a couple of tarps that I use when it is raining. It isn't perfectly water proof from the sides, as stuff gets around the tarps. But if I move my stuff towards the middle, it stays dry.

I got my tent for about $65 from Costco.

If I could have afforded it, I would have gotten this:

Turbo Tent Screen Machine – Turbo Tent Screen Tent – Pop Up Screen Tent

But I couldn't justify the price difference.

 

[Dekka]

Go to trials and see what people use in your area. My screen tent does take a bit of effort, but it does seem to stand up (minus kaiden) quite well. It seems to be what most agility people around here have (had) when I got it. I asked people who had tents/canopies if they liked what they had.

I had a first up, it got wrecked in not a lot of wind. I find EZ ups (we had one) aren't easier to put up than what I have.

What I did get whilst in the US was a big section of almuinet shade cloth from Clean Run (we went to the actual Clean Run store, it was fun) If you had some tent poles and cords you can set it up on its own (we did that a few times on our trip) Fantastic for shade!!

 

[Shai]

*EZUp Love*

 

[MandyPug]

I've had 2 cabana types, the first one was like $40 from costco and was super easy to set up, but somehow my brother broke it while taking it down on Canada Day. The second one was a Coleman one and it was a pain to get up so we're taking it back.

Now i've just bought this: Sport>>Brella
It spikes into the ground and there are lines you attach and stake into the ground. So we'll see how it goes when i try it out in august.

 

[stardogs]

Yea around here most people us EZ Ups LOL. I rarely see screen rooms and I think I've seen a cabana thing once. Of course the last DDing event I went to it was hot for half and then rained haaard for like 30 mins. All the EZ Up people had to stand in the middle of their EZ Up holding onto it so 1. it didn't fall over and 2. they could push water that pooled on the edges off to prevent damage to the roofs! That certainly didn't look appealing at all LOL. I do love Aluminet - I have a big panel for car crating that is soooo versatile!

I'll have to check CostCo - have to go get dog food there today anyway!

 

[Beanie]

I've seen EZUps damaged by the winds here, one of them we actually had to beat with a hammer to get the frame bent back so we could even take it down. It should have been lowered instead of leaving it up but she forgot. I had one and we were testing out setting it up in the backyard and I ended up with a busted lip and needed stitches. I think some are just easier to set up than others. Auggie's breeder has one and she usually sets it up by herself no problem - our friend that ended up with the bent one I think CAN set it up by herself, but it's a huge PITA and usually she has somebody lend her a hand. If you stake it down it won't go anywhere in rain/wind or tip from rain pooling on the roof, but yeah, you have to push up on the roof and knock the pools of rain off.
I wouldn't do the Cabana just because it's short and that would annoy me, but the screen room looks okay and if it's fast to put up/take down that should protect you from having it damaged if you notice the wind is crazy!

 

[Lizmo]

I'm just finding that at DDing competitions I'm in more need of shade for *myself* at times LOL, plus at those events the parking area is further away than at agility trials, so crating nearby is harder without a tent/canopy. I won't crate where I can't see my dogs basically.

It is way hot at dock diving trials. I know the one I go to is held on pavement. Crazy hot.

The only thing that made me get an EZ Up Canopy over say a tent like the second one you listed, was the stakes that go out the side, and in some areas at DD events the tents are literally *right* next to each other. Plus I didn't want myself or my dogs tripping over the line stakes.

 

[stardogs]

Oh I hadn't even thought of being able to lower a canopy to make it safer and more protected in rain - good to keep in mind!

@Lizmo: None of the events I've been to so far have been on pavement or really packed, but this weekend's event is huuuge (i.e. waves filled to the 40 team max in prereg already with a week to go!), so keeping footprint in mind is a good point. Same with making sure that whatever I get doesn't *have* to be staked since pavement would make that impossible.

 

[Shai]

I've seen EZUps damaged by the winds here, one of them we actually had to beat with a hammer to get the frame bent back so we could even take it down. It should have been lowered instead of leaving it up but she forgot.

We had a huge Tstorm blow through the Saturday night of an outdoor trial here. Everyone with an EZ-UP who didn't lower it and strip the canopy had varying degrees of damage. Everyone with a tent/etc sort of thing simply lost theirs....stakes were pulled up, and fabrics destroyed. Amazing what wind can do.



Anyway, here's our Camp There's an extra tarp inside which can be quickly hung up in the case of rain.

 

[colliewog]

I have the Kelty Cabana and I like it. I've only used it once, but it survived a windy day and was also easy for one person to put up/take down.