Despite losing some headroom in comparison with the cabin-style Copper Canyon LX 6, which measures 7 feet tall, the Base Camp 6 offers a substantial 6 feet 2 inches of interior height. Both Base Camp tents have two doors and lots of mesh in the main tent body. (The mesh on most of the family tents we tested started much closer to the ground.) This design is a big plus for people who regularly camp in crowded campgrounds and don’t like to get naked in front of strangers. And you can unzip the front door, remove it, and neatly stash it into one of the tent’s internal pockets—a useful feature if you’re feeling sociable. The Ozark Trail North Fork 12′ x 10′ Outdoor Wall Tent is designed for camping all year round in almost any environment on the planet.
Or these slightly more expensive stakes will serve you well in any car-camping terrain. But it’s one of the least expensive tents we found that will truly cover all the bases for three-season car-camping in most conditions you’re likely to encounter. Less expensive options exist but have a number of drawbacks. The Mineral King 3 also comes with its own footprint, a groundsheet that protects the tent from abrasion, which many outfitters sell separately—and which we recommend that you have. One night during testing, for example, clouds loomed in the distance with clear skies overhead.
In terms of drawbacks, this is a particularly budget-friendly model from an already budget-focused brand, so you’ll need to be mindful of a few shortcomings to get the most out of this shelter. First, Ozark Trail uses sealed seams on this tent, but the fabric itself isn’t made for a rainstorm. You’ll want to give the entire tent a thorough Nikwax treatment before taking it on the road. Second, the fabric feels thin, and a few users have reported ripping it during setup, so you’ll need to take your time both setting up and taking down this tent.
The main thing is is that the zippers that you put in these tents are so substandard that it doesn’t last more than one or two camping trips. You set a new low in tents and the damn zippers you put in them. And before you guys cop an attitude, I have been camping since I was at least 4 years old and I am now in my mid-50s. You can leave a wall tent made from canvas up all year if you are willing to accept it will have a reduced life span and be willing to maintain it as and when needed. Chemical washes and sprays are straightforward to apply and will ensure your tent remains resistant and functional for many years.
It has everything you need for three-season camping, with the bonus of being light enough to double as an occasional backpacking tent. Although it’s designed to accommodate three people—hence the “3” in its name—we found that at 42.5 square feet, the tent is more comfortable for two, plus maybe a dog or lots of gear. Intuitive to set up, the Mineral King 3 has a full mesh body that clips into a hubbed ozark tent set of poles. An adaptable fly provides protection during rain; you can roll it up and secure it at half-dome or completely remove it in fair weather for epic nights of stargazing. Two vestibules—that’s the camping word for “mudroom”—each add 18.75 extra square feet of livable space, which is handy when you want to store muddy boots or brew coffee from the comfort of your tent in the rain.
If you don’t own a wood-burning stove but still plan to have a campfire on an evening, the flame-resistant canvas is still essential. Without some resistance to flames, a single spark could burn down your entire shelter and everything inside – it’s not worth considering if this happens at night while you sleep. There is loads of space inside for 6 – 8 people to spread out, or if you are looking for more of a glamping experience, then 4 of you can set up your own quarters. Families with young children will appreciate the extra space and comfort as well as small groups on a camping trip.
Screen rooms, shade awnings, storage vestibules, and privacy dividers are also great examples of livability-added features. These features all work together to make a tent feel more like your home away from home and less like a makeshift shelter in the woods. Again, Ozark Trail tents are mainly fair weather camping tents (so you won’t ozark trail tents be hiking into the backcountry with them) which means weight and packed size aren’t a big priority. Large dome tents are also an option, and although they’re a little less flashy, they have some perks of their own. First off, dome tents are typically less expensive since they have fewer total parts and less sophisticated frames.
Wall tents may be the most practical tent style in some regards and not so much in others. What we mean by this is the shape, size, and design of a wall tent are extremely practical for dozens of reasons, but the fact that they are so heavy and bulky to carry means they are not the most practical for wild camping. They are practical shelters in almost every way but not so practical to transport on foot. Because they work well as a basecamp tents, they make excellent hunting shelters. You set them up once and then head off each day to hunt, knowing you always have somewhere warm and dry to return to. In addition, if you hunt with a buddy or two, wall tents provide more than enough space for everyone to spread out and store all their gear.