Z&M Enterprises

Forget backpacks that morph into beach chairs, or those gizmos that anchor beach umbrellas. New on the shore this summer: your own beach cabana.

Portable cabanas, also called beach tents or shelters, are a category in the "shade' industry, an estimated $3 billion amalgamation of everything from sun lotion to glassed and clothing. Often made of sun-blocking material, these shelters shield you from the rays- not to mention folks down the beach-and promise to collapse for easy carrying. One retailer, Arizona-based Shade USA says that until two years ago it sold only one model; now it stocks more that 15.

To find out what the fuss is about, we played beach bum and ordered five cabanas priced from $65 to $100, from specialty catalogs, and then headed -where else? - to the beach. As we built our South Florida "tent city," we found tiny cabanas and big winners-and discovered one flimsy tent pole can put a dark cloud over the whole proceedings.

But in the case of the Sun Screen pop-up-tent, $80 from Comfort1st.com, proved to be a little bit of a confusing design. True to it's name, this one piece unit pops instantly into place, thanks to a frame made of "springy" memory wire." And it provides enough shade that you'll be able to fit a couple beach chairs underneath. But trying to get it into it's case, even by paying close attention to the printed instructions, was harder than getting into our junior high bathing suite. (It actually comes with an instructional video-and we needed it.)

The family cabana from One Step Ahead is similar, with a frame made from the same stuff. but this $70 model isn't as hard to disassemble because it's smaller. Make that considerably smaller: This is better suited for children than a beach-loving party of adults. (The catalog specializes in kiddie fare.) And it's floorless, so brink your own blanket.

We had a different problem with the beach hut from BeachStore.com. This $65 model is essentially an umbrella with side panels that unfurl for privacy. But like a beach umbrella, the challenge is getting it to stick in the sand even with the special anchor on the bottom pole. Following the instructions, we rocked the pole to burrow it deeper, but still short. The wind pushed the hut backward and we worried that a strong gust might blow it away.

That left us with two models that employ yet another principle-a "tent-like" design that uses a an umbrella-style mechanism to snap into place. We immediately fell for the first, the $70 InStent Pop-Open beach cabana from Shade USA. This was easy to set up and break down, and it was roomy enough for 2 adults and 2 kids. It's material promised to block 95% of harmful rays, and it had screened windows for privacy.

We were sold, but then disaster hit twice. After a few tries setting this up, we hurried a bit and snapped an internal pole, meaning we'd have to replace the whole tent. Then, our photographer reported that one she'd ordered emerged from the box with broken poles.

The vendor says the issue is rare (and covered by it's return policy), and quickly sent us a working replacement. Still, we have to give the nod to a similar model: Though it didn't quite fee very rugged, the $100 Sun Stop'r Qwik Cabana III from Sun Friendly Products had a simpler design-which we think may make it less likely to snap. It also promises 98% sun protection, the highest in our test.

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Store/Price/Phone -- Comfort1st.com; Sun Screen Pop-Up tent; $79.95; 443-539-1440; www.comfort1st.com; Quality -- Pops in place in second, but getting it into it's case was tough. "Open" design means you'll be exposed on the sides. We liked the floor-until we put a hole in it. Shipping Cost/Time -- Standard shipping, up to 10 days, $12.95; our order arrived on time. Return Policy -- 30 days to return items like "new" If item isn't defective, you pay shipping. A 15% restocking fee (starting at $5). Phone/Web Experience -- Simple and efficient. We got an e-mail confirming our order. Comments -- Even a catalog spokesman said he had to watch enclosed instructional video "about four times" before he figured it out. But he said he's received no complaints.

Store/Price/Phone -- One Step Ahead; Family Cabana; $69.95; 800-274-8440; www.onestepahead.com; Quality -- Similar to Comfort1st.com's Pop-Up tent, but smaller and easier to fold back in place. Covers a small area and has no floor; better suited for small children. Shipping Cost/Time -- Standard shipping up to 12 business days, $9.40; our order arrived on time. Return Policy -- No time frame on returns. Customer pays shipping. Phone/Web Experience -- Ordering was a breeze. Catalog, which specializes in children's gear, has customer reviews of products. Got an email confirmation. Comments -- Who says a beach cabana is just for the beach? In one customer review, a mom noted that she took the cabana to a soccer game-and served snacks in the shade.

Store/Price/Phone -- Sun Friendly Products; Sun Stop'r Qwik Cabana III; $99.95; 866-SAFESUN; www.sunfriendlyproducts.com; Quality -- With internal poles, this tall tall shelter is easy to put up, take down. But doesn't offer as much protection on sides as others. Shipping Cost/Time -- Standard, up to 10 days, $12.95. We got it in one day (we live near the catalog's office). Return Policy -- Return within 30 days of purchase i same condition it was received. You pay shipping. Phone/Web Experience -- Easy to use. Site gave us the option of creating password. Got email confirmation of order. Comments -- Their specialty: items that aim at " enhancing the fun while blocking the sun." Check out their children's swimsuits with ultraviolet-blocking fabric.

Store/Price/Phone -- Shade USA; InStent Pop-Open Beach Cabana; $69.95; 480-600-3126; www.shadeusa.com; Quality -- Similar to the Sun Stop'r this one sets up easily, but also has screened windows, tarp floor and even a storage pocket. Big enough for two adults, two kids. Shipping Cost/Time -- Standard shipping up to seven business days, $7.18; ours came on time. Return Policy -- Return within 90 days; products must be unused and in salable condition (unless damaged or defective). You pay shipping. Phone/Web Experience -- A little tedious-lots of clicking around to complete purchase. We had to input our billing and shipping info separately. We got an email confirming order. Comments -- Oops: On the fifth try, we broke camp-literally-by rushing and snapping a pole. The lesson: You've got to follow directions when taking these up and down. Site has a great selection of other cabanas.

Store/Price/Phone -- BeachStore.com; Beach Hut; $64.95; 877-394-6103; www.beachstore.com; Quality -- Think beach umbrella with side panels. easily fits two beach chair underneath. But we had trouble getting it to stay in the sand, even with the provided anchor. Shipping Cost/Time -- Standard shipping, up to nine days, $15. Our order arrived on time. Return Policy -- Return within 30 days (reported damaged items in five days. Email company before returning; you pay shipping. Phone/Web Experience -- Quick, but we had to create a password. We got an email confirmation. Site links to local weather, so you will know if it is a good beach day. Comments -- Spokesman said anchor could pose a problem in packed sand and suggested using another anchor, which catalog also sells. Why didn't they tell us in the first place?