Clam screened enclosure

[sourdough]

Over the years as we stay in FL one of the biggest irritants is the no see ums; sometime early in AM, sometimes at dusk, sometimes seemingly all the time. Over that time the regulars, and those that stay any length of time, have started buying screened enclosures to so they can stay outside, cook or whatever. We have 2 screened enclosures but they have poles and they are a pain to put up/take down so we have never messed with it. Someone on this forum (Carrottop??) mentioned something about a Clam screened enclosure.

The Clam is much more expensive than the enclosures we keep seeing around the campground, but, looked SO easy to use....we bought one. Forget the price exactly but I think it was about $237 on Amazon. Put it up a couple of days ago and WOW!, it just pops into place and is really built well. Put it up on the backyard, checked it out, and put it back in the bag.

My question is if anyone has real life experience with this in an open environment. Is it really sturdy in wind (they say it is)? Will it shed rain and not let it pour in the sides? We bought 3 of the wind/privacy screens to cover 3 of the 6 sides and will probably order 3 more just to cover it completely if the situation warranted. The reviews I've read about it were very positive so was just curious if anyone had experience with it to prepare us for any problems.

[32 fkb]

we had ours for two years and love it, if you stake it strong storms won't move it. well worth it.

[sourdough]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping to hear.

[vampress_me]

We’ve had ours since they first came out with them. Saw/ played with the prototype at the state fair and thought it was a great idea. Still love it! Ours has the attached, roll up flaps over the screens and I can say they do a great job in heavy rain of keeping the rain out. Only problem we had was water creeping in underneath since we hadn’t put it on totally level ground and it rained a lot. Haven’t had a problem in the normal wind either, but we haven’t used it in any gale-force winds....

[xrated]

We just bought one, the Escape model and got it this past Friday. I took it out of the carry bag and had it up in about 1 1/2 minutes. I've not used it yet and we plan on buying a can or two of the ScotchGaurd water repellant to spray the top of it before we use it. I sold an EZ UP brand 10' x 10' canopy and put the money towards the Clam Escape. We went from needing something just for shade, to something that would allow us to sit out in comfort when the bugs come out.

[busterbrown]

I was going to buy a Clam enclosure until I came across this Coleman screened room (https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Instant-Screenhouse-15-Feet/dp/B0033990PG/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title). It had great reviews, was 1/3 the price, and setup was almost as quick and easy. We've used it about 3 times so far this season. It's 1 peice like the Clam and I can erect it in about 2 minutes tops. Very stable and includes tie downs and stakes for the windy days. For as much as we DON'Tt use a screened room, this Coleman product was a much more affordable alternative. It has a nice carry bag included and it fits easily under our LR sofa.

[RLo]

I have a clam hub for ice fishing, same thing but no screens. If there is a side that can get a stiff wind anchor it on the hubs or it will collapse that side in on ya. Granted is takes a 15 to 20 mph wind in the middle of the lake to do it.

[DocP]

We bought this Clam shelter 3 years ago: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TMBEN1K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The wind and rain panels are already built in. As noted, it is relatively heavy (and long), but is so easy to set up and take down. If staked properly, it's not going to go anywhere. I was also thinking about spraying a water repellent on the top - we had an extremely heavy rain last year and there was some water wicking through the top seams. Not enough, however, to deter me from recommending it.

[Mover480]

Here's the one we got, a little cheaper than Amazon. Works great!

https://www.landmsupply.com/department/lawn-garden/patio/screen-tents/clam-quick-set-pavilion-northlander-edition