Buying an instant shelter is generally not very difficult, as the market is full of all sorts of diverse models. However, you shouldn't just jump at the cheapest solution available, as there's often a lot to benefit from making a careful and informed choice. An instant shelter must have several features present in its design in order to be considered worth your money, especially if you're looking to make a long-term investment and are comfortable with spending more money on the purchase.
Durability is the most important feature to be looking for in your instant shelter, as it can make all the difference when it comes to long-term use. Make sure that the product is made by a professional company that knows all the important features any instant shelter must offer. This starts with the frames ?this is often the part that gives in first in the overall design, so you'll want to make sure that the instant shelter you're buying comes with a proper, solid frame that's made of durable metal. It should be made with a folding design too ?the whole idea of an instant shelter is that it can be deployed easily and quickly, while you can keep it tucked away somewhere the rest of the time, so it makes no sense to buy one that can't be folded down into a nice, tight package.
The cover is equally important ?especially considering that it's what provides the main degree of protection in general. There are some ordinary designs popular on the market these days, but also some highly specialized and comprehensive designs for cover materials used by some instant shelter manufacturers ?and if you're looking for something of real quality, you should spend the little extra money to get yourself one of those specialized designs.
The "Rhino Shelter" covers come to mind when talking about high durability, as they're made with special attention to their toughness and can offer an incredible level of protection from natural forces while also being relatively lightweight and also cheap (compared to other products of the same quality, at least).
It's not just about pure toughness when you're comparing different covers though ?the right one should also offer various additional features such as UV protection and extra padding materials used to increase the general protection level of the instant shelter. It's never a bad idea to look for something with different color options as well, as you can get something that better matches the design of your car, home, or whatever you're using the instant shelter for.
Look for good warranty plans too ?the worst thing imaginable when it comes to instant shelter is to buy something that doesn't last half as long as you expected it to, and you have to spend a lot of money on something similar all over again. Any good instant shelter design should be sold with a written guarantee for its durability and quality, so that you'll know your money is going into something viable.
