Any one have any advise or opinions on tents? After 5 pretty good years with my EZ -up I am ready to upgrade. Had a couple of shows in torrential downpours last summer and I ended up throwing it away in disgust. Now I am tentless and shopping around on a very limited budget. Very important that I can easily set the tent up by myself. Seems like the Light Dome might work for me. Was hoping to spend less tho... Thanks!
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I spent the last two years going in circles about how to avoid the cost of a domed tent - finally got a Trim Line and used it for the first time this weekend. While the setup/teardown was more work - the overall look of the booth, and good feeling when I left Saturday night with rain in the forecast was worth the money.
I agree, the look and solid feeing of the higher end tent is worth it. I guess I will just have to buck up and deal with the heavier everything that comes along with the security of a good tent.
Thanks for all the advise! I went ahead and purchased the Lite Dome. Took it to the first show and worked out well but found that setting up was a lot harder physically (everything is heavier of course) to set up/ breakdown. It was nice and secure though.
Anyone have any little tricks or techniques for making set up go a little easier?
steve appel > Suzanne AndersonJune 26, 2011 at 10:38am
Ask for help. I had surgery on shoulder a few years ago and have a problem getting my canopy over the top so i ask for help. I also offer help if need be. I also marked my extention legs with a felt tip pen. when pulling out the legs looking for the hole and pin with button if you have lines on both sides of pole make it easier to find the button. also i set it up as a 5 x 5 and then pull out the sides. I have had my light dome over 10 years and love it. yes it is a little heavy. I also got the zippered carrying case. my top and sides i put in a zippered bag that i got from REI years ago and it stores 4 sides and the top. I heard that the people selling light dome were hard to get ahold of but i had no problem. Weights - i to have pvc filled with cement i hand with straps when needed. my booth are all steel grids so weights are used rarely.
Hi, I have written before about the Showoff, it is made of Aluminum so easier to carry and set up. A friend of mine has one also; and because she is short they have a "granny stick" to help her set up alone.
It may help anyone with shoulder pain or other aches when reaching higher.
There is no other canopy for me, as I have weathered storms, severe sun, and some strong winds in my Showoff. A roomy inside with the dome top. It is sold by New Venture Products in Clearwater Fl.
Thanks Steve and hope your shoulder is ok. Glad to hear that you have had many good years with your lite dome.
It is very hard getting that canopy over the top. I can do it but if I had to pull that baby over in a less than ideal, windy environment I might ask for help! I always always offer help to other artisans, but that is a very good reminder!
Interesting to note that you set it up first as a 5x5. I will try that.
I do have the zippered bag but it is too heavy for me to carry!! I am not the strongest of people I guess. I have a dolly to use so that's ok.
Hi, I have the Showoff and I am very happy with it. The frame is strong, made of aluminum and I can set it up by myself.The dome shape is roomy and IMO better in rain and wind.
I chose the Showoff after many discussions with artists, even some who wished they did buy one.
I am personally a cement filled PVC/spiral dog stakes gal. My PVC tubes weight about 40 lbs. each and with the weight of my walls and the cement filled bucket I use to hold my umbrella I'm OK. If it is windier and I absolutely can't stake into the ground I have some cement blocks I painted white that I add to the ensemble. they don't look as good but that's not my biggest concern at that moment.
Suzanne Anderson > Karen Seymour-EllsJanuary 21, 2011 at 10:29am
I do pretty much the same thing! It has worked so far no problem
You are going to get a TON of totally differing opinions on this one. I think the real question is, how much can you afford to spend and which tent can you get for that money?
I am a female just shy of 5 ft. 7" and I love my light dome. That's important because some tents are harder to put up if you are shorter...having to move a stool from place to place on a windy day to set up your tent takes forever and is difficult. I went through the Broadripple "two tornado sirens/flood" year in that tent...the craft hut next to me went down and I saw a lot of trashed EZ-Ups. Mine cost somewhere between $1200 and $1400 dollars new about 8 years ago. I would buy it again. I'm about ready for a new top now, maybe a new side wall, but I can live with that.
Once you weed through the MANY differing opinions on this you have to consider your set up and weights. Maybe I've stayed up through sheer luck, maybe it's because of the way I weight it, all the tricks I did with the EZ Up never seemed to help...
Replies
Thanks for all the advise! I went ahead and purchased the Lite Dome. Took it to the first show and worked out well but found that setting up was a lot harder physically (everything is heavier of course) to set up/ breakdown. It was nice and secure though.
Anyone have any little tricks or techniques for making set up go a little easier?
Hi, I have written before about the Showoff, it is made of Aluminum so easier to carry and set up. A friend of mine has one also; and because she is short they have a "granny stick" to help her set up alone.
It may help anyone with shoulder pain or other aches when reaching higher.
There is no other canopy for me, as I have weathered storms, severe sun, and some strong winds in my Showoff. A roomy inside with the dome top. It is sold by New Venture Products in Clearwater Fl.
Thanks Steve and hope your shoulder is ok. Glad to hear that you have had many good years with your lite dome.
It is very hard getting that canopy over the top. I can do it but if I had to pull that baby over in a less than ideal, windy environment I might ask for help! I always always offer help to other artisans, but that is a very good reminder!
Interesting to note that you set it up first as a 5x5. I will try that.
I do have the zippered bag but it is too heavy for me to carry!! I am not the strongest of people I guess. I have a dolly to use so that's ok.
Hi, I have the Showoff and I am very happy with it. The frame is strong, made of aluminum and I can set it up by myself.The dome shape is roomy and IMO better in rain and wind.
I chose the Showoff after many discussions with artists, even some who wished they did buy one.
You are going to get a TON of totally differing opinions on this one. I think the real question is, how much can you afford to spend and which tent can you get for that money?
I am a female just shy of 5 ft. 7" and I love my light dome. That's important because some tents are harder to put up if you are shorter...having to move a stool from place to place on a windy day to set up your tent takes forever and is difficult. I went through the Broadripple "two tornado sirens/flood" year in that tent...the craft hut next to me went down and I saw a lot of trashed EZ-Ups. Mine cost somewhere between $1200 and $1400 dollars new about 8 years ago. I would buy it again. I'm about ready for a new top now, maybe a new side wall, but I can live with that.
Once you weed through the MANY differing opinions on this you have to consider your set up and weights. Maybe I've stayed up through sheer luck, maybe it's because of the way I weight it, all the tricks I did with the EZ Up never seemed to help...
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