As a disclaimer, none of the Ozark Trail tents are going to be light enough for backpacking. Most of them come in somewhere between pounds, which is reasonable considering the sizes of the shelters, but still a bit excessive to carry long distances.So, this tent brand is for car campers only. Depending on your fitness level and the number of people helping you, it’s certainly possible to carry one of these tents a mile or so. However, I’d try to keep your campsite close to your car, so that you don’t have to make multiple trips across long stretches of trail. Ozark Trail only makes large tents, and it usually goes without saying that no one will stuff 12 people in a 12 person tent. Cabin tents with vertical walls allow you to get nice and close to the edges of the shelter, making the most of the available floor space.
This shelter may be the least expensive in our roundup, but it still packs some sweet features worth noting. Our favorite is the “storage locker” which gives you a protected place to store items like muddy shoes outside the tent, but can also be accessed from inside using a second zipper. 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.
Caters to those who are looking for a large shelter for family or group camping. A mesh room is the main draw here, with its large size allowing it to be configured any way you choose. You have plenty of mesh around and if you have to keep all the windows and doors closed, you still have a large vent on its narrow side, see the picture below.
ozark trail shower tentFew things are as important as your shelter when it comes to camping. In particular, we like how the Ozark Trail 11 person instant cabin tent provides a large amount of space, privacy, and weather protection. And not only that, but it also goes up in a matter of minutes, do to the instant design. For your next family camping trip, you’ll be hard pressed to find something better for the price.
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. Despite what you may have read, you can absolutely enjoy an outdoors experience in an Ozark Trail tent. 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. Having room to spread out inside a tent is great, but unless it’s after dark or raining, chances are you won’t be spending any more time inside your shelter than you absolutely have to.
The Ozark Trail 16′ x 16′ Instant Cabin Tent sleeps 12 and can be set up in under 2 minutes. It requires no assembly because the poles are pre-attached to the tent. This 12-person tent is ideal for an outdoor family gathering so you can enjoy nature no matter the weather. The Ozark Trail 10-Person Instant Cabin Tent is the perfect tent to take with you on your next outdoor adventure.
ozark trail instant cabinThere is a large double size door with 2 zippers so you can open it from any of the two front rooms. The back room is without its own external door, but there is a window on the back, see the picture. This is why I have added this tent to my list of camping tents with closets. The packed size is typical for the instant tents, and one dimension is relatively long, 48 x 10 x 10 in (122 x 25 x 25 cm). With that being said, Ozark Trail does a good job of seam-sealing their tents from the factory in most cases, and with a little help, these budget-shelters can keep you dry when unexpected rain hits.