Most are recommended for three seasons; summer, spring, and fall, but only a few tents are recommended for winter as well. Most Ozark Trail tents are only suitable during certain seasons—only a handful can withstand winter-use. As mentioned earlier, the Coleman Sundome 3 is a common alternative. If you’re also looking for a tent that can be used for gatherings—this one has electrical cord access as well as vents for an air conditioner. This will help to make the tent more comfortable during the warmer days of the year.
You get everything you need to get the tents set up quickly—each backpacking tent includes steel stakes and should take an average of 10 minutes to assemble. But if you want a tent that’s going to last for 10 years of heavy use, you’ll probably want to up your budget and go for something more bombproof like a Browning ozark trail tents Big Horn. Overall, it’s a well-designed tent with many convenient features for those who want to get out and enjoy nature. Some users found that there were quality control issues—one claimed their tent broke after the FIRST use, while others complained the carrying case handles tore just from the weight of the tent.
Regarding the weight, this system is heavy, but there are many elements here and this is a very stable structure. This is a car camping tent so the weight is not really a big issue. Each of the two tents can accommodate one queen size bed, see the picture. The screen room alone is large enough for a couple of camping chairs and a small side table. Regarding capacity, each of the tents can accommodate 4 sleeping pads. But for real camping I see it as a system for up to 5 users, ideal for parents with 2-3 kids, and also for two couples.
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). 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.
The tent itself is nice and roomy, and boasts a 6-foot peak height to make changing clothes a drama-free endeavor. This screened-in shelter also gets high points for its price, which is always a selling point with an Ozark Trail tent, but this one represents a particularly good value considering all its features. Layout wise is virtually identical to the ozark trail tents Core Instant Cabin we evaluated for our 10 person tent roundup, but delivers those same massive interior dimensions for about $100 less. And if you’re camping with a smaller group, you can fit up to two queen sized air mattresses inside for a more luxurious sleeping experience. Yes, Core is an excellent tent brand, especially for family camping tents.
At 36+ pounds, it’s far from lightweight, but sturdy enough you can trust that it will last you for many years of camping trips. However, on calm, warm nights, you can roll back the rainfly and stargaze through the mesh roof vent. You’ll never have to fight over whose turn it is to set up the tent again; thanks to the pre-attached poles, set-up will take a grand total of 60 seconds. The spacious interior will ensure you’re always comfortable, and the mesh windows and adjustable AC vent will help you regulate the temperature—perfect for even the hottest summers.
Tent brands usually make the same decisions across all their tents. They form the corners the same way and attach everything the same way, too. If they get it right with one tent, it’s likely all of their tents have great weather protection. Similar to easy setup, some tent brands are just flat out better at weather protection than others. Take a look at the floor plan, it’s actually got five rooms if you count the center room.