One night during testing, for example, clouds loomed in the distance with clear skies overhead. After we pitched the tent, the Mineral King 3’s adaptable fly let us leave half the mesh dome uncovered. At the first sign of rain, it took only a few seconds—and a quick hand stuck outside the tent—to unfurl the fly and secure it for a dry night’s sleep. When we awoke, we could roll back one part of ozark trail shower tent the vestibule, make coffee, and watch the sky lighten even though it was still raining. Great for backyard overnights, this simple dome-style tent is for anyone who doesn’t want to spend more than $150 on a tent but also doesn’t want to buy another one next year. With nearly 60 square feet of floor space plus two large vestibules, the Tungsten 4 is roomier than our top-pick tent for couples.
It’s a great spot to stash your “middle of the night bathroom break” shoes and anything else you don’t want taking up space inside the tent. Oddly enough, Ozark Trail’s most basic, base bones shelter takes the title of most durable. We chose the Ozark Trail Clip & Camp because unlike larger cabins with plastic hubs and countless poles, this traditional two-pole dome has the fewest number of parts that can potentially fail. The Ozark Trail Three Room Instant Cabin takes our top spot as the best Ozark Trail tent. With room for 12 and nearly seven-foot ceilings, it checks all our boxes for a big family tent, but even as cabin shelters go, this one is special. 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.
Second, Ozark Trail tents are affordable because they use very basic materials. All Ozark Trail poles are either steel alloy or fiberglass, and the fabrics used throughout the tent are typically on the thinner side. Again, not a deal-breaker, but don’t expect these tents to stand up to the same use and abuse as their premium alternatives from brands. This isn’t an instant tent, but ease of use is still a high point of this model thanks to the simple setup.
Like the Mineral King 3, the Tungsten 4 has a mesh canopy, though the opaque polyester part of its walls go higher, and provide more privacy, than the Mineral King’s. The Tungsten’s fly is not adaptable in the same way the Mineral King 3’s is, but it is treated for extra UV protection, which should help lengthen the tent’s lifespan. Easy to set up and pack away, the Mineral King 3 is a lightweight, two-door tent with a generous footprint and a sturdy dome shape. Unfortunately, the steel pole in the back of the tent did not lock into position, so this tent is defective.
The 14 steel stakes that came with the tent are just your standard tent stakes, nothing impressive. The 6 wall poles are made of steel, I think, but they’re probably not stainless steel, because I found some rust on one of these steel poles. So after washing your tent and I also do rinse off the poles, do let them dry first before storing it away. The mesh doesn’t exactly feel soft and silky, and I’m pretty sure it’s not no-see-um mesh, though it’ll keep the bigger bugs out. Some parts of the stitching aren’t that great as well, and there were fairly big holes, especially where the guylines are connected to the main tent body. Also, I noticed that some water was already seeping through the blue fabric at the bottom of the tent, and the fabric is pretty much soaked.
The Tungsten’s two brow poles create an especially effective awning over the tent door, so very little water gets in when someone comes or goes. The rain fly hangs over the room as well, so you can stay outdoors while it’s raining. Purchasing a large footprint for the entire size of the tent will provide a solid floor for keeping the screen room tidy. Make sure to stake it down properly to avoid any incidents during windy conditions. The tent itself is nice and roomy, and boasts a 6-foot peak height to make changing clothes a drama-free endeavor. If you can afford to spend more on a family tent, we recommend The North Face Wawona 6.
When heavy trade winds buffeted our Oahu-coast testing site, we pitched each tent in full face of the blast. A full rain cover, two vestibules, and an extra-sturdy pole structure make this the best choice for couples who want to get outside in any weather. It’s pricey, though, and unless the other couples’ tents we recommend, it doesn’t include a footprint. We love the center height, at 7 feet and with a cabin design, it creates these huge interiors that feel like a house when you’re inside. Then when you’re inside its got a ton of cool features that help group camping and support the extra gear you’ll be taking. Note also that the packed size is not so impressive, but again, this is normal for instant camping tents that come with telescopic poles.
First off, dome tents are typically less expensive since they have fewer total parts and less sophisticated frames. Second, dome tents tend to fare better in bad weather because they’re rounded shapes are more aerodynamic. Ozark Trail tents are pretty much all “fair-weather” shelters, but dome tents get the advantage here.
No Ozark Trail tent is perfect, but as far as full-size family camping tents go, this is the one to beat. In the above pictures, you saw what this Coleman 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent looked like with all the windows open. Also, it’s not completely opaque, and you can actually see quite a bit through it.