Tips and tricks to set up your beach canopy
You have your sunscreen, beach towel, sunglasses, water bottle and beach canopy and you’re ready to spend a day in the sun. You’re all set for success to create a relaxing, shady spot where you can rest out of the summer sun.
A beach canopy may be a cumbersome item to haul to the beach, but you’ll be glad you have it when the sun is shining brightly in the sky, protecting you from UV rays and providing some much-needed shade.
What are beach canopies?
Types of beach canopies
There are several types of beach canopies you can purchase to set up in the sand. Which type you buy depends on whether you plan to use it away from the beach and what types of features you want.
Pop-up canopies usually have aluminum frames and four open-air sides. These canopies provide shade and protection from rainfall directly overhead but don’t protect from blowing wind. They’re easy to set up and can be used on cement, grass, gravel and a variety of other ground types.
Beach tents are a good option if you want more robust protection from the elements. Beach tents are typically open on the front and fully covered in the back, meaning they create a great space for a nap or to get away from a sudden rainstorm. They usually come with a groundsheet that gives you a spot to sit to get off the hot sand.
Umbrella tents are probably the easiest to set up for a day at the beach and the most portable. Umbrella tents have a central pole that can be driven into the sand and canopies that can be secured toward the back of the tent. Like beach tents, umbrella canopies provide shelter and privacy on one side of the tent and are open on the other. They typically do not come with groundsheets.
Beach canopy materials
No matter which type of beach canopy you choose, consider the material it’s made from. You want something lightweight and portable that can fit easily in the trunk of a car to be transported to the beach. Remember, you also have to carry the item from the car to your spot on the beach. Canopies with aluminum frames or poles are the most lightweight and easiest to carry.
Another item for consideration is the canopy covering itself. Many beach-specific canopies come with coverings made with UV-resistant materials. Buying a canopy with a UV-resistant cover can give you extra peace of mind when you want to relax out of the sun’s direct rays.
Setting up a beach canopy
Setting up a beach canopy is fairly straightforward, but it’s easier if you have at least two people working to complete the task.
How to secure your beach canopy
Here are two easy, quick ways to secure your canopy:
One way to anchor your beach canopy is to bring reusable shopping bags to the beach. Fill these bags as full as you can with sand to make them heavy. Then, use a rope or a bungee cord to attach each of them to the poles of the canopy. Their heavy weight should keep the canopy grounded and you can simply dump out the sand when you’re ready to leave.
Secure your beach canopy with 5-gallon buckets (you need a total of four 5-gallon buckets). When you get to the beach, fill them with water or sand and hang them in each of the corners of the canopy. Check with your canopy manufacturer first to make sure that your canopy can sustain 40-50 pounds of weight. Be sure and close the buckets with lids to prevent sand or water sloshing out in the event of high winds.
How to set up your beach canopy
Setting up a beach canopy is a job best for two or more people.
Start by standing the canopy upright and having two people grab opposite corners.
Pull the corners apart as much as you’re able.
Move to the other set of opposite poles and pull as far apart as you can.
Lift the canopy bars up and secure into the first lock on the legs.
Go underneath the canopy and lock the center of the canopy in place.
Go back to opposite corners and pull them apart as far as you can.
Secure each leg to its highest setting.
Secure each of the upper corners of the canopy.
Anchor the canopy and you’re all set.
Best beach canopies for summer 2021
Most versatile beach canopy
ABCCANOPY Stable Pop-up Outdoor Canopy Tent: available at Amazon
This canopy comes with a wheeled storage bag so it can be easily transported wherever you need it to go. It can also be set up quickly by one person, and the shade comes in a variety of different colors.
Easiest to use beach canopy
E-Z UP Ambassador Instant Tent Shelter Canopy: available at Amazon
This lightweight canopy provides 100 square feet of shade and is easy to set up and take down. The canopy is fire-resistant and offers UV protection.
Best bang for your buck
EAGLE PEAK Day Tripper Slant Leg Lightweight Compact Portable Canopy: available at Amazon
This canopy is easy for one person to carry in its included backpack carrier as well as pop up and down without assistance. The 36 square feet of shade is perfect for one or two people to enjoy at the beach.
Best beach umbrella tent
Sport-Brella XL Vented SPF 50+ Sun and Rain Canopy Umbrella: available at Amazon
This beach umbrella tent offers protection from the elements, including sun and rain. Easy to set up and take down, this umbrella is the perfect spot to get out of the sun.
Best beach tent
Oileus X-Large 4-Person Beach Tent Sun Shelter: available at Amazon
This tent is easy to set up and folds down in less than 30 seconds. Perfect for families, this beach tent comfortably fits four people.
Stephanie Jarrett is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
