How to Pick the Perfect Shelter
With so many shelter options, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one. Lucky for you, we have a handy chart with all the features of each shelter to help you make an informed decision. No buyer's remorse here!
Important features to consider are sun protection, size, visibility weight and hub type. Our chart shares all this info and more. Click here for a PDF version. Sound like a lot? Don't worry, we cover everything with more detail below so you'll be a shelter pro in no time.
One feature you don't need to compare among our shelters is sun protection. All, and we mean all, of our shelters offer a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating of 50+. This will block 98% of the sun's rays so you can feel confident you're protected on those extra sunny days.
The next feature is size or number of people the shelter can accommodate comfortably. The chart lists our shelters in order of size, starting with our largest, the Pack N Go Gazebo and ending with our most compact style, the Bahia Quick Draw. Consider how many people you typically spend time with on the beach or park. If that ranges frequently, you can always get 2 shelters to meet all your needs, big and small.
Also, consider the windows. They play into your visibility, privacy and air flow. Shelters with mesh windows and roll-up shades or solid zippered windows, offer extra privacy and let you control the air flow. Our larger shelters are designed to be more open, thus offering more space. Check out side wall options for the larger shelters on the chart. They can easily be removed or added to different sides of the shelters to customize your shade, add privacy and even protect you from unwanted breezes.
Another important thing to look at is the weight. We've designed most of our shelters to be under 10 lbs, making them light enough to grab and go with ease. The oversized carry bags with shoulder straps (included with each shelter) make our shelters easy to pack up, transport and store wherever you need.
Last but not least, the hub type. This will tell you if your shelter pops up in seconds or takes a little more setup time. For example, our A-Shade is a unique A-frame style tent with a shock cord frame, so you'll do some pole threading with this one. The rest of our shelters have pull hubs and will pop-up in seconds. The only exception in this case is our Gazebo shelter. As our largest shelter, it has multiple pull hubs to pop up - but once you've done it, it's easy and fast!
Okay, I think we covered all the major features to help you pick your perfect shelter. Still have some questions? Reach out to us on social media or send an email to our customer service team (cs@lightspeedoutdoors.com), they'd love to help!