The whole thing is remarkably easy to set up, even for one person; the family at the next campsite was amazed at my tent prowess when I set it up solo. It is also a durable tent thanks to its steel frame construction. There are plenty of additional features or add-ons that can make a screen tent even more enjoyable: If youre concerned about looking like an old-timey cartoon character tangled in ropes, poles, and mesh during setup, its understandable. The REI Co-op Screen House Shelter is easy to set up and pleasant to use, providing good protection from bugs, sun, and gentle rain showers. (The tent is from a company known for its rugged tentlike alternative to the traditional bobhouse.).
This screen tent comes in many different sizes and you can choose plenty of accessories for any kind of weather, including wall covers for very windy or wet days. Alvantor Screen House Camping Canopy3. Then thread all four of the longer poles through the four white pole sleeves before inserting the poles ends into the divots at the tents base. Hi Ann, Many RVers like to use them in the winter to hang out outside because they can even help block the cold wind! Whether you choose two flaps with magnetic closures or one zippered panel, how a screen tent opens and closes should be a consideration. Three final notes: First, in online images the Mountain View appears to have a gray polyester floor. Additionally, it is easy to set up as two people can get it done in under five minutes. Nylon is more susceptible to UV damage than the polyester material on most tents of this type, but it generally has a softer, more premium feel and a less wrinkly look. And since it doesnt have a floor, theres no concern about leaving campsite dirt and sand inside. At a peak height of 7 feet 6 inches, the Mountain View is 6 inches taller at its peak than the REI Co-op Screen House Shelter and a foot taller than the L.L.Bean Woodlands Screen House. Learn more. We used the shelters for sun protection, setting up camp chairs inside oneand a play mat and toddler toys inside another, and placing the large Clam shelter over a picnic table piled with markers and coloring books. Do you need an easy to assemble screen house? The capacity of your screen house is obviously important as you might want to be sure your screen house will fit over a picnic table and accommodate everyone in your camping group. Screen tents arent just for campsites; they can be equally useful in a backyard. Second, while the other three shelters we recommend have a many-year history of good reviews, the Mountain View was new in 2016, and some owners have complained about weak poles and poor customer service. When looking for screen houses, you should consider this one from the ABCCANOPY Store. Quest 12 X 12 Mesh Screen House Canopy Tent9. Additionally, the tent is windproof, provides UPF 50 protection from the sun, and has polyester with silver coating. Thats why we focused on collapsible camping shelters with mesh walls to keep bugs at bay. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series, including This Old House and Bob Vilas Home Again, he popularized and became synonymous with do it yourself home improvement. So, we decided to review as many screen houses for camping as we could to see which screen house for camping is really the best. The Clam Quick-Set Escape weighs 34 pounds and comes in a 6-foot-long, ski-bag-shaped carry case that is too big to fit into most sedan trunks.
There we encountered mild temperatures in the 50s and 60s. You can pop it open and fold it up in a matter of minutes. The solid top keeps you dry while the mesh walls enhance airflow and keep bugs out.
Finally, the product has a lifetime free replacement for ropes and stakes. Others seem to be annoyed that the fly is not included. Like many tents of this type, the REI Screen House Shelter has a fabric hook in the center of the ceiling that accommodates a small lantern or other light. However, you do not need to worry about bugs because the mesh is thin enough to keep them all out. One of the best screen houses available comes from Quest. In general, most screen tents offer more than 6.5 feet of headspace. Otherwise, you will be stuck taking turns in the screen house instead of hanging out in there together with your family.
With that primer on these bug- and weather-resistant shelters, choosing the best screen tent for an outdoor gathering becomes quite a bit easier. The mesh doesnt seem particularly durable, and given the cap-like roof, the shade provided is much more limited than with our top-pick tents. The screen house can be set up in one minute in just three steps, and there are no tools required. Some screen houses for camping come with optional wall panels that you can install on the sides where cold wind is blowing. However, this model is too big to fit in the trunks of most sedans, and the muted colors look good when its sunny but can feel a bit gloomy if its already rainy out. The canopy tent has mesh walls on all four sides and an edge of fabric at the ground that deters mosquitos and other critters from invading from below. (The stakes are heavier, too, but when your tent already weighs 34 pounds, who cares?). But once you know how to do it, two people can easily erect the large tent in less than 10 minutes. There are also shock cord poles that make set up quick and easy. For that reason, most options offer comfortably tall openings, so the height of the entryway is rarely an issue. There are plenty of models that fold down to the size of a large duffel bag, making them an excellent choice for stowing in a car trunk. The frame is sturdy that to its high grade engineered steel construction. If you spend a lot of time camping, we highly recommend investing in a screen house. The nylon material used in the REI Co-op Screen House Shelter is likely more susceptible to UV damage than the polyester thats more commonly found on tents of this type. Amazingly, despite being so large it only weighs 15 pounds. But there was one screen house that was by far the best screen tent for camping used by the vast majority of these experienced campers. You will be using your screen house a lot on the campsite, and it will be put under a great deal of strain when there is severe weather. The walls are made of fine no-see-um mesh edged with nylon taffeta. Whether you are looking for something to cover an outdoor dining table, a bug-proof space for your campsite, or a large screen tent to house your outdoor furniture set, one of the options above can satisfy your needs and preferences. *At the time of publishing, the price was $172. After hours of preliminary online research and conversations with current day-tent owners, we narrowed our search to structures that offer a sun- and water-repelling roof, full bug protection, and screen walls that reach the ground. It will shelter a standard-size picnic table, but with little room to spare. The importance of each of these factors will vary depending on your situation. A note of comparison: Like the Coleman Mountain View and the Clam Quick-Set Escape, these shelters were upended in our Point Mugu windstorm. This should be enough to fit a family of six to eight people.
