Display Tent?

[Evelyn]

I need to buy a 10 x 10 display tent - one that has the canvas sides that you can pull down at night and secure.  Where do I start my search?  What type/maker do you recommend?  At the local show this weekend I saw a lot of "Ezups", any comments?  
Thanks in advance for your input.

[Lou Ann]

Evelyn,

I don't know about the type you are looking for but we have an ez-up that we bought at Dick's -- we bought the middle of the road one that they had and it has been ok for our uses (shade at soccer games and for the MIL by the pool) -- I did notice that a heavy rain did pool in one corner which I wouldn't want to happen if there was anything important inside.

LA

[Kev]

Check out Walmart. That's where we got ours, and it came with sides.

[JoanFrances]

Evelyn, a couple things that I ran into with mine.  The first time we used it, it took more than an hour to put it up, yup the ez up style.  The sliding brackets did not slide easily and it took both my daughter and my dh to push it till it locked.  There not any didrections in the box that it came in.  The only thing we had was the picture to go by.  In the picture the legs appeared to be in a straight up and down postion,   NOT SO,  Make sure you have the leg at an angle, and the bracket should then slide easier.  I would recommend that you try it at home prior to going to a show with it, that way you will already know just how to handle it.  

The style I have does not collect water in the middle, as it has a point in the center that is at least 6 to 9" higher that the rest of the tent top has.  

I wish had the style with a place to put sides on it because if you have a driving rain, your things could still get a bit wet, something you may want to consider

[Amber]

I was out pricing them yesterday :). We have a big show here in New Brunswick at the end of summer with 6000 visitors that I'm starting to plan, budget and shop for now, first year is going to be a killer in costs *yuckers* but after it'll be easier to maintain *phew*.
The two gazebos that I've seen for EZ-op 10' x 10' are 99 bucks canadian but I'm still looking for the flaps to secure it at night and give me a back wall for two sides to work with.

[Anne]

We bought ours at Costco, that's what everyone up here uses. It's the white 10x10 one and it's a snap to put up although you do need two people to do it. It has 4 removable walls. When you do get one you might want to consider waterproofing your seams! Makes life outside much easier if Mother Nature isn't cooperating.

[Theresa]

Evelyn I bought one from Costco last week. $180.00 with zippered sides.

[Evelyn]

Thank you everyone for your inputs - Anne and Theresa, your tent sounds exactly what I'm looking for, I'll have to check Costco.   Kev, I went to the Walmart online and didn't see this type of tent, will check it out at the local store.  Joan Frances and Amber, thanks for the comments and suggestions.  Lou Ann, I'll try Dick's if the other two don't work out.

[Kev]

That's where we got it, online. I think it was about $199.00

[Shereen]

Coronado won't allow anyone to use tents.   One of the watercolorists said she lost 8.000 in paintings one day - they could not get out of the rain fast enough.  There are just a handful of us who aren't affected by weather.   Even the gourd colorists have to keep a keen eye on the clouds .

Even our credit card signs can't be over 3 inches :)
 

[Evelyn]

Shereen,
Is there a reason why they don't allow tents?  How long does the Coronado show run?Thankfully, tents are an option for everyone at The Fall Festival and this will be the first show (hopefully) that I will have a tent.

[Anne]

I've done a lot of outside shows in my time, have never done a show that didn't require we have canopies. What do the people do that can't 'do' sun - and there are lots of folks like that now. Guess I wouldn't/couldn't do that show, nor would I want to if I had a product that was susceptible to weather.  Interesting!

[Amber]

*woohoo* just got my own tent ordered and it should be here in a couple weeks :). Bloody thing was more expensive then I expected, after tax it was $260 but it was the cheapest one I could find with walls that had good reviews. I found one on Amazon for $180 that had cute little plastic windows sewn into the removable wall but it had 15 horrible reviews *yikes*! This was the best price I could find (it was $229 before taxes and free shipping) and all the others with walls were at least $350, holy smokes!
I figure it's best to bite the bullet, if I booked a booth under the big tent provided it would have been smaller and darker and fair penny more expensive then an outdoor space so this will save me down the road. Still hurt to spend the money though *winks*.

