Coleman 13'x13' 1-Push Center Hub Shelter $119.99

I have now had two of these. They don't even last 3 months of occasional use before the top rips from sun rot. A replacement canopy costs as much as a new one. Junk.

Quote from Shigadeyo : I have now had two of these. They don't even last 3 months of occasional use before the top rips from sun rot. A replacement canopy costs as much as a new one. Junk.

Pretty sure you're not supposed to just leave it up for 3 months though.

Mine lasted like 5+ months in Texas. Bought this model last year. After 6 month outside it becomes paper-thin and then disintegrated into shreds within 2 weeks period.
Good things - costco has it in stock almost all the time
​Bad - can't buy replacement canopy from coleman or 3rd party, does not hold texas rain, does not have rain drain holes, disintegrated in 6 months, frame got bended after first heavy rain, looks like only costso source this specific model.
I'm thinking to buy another generic coleman model https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0033990N8/ or go to hardtop (but it will be x10 expensive)

Quote from soloma : Mine lasted like 5+ months in Texas. Bought this model last year. After 6 month outside it becomes paper-thin and then disintegrated into shreds within 2 weeks period. Good things - costco has it in stock almost all the time ​Bad - can't buy replacement canopy from coleman or 3rd party, does not hold texas rain, does not have rain drain holes, disintegrated in 6 months, frame got bended after first heavy rain, looks like only costso source this specific model. I'm thinking to buy another generic coleman model https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0033990N8/ or go to hardtop (but it will be x10 expensive)

You are aware that Texas doesn't have custom rain right

Quote from busabusa : Pretty sure you're not supposed to just leave it up for 3 months though.

What do you think "occasional use" means?

Quote from drkazn : What do you think "occasional use" means?

occasional - install it outside for 3-4 hours a day during some weekend.

Should be good for picnics right? Not planning on living under it. Lol

In 4 1. We'll see what happens. Only plan to use for the occasional gathering at home and on our trips to the beach, put it up and take it down. It will come and go with us.

I did a lot of pondering about a canopy before buying. Here are the takeaways.

Get a cheap one. I got the instant Ozark 10 x 10 slant leg from Walmart for 40. If it breaks, I'm not stressing.

Get a huge mosquito net that covers it. Got it from Amazon for 30. I can use it on the canopy or my umbrella. Bugs are everywhere in my area.

Tarp to cover the ground. Again, helps with bugs.

I was looking at other canopies that have the net but it was too much and I'm sure the net will rip at one point. Or the top canopy. The cost to replace those are high or non existent. Solution was to macguyver it and it's been fantastic. No serious loss if anything gets jacked up.

I can set this up by myself in less than 15 minutes and have been using it for 2 months regularly.

Quote from BreakTheChain : I did a lot of pondering about a canopy before buying. Here are the takeaways. Get a cheap one. I got the instant Ozark 10 x 10 slant leg from Walmart for 40. If it breaks, I'm not stressing. Get a huge mosquito net that covers it. Got it from Amazon for 30. I can use it on the canopy or my umbrella. Bugs are everywhere in my area. Tarp to cover the ground. Again, helps with bugs. I was looking at other canopies that have the net but it was too much and I'm sure the net will rip at one point. Or the top canopy. The cost to replace those are high or non existent. Solution was to macguyver it and it's been fantastic. No serious loss if anything gets jacked up. I can set this up by myself in less than 15 minutes and have been using it for 2 months regularly.

Good advice.

The achilles heel of all shelters is the top if made of fabric; often impossible or prohibitively expensive to replace.

I've taken to treating the canopy as soon as I can (brand new if possible) with a product. Yes the product costs money, but if I can eke a season or 2 more out of a shelter, it's worth it.

Previously I've used a product called Solar Shield [solarshieldprotection.com] but have also thought of just using 303. I bought a canopy that sits on our deck April-September, in full sun most of the time, and wanted to try and increase the longevity of it (not an instant or portable type, takes a few hours to setup, but I take the canopy off in the winter). When it was brand new I laid out the canopy in the garage and put 2 coats of the Solar Shield [solarshieldprotection.com] on it (13x13' or so). It has faded since, but I bought it near the end of the summer in 2018. Still going strong.

For a new unit I'm thinking I'd pack the canopy tight, maybe put in a PVC pipe, and add a bunch of 303, let it sit for an hour or 2, then drain. A gallon of 303 is like $60 (you can get it cheaper on sale), but realize that a canopy isn't going to soak much of it up, so you might wind up spending $15 or so to treat a canopy.

FYI these were on sale for $99 in the spring when I got one, so you're not getting any kind of "end of season" sale here...in case you want to wait.