The best freestanding shade structure?

JohnnyS

JohnnyS

Explorer
My last vehicle had a Hannibal awning that worked really well but it won't work on my current rig (no roof rack).
I'm looking for a quick deploying free standing shade structure that I can move between my personal vehicle and work truck.

The MSR batwing sunshades are cool but I'm looking for something that I can set up without stakes for a quick break.

The Kelty Shadehouse 12 looks perfect but all the reviews are poor.
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/kelty/shadehouse-12/

The Paha Que Cottonwood 12x12 sunshade might be a better alternative.
http://www.pahaque.com/Merchant2/me...PQWO&Product_Code=CW200&Category_Code=cw12x12

Any input?
Ideas?
Thanks!
 
UNI

UNI

Adventurer
We have the Kelty ShadeHouse 12 x 12, its a good unit as long as the wind stays to a minimum. The unit will flex quite a bit in heavy wind. Kelty has re-designed the 2010 ShadeHouse, it appears to be a sturdier unit.

Click Here: 2010 ShadeHouse

Here is a Great product, the MSR Outfitter Wing. I know you said you wanted free standing and didn't want to stake out, but almost anything you set on the ground will need to be staked out, including the ShadeHouse units.

Click Here: MSR Outftter Wing
 
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K

kerry

Expedition Leader
Friend of mine designed, and we each built a 3 sided shelter he named a Fuego after similar designed shelters used by the natives on Tierra Del Fuego. It's self supporting but can be staked down. One very nice feature is that the open side is variable in height. For pleasant weather use it is about 6' high. When the weather gets nasty, the open side can be reduced down to about 4' with stand up headroom inside. It's a perfect shelter to set up beside a campfire in nasty weather yet works well as a sunshade.
 
Fireman78

Fireman78

Expedition Leader
How long does it take to set up?
Real world?... "Meaning two people, including a wife who just wants to take a nap." :)
 
4

4x4mike

Adventurer
We have had several quick shades and none have lasted very long. I do have a small awning but something that is free standing, small and lightweight is a must. We ended up getting an REI Alcove. It packs about the size of a 2 person tent and is about the same weight. It is similar to the shelters above but in my opinion are better. You got the warranty, quality construction and the ability to ad walls.

http://www.rei.com/search?query=alcove
 
4

4x4mike

Adventurer
I just ordered one of these, looks like it will work out nicely.

http://www.rei.com/search?query=alcove

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

Cool. It's not as tall as other shade tents but shorter is better especially when there is wind. We bought ours with our member 20% off coupon and sprung for the walls. It's all pretty basic but a great sun and wind block. Fit nicely over a tent or picnic table if need be.

Last year when we bought it they were flying off the shevles and got one of the last 3 in the company.
 
JohnnyS

JohnnyS

Explorer
Cool!
I never thought about using it over a tent but that is a great idea, especially in the low desert.
I'm stoked to have a modular shade that I can move from vehicle to vehicle.
 
getout

getout

Adventurer
Fireman78 said:
How long does it take to set up?
Real world?... "Meaning two people, including a wife who just wants to take a nap." :)
Click to expand...

The Kirkham Shades and tents go up in about 5-10 minutes or so (depending on experience and how 'nappish' your wife is feeling). They're really pretty easy despite how big they are.

1. Unroll
2. Stake out the bottom
3. Install the "Springbar" part that holds the roof taught
4. Install the two support poles and it's up!

We love these things. We're still using a tent my father-in-law's had before I was born (I'm 26). He also just got a floor replaced on another tent that was that old and now it's as good as new.

If you're looking for something that's worth keeping, go with a Springbar. Even used you can only find them for about 10% off retail so they really hold their value.
 
S

storman113

New member
I use a Kelty Garage. These pic's show it pulled over the top, normal is to the side of a rack. I have also used a couple of tent poles to make it free standing. Will give you three sides and an overhead. Works as a great sunshade when not windy. With rain / wind has to be tied off to your rack.


Jeep_Kelty_front.jpg


Jeep_Kelty_back.jpg
 
JohnnyS

JohnnyS

Explorer
Well I got my sunshade (http://www.rei.com/search?query=alcove) and a ham fisted friend managed to mess it up the second time that it was taken down!
It was kind of my fault as he has a reputation for breaking everything that he touches, he even told me that he was being extra careful when helping me tear it down.
One of the shock cords that holds the horizontal poles together came undone, should be a relatively easy fix but it still stinks that it broke the second time I used it.
Another negative factor is that it isn't very thick so it still gets pretty hot underneath it, off course nowhere near as bad as being in the direct sun.
It is noticeably hotter while standing under it, as opposed to sitting.

On the bright side it takes me less than 10 minutes to set it up by myself. Staked down it seems to do okay in light (5-10 mph) wind.

Sturdier poles and thicker material with same design would be cool.
 
4

4x4mike

Adventurer
I've noticed the heat thing with our Alcove as well. We own a Quick Shade ez-up and it's much cooler. The down side to it is that it's close to 80 pounds and something breaks on it every time we use it. Actually today I just got my $40 worth or replacement parts to make it usable again. I like the alcove because it's small, lightweight and does the job. The AZ sun is a bit more powerful than northern CA.
 
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