Todays Show:

5 Affordable Outdoor Theater Screens for Summer Movie Fun

Until recently, it felt like the weather was changing here in Southern California. We clicked over to daylight savings time; we had a few days of nice, sunny BBQ weather and it felt like the season of backyard movies was upon us. Since then it's gotten a bit gloomy again, but we always like to be prepared, so weve put together a list of screen options for you if you finally want to make the jump into outdoor cinema.

Camp Chef 120-Inch Portable Outdoor Movie Theater Screen
Price: $153, Amazon Prime eligible
This screen has a 4.5 star rating from Amazon users and looks like a sure bet. It isnt an inflatable screen, so theres no need to worry about fan noise, and it collapses down to quite a reasonable size for storage in the winter. It even includes storage bags to make sure everything is protected and intact when you pull it out again the next summer.

  • 120-inch screen for projecting movies outdoors or indoors
  • 600D by 600D Oxford nylon screen; 16:9 aspect ratio
  • Kit includes four guy ropes with stakes for stability; easy setup
  • Includes separate heavy duty storage bags for both screen and frame
  • Steel tube frame measures 1-1/2-inches in diameter; unit weighs 44 pounds


Outdoor Entertainment Gear OS92 Indoor/Outdoor Movie Theater Screen
Price: 92 $153, 115 $199, Amazon Prime eligible
This screen has a 5 star rating, granted only from 3 reviewers, but all 3 love it. The metal frame appears to be quite sturdy and it appears to pack up a little smaller than the Camp Chef screen. However, it doesnt come with legs. So if you have a patio cover or deck you can hook it to, you'll be all set. If not, you might need to add the Outdoor Entertainment Gear OSKIT Indoor/Outdoor Big Screen Leg Kit for an additional $62.

  • Light weight aluminum frame big screen
  • Oxford nylon sivler screen for great viewing quality
  • Easy to assemble and set up
  • Designed for front and rear projection
  • Hanging straps and hardware included

Sima XL-72 72 Inflatable Home Theater Kit
Price: $153, Amazon Prime eligible
It is the smallest screen on the list, but it isn't the least expensive. As an inflatable screen, it will be very easy to collapse and store, but youll also have to find a way to get it inflated each time you want to use it. This model doesnt have a dedicated blower, so at least you won't have to contend with fan noise during the movie. Amazon users rate this one at 3.5 stars. It does include 2 screen options, both White and Gray, so you can choose the one that works best for your situation. We recommend a small compressor/pump to save your lungs.

  • 16:9 Hdtv Format
  • Includes 2 Screens: Bright White For Vivid Picture Even In Partially Lit Rooms & Dove Gray For High Contrast Picture In Darker Rooms
  • Cinema-Quality Fabric
  • Fixed Screen Tension For Perfectly Flat Surface
  • High Effective Scattered Screen Angle

Epson Duet 80-Inch Dual Aspect Ratio Projection Screen
Price: $118, Amazon Prime eligible
This portable screen can be adjusted to show either 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios. It is a portable screen and includes a tripod, so it should set up fairly quickly in your yard. But it isnt necessarily intended for outdoor use, so it doesnt include any form of anchors to hold it in place. Depending on what kind of weather youre used to in the summer time, specifically how strong a summer breeze might be, this screen could be problematic. But it is very affordable and received 4.5 stars from over 100 customer reviews.

  • Use with any home theater or business projector
  • Enjoy fast, easy setup with the innovative, patent-pending design
  • Expand Screen to the size that best meets your needs Standard 4:3 or widescreen 16:9
  • Mount on the included floor stand or on a wall with the included wall bracket
  • When closed, Duet forms its own carrying case (just 43 long)

Open Air Outdoor Home Projector Screen 169
Price: $1226
Perhaps our list should have said 4 affordable screens and 1 gigantic screen that costs quite a bit but this screen is a giant. It is a 220 screen that will make your backyard feel like a drive in theater. The only way to easily set-up, tear-down and store a screen that big is to make it inflatable, which this one is. It also includes a blower to keep it perfectly inflated for your entire movie, but that could impact your audio experience as well.

  • Wide screen, 16:9 aspect ratio.
  • Easier to set up than a pup tent
  • 220-inch diagonal projection surface (about 18)
  • Weighs only 17 pounds and fits inside a stuff sack.
  • Inflates in less than 20 seconds! No need to attach projection surface because it is permanently attached for hassle free setup.

 

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