Umbrellas or natural sun protection like trees or tall structures just do not provide adequate relief from the sun on hot days. The ground may be too hard to erect an umbrella if you are not at the beach and there may be no forms of natural shade around. A perfect alternative is a portable sun shade that is easy to fold up and carry, relatively inexpensive, and manufactured in a variety of sizes and styles.
A portable sun canopy is a lot like a traditional camping tent with at most three sides and sometimes a floor. Models differ in size and style with some being large enough to accommodate four or five people and a small table and some big enough for one person. Many models are characterized as sun shades because of their unique UV coating that more effectively repels rays of sunshine. Subtle differences include models that come with pockets to hold items, extra structural support and ones that can be used for a variety of outdoor activities instead of just going to the beach.
Prices also vary based on the manufacturer, materials and purpose of the sun tent or shade. More models that are expensive feature adjustable height, thicker polyurethane UV coated material, much larger surface areas to accommodate more people and special anchors. Sun shades like these can go for about 100 to 200 dollars and popular manufacturers include Eddie Bower, REI, and ABO gear.
Cheaper models are much smaller making room for one or two people or a few children. These models look more like traditional camping tents with one or two walls missing. They often have floors and are kept erect with flexible poles that can be broken down and stored just like a camping tent. Some have windows or a zip up wall to completely close up the shade. Designs like these are about 50 to 70 dollars however really basic ones can be found for around 30 bucks.
The benefit to all models of portable sun shades is their portability. They can be broken down into very small sizes that will fit in even the smallest car trunk. Baby sun shades come with a carrying cases and larger models have cases with wheels on them. Sun shades are great for most outdoor activities or anytime you are sitting for prolonged periods of time in direct sunlight. Many of the retailers mentioned in this article have products for sale in brick and mortar locations as well as online. Sites like Amazon.com are also very useful for finding a portable sun shade.