A screen house protects you from insects, shades you from the sun, and even allows you to enjoy your outdoor camping space while its raining. (An exception: You can buy an add-on floor-and-fly combo for our runner-up pick from L.L.Bean.). The durable nylon mesh fabric boasts water-resistant construction to keep both people and items dry in light rains. These screen houses cost a little more than some of the others but the quality and durability of the product is well worth the price. The 27-pound Mountain View has four mesh side panels, all of which you can fully zip off, turning the tent into an open-walled, sun-blocking canopy. Since 2015, Ive tested camping shelters and large car-camping tents on weekend trips involving more than a dozen families, and I have talked to dozens more about their tent travails. Keep the tent clean, dry the tent before storage, and dont leave it under sap-dripping trees like pines.
When you first leave for your RV vacation you might have plans to never spend time on your campsite except when you are sleeping. But instead of having an identical door on the opposite side of the tentas the REI shelter hasthe L.L.Bean shelter offers a smaller, zippered opening, a design thats likely better for people primarily concerned about keeping bugs out of their tent. Any $75 canopy tent from a big-box storewere talking about the common square canopy with four spindly metal legscan provide shade during midday. The screen house has dimensions of 13 x 9 x 6.9 feet. Some tips: Start by sliding the two roof poles (the short ones) in and securing them into the corner slots. Some screen tents can also successfully handle the elements better than others, thanks to their wind- and water-resistant panels. And reviewers love it. We were wrong. *At the time of publishing, the price was $255. Here are our top picks! Unfortunately, assembly is required with this product. We set up the REI Screen House Shelter and L.L.Beans Woodlands Screen House side by side in the Mojave Desert in 100-degree temps. Clam also sells a model called the Quick-Set Pavilion, which is the same as the Escape but supersized. See the full disclosure here. Over the years, I have evaluated gear for magazines including Wired, Popular Science, and National Geographic Adventure, where I was a senior editor. What is the capacity and how much does it cost? Yes! We also eliminated bulky, heavy shelters that are intended to be used as semipermanent backyard fixtures. So, look around, consider your choices, and you should be able to find a high quality, lightweight option. Our favorite canopy tent is a simply designed, comfortable shelter that offers protection from bugs, sun, and rain. Secondly, you need a tent that can also fit all the patio furniture that you might want inside it.
Glad you liked the article and glad we could help! Thanks for your support! Additionally, the screen house has screen walls that will keep the mosquitoes away. Let us know in the comments! But while the L.L.Bean tent uses arguably superior polyester fabric, its peak ceiling height of 6 feet 6 inches is half a foot lower than that of the REI tent, making it feel notably darker and less spacious. This screen shade house from the CROWN SHADES Store can be easily set up thanks to its one push center lock technology. The crisscrossing poles that enable the domed design also make it more complicated and time-consuming to set up, especially for one personon our tester's first try the process took almost half an hour to figure out. However, if you love camping but hate worrying that youll be making and eating your morning pancakes in the rainor in a swarm of mosquitosa canopy tent that protects you from the trifecta of bugs, sun, and sudden showers (within reason) could provide the shelter you seek. Furthermore, the product comes with 210 denier poly oxford fabric with 600 denier in the center section of the roof. Now that you know a bit more about purchasing the best screen tent, there might still be some lingering questions or concerns. Each leg has upper and lower quick-release buttons, making it easy to fold and adjust the height.Additionally, the tent comes with a wheeled carry bag, making it easy to travel and store. Thank you so much for this helpful article! After we looked into all of the key aspects that any good screen tent should have, we chose the options listed above, which should satisfy the needs of anyone in the market for a new screen tent.
I was looking for a tent room that is easy for one person to set up. At only 45 pounds, its easy to wheel right to the campsite or a backyard party. For portable screen tents, being lightweight and being compact are important characteristics. 
