My wife an I are in the process of getting ready to do half a dozen, or so, art fairs in 2012, and were considering an 8-foot high, 10'x10' Trimline canopy. However, we just found out that one of our friends is planning on selling his used 7-foot high, 10'x10' CraftHut canopy at a very reasonable price.
My reason for considering a Trimline is the manner in which they stand up to high winds. I am associated with the Art Center & Gallery of Estes Park, which sponsors Art Market during the Memorial Day weekend. The past Memorial Day, we lost 11 tents due to high winds and all, with one exception, were EZ UPs.
We currently have an EZ UP and have used it a couple of times in the past, but high winds cause me a lot of concern, thus my reason for wanting to switch to a Trimline.
Also, I am concerned about the difference between a 7-foot high tent, as opposed to an 8-foot tent. I am a wildlife photographer and will be using it to display my photographs.
What are your thoughts, suggestions, and recommendations?
Comments
You are correct, Greg.
Doesn't Trimline now own Craft Hut? they both are excellent tents.
Thanks for sharing that information, Brad. As you might imaging, my primary concern is wind. I've seen how Trimline canopies stand up to wind. Your input regarding CraftHut's ability to handle high winds pretty much settles the issue. I'm going with my friend's CraftHut. I appreciate you, and everyone else, for taking the time to share your expertise. My wish is that all of you have a joyful and prosperous year at the art fairs.
I have had a craft hut at least 25 years and been through huge storms that killed other booths. In Ann Arbor during a major wind storm I and another man rode an EZ UP, 2 feet in the air before we dropped off and it rose,flipped and took out 5 more booths. The peak roof tents have aerodynamic lift, and it is strong. If the Craft Hut has windows, use them to cool your tent, the Light Dome of old don't have and are hotter in Summer weather. Having seen and help set up, and save many another brand tent, I have never had to help rescue a Craft Hut booth. I have seen more than one light dome with bent aluminum legs from wind.
I appreciate your advice regarding tent weights, Eric. Sorry to hear about your bad experience at your September show, but glad to know that you survived it. Virginia, thanks for sharing about your experience with Light Dome tents. I'm on my way to do a Google search about them right now.
Weldon, the BEST tent to get is the Light Dome tent. It has adjustable legs. Has very few pieces ( 4 uprights , 4 telescoping frame bars, one t bar for roof and 4 angled bars that slip in the T for the roof. That's it. It has always been touted that a woman can put up this tent by themselves and they can as I can attest to that. It also has a very smart look to it. I always see all the other artists putting up the other kinds of tents with all the crazy parts and pieces and shake my head. I am always the first to have my tent up and the first to have it down. I can have tent art and screens packed in a van in 45 minutes and I am no young kid anymore. PLEASE take the time to look at this tent as I am sure you will be happy with it. I have had my Light Dome for 15 years and it looks brand new but then again I take very good care of my equipment.
Thanks for your input, Rod. I know exactly what you mean. As one of the volunteers at Art Market in Estes Park, I was one of those individuals helping artists hold down their EZ UPs, while the Trimline owners were setting back and enjoying the show.
As a still-fledgling exhibitor myself -- only my second season -- I'm still at the Pup-Up stage. I, too, have seen these thinks take off like kites in a strong wind. One show last September was just nasty and quite sad, But the trick for any tent in the wind is weight. The higher end tents accomplish some of that by sheer mass of the frame. Others, like the glorified beach umbrellas that are Pop-Ups, need a little help. Even the big boys could use a hand on more blustery days.
Weight that sucker down! Use as much weight as you can manage to ensure your tent will stay earthbound in a stiff wind. I've done the old PVC/cement/eye-bolt version. I've seen everything from old weightlifting plates to milk jugs of sand or just plain water.
The other trick is to know how to quick-release and remove the canopy with the frame in place. I don't know how easy and feasible it is with the other tent types, but with a Pop-Up, you just peel the corners back off the velcro, then the canopy can be pulled down with the frame in place. I had to do that back during that ugly scene in September. Everything was all set up when the unexpected winds kicked in. I'm a potter and have shelving I clamp to the frame for stability, but not so stable when shaking in the wind. With my boothmate, we were able to pull down the canopy in moments, stabilizing the frame and made it through the show without a roof. Some of our neighbors were not so lucky, having tents topple, and in a one case, actually take flight.
Now, if there's wind and rain, then it's just hold on for dear life until the worst passes. Fortunately, my art is pottery, so a little wet won't hurt, hell, a lot of wet is harmless.
Good luck with the Craft Hut and the upcoming shows. I have no experience with them so can't help. I Do know that my trimline has done an outstanding job in wind. When 90% of the other artists spent the day holding on to their tents I sat and had no worries at all.
Cheers
Rod
Wonderful comments, I can't thank you all enough. Ya'll are awesome! The CraftHut in question does have adjustable legs. My biggest concern is wind. I do know with really strong winds, any tent will be blown down. However, I personally saw how the Trimlines stood up to high winds in Estes Park this past Memorial Day. Thus, the reason for my concern regarding the CraftHut. Once again, thank you very much.
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