Our Guide to Shade Structures

We've organized the most commonly used items people use to address the Core function below, with example images, characteristics, features, etc.

Our category name		Beach shade	Camping shade	Event shade
Example qualities & features	Example images
	Set-up size	Sitting height ~50in (1.3m) Designed for you to sit or lie in	Standing height ~6ft (1.8m) Designated 'entries' are standing height, but other side(s) may slope down to be less than standing height, to provide more shade, so may feel more enclosed	Often greater than standing height ~7ft (2.1m) Same height all around, feels completely open to walk in/out all around, so may provide less shade at side(s)
		Around the size of a 2-person tent (e.g., like a twin air mattress in floor area)	100 square feet (9 square meters)	At least 100 square feet (9 square meters)
	Pack-down size For how you will transport it	Packs down like a tent (cylinder <2ft/ 0.6m long), 5-10 pounds		Doesn't break down as much (more rectangular shape >4ft/ 1.2m long), usually >30lbs
	Susceptibility to rain	It depends Many models are water-repellant; some may have a rain cover, like a tent rainfly, that can be sold separately
	Susceptibility to wind	Less than camping shade Lower to ground, so picks up less wind, but usually doesn't come with guylines*	High Should definitely guy-out (guylines* almost always included)	It depends Low end models (Easy Pop-up or instant types) are known to be quite flimsy; highest end models can be very strong. May come with weights for support
Effect on other factors	Price	$50-100	$100-250	$70-500
	Rationale	Less technical & less material		More technical & more material
Why we do/don't carry it = we rent = we sell		Not as versatile for multiple use cases	Versatile for most outdoor uses, therefore more worth the money	Not specific enough for outdoor use, as an example it's very big, bulky, and can be hard to set-up. It's better for sidewalk events!

*For info on guylines, check the Keeping dry at camp section under Usage of our tent gear guide

If you don't go very often, of course you're going to want to spend less money, but this often means real trade-offs in terms of the experience that you will have with the gear. Even if you do go often & are ready to invest in quality gear, having the upfront funds can be hard!

Now, it may seem like this price & quality trade-off is disappearing, because you can find a cheap version of almost anything for tens of dollars that still has good reviews (assuming the reviews are real). So you might be thinking: I'll just buy something cheap, and because the price is so low it doesn't matter if it's less featured or heavier or whatever compared to something higher end. When that breaks, I'll buy something cheap again, and so on. Just remember:

• Many reviews are written after only a trial use or first use: We've seen entire review videos of gear done at home, which is very different than actually being outdoors! And reviews after the first use don't tell you about durability at all
• You're headed outdoors to relax and enjoy life! Saving money only to have a trip ruined due to quality issues will feel terrible. Our program to rent shade structures is designed to help you avoid this trade-off: you get to rent high end, quality shade structures for around the same price as buying cheap ones (sometimes even for less!)

For this item specifically, the price vs. quality trade-off issues center around performance & durability.

• The shade structure wasn't very windproof or durable: Unlike with tents, shade structures are generally used in sunny days, so waterproofing is less important (though we'll mention it at the end). Instead, given the large size of a shade structure, windproofing is critical, especially in windy California! While all but the most high end shades are susceptible to wind, cheaper models (pop-up or instant style, like with the pop-up tents) may not last through the first use and come away with bent or snapped poles. Fabric-wise, lower end items tend to be made with polyester, which is less durable than nylon (more info in our clothing guide, see section on Durability); and of course, if the fabric tears, performance is compromised. Finally lower end items may not have or may have less effective waterproofing

Here, we give you a list of questions to start thinking about other features. We hope our approach of savings these features for last gets you to more critically think about what you need & not get caught up in the hype of what's cool and over-spend your budget. Remember, we allow you to hire a shade structure so feel free to try out various models with different features.

• How does it anchor down in the wind?
• What accessories are available (e.g., side walls, rainfly, etc.)
• Is it fully enclosed or open?