The Drunken Tailgate

Gear Review: Quik Shade S233 Tent

We decided to try out the Quick Shade S233 Summit with Double Awnings because of it’s unique design. The double awnings provide more shade and as a result less glare on our tv. The awnings are easy to adjust and have four different set positions. The other main benefit of this tent is that the design doesn’t have any low hanging bars on the inside of the canopy. So bumping your head is not an issue. I would say that the middle of the tent has about an 8 foot clearance. Supposedly the tiered “pagoda” roofing allows for hot air to leave the area quicker but I’m not really buying it. The listed price at Dick’s Sporting Goods was $250.

The initial set up of the tent required some reading of the instructions but it wasn’t overly difficult. On a week to week basis you do have to remove side and bottom poles for each awning but that takes about 5 minutes. Overall the structure seems to be a little bit less sturdy then other tents I’ve used but we had no major problems. The main problem arrives when you try and pack the tent back into it’s carrying bag. The basic frame fits in fine but the extra fabric from the awning has no where to go. So you have to spend an extra $20 or so on a heavy duty duffel bag in the 50X30 range.

Pros: side awnings, head room clearance
Cons: too small of a carrying case, weekly setup, not currently available with team logos or colors

Decision: The Drunken Tailgate approves. This tent basically gives you the coverage of two tents despite packing up in the same size as a standard EZ UP tent.

Review of the Top Tailgating Cars

Cars.com brings you this video reviewing the best 2008 model cars for tailgating.  There are vans, wagons, and trucks but somehow my 4 door sedan didn’t make the list.

Tailgating Car Reviews Video

Advances in Sneaking In Alcohol

The LA Times has a story on pre packaged shots. These are discreet plastic packets that are filled with either fruity shots like Kamizkazes or straight liquor. I don’t know what took so long to create these. If you go into any college town on a fall Saturday you’ll see almost every customer in a liquor store grab a miniature. And there is only one reason for that. So why wouldn’t you make one that is less visible in your pocket or waist line?

The Tailgate Blog did a test run on disposable flasks. The upgrade here is substituting a hard plastic container with a flexible plastic bag. And it’s an upgrade over ziplock bags because of the screw cap. Once again, why did it take this long? I’ll probably end up ordering these online but I wish my local liquor store carried some of this stuff.

Any of these would be better than the anxiety I experienced when sneaking a huge flask into the student section. I was known to panic on some occasions and just finish the flask before entering. I wasn’t so much afraid of getting arrested as I was scared of missing the game. So I’m all in favor of these new concealable products, though I can think of some merit to the more traditional ways of sneaking liquor into the game…

Dreaming of a Tailgate Heaven

EveryDayShouldBeSaturday is taking a look at upgrades for your tailgate. Ranging from very possible to T. Boone Pickens style tailgating:

“Your own blimp. For the extremely exact figure of somewhere between two thousand and ten thousand dollars a month, you can rent your own blimp, depending on the amount of flight time you use, the amount of advertising you put on the beast, and how many kegs of beer you want haul up there with you.”

Wallet Sized Bottle Opener

There was a time in my life that I caved every time a rep for a cigarette company approached me in a bar. Attractive girls and shiny objects always confuse me. I’d hand over my address and get a flashlight or something in return. I’d end up leaving the gift at the bar and then receiving junk in the mail. Except for the one occasion when Marlboro actually sent me something useful. A metal bottle opener that’s about the size of a credit card. I was now free to abandon the stigma of the bottle opener keychain. Just slip this discreet card into your wallet and use it only when necessary.

If you can’t find one for free, you can get 5 for $5.49 from The Bar Stop. I’m personally setting my sights higher and hoping to one day grab customized set of 500 openers with the Drunken Tailgate logo on them.