Customer Reviews

E-Z UP SR9104BL Sierra II 10 by 10-Feet Canopy, Blue

I bought the original sierra 12 X 12 and the canopy square footage was 100 sq ft. (10 x 10) The new sierra II 12 X 12 canopy is only 9 X 9 (81 sq Ft.).
Ez up is selling the "same product" which covers less area now for the same price as the old one. Believe me when I say that the extra foot
(19 sq ft) make a difference!
The 12 X 12 is measured at the base of the slanted legs and the new model legs slant a lot more

If you are expecting a 10 foot by 10 foot canopy....FORGET it with this one! The Canopy is actually LESS than 8 foot by 8 foot. The company that makes it tells me, (while I was calling to RETURN it!) That the 10 x 10 is measured at the "base" or feet of the supports which bow out and have a 10x10 footprint. The conopy itself is over 2 feet x 2 feet smaller! AH, the part that gives you shade and protection from the elements! I told them that supports don't offer much protection! It is well built, but I had measured my patio and was expecting some overhang with 10x10. Needless to say it came up short! I also told them that this product's advertising is DECEPTIVE! Calling an 8x8 canopy a 10x10 is NOT right!

I'm a long-time camper, I've camped in everything from a snow filled forest to 115F deserts with no plant life at all, in sun, wind, rain, etc.

The smaller E-Z Ups can be handled fairly well by one person, but even they go much faster with 2. The bigger ones really do need two people to handle.

The big question is: will it actually provide you with shelter? Yes, it will. E-Z Ups actually work a fair bit better than many other brands I've seen. In moderate to high wind you will need to tie them down to something substantial - trees, rocks, etc. Unlike other brands, these seem robust enough - I've seen several other brands collapse, and their metal poles and plastic parts bend and brake. E-Z Ups seem to hold up much better. I would suggest replacing the "tent stakes" supplied with the product with something much more robust. I use construction stakes.

If you're off camping or outdoors, and there's a chance of rain, you'll probably want one of these over your picnic table, they work great.

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I will add to this review - a tip about strong winds. Strong winds can get the better of nearly any awning, even these. The best advice is to get or make some very robust anchors for the corners. Install the anchors, attach ropes or compression cargo straps. Then set up the awning, and while holding it in place, attach the corner anchors and make the awning fast (tie it down very securely). By anchoring the corners well you will reinforce the rest of the structure. I use a mix of cargo straps and bungee cords (attached to construction stakes) and have very good results.

Keep in mind, this is not a temporary house!

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one more edit - EZ-up sells parts for many of their models on-line.

I have seen a lot of "E-Z Up style" tents. This one is one of the better built jobs and for the most part easy to raise. The trick is for the last foot of raising the scissor blocks the legs should be pulled outward at the same time. I would recommend this product for an inexpensive but sufficient cover.

I cannot tell you how much research I did when looking at these pop-ups. I've read so many reviews that it's kind of ridiculous. This was the winner. Came quickly and worked just as described. We got it for our week at the beach on vacation for my dog to have shelter (and us when needed), the first day I helped my boyfriend assemble (which the initial putting up took about 10 mintues total), from that point on he put it up and took it down each day (taking less then 5 minutes each for pop up and pop down). So easy and the case it comes in has wheels so when on pavement it rolls which makes it nice when hauling back and forth.

We had quite strong winds(gusts probably around 30+) on particular days and this held up so well! We were thoroughly impressed.

I highly recommend!

We were surprised at the quality for the price. Ours is used along the Lake Erie shoreline where the winds can be brutal and it has been fine. You can spend alot more for the commercial grade, but for occasional use you can't go wrong.

I received mine in 1 week, fresh from the factory. This is my second EZUp, the first I shared with a friend who lost his, and now I had to buy one and be in-charge of it. During field outings, we see scores of these canopies up, at least 1/3 to 1/4 of all of models are EZups, so its easy to choose brands, compare notes with owners and know this is a reliable canopy. I do sympathize with the 1 star folks, but I'm not sure if those are product defects or user errors, as during the field days that last all summer, nearly anyone who as an EZup does not complain of it, and when we are hit by wind storms and many of them are fatally damaged, many opt to buy the same model. Some owners have multiple EZups side by side, for larger parties.

I am confused by the different models, as many look the same, and there are very subtle differences. The most unique EZup has flexible plastic that supports the canopy; most models use the same metal material of the legs that accordions up to support the top, its makes it very rigid, and we can connect ropes to the center to hold it down against strong wind. The plastic version is compact and lightweight when collapsed. The plastic model doesn't have enough rigidity to hold down the center with ropes and I've seen those blown away like a parachute; weights on the legs or tent spikes can prevent it, but its more work to set up in the end. The Sierra II has the metal strut canopy support, and in concrete floors we use a single heavy weight tied to the center of the canopy for added support, and its easier than putting 1 weight on each leg.

You can set it up with just one person, but it faster with 2 or more. You have to know which ends to pull and push, and do it gently at first to avoid putting unneeded stress on the many joints it has; the structure is most vulnerable to getting bent when the canopy isn't fully open and is just partially unfolded, its like a cardboard box or umbrella, its strength is maximal when its fully assembled or unfolded.

Considering the last EZup lasted nearly 10 years and simply disappeared, and did not break suggests if you care for it and know how best to fold and unfold it, its as durable as a well made umbrella.

It is so easy to use and provides great shade. One person can put it up but better if two people are used.

It took a little while to figure out how to set this up...my husband didn't want to help, because it was 90 degrees outside. Anyway, with a little effort, I figured it out - I was able to pretty much do it on my own, but it would have been a lot easier with someone to help me. Once you have it figured out, it's a piece of cake after that. Also easy to take down, and goes back in the bag nicely - and the bag has wheels, which is great, because this thing is heavy!

The first time I set this up in the field, one of the cross members (which are supposed to be steel), broke. The metal just snapped, near one of the plastic connectors. The plastic was fine, it was the metal that broke.

Other than that, it seemed a nice popup, though I agree with other reviews, it is not really a one person setup.

Serious kudos to Amazon.com for making returning this item for a refund so easy and convenient!