[Alan]

*woohoo* just got my own tent ordered and it should be here in a couple weeks :). Bloody thing was more expensive then I expected, after tax it was $260 but it was the cheapest one I could find with walls that had good reviews.

What brand is it? - any pictures, etc online?

[Amber]

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10331964&whse=BCCA&Ne=4000000&eCat=BCCA|111|20535&N=4009782&Mo=8&No=3&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&cat=20536&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-CA&Sp=C&topnav=

Here's the link to the tent on Costco.ca, at first I almost passed over it because it didn't have walls in the photo and then I scrolled down to the description and saw they were included *yay*! I also made sure to read the material to make sure it wasn't the uber cheap stuff like the last one I saw!

[Anne]

I have the Costco tent too Amber, it's great.  We waterproofed our seams though, as it does leak in the rain! Do both sides!

[Lou Ann]

Amber,

I don't know if you have Pep Boys auto stores up in Canada but I bought a set of weights that are 5 lbs each that have a slot for the leg that hold the tent in place on windy days -- we've had our set up on the deck during some pretty bad storms and it hasn't moved an inch with these...

Lou Ann

[Amber]

Awesome, it's nice to know someone else who uses this one!! Do you weigh yours down with anything? What did you use for the seams, the same thing for camping tents??





too funny, as I was typing this and clicked post I got the red warning and read what you wrote Lou Ann :). Thanks for the tip!

I have the Costco tent too Amber, it's great.  We waterproofed our seams though, as it does leak in the rain! Do both sides!

[Alan]

I have the same canopy and use tie-downs with 17 pound retaining wall blocks attached - had it set up last Sunday at church, then the *&^&% wind came up - 55MPH gusts - there ain't nuttin' that's gonna keep that sucker in place in that kind of wind! It took both me and my son to keep it place (over 300 pounds plus the blocks) long enough to take in down. That was not a fun time!

[Anne]

What did you use for the seams, the same thing for camping tents??

Yes!

[Kev]

At the last show I went to, I saw one vendor that used small handled bags similar to bowling ball bags that were filled with gravel and had a bungee cord attached to it and then wrapped the cord up the tent post.

[Audrey]

We once rented one 10 X 20' for an archery event for a couple days. My husband did not use the stakes to tie it down. The morning after the event we found it upside down across the yard - trashed. That wind can really do a job on a tent of any size.

[Amber]

*yay*!! I got my tent yesterday, boy that was fast!!! From California to my door in 6 days, and considering I placed my order on a Friday afternoon and it didn't get processed until Monday that was some speedy shipping!
The box is in my living room and just itching to be put together, but since I can't do it alone I'm waiting eagerly for the hubby to get back in town, poor guy has a big honey do list when he gets back and he only has 3 weeks to do it before he's gone again *LOL.
On a side note, I found this same tent on Amazon.ca for $356.00 plus tax and shipping! That's crazy since Costco had it for $229 plus tax and shipping was included, what a difference in price for the exact same thing.

[Audrey]

That is an amazing difference in price. Amazon is usually pretty good. Good to know this. Thanks.

[annabelle]

For what it is worth, EZ up tents has a web site that shows their products.  I think you can buy direct....I got my 10 X 10 with sides at BJ's Wholesale Club...under $200.00.  The first time we put it up, My husband and I spent all afternoon trying to figure it out....It just would NOT go up....I finally called their customer service, and found out that the screws holding it together needed to be loosened...did it, and it went up in minutes.....I have had to use mine in driving rain and wind....it does not leak, and water does not pool on the top.  My husband made weights from pvc pipe and concrete that we bungee to the legs.  But even with those super high winds are really dangerous....I am 64 years old, and under 5' tall.  I can put this tent up and take it down alone....It just takes a little longer than if I have help.....I can't, however, carry it to the truck and put it in by myself.....annabelle