The yurt tent feels flimsier and, while the high center is a nice perk, it felt smaller overall and not as useful as the Blackout tent was. A frequent reader of our site put the lightweight Cool Cabana pop up beach canopy to the test during a West Coast vacation. We put the lightweight Cool Cabana pop up beach canopy to the test during an East Coast vacation. It had taken every material thing that I had and left me stripped bare, a blank page at the end of a partly written book. It had also given me a choice, either to leave that page blank or to keep writing the story with hope. If you’ve been keeping track, we’re now up to three of the six tents we currently own.
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. The benefit of the slanted legs is that these tents are more stable laterally which can increase the stability of the frame and make it less prone to toppling, an important benefit if on a windy beach.
Most new tents incorporate this ventilated canopy design to increase airflow and reduce the trapping of hot air, helping to keep those in the shade cooler and more comfortable. I have a vague memory of sleeping outdoors at summer camp in 5th grade—is it possible we cowboy camped? Growing up, we were the kind of outdoorsy ozark trail backpack family that went fishing and hiking, but not backpacking or camping. And to be fair, much of our outdoor time together was spent in Montana, where tents were merely handy snack packs ready for Grizzly Bears to rip open with their claws. Or, so my mother (and Night of the Grizzlies) would have had me believe.
We’re just deeply committed to arugula and everyday greens & veggies. Not just any tent, but a robust, expedition-style tent like those used at glamping resorts around the world. A tent designed for high winds, and heavy rains, and a whole range of temperatures. One, a temporary solution that we’re holding onto for now, but housed us for the first few weeks on our land before our final tent arrived. Having had such success with our Ozark Trail Blackout Tent, we decided to try one of their other models—the yurt tent. It was fine, but in retrospect, I would have just purchased another Blackout model.
The included carrying bag does not have wheels to aid in transportation, but at only 29 lbs. We don’t find that to be a noteworthy drawback as the nylon handles and shoulder strap work just fine in carrying the tent. The most popular product in their line is the 10×10 Instant Slant Leg Tent with a blue canopy top.
I don’t actually remember the first time I slept in a tent. You can buy those discounted gift cards to use on top of this purchase to save even more.
Because this was the time before cell phone cameras (at least those worth anything) and Google Photos, when our computer crashed in Colorado we lost many early photos from that trip. But, those that remain include this shot of our magical camping spot south of Moab, which we found down a dirt road far south of town after showing up and finding every campsite (and hotel room) in Moab booked. I had a hazy recollection of seeing a campsites sign on our drive north from Monticello; if nothing else, we figured we could find some open land to camp on once we were out of town. We didn’t expect to wake up to red rock views, but we were sure happy when we did. It wasn’t the first time or the last we were grateful for the flexibility of our canvas home and the ability to pitch a place to sleep anywhere we could find one. Overall, we think the Ozark Trail canopy serves its intended purpose – a value brand 10×10 instant shelter that caters to price conscious consumers looking for an affordable shade option.
Today, at this precise moment in our lives, when we can travel the world for a year with only 30l backpacks, and we can fit all our earthly possessions into a 5’x10’ storage unit, we own six tents. Since then we’ve had a whole lifecycle of tents that have taken us from coast to coast and back again. Digging our toes in the sand under one of the best full-overhead coverage beach tents on the market. With 26 miles of hiking trails in the Park, you can find great views, beautiful forest scenery, and feel like you’re not in the City.
The weight of this Ozark Trail is lighter than most of the same size alternative steel frame canopy tents, coming in right about 29 lbs. An argument can be made as to whether this is good or bad. From a positive perspective, the lightweight design increases portability which is certainly important in carrying the tent to its intended location. From a negative perspective, the weight is indicative of a lack of high quality material and components used throughout the shelter.