*At the time of publishing, the price was $250. Ozark Trail Instant Screenhouse 10 X 1012. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. This hexagonal shelter pulls open like an accordion: Each of its walls pops out with a firm pull on a looped handle located in the middle of each side panel. During the winter and early spring of 2017, we added four more canopy tents to our testing lineup. Finally, since we first recommended this tent in spring 2016, we have frequently seen it go out of stock. This product is another high quality screen house from the Coleman Store. We independently review everything we recommend. We took 16 fold-up chairs on three weekend camping trips and used them in the backyard for six months to find some standout ways to sit down in the outdoors. Aoxun 11 x 11 Pop-Up Gazebo Tent with Mosquito Netting13. This large screen tent features a 12-by-10-foot surface area and plenty of headroom for taller adults. I also wrote Wirecutters guide to the best car and family camping tent, for which I interviewed a prolific tent designer and the author of a book on family camping, as well as salespeople and tent-company employees knowledgeable about tent materials and performance. One wall comes fully unzipped and stashes into an internal pocket. During this trip, we experienced a light dinnertime rain that left us cooking and eating under the canopies, a pelting early-morning downpour, and violent wind gusts that sent all of our picnic shelters hurtling into the nearby woodsthe best testing conditions we could have hoped for! The screen tents folding wire-frame design sets up in seconds and fits easily in the included carrying bag.
When the weather is nice, it can be a shame to let pesky bugs, harsh sunlight, or even a passing rain shower drive you into your home or camping shelter. The REI Co-op Screen House Shelter is an intuitively designed, easy-to-erect picnic tent that offers protection from sun, bugs, and mild rain showers. The first trip was an early-February expedition to Indian Cove Campground in Californias Joshua Tree National Park, where our highly exposed group campsite made daytime temperatures in the high 70s feel like the 90s. Size is an important factor to consider for a couple reasons. These two shelters are the same size and shape (7-foot peak height, 17 pounds) with an almost identical design. This product has UVGuard material that provides the user with 50+ sun protection. If its just a backyard getaway, a large tent that might be a bit heavy or difficult to carry is fine. There is a water repellent canopy top and UPF 50 sun protection. We eliminated canopies that were not big enough to comfortably shelter a picnic table, concluding that a table is probably the number-one spot where campers would place such a structure. Without knowing this information it will be difficult to narrow down your search. At the same time, the mesh walls provide excellent ventilation for the tent while keeping bugs out. Read on for a list of several of the most frequently asked questions about screen tents, and be sure to check for your answer below. This screen tent features four zippered side panels for keeping bugs and UV rays at bay during backyard soirees and relaxing mornings, and theyre easily removable to increase ventilation and sunlight. This tent is ideal for campers as it has a roomy interior that can protect you from the sun, rain, wind, snow, and insects. Below are several of the most important factors to keep in mind while shopping for a screen tent. Patio and deck diners looking for protection from bugs but who would prefer to leave their space as open as possible should check out Ideaworks umbrella screen. Though the boxy design is basic, in our tests we found that this camping shelter offered the best combination of functionality, durability, and affordability of all the tents we tried. After reading, we hope you have all the information you need to find the best screen house for you. When this weather comes you do not want a cheap tent. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This 10-by-10-foot screen tent features 7 feet of headspace, offering enough room for several adults. This product has netting that covers all four sides and protects you from mosquitoes and other bugs. The design of this camping screen tent allows you to lay it down and pull it open, and its incredibly easy for one person to set up and put away in a matter of seconds. Another one of the best screen houses available is this one from Alavantor. RVing is a very expensive activity, and as a result, you might be tempted to purchase cheaper products to save some money. The Mountain Views 150-denier polyester fabric is treated with UVGuard, which claims to provide 50-plus UPF sun protection for the people inside and is standard on Colemans camping shelters. If you want to adjust the height there are pinch free buttons and leg extenders that let you set the height in three different positions. Like regular camping tents, these camping gazebos are not intended to be left up for extended periods, as the fabrics are susceptible to UV damage. Some are large enough to cover a picnic table and several chairs, while others offer just enough space for a small table and chair set. Though the more expensive Clam shelter also offers shade panels, you have to buy them separately. Anyone looking for an attractively designed screen tent for a deck, patio, or backyard space should check out the Suntime model. Most screen houses use steel or iron for the frame which adds a great deal of weight. They protect from insects while permitting air movement and light through the walls. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. It has a sunshade shelter screen canopy with fully enclosed mesh sidewalls. