On Jul 21, 2008, at 10:09 AM, Michael Diehr wrote:

> Two questions about awnings, specifically for hot/windy desert
> camping:
>
> * Which of the awnings has the best heat/UV blocking ability?
> * Which would best stand up to high winds when fully secured?
>
> I notice shady boy advertises a "silver" fabric that blocks more sun,
> and there's mention of someone getting a sunburn under a Fiamma.
>
> Thanks!

I have the silver reflecting ShadyBoy w/ the optional poles-
Definitely needed in the desert. I have had to take mine down in 60+-
mph winds & don't recommend leaving it up unless you anchor the
bottoms of the optional poles to the ground as the up & down effect
of the wind on the awning will eventually cause the poles to not
support the awning & it will either lift up onto your roof/poptop or
bend down towards the ground, even bending your roof brackets-not
good!  You would need to drill a hole thru the bottom of the 2 ground
support poles & thread a wire thru to anchor to a tent stake or other
weight to keep the pole bottoms on the ground.  Other than those
extreme conditions, works really slick.

YMMV,

Mr. BZ
Utah