Speedzilla Forums banner

track day pop up canopies/tents

16K views 24 replies 21 participants last post by  bafflebrain  
#1 ·
hey fellas, just wondering where to get a decent quality pop up canopy for track days. I searched a bit and the prices range from one extreme to the other. I am looking for a decent 10x10 model. I would like to have one that is reasonably priced and can take a bit of wind without falling to pieces.
What are you guys getting yours?
thanks
Ken
 
#5 ·
#7 ·
For weights, get some large camping water bottles (we have blue ~7g ones that have a spout and handles) and tie the corners off to them. I use this setup for a booth we do for the local animal shelter at various events, and it works great, plus the bonus of having lots of water handy in the sun, and easy transport back of empty bottles.
 
#8 ·
Asking again...

With the season well on it's way to being done, I've decided I may want to pick up a canopy or at least have a good idea of what I want in case Santa needs ideas...

So is the Easy-Up brand still the pick of the pack or are there others? I like the all-in-one compared to a dining fly, multi-pole style and a wall or two would be helpful when rain passes through.

Is anyone using anything more rectangular? 10x14 or 12x16?

Please share what works...

Thanks
 
#9 ·
With the season well on it's way to being done, I've decided I may want to pick up a canopy or at least have a good idea of what I want in case Santa needs ideas...

So is the Easy-Up brand still the pick of the pack or are there others? I like the all-in-one compared to a dining fly, multi-pole style and a wall or two would be helpful when rain passes through.

Is anyone using anything more rectangular? 10x14 or 12x16?

Please share what works...

Thanks
There are many brands out there and we see them all at track days. However, you really do get what you pay for and the cheap ones are cheap for a reason....they are crap. You will not believe how many of these el cheapos I have seen not even make it one day. Spend the money to get an EZ-UP and you will get years and years of use out of it. Also, please be aware that the white ones let in a good bit of summer heat. I have two of the 10 x 10 blue ones that block out the sun tons better than the white ones. Very highly recommended.

Check out ours at Barber last year....note how we are holding them down....coolers, gas cans, whatever.

Image
 
#10 ·
Not adding anything constructive (other than a :rockon to spending just a little bit more on a "real" E-Z Up) but just wanted to note what this board was always good for, good advice from real users. :clapper

(Deduct points for overuse of smilies...)
-Rocky-
 
#11 ·
+1 on EZ-UP.

Others mentioned this, but never, EVER, leave a canopy of any kind unsecured, even for a minute!

Case in point: We had (yes, past-tense) a brand new 10x15 EZ-UP attached to our race trailer. We actully bolted anchors into the side of the trailer and used bike tie-downs to secure the corners. On the outside corners, we used 5-gal. paint buckets full of water. This method works great, and we never had a problem...

Until one day, when we were loading up after a day of racing. We had everything loaded except the canopy, and we were getting ready to take it down. I untied the outside corners and went to dump the water out of the buckets. After I emptied the buckets I walked into the back of the trailer to put them away. That's when I heard the noise...

A sudden gust of wind had come up, and with the other side of the canopy still tied to the trailer, it had nowhere to go but up and over. INSTANT PRETZEL! :woot:

Not only did it destroy the frame of the EZ-UP, it gouged the side of the trailer, and broke the roof vent right off as well. Fortunately, we were able to salvage the fabric top, but the new frame we had to buy wasn't cheap...

:eek:
 
#12 ·
You could have spent $7 grand on a RMZ dirtbike and got one of these free :D

I agree with AZscott never leave one without it being tied down. This very canopy blew off at Road Atlanta the 1st time I ever used it, broke two struts that EZ-up charged be $40 to repair. EZ-up has excellent service after the sell. I have two of their other canopies. This one is the king at over $350 with no special top.
 

Attachments

#13 ·
I purchased an aluminum framed EZ Up several years ago, and it has been superb. It wasn't cheap, but it has functioned as claimed with no issues.

The weight saved with the aluminum frame allows me to carry it around on my shoulder without issue.

I also got the "sandbag" anchors for each leg that EZ UP sells. The bags attach with a quick release to each leg at the very bottom, and hug the leg vertically. When you put those on, the EZ UP is not going anywhere, I don't care how strong the wind is.
 
#15 ·
Great feedback. And I really appreciate the information regarding blue vs white. I guess unless the underside is blacked out, white isn't as cool as would be assumed.

I see that 10x15 is pretty expensive. Looks like I'll stick to the 10x10. Actually, for price, convenience (moving and setup) and transport, two may be better than one any how.

Thanks for the input.
 
#16 ·
Another tip for holding 'em down. Get some empty 1 gal. paint cans from a hardware store....go to the beach...fill them with sand...use 'em to hold the corners down...I made alum. diamond plates that slide over the feet in the corners, then I use the sand cans on top of these for weight!!! Works well;)
 
#19 ·
10 x 10 Easy-Up @ Big 5 close out for $99.00, 6 months ago & bought 3 of them.

1st Ups from Walmart fold like pretzels(& the struts snap)in the lightest of winds:eek: , & R real P.O.S.'s:banghead .

No probs with the Easy-Ups @ the windy MMP track in Tooele, UT.
 
#21 ·
1st Ups from Walmart fold like pretzels(& the struts snap)in the lightest of winds:eek: , & R real P.O.S.'s:banghead .
Precisely, see my post. I do not want to bad mouth products as my experience and observations may be different that others, but that cheap crap from Walmart is just that cheap crap. Just go ahead and spend the money and get a REAL one..... EZ-UP. And then get years of use out of it.

I bought my first EZ-UP in 2000 and finally gave it away last year because it looked skanky after years of hard abuse....still worked, just looked like crap as it was a white one and looked as if it had been buried for a month. Actually, I had bought a new one to have two but then let a friend borrow it days after I bought it.....he let another friend of ours borrow his trailer for a weekend and forgot that the NEW EZ-UP was sitting on top of it...needless to say when it fell off, it was trashed....so the new top is now on the old frame....still in use.
 
#20 · (Edited)
I picked up a 10x10 canopy from AutoZone last season for under $100 and its been holding up very well so far. I have to look in the trailer at which brand it is.
Ken