Shade Fabric Selection Guide

Why Choose Your Own Shade Fabric?

At Hovershade™, we focus on what we do best: high-performance, patent-pending structural engineering. While we manufacture the modular frame system, we intentionally allow you to source your own shade fabric. Here is why this approach benefits you:
Maximum Customization:

We don't want to restrict you to a handful of stock colors. By sourcing your own material, you have total control over the style, color, and UV protection levels to perfectly match your rig and aesthetic.
Cost-Efficiency:

Specialized fabric manufacturers produce these materials at scale. Allowing you to buy directly from them keeps your total investment lower. High-quality shade-grade fabrics typically range from $15 to $75 depending on size.
Regional Suitability:

Sunshade requirements vary by climate. Whether you need a high-density mesh for the desert or a lighter knit for the coast, you can choose the ideal density for your specific environment.
Universal Compatibility:

The Hovershade™ system is engineered to be compatible with a wide array of professional-grade shade fabrics available from hundreds of specialized retailers.
Simple Attachment:

Most shade fabrics come pre-fitted with reinforced grommets. Attaching your lines to these points is incredibly simple, requiring no special tools or complex knots to secure the fabric to the Hovershade™ frame. One of the biggest advantages of using porous shade fabric is how effortless it is to manage compared to traditional, heavy awning materials.
Easy Handling, Compact Storage
  • Shade fabrics that are porous, don't hold air like a sail, making them significantly lighter and easier to handle during setup—even for one person.
  • Compact Storage: Unlike bulky non-porous vinyl or heavy canvas awnings, shade mesh is highly compressible. It folds down into a surprisingly small bundle, easily fitting into the trunk of a regular car or a small storage compartment without taking up valuable space.

Technical Specs at a Glance

Hovershade tent set up outdoors near a lake with RV and trees in the background

Weight & Material: The "Light is Right" Rule

For the best performance of the roping and pulley system, choose the lightest fabric possible.

  • High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): We recommend knitted HDPE shade cloth. It is incredibly lightweight, durable, and breathable.
  • Avoid Heavy Canvas or Vinyl: Traditional heavy tarps put unnecessary strain on the roping system and are much harder to "hoist" from the ground.
Car and trailer on a sandy beach with a large black shade sail attached to the hovershade frames anchored by the vehicles

The "Breathability" Requirement (Critical Safety)

Important: You must use porous shade fabric that allows air and water to flow through.

  • NO Solid Tarps: Do not use solid plastic or vinyl tarps. These act like a "sail" in the wind and "buckets" in the rain.
  • Water Flow: Porous fabrics allow rain to pass through rather than pooling. Pooling water adds hundreds of pounds of weight that can damage your vehicle or the Hovershade structure.
Beige shade sail on a roof with solar panels in the background attached to the hovershade canopy frame system

Shade Percentage (Density)

Shade cloth is typically rated by the percentage of light it blocks:

  • 70% Shade: Great for plants or areas where you still want a bit of bright, natural light.
  • 90% Shade: Our top recommendation for humans and pets. It provides maximum cooling while still remaining lightweight and breathable. Darker effects
Graphic picture of RV with Hovershade frame canopy and shade drawn back

Customizing Your Length

One of the best features of the Hovershade is that it is infinitely scalable.

  • Modular Connecting: You do not need one single 50-foot piece of fabric. You can purchase multiple smaller sections (e.g., 10'x10' or 10'x20') tie them together and connect them to the roping system side-by-side.
  • Easier Handling: Smaller sections are easier to wash, easier to store, and easier to replace if one section gets damaged.
Shade structure set up on car and trailer as a sales tent on a grassy field with dual colored shade

Aesthetics & Color Schemes

Because you are sourcing your own fabric, you can match your rig perfectly!

  • Earth Tones (Tan/Sand/Coyote): Best for blending into desert or beach environments and hiding dust/dirt.
  • Cool Tones (Grey/Black/Navy): Provides a modern, "stealth" look for van-lifers and overlanders.
  • Bright Tones: Excellent for construction sites or event areas where high visibility is a safety benefit.
Hovershade setup _RV parked under a large brown canopy full shade in a residential area with a pool and house in the background.

Affordability

One of the best parts about using standard shade fabric is the cost. While a traditional custom-fitted awning can cost thousands to replace, high-quality shade cloth is very inexpensive. You can often outfit a 40-foot RV for a fraction of the cost of a single mechanical awning repair.

Examples of Top Recommended Fabrics

Great options and prices on AMAZON, EBAY and TEMU, Walmart, or simply search for "outdoor shade fabric" on Google. If you're looking for reliable, industry-standard fabrics to pair with your Hovershade system, here are our top recommendations.

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Ebay

AMAZON

TEMU

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