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Additionally, the screen house uses fabric on the top of the structure that provides 50+ UV protection against the sun. And, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The tent also has mesh walls that allow you to have a 360 degree view of the area. The screen houses for camping we reviewed are: 1. The mesh is also built to last as it is a double thick fabric that can stand up to the elements of any season. With all that in mind, we found more than a dozen tents that met our criteria. Granted, this experiment was far from a controlled trial, but the polyester on the Ozark Trail tent does feel slightly less durable than that on the Coleman 10 10 shelter. As a result, you need to make sure that the tent can be compacted a great deal when it is folded up. Steel frames are incredibly strong and usually inexpensive, but they tend to be heavier than aluminum frames. It is also incredibly easy to set up and only takes one minute. While their main purpose is to prevent bugs and furry food snatchers from ruining the festivities, screen tents can protect against the sun, wind, and even light rain. Lightweight models are great for transport; just be sure to invest in spikes if they arent included with the tent. Tom Scalisi is a freelance writer specializing in the home design, construction, tools, and automotive industries. The Mountain Views dome shape is more adept at blocking low-angle evening and morning sun than squarer shelters. If you have a screen house that is not compact, you will have trouble packing everything you need. Regardless of the entryway style, many screen tents feature convenient tiebacks to hold the screen open when you want to pass through freely. However, they should all carry some weight. He has been involved in the trades for over 15 years as both a contractor and a commercial building mechanic. However, your screen house is not something you should cheap out on. However, you should note that this tent is not recommended for use when wind force reaches level 6. You can assemble it in just 60 seconds, making it a great option if there is a sudden change of weather. In addition, this model has the same bug-deterring flap of fabric along the base as the REI tent, but while the REIs flap is about 9 inches wide, the L.L.Beans flap is about 10 inches wide. ABCCANOPY Pop Up Canopy with Mesh Mosquito Netting10. This screen house is easy to use and set up. Firstly, you need a screen house that is big enough to hold all the people that are traveling with you. With four zip-off walls and two add-on panels included, its more adjustable for different weather conditions than any other shelter we found. For camping, backyard barbecues, or anything in between, a screen tent with the right construction and materials, large surface area, and thoughtful features can aid in a successful summer day. Some tents feature accordion-style supports and telescoping legs, and they set up in an instant with a little bit of help. There are full-height zippered doors on two sides of the tent, though unlike in the previous version of this tent the mesh walls do not completely unzip to form doorways at either sidewhich is a nice feature if youre using the tent for shade but not worried about bugs. While the size of the screen house is important, the packed size is just as, if not more important. While some oversize screen tents take more work to set up, there are models that require only one person to erect. When the Wirecutter outdoor team goes car campingas opposed to backpacking and carrying gear into the wildernessthis is the gear they bring. As a result, you should try to look for lightweight options.
It also includes a zipper duffle for quick and easy storage. No poles to connect, no sleeves to thread them through. Others with pop-up wire frames are simple to expand but dont offer much support in wind or rain. As we pulled this monster out of its box, we were skeptical that we would erect it in anything close to the promised 45 seconds. The add-on fly for our runner-up pick, the L.L.Bean Woodlands Screen House, offers four-walled protection, though its also more expensive. She has been a writer on the emergency-prep and outdoor beats at Wirecutter and has also covered natural disasters for Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines. After all, you can find plenty of smaller and less-expensive items to help you fight bugs, guard against the sun, and shrug off rain. Cheap tents will collapse more easily, they are less durable, and you will probably need to replace them sooner. Two included shade panels clip easily onto the sides of the tent, increasing protection from sun, wind, and rain and providing added privacy in a crowded campground. What is the size of the tent and how much does it weigh? While the previous version of this tent used beachy-feeling aqua and orange, the newer version is a drab olive green more typical of other tents. The cap-like roofs on these Coleman and Ozark Trail models provided far less shade than we wanted, especially in the beating desert sun. The screen house comes fully assembled and can be set up in a matter of seconds. Bob Vila has been Americas Handyman since 1979. For those with accordion-type supports and telescoping legs, its helpful to first extend the legs before pulling the corners away from each other until youre able to push up on the center support and lock the tent in place. The best canopy tent for camping and picnics, Similar to our top pick, but less headroom, Coleman Mountain View 1212 Screendome Shelter, Heavier duty canopy tent, for harsher weather, Runner-up: L.L.Bean Woodlands Screen House, Also great: Coleman Mountain View 12 12 Screendome Shelter, Colemans Mountain View 12 12 Screendome Shelter, tentlike alternative to the traditional bobhouse, Ozark Trail 1010 Instant Screen House. The sweet spot might be around 40 to 50 pounds. Finally, it is powder coated for rust resistance and extra durability. The tents mesh walls are removable, and you can clip on the two included polyester wall panels for extra shade or privacy. Otherwise, you will either need to leave it behind or forego packing something else. We know there is a lot of information to absorb, but it should all be helpful as you move forward. There is even a canopy that is made of 420 PU-coating oxford that is waterproof and provides UV protection.
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