It’s a cool tent all around, but our favorite feature has to be the 360-degree views delivered courtesy of this yurt’s giant mesh windows. There are three of these large floor-level windows along the walls of the tent, plus the giant mesh doorway that can be left open in good weather. We’ve also put together a handy buyer’s guide down at the bottom as a resource for shoppers who are new to the Ozark Trail brand, so make sure to check it out. There you’ll find all the info you could ever want on the materials, build quality, and weather-worthiness of these affordable tents. Every year, thousands of new campers get their first taste of the outdoors in an ozark trail tent.
I have only bought Coleman tents in the past and have been very happy with them. The only reason I bought a new tent was for more space, which this tent provided at a resonable price. Setup was typical for this size tent – definitely a two person job. We planned on camping for a week and ended up only camping for five days because of the tent’s incapacity to keep us dry. The one downside with integrated rain flies is the lack of ventilation and temperature control.
Newer tents build in vents and roofs that you can open up to promote airflow, along with the mesh windows that will let in air when you choose. Some tents are also built to keep out the sun’s rays, making them great for those who like midday naps on vacation. Although some tents promise to hold up to 12 people, things can get a little cramped when you have all the sleeping bags fully rolled out. Measurements will matter more than how the tent is advertised, so use a measuring tape to map it out and decide on the size that will accommodate sleeping arrangements. So as you see, the Eureka Copper Canyon 12 is lighter but it is smaller and it offers fewer features, and it is not an instant tent. On the other hand, the Core Lighted 12 tent is an instant type, but a bit smaller and lower.
Shape wise most ozark trail chairs either come in a cabin or dome shape. Cabin tents typically have more room inside to stretch out thanks to their high ceilings and vertical walls, so most Ozark Trail shoppers will likely want to focus on cabin tents. With that being said, there are a few things you’ll want to know going into your purchase. First, all Ozark Trail tents should be considered “fair-weather” shelters. That doesn’t mean they all leak when it rains or collapse when it’s windy, but they simply aren’t built for bad weather. Light wind and rain should be fine, but you’ll want to take some steps to prepare for both (more on that below).
This roomy option (20′ L x 9′ W x84″ H) offers similar perks as the above 12-person option, but with a little more privacy. It comes with two room dividers to keep you from having to share trail snacks or your airbed, as well as a couple of closets for your storage needs. One removable divider is made with silver-coated fabric, making it a potential movie screen for optimal outdoor entertainment. After my rain test, I found that my Coleman Instant Tents, I have both the 10-Person and 4-Person versions, were able to stay dry for about 10 minutes under heavy rain. Regarding capacity, each of the tents can accommodate 4 sleeping pads.
So all in all, this is a tent for places with a car access. Their tents are not always high quality so extensive research is needed on a tent you’re purchasing or you may be let down…big time. Their tents are waterproof, high quality and packed with features. Their tents slip through quality control much easier than other brands and have been made with low quality materials (most of the time).
Both of them are considerably more expensive than the Ozark Trail tent. There is nothing one could object regarding the ventilation. I already mentioned numerous windows with mesh, plus the huge ceiling with mesh, plus two vents. So here just to add that those floor vents are 18 x 18 inches (46 x 46 cm) large, and they are 9 inches (23 cm) off the ground. The fly is a durable 68D polyester with PU coating which gives it 600 mm waterproof rating.
I love tents and writing about them is my great pleasure. After spending a lot of time with Ozark Trail tents, my final verdict is that they’re excellent budget-friendly tents. Similar to Costco’s Kirkland brand, Ozark Trail tents are Walmart’s house-branded tent. But, maybe you’re wondering, what makes a great tent brand? You might be wondering what’s it like to set up this tent.