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The best pop up canopies to transform your outdoor space

HappySprout Contributor
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Using your outdoor space year-round or in all weather will require the right accessories. Simple things like a pop-up canopy can transform a space for a misty weather brunch or enjoying the afternoon without the harsh sun. These pop-up canopies are excellent choices for expanding your outdoor space usage to get the most outdoor time possible.

A tent for pop-up canopy space provides a flexible way to alter your outdoor space, giving you the chance to enjoy it in less than ideal conditions. They’re easy to use and provide a simple way for you to enjoy the space you have in a variety of weather. Our favorites are durable and offer excellent coverage — let’s find your perfect pop up canopy.

MASTERCANOPY Pop-up Canopy Tent

Best Ventilation

MASTERCANOPY Pop-up Canopy Tent is a traditional pop-up tent with easy venting for directing heat up and away from your sitting area. The frame is durable and straightforward to install, and you can access three different height settings with a newly designed toggle switch. UV-coated canopy fabric resists fading, provides good protection from moisture and rain, comes in various colors, and has an included storage bag. This tent measures 10 by 10 feet and adjusts to heights of 73, 77, or 81 inches.

Related

CORE Instant Shelter Pop-Up Canopy Tent

Best Value

Tailgating has never been easier with this simple pop-up canopy. It features heavy-duty polyester for a rain- and sun-resistant cover, and large pinch-free buttons make assembly so much easier. The canopy comes in a carry bag and measures 10 x 10 feet with a height of 112 inches at the vented peak. Fully taped seams prevent leaks, while the ground stakes and tie-downs give you flexibility for a variety of weather conditions.

Eurmax Pop-up Canopy Tent

Best with Removable Walls

For a little more coverage, this canopy option includes removable sidewalls. It's simple to set up and features venting at the top to alleviate heat and moisture. This model comes with a roller bag for transportation or storage, and you can use the included weights to ensure the tent stays in place. It uses 500 denier fabric with a 99% UV blocking capability to reduce heat and exposure, while seam sealing prevents accidental leaks. Three height settings — 7, 6.8, and 6.4-foot ceiling height — give you plenty of room.

ABCCANOPY Pop up Canopy Tent

Best Pop – up Overall

This classic canopy features professional performance with heavy denier fabric and room for up to 10 people or three full-sized beach chairs. It's vented and moves air freely while protecting from harsh UV rays. It offers three height adjustments and fold-out assembly two people can easily handle. When you're finished put it into the carry bag and away you go. Plus, included sandbags help keep the tent in place.

Altering an outdoor space doesn’t have to be complicated. You can build a usable and comfortable area for tailgating, beach days, or backyard parties with a simple pop-up canopy like those on our list. You’ll never be without shade or protection from rain, and you’ll always have a reason to hang outdoors.

Good, better, best: The best warm, stylish outdoor fire pits for your patio
Mark Wolfe
By Mark Wolfe
November 15, 2021
best outdoor fire pits bowl

When the seasons change, the air becomes crisp, and the mercury starts to fall, certain cravings start to well up. For some it’s football, or cozy clothes, or pumpkin spice. But let’s talk a minute about fire. Nothing else has the ability to bring people together and capture attention quite the way that a cheerful flame does. If you’re not so sure, try this experiment. Set up a fire pit on your driveway and, right around sunset, fire it up. Chances are, you’ll have visitors before long. As long as it’s not the fire department or your HOA authorities, it should make for some good conversation.

Whether you’re a long time believer in the power of a fire pit and need to replace one after years of faithful service, or you’re just looking for a good reason to be outdoors in the pleasant fall evenings, we’ve got a few suggestions. You could go with an easy to use gas burner, and forgo the smoke and ash, but then you would also miss out on the smell. We believe that a little bit of seasoned hickory, oak, or maple aroma is an essential part of the deeper fire pit experience. So, we’ve assembled this list of outstanding wood-burning fire pits based on durability, ease of use, styling, and price point.

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Good, better, best: Outdoor sheds for garden storage
Stacey Nguyen
By Stacey Nguyen
October 17, 2021
Garden storage shed

Once you start to hunker down on the gardening life, you’ll eventually find yourself in need of space to store all of your planting tools. Luckily, plenty of garden storage sheds exist out there. Still, having a host of choices can be overwhelming, in and of itself! If you have limited garage space or don’t want to go back into the house every time you need to grab your supplies, an outdoor garden shed may just be what you need. Ahead, we break down three choices for the top picks out there and give them a good, better, best ranking to help you choose one that suits your home and needs.
Good: Rubbermaid Horizontal Storage Shed
The Rubbermaid Horizontal Storage Shed is a good choice when you’ve accumulated quite a few garden supplies but don’t need a full-blown shed yet. It has a convenient, horizontal size at 34 x 55 x 28 inches, the perfect dimensions for storing your fertilizers, pruning scissors, gloves, watering cans, sprays, and other tools. The construction is also high-quality—it’s made from a water-resistant resin material and features double-walled construction that resists leaking and denting.

Because it’s essentially plastic, this outdoor garden shed resists rot, mold, and insect damage as well. At $230, you get a high-quality product that can compactly store supplies for a small garden, and the assembly shouldn’t take you any longer than half an hour. The drawback is that it is relatively modest in size, so you’ll need extra storage when you expand your gardening toolkit. And while it can accommodate a lock and some shelving, you’ll need to purchase those items separately. Some reviewers have mentioned slight warping when you leave the shed outside for too long, so be careful about extreme temperatures!

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What you should be cooking in your outdoor kitchen this October
Stacey Nguyen
By Stacey Nguyen
October 15, 2021
Pizza spinach

Now that the weather is cooling down, it’s time to fire up the grill in your outdoor kitchen one last time before it gets too cold for outside gatherings. Luckily, there’s no shortage of delicious recipes that take advantage of fresh autumn harvests. In addition to the herbs that you planted in the late summer, you can also whip up meals with all the gourds, leafy veggies, and fruits that you might have in your garden right now. From an herb-stuffed fish as your main dish to sweet grilled apples and pears as dessert, we’ve rounded up the most delicious autumn recipes to try in your outdoor kitchen this October.

Fresh salad with kale, spinach, and arugula
Veggies such as kale, spinach, and arugula do well for early autumn harvests, and they‘re also excellent salad bases. For some autumnal flair, chop up and roast root veggies such as sweet potatoes or beets. Pop in the protein of your choice—chicken breast and tofu are easy go-to's that you can heat up quickly on your grill. To use even more of your garden goods, add herbs such as tarragon and rosemary to enhance the dressing or vinaigrette for your fresh salad.
Barbecued carrots
Barbecued food doesn't only have to be summer fare. A great autumnal recipe for your outdoor kitchen is barbecued carrots with some toasted pecans. After coating your carrots in oil and grilling them for around 20 minutes, toss them in a dressing with vinegar, soy sauce, fresh herbs, garlic, and ginger. Add in toasted pecans or the nuts of your choice for extra texture and flavor. Obviously, carrots aren’t the only veggies that you can grill—you can try cooking broccoli, corn, and more! Grilled veggies make for easy and delicious side dishes that will surely win over your guests.
Grilled fish with lemon and herbs
Fish with lemon and herbs is one of the most laidback recipes you can prepare for your autumn soirées. It’s uncomplicated, but still filling and flavorful. All you need to do is stuff the fish of your choice with lemon, garlic, and herbs. Then, drizzle oil on your fish and leave it on the grill for six minutes or so on each side. Fresh herbs that work perfectly for this dish include parsley, thyme, and dill—whatever is handy in your herb garden!

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