E-Z Up Pyramid Review

We love this canopy. After weeks of testing in a wide variety of locations, the EZ Up remained one of our favorite canopies. It's well-built and easy to use. In short, it does what it's supposed to and does it well.

Space

We found the E-Z Up very functional and awarded it accordingly for this metric. Weighing about 54 pounds, it's a little lighter than canopies of similar quality, so it's easier to set up and maneuver. Its stand-out feature is the proprietary Wide-Trax Roller Bag, which dons two large, wide-set wheels. The wheels are the largest we've seen, allowing the EZ Up to plow through uneven terrain. Although large, we found this canopy very easy to transport from car to sideline. We feel the roller bag is the EZ Up's greatest feature and, therefore, a key component to its day-to-day functionality.

We also loved the pull-pin slider function and the toggle-style height adjusters on the E-Z Up. Together, they make it easy to raise and lower the canopy and lock and unlock it during setup and teardown. These safety levers also help prevent pinched hands and fingers during operation.

This 10x10 canopy offers 100 square feet of shade when the sun is directly overhead. During earlier and later hours, when the rays are at an angle, you can lower or tilt the E-Z Up to provide additional sun coverage. At peak height, the point of its cathedral ceiling sits at 10 feet 5 inches, resulting in a 6 foot 11 inch maximum height under each valance.

Sun is no match for the E-Z Up. Its thick polyester fabric effectively blocks rays, resulting in very little residual glare. Additionally, the underside of the canopy is reflective, which helps keep the canopy slightly cooler. The fabric effectively blocks UV rays, and the manufacturer states that it meets CPAI-84 and NFPA-701 fire-resistant requirements.

The E-Z Up is held in place by a powder-coated steel frame which sits flush against the interior side of the canopy, allowing for maximum headroom. After weeks of use, we feel five to seven people can sit comfortably under this canopy, with enough room left over for gear and a large cooler.

Ease of Set Up

Although large and fairly heavy, we still awarded the E-Z Up high marks for ease of setup. This tent deploys smoothly and efficiently with two or more people, and one of our testers set it up solo in 1 min and 30 seconds.

To raise the E-Z Up with more than one person, unzip and remove the roller bag, grab one leg of the canopy, and simply walk backward until the canopy stops expanding. With a firm grasp on one leg, push up on the canopy's truss system until the sliders click into place. During our timed tests, we found that four people could set up this canopy in less than a minute.

As mentioned, the pin-activated sliders let users easily lock the frame into position. Unlocking the sliders during teardown is just as easy—pull the pins to release the frame. From there, collapse the canopy by grabbing one of the four legs and walking forward until the canopy becomes a tight bundle.

The E-Z Up's roller bag easily pulls away from the canopy, leaving it positioned on its feet and ready to be expanded.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

Although much faster with two people, many of out testers could set up this canopy solo in under two minutes.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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Protection

The E-Z Up was built to withstand sun, rain, and wind. After weeks of testing, we confidently awarded this canopy high marks for protection. We often used our E-Z Up in windy conditions, and with an industrial fan, we also simulated wind during testing. Through it all, the E-Z Up stood firm. We feel its cathedral-shaped ceiling, combined with the added weight of its steel frame, helps keep this canopy securely on the ground, even during more powerful gusts.

Another contributor to this excellent wind resistance is the canopy's four massive metal spikes. They are easily some of the most substantial spikes we've ever seen, and they go a long way toward stabilizing the E-Z Up when wind speeds increase.

The E-Z Up performed well during our rain tests; however, it didn't perform as well as we anticipated. After 5 minutes of drenching, we saw small amounts of water seeping through the canopy's seams. The seams don't appear to be weather-taped, and although not much water made it through, there was enough to warrant lower scores on our water-specific tests.

A backyard hose and spray nozzle worked great to simulate rain and water the grass at the same time.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

When tested for sun, wind, and rain, the E-Z Up scored the lowest for water resistance out of the three. However, it still repels water better than many of the products we studied.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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After several weeks of use on the sidelines, in the mountains, and at the sand dunes, we can solidly say the sun is no match for the E-Z Up. Its hardy polyester fabric effectively cancels out the sun's rays, leaving dark, pleasant shade. The canopy is dense and reflective on the underside, protecting the eyes from the sun's ambient glow through the fabric.

Craftsmanship

Double-stitched seams, reinforced corners, and a powder-coated steel frame make this canopy one of the most rugged and durable products on our list. In fact, even before we unzipped its roller case for the first time, we knew the E-Z Up was a cut above many of the rest.

We've lugged this beast through dirt, sand, rocks, and grass. We've doused it with water, sunbaked it on 100-degree days, and thrown it into the back of a pickup more times than we can count. Through it all, our E-Z Up still shows no apparent signs of serious wear and tear.

Portability

Weight and packed size greatly influenced the lower scores here. The EZ-Up is a little too heavy for the average person to carry comfortably solo. Similarly, when stowed in its roller bag, the E-Z Up is more than 5 feet long and about the circumference of a wooden power pole, making it more difficult to load into smaller vehicles.

Overall, this canopy is more challenging to lift, maneuver, and store than many of the smaller models on our list. We feel some users will find lifting into and out of their vehicles difficult. Ideally, we recommend two people. However, the buddy system isn't needed once the wheels hit the ground. The roller bag allows one person to easily pull the EZ-Up anywhere there's action.

As mentioned previously, the Wide-Trax Roller Bag is a real game-changer and our favorite E-Z Up feature. The large 4-inch wheels are spaced 14 inches apart, creating an amazingly stable base. This bag rumbles through grass, dirt, and gravel with ease, making it our favorite bag for any outdoor sideline. The E-Z Up has multiple rubber-capped handles, allowing two people to carry it comfortably or for one person to pull it easily.

However, the roller bag is not indestructible and must be treated with care. Our one complaint is the wheel assembly. Aside from the metal axle, the entire system is plastic, which makes us question its durability. We were pleased to read that the manufacturer backs their product wholeheartedly, and from first-hand experience, we have yet to see any glaring longevity issues after regular, basic use.

Should You Buy the E-Z UP Pyramid Vented Shelter?

Little league enthusiasts will love this canopy tent. It's easy to pull across tougher terrain like grass, easy to set up, and provides a lot of shade. The EZ-Up will set you back a bit more, but its higher quality won't let you down. The manufacturer states this canopy is also great for corporate events, exhibit booths, and command posts, and we agree. This canopy's stout design allows it to perform well in nearly any setting, but we feel it works best along the sidelines.

Sidelines is where the E-Z Up shines. It's super easy to transport across the grass, it sets up quickly, and it stakes down firm to the ground.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

The E-Z Up performs well in nearly every outdoor setting, including just chilling in the backyard. While using our canopy, we never felt cramped or closed in.   Credit: Jason Wanlass

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What Other Canopy Tents Should You Consider?

If you want the same cathedral-style, pop-up canopy but at a lower price, we recommend the Caravan Canopy V-Series or Coleman 10x10 Sun Shelter. If you want the highest-quality cathedral-style canopy we could find, check out the Eurmax Standard 10x10. It's the tallest canopy on our list, and it has the highest level of craftsmanship.