Over decades of living and visiting North America’s sunniest and hottest places, I grew tired of flimsy packable shades and versions that were anything but portable. I had given up, no longer willing to toss sunshades in the trash after a summer or deal with heavy behemoths that took up too much space in my vehicle.
Helinox had seemingly dodged the shortcomings of every other shade-providing product I had tried. Helinox’s Royal Box (MSRP $275) promised shade for two in a truly portable and light structure. But would it hold up?
I used the Helinox Royal Box on beaches in Texas over the course of two summers. The sun pounded the Royal Box relentlessly in locations that seemed closer to the sun. It experienced moderate winds in its job to protect my daughter, dog, and me from sunburn and heat exhaustion.
In short: The Helinox Royal Box has replaced all my portable sun shelters. Packed up, it is only 10 x 4.5 inches and weighs 5.3 pounds. Assembled it offers ample space for relaxing in the shade. I won’t go car camping anywhere in the summer without it. It is the only truly portable and packable model that has worked well most of the time. And it requires much less moving to keep providing shade throughout the day.
- Height: 60.5"
- Length: 26"
- Width: 88"
- Depth: 57:
- Weight: 5.32 lbs.
- Packed dimensions: 10" x 4.5"
Pros
- Lightweight
- Packs down very small
- Provides all-day shade
Cons
- Not overly wind-resistant
Helinox Royal Box Setup


Wind Resistance

A Few Caveats

Conclusions on the Helinox Royal Box
