In windy conditions high stress is applied to each side and the frame begins to break down at the unreinforced joint connectors. I just purchased this tent less than a week ago from ozark trail canopy Walmart to take a few days off to go fishing. I have set up several tents over my 50 plus years camping and this is the first time that I have ever purchased anything so rotten.
We suggest you don’t leave it outside if you know it’s going to rain. With this model, you receive a free carry bag with wheels for easier transport, and 4 stakes and ropes to tie and secure it down. It can stand on its own, but we always recommend that you lock it down, so it has no chance of blowing away. There doesn’t seem to be any information on the thickness level of the polyester, but this Ozark Trail Canopy model does have a 50+ UV protection rating. This is very important for gazebos, considering their principal purpose is to shield from the sun.
Many newer tent brands like EZ-Up use revolutionary thumb lock sliders or larger easy to release buttons, which are a much better user experience when setting the canopy up or taking it down. With the push buttons you need to worry about pinching fingers or not being able to release the button when it gets rusted, which is never a pleasant experience. The legs extend to give the top peak a height of about 8’10” which will be plenty of headroom for anyone underneath. It’s worth highlighting that despite the advertised dimensions of the 10×10 Ozark Trail, because this is a slant leg shelter the top only measures 8×8. While it might not sound like much, that is a difference of 64 sq. Ft. of shade coverage which we find to be quite significant.
You’ll be able to comfortably fit up to 4 chairs underneath the 64 sq. Although we always recommend using anchors such as weighted sand bag or stakes with guy lines attached to the top corners. One thing we love about ozark trail canopy tents are the accessories that can be added to the shelters. These include sidewalls, weight bags, and a host of other great add-ons that can really increase the use and versatility of the canopy tent. Perhaps our two favorites are camping tent additions that connect to the frame of the shelter and leverage the stability of the 10×10 frame to support a camping tent structure. This tent was a “blue light special” at KMart many years ago (maybe 20+ years).
Poles are reported by other reviewers to break/snap easily. The only pole that broke on mine is the closet pole which I’m ordering another two of them through hdkglobal customer service. In the low-cost range of outdoor shelters, the Ozark 10ft x 10ft Trail Canopy is definitely at the top in its class.
Got this kit from Wal-Mart and overall it just works great. I thought that just the tent was a value, but it came with two chairs, two bags, and its own case that everything fits in. It was the 2nd time of use and I am not happy with a tent that can not stand up to the normal wind that comes with a lake. In the past I have been at other lakes that has had a lot more wind then what this tent was not able to take. I now have a broken pole and a hole in the tent. I have camped there all my life and have never had that problem.
In terms of being waterproof, we think it’s more so water repellent. We think this is the biggest standout in relation to how different this model is to others on the market. Most versions at this price will stick to the really simple designs, with a complete lack of ozark trail canopy add-ons. While this model isn’t anything ground-breaking by any means, it’s still not oversimplified, and the vents are a prime example of that. It’s not super heavy because of the soft top, and that also seems to be a main reason for why its price is so reasonable.