Tripod Shelter

If you've ever set up a dome tent, this is similar but with less steps. Very easy directions and construction. I am a 40ish mom with shoulder replacements so what I can do with my arms is limited. I was determined to put this up by myself. I bought it to shade my son's pool rather than fighting him to slather on sunscreen multiple times a day. I also wanted it to be light enough to take to the beach. The poles were nice and sturdy and slid through the sleeves without snagging. At the end of each sleeve (there are 3) there is a pocket to stop the pole, so you don't have to attach it at each end. Getting the first pole up and attached was easy. The second and third poles were more difficult, but that probably has to do with the fact that the material is new and unstretched. It was difficult for me to simultaneously pull down the fabric and push up the pole (remember I have bad shoulders though). I almost asked for help but instead took a brick and pushed the pole down at the edge of the brick so the hole the pin fits into was still exposed while I used both arms to pull the fabric and pin into place. This all took me less than 45 minutes from the time I opened the box. It's been up for a week 24/7. I didn't need to use the tie downs but put some rocks into the pockets to keep it from blowing over. Love it!

We loved our shade tent all summer. Everyone who came over for kid's play dates thought it was awesome to cover the kids while playing in the little pool, when the sun was extreme. This tent is easy to move around, but if you live somewhere, where a windstorm can appear during the summer, make sure you have this tent secured. It's designed to take air underneath, but if it's not secure enough, it will fly away. Ours flew away 3 times this summer and the final time, destroyed it, with a big hole the middle. I think it flew into a neighbors wired fence. I probably would have given this shade tent a 5 star; however, I didn't care for the connectors in which you install the stakes. It could have been designed better. Also, the tent is very hard to set up for the first time. It will need 2 people at least to set it up. Other than that, I plan on buying another one next summer. We enjoyed it and I'll post a picture, so you can see the backyard shade for the pool, to give an idea.

(FYI...My purchase/experience was two years ago...I didn't write a review then, but just re-found this product again when looking for something new and thought I should share my experience)I had hopes for this product as an alternative to square canopies for use on the beach...streamline, more wind resistant, etc.However it was not suitable for virtually any wind. Even a low breeze (5-10mph which is normal at the beach) tilted the tripod significantly and it continually swayed back and forth in gusts. Annoying to sit under. And yes, I used the pegs, ropes, and pockets for weight. Even added wet sand for more weight. Those do nothing for the swaying in wind....they probably keep it from blowing over/away...but no anti-sway benefit at all.The set-up was extremely difficult/annoying. Simple in concept and should have been easy, but the force necessary to insert the poles was extremely excessive. Reading the other conflicting reviews on setup, the only thing I can imagine is that there is some variability on the dimensions of the fabric or poles. Some get a product with enough room, some, like me, get a product where I had to use significant force and profanities to stretch the fabric enough to insert the pole ends. I've set up a variety of hiking tents with the same basic structure concept and have always been able to do that alone if need be. I couldn't do this alone and had to have additional hands.We used it for a few days on the beach and initially took it down at night to avoid wind damage. After the second time, I decided to just leave it up overnight because it was such a hassle to setup (and I figured if it blew away I didn't care anymore). After two days/nights I had to take it down due to a pending thunderstorm and found that one of the fiberglass poles was badly split. Either from the wind, my force in assembly and the tautness in use, or possibly a combination...I don't know. Without knowing I didn't feel fair in returning it (I did leave it up overnight afterall) and I planned to repair the pole myself, but it's sat in the basement for two years, and I now never plan to use it again. Not worth the hassle.Also..the shade footprint is smaller than expected.I would not recommend this item.

We bought this shelter because it would be a small package. Wanted to keep out of the sun while at the beach. We took the advice offered by others to set it up in the yard before taking it out anywhere. We found it pretty difficult to set up, but once set up, it worked pretty well. And actually, it's pretty cool-looking.Fast forward to the first time at the beach. My wife and daughter were alone, trying to set it up with some light wind. They had a difficult time and it took a couple of men on the beach to help them set it up. Since it looked a little fragile in the wind, they took it down at the end of the day. When I came a few days later, I helped to set it up, but it was difficult in any wind at all. Once the wind got to about 10 mph or so, the shelter would lean precipitously, even with sand anchoring the three legs.It's good for a sunny, no-wind day, but when the wind picks up at all, stick with your four-legged, heavy, large tent.

To anyone who complained about how difficult it is to set up, Eagle Scout or not, I can only say that you're not doing it the right way. Or you're too weak to do it. Either way, if it's done right, it's no harder than tying boots snugly.Hint: when you're ready to bow the 1st pole, set the ferruled end on the ground, vertically between your feet while you're standing up and making sure no dirt can fill it (I set it on a sandal instead of right on the dirt). Pull the fabric down systematically, until the ring passes the ferruled end. Grab the fabric and the pole about 2-3 inches from the end with one hand like you're choking it, making sure the fabric does not slide out again. Lift the pole off the ground so you can see what you're doing. With the other hand, slide the pin into the pole. It's that easy. Repeat the process for the 2nd and 3rd poles.It took me less than 20 minutes from start to finish, all by myself. The key is to plant the ferruled end of the pole securely on the ground while you work the fabric with both of your free hands.It's the best shade I've ever bought. The other shade that I own, a 10'x10' type, weighs 50 lbs and is quite large in a package, compared to this 11-lbs shade that fits in a small nylon sack. The 2008 model comes with heavy-duty poles which is an improvement to the smaller diameter poles of the earlier model. There is no way these poles will split, unlike the earlier version, as reported by some.

The first time I used the shelter, it was very difficult to set up. Luckily 2 more people helped the already 3 people setting it up. The second time was much easier, probably because it had stretched out a bit. however, one of the pole snapped about an hour after setting it up. There was very little wind, not sure what caused it to break.

If you're used to setting up tents then this is a no brainer. The hard part to setup is finding a second person to assist. It does take a lot of muscle to get the poles set up, so expect onlookers seeing you struggle a bit. Despite the initial effort is was well worth it. The shelter provided a lot of shade on the beach with nice head room as well as withstanding slight wind gusts. Breakdown proved much easier. My poles did come with the bungee cord broken and I had to replace it myself.

Other reviews complained poles were thin cheap and broke. I purchased 2008 model with thicker poles. I did not stake the tripod down and after 2 days it blew out of the yard and scraped down the concrete while I was gone.The fabric has abrasions where the pole ends are but is till holding tough.I have now staked it down and It's been up 24/7 for about 2 mos.and we like it. We have had 2 good storms and no tears.Some of the seams when stretched you see light through the needle holes but it keeps us dry when raining.Easy set up and a great back yard shade maker. Nicer than a table umbrella that only shades some people at a time. They did short me one of my stake strings in the box but still good buy.