First-UP 10' X 10' Gazebo Tent Review

First-Up is Easy-Up

Available for around $80 at Wal-Mart, The First-Up Gazebo Tent creates a 10' X 10' covered space (100 sq ft), packaged in a compact, wheeled travel bag.  This size is great since this is generally plot size most even locations give you.  It's also good for family gatherings during the summer as a place for everyone to get some shade.  The head room is wonderful as it is high enough even for taller people (there were some US Marine Corps guys next to us and I never saw any of them have to duck while under the tent.)  Once all the stakes are in place, the tent is fairly sturdy, though we had some strong winds that day the tent stayed in place. 

Constructed with an accordion style metal frame and canvass canopy the First-Up Gazebo folds up and down fairly easily for something that spans an area of 100 square feet.  The bottom is open to the ground, but we used a tarp on the ground to protect her backdrops from the moist ground.  It did take the two of us to put it up, but my SIL has done it alone - it just takes a little more effort to stretch it out all the way.  The unit is pretty hefty, but you must remember the size of it when it is up.  I would venture to guess it is around 30 pounds as I was able to pick it up and carry it to the car.  With everything we were hauling for the day, the First-Up Gazebo did fit nicely in my SIL's trunk (Impala), but one side of the back seat needed to be down to accommodate the wheels on the bag.  I would guess it may fit length-wise in a wider trunk as well. 

A Vender's Must Have

I believe the day we were at the fundraiser, every vender just about had some version of this gazebo as their tent space.  It was easy to open, easy to fold down and fit perfectly in the space we were given for the day.  The hardest parts of set up/take down was 1) reaching the top to straiten it out (I am short you know), and 2) getting the tent back in the bag since it has to be lifted up into it. 

Our tent is blue, but it comes in several colors as well as with a gazillion different team logos - what a great idea for tailgating.  For the price, you can't beat the protection from the elements you receive from this simple piece of equipment.  There are also screen and/or wind curtains available as an accessory.