For event tent power users, choosing a wind-rated pop-up canopy isn’t a nice-to-have anymore — it’s a must.
From dozens of flimsy pop-up tents destroyed at the popular Bentonville Bike Festival in May, to the cancellation of the Kroger Wellness Festival due to nearby storms this summer, wind and pop-up tents don’t often see eye to eye.
As a manufacturer of heavy-duty pop-up tents, we know a thing or two about what ACTUALLY makes a pop-up tent wind-resistant — and what you should look for when shopping for your next pop-up canopy ahead of an event.
At TentCraft, we firmly believe that if your tent can’t handle the elements, it’s not built for real events.
Let’s dive into why wind ratings matter, what makes a canopy actually wind-resistant, and how to pick one that won’t collapse when the weather turns.
Why Wind-Rated Tents Matter for Outdoor Events
A professional custom pop-up tent isn’t only an investment in your brand’s success at events — it’s also an investment in safety.
Unfortunately, many tents on the market cut corners to reduce cost, often using low-grade steel frames, flimsy connectors, and poor build quality from overseas manufacturing. They may look sturdy, but they’re rarely engineered to withstand real outdoor conditions.
TentCraft’s custom, American-made tents are engineered with durability in mind, certified by a third-party engineering firm to withstand winds up to 35 mph when properly ballasted.
At outdoor events, safety and stability matter just as much as appearance, protecting your equipment and, more importantly, the people in and around your tent.
Severe weather can strike unexpectedly. Without a properly rated tent, even moderate winds can turn your tent into a hazard.
The Bentonville Bike Festival this year was a prime example. TentCraft customers told us no one expected the storm that ultimately destroyed dozens of pop-up tents and event assets. Most vendors left their tents up overnight—only to find them wrecked the next morning.
No pop-up tent can withstand tornado-level winds exceeding 70 mph—not even a heavy-duty, American-made tent like MONARCHTENT. (Despite what some companies suggest by showcasing their tents in wind tunnels with extreme gusts, real-world conditions tell a different story.)
But we’ve been to other events, including the Sea Otter Classic, where unexpected California winds have bent and broken cheap pop-up tents that were either built poorly, improperly ballasted, or both.
That’s why we’ve focused on engineering a solution with certified wind ratings, tested in real-world wind conditions—not just the unidirectional airflow of a wind tunnel, which doesn’t replicate actual weather.
Our tents are certified to withstand winds up to 35 mph when properly ballasted. And if conditions exceed that threshold, our recommendation is clear: Don’t set up at all. Protecting people and equipment is always priority number one, and TentCraft’s wind-rated tents are built to effectively manage that risk.
The Anatomy of a Pop-Up Tent with Certified Wind Ratings
In order for a pop-up tent to have certified wind ratings, it needs to have certain “heavy-duty” qualities. Since we build pop-up tents from our production facility in Traverse City, Michigan, we’ve come up with some criteria to what actually makes a pop-up tent heavy duty:
Aluminum Framework
In the pop-up tent world, aluminum — while more expensive — always wins in the durability matchup.
That’s because we can use more aluminum material in the frame to manufacture legs and scissor elements that are thicker, more resistant to corrosion, and stronger against high winds, with very minimal risk of any bending. This combination of strength and lighter weight makes aluminum the top choice fo heavy-duty, wind-rated canopies.
We take it a step further by making the connectors out of anodized aluminum, allowing a group of grown adults to safely dangle from the frame.
Frame Weight
Now, a heavy-duty pop-up tent isn’t necessarily easy to move around by yourself, but it’s not impossible. A heavy-duty tent should weigh at least 70 lbs to 75 lbs for a 10x10. When properly ballasted, you have a solid structure that’s attached to the ground (or held down via weighted footplates) that can easily stand up to 35 mph winds.
Thick Leg Diameter
Manufacturing a frame using aluminum allows for a thicker leg and thicker leg wall (also known as gauge).
Our heavy-duty tent legs measure in at about 2 inches in diameter and a 12-gauge (about 2mm) thickness). You can try, but you won’t be able to bend that leg.
Beefy Footpad
A solid footpad doesn’t necessarily impact wind ratings, but it does factor into the overall durability of your pop-up tent.
We typically drag these tents across concrete parking lots, so flimsy steel pads won’t get the job done.
We manufacture our footpads to be ⅜” thick from cast aluminum. It’s designed to take a beating, and keep your tent stable.
Canopy Fabric
A pop-up tent fails in the wind when the frame blows away, or the canopy tears. That’s why we designed our canopy using a proprietary, high-tensile-strength polyester called Duranti.
Our production team hand-sews the edges of your canopy and adds reinforced stitching and pads on all the corners to aid with durability.
As a bonus, it’s UV rated, protecting those underneath from the sun.
In-House Engineering
Other tent companies sell aluminum frame tents that look and feel heavy duty, but they are likely missing that engineering component. TentCraft employs a team of engineers who are constantly making improvements to our standard and custom tents — always with safety in mind.
We actually test our products in inclement weather and determine fail points that can be improved. That’s why we feel so confident in offering a lifetime warranty on MONARCHTENT, because it has truly been battle tested.
Tips for Maximizing Wind Resistance During Set-Ups
A heavy-duty, wind-resistant frame is only half the battle when setting up a pop-up tent at events.
Here are some tips to properly ballast — also known as anchoring — your tent at your next event.
Err On The Side of Caution
Even if the forecast looks calm, it’s always wise to secure your tent thoroughly. Wind conditions can change quickly, especially in open spaces.
If wind gusts are flirting with 30 mph speeds, it’s probably time to think about it taking your tent down until the weather dies down a bit.
Tent Stakes REALLY Work
Tent Stakes are the best way to take advantage of the certified wind rating on your MONARCHTENT. When on grass or other surfaces where staking is possible, you drive the stake in straight into the ground and connect guy straps at a 45-degree angle from the stake to the top of the tent frame.
Tent Footplates for Hard Surfaces
Now, outdoor events aren’t always on grass or a stake-able surface. Oftentimes, it’s on a concrete or asphalt parking lot. That’s where footplates come into play.
TentCraft sells proprietary 52-lbs footplates that easily attach to the base of each leg on your MONARCHTENT or mightyTENT. The total weight needed to hold down a 10x10 tent is about 200 lbs.
Concrete Blocks Work, Too
Concrete blocks are a reliable and sturdy ballast option for high-wind areas. They’re typically on the lighter side, though (25-30 lbs), which may not be enough for perfect ballasting.
Sandbags In a Pinch
Any weight is better than no weight — that’s the approach we take with sand bags. It’s not enough to properly anchor your canopy down, but it definitely helps in lighter winds.
Stand Strong With a Wind-Rated Tent You Can Trust
Choosing a wind-rated, professionally engineered pop-up tent is one of the smartest investments for outdoor events. As weather becomes more unpredictable, a certified, secure tent protects your equipment, team, and attendees.
At TentCraft, our tents are rigorously tested by third-party engineers to perform in challenging conditions. When you’re ready to invest in a tent built for real events, reach out to us. We’ll help you find the solution that keeps your brand standing strong—whatever the forecast.
