If you were to go to a craft show and ask every vendor there which brand of popup tent they were using, you would find that the majority tell you they are using the E-Z UP Tent. It is by far the most popular canopy tent for art/craft shows. The folks who do this for a living swear by it because, like the name says, it really is easy to set up. If you are doing shows by yourself, this could very well be the single most important reason to get one. No one wants to be still struggling to get their tent up when the gates open and the customers start showing up. And you don’t want to be the last one there, trying to get your tent down, packed and stuffed back in your vehicle.

The E-Z UP Tent packs down compactly in a roller back, which makes it easy to transport, especially at the end of a long day on your feet. The E-Z UP company sells several different models, so be sure you read the specs on each one so you can choose the one that is perfect for you and your personal situation. Sometimes, the cheapest model is not always the best bargain. If it doesn’t fit your needs or you can’t put it up and take it down by yourself, you have just wasted your money.

Details to consider before you make a purchase:

Size Matters
Most craft show booths are 10 feet by 10 feet. Not surprisingly, the 10 x 10 canopy is by far the most popular size.

Look At The Frame Shape
While most of the E-Z UP Models have straight legs, the two cheapest models have angled legs. The E-Z UP Dome II is 10’ x 10’ at the base of the legs, but 7’9” x 7’9” at the top. This is important to know ahead of time, especially if you will be placing tables around the perimeter of your space. It seems like a small amount, but when you are putting your entire inventory in a 10 x 10 space, you need every inch you can get.

Which Color Do You Need
Many craft shows specify a WHITE tent. And even if they don’t, colored tents can reflect on the items underneath, giving them a strange blue or red cast. Also, colored tents will be much darker inside than the white ones.

Do You Want Side Walls
The E-Z UP Express II is the only model that comes with side walls. This is one of the reasons that this model is their most popular for folks who will be setting up at outdoor craft shows. The walls can define your space, making it appear more like a store. They can provide more shade on sunny days, and protect you from rain and wind. Side walls can also serve as a theft deterrent, keeping thieves from walking between booths and snatching things off of the outside edges of your tables while you are looking the other way. This is much more important if you work alone and don’t have an extra set of eyes to watch the entire booth while you wait on customers.

Wheeled Carrying Case
Canopy tents can weigh anywhere from 50 to 125 pounds. Fortunately, many models now come with wheels on their carrying cases to make lugging them from the car to the show area a bit easier.

Be Sure You Are Getting The E-Z Up Brand
Because of their popularity, many of the cheaper made canopy tents will use a play on words or different spellings to make you think you are getting the E-Z UP brand.  EZ setup and Easy Up are two of the most common versions used on the imitation tents.

Unless you live near a Sam’s Club, or another store that carries the E-Z UP line of popup tents, you may find your best bargain online. Some places offer free shipping, and even for those that don’t, many times you’ll find that the total price, including shipping, is less than it would cost you to drive to the dealer nearest you, purchase your tent, and drive back home.

Before you make your final decision, spend a little time online, researching all of the different models and options available. Your E-Z UP popup tent will last you many seasons, so you want to get the one that best meets your needs.

Here are some ideas to get you started: