Best Ozark Trail Tents for Family Camping

The last thing you want to do is fumble around with an excessive number of poles and 20 pounds of tent material.Ozark Trail tents tend to be quite large, and large tents can be frustrating to put together. However, the manufacturers seemed to be aware of this, which is why they created most Ozark Trail tents with an instant design. Unroll the tent fabric on the ground, and pop everything into place in a matter of seconds. It doesn’t get much easier than that, and when you’re working with something as large as a 14 person tent, you’ll be very glad to have the convenience. 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.

ozark trail shower tentI like my tents to have a denier over 100, but for light/moderate use, something around 50 works well too. If you’re looking to save money but still want that cabin tent experience, the Ozark Trail 10-Person Two-Room Cabin is tough to beat. If you’re willing to spend a few extra bucks (emphasis on few), the Ozark Trail 9-Person Cabin with a screen room gives some added livability at a similar price point. Second, Ozark Trail tents are affordable because they use very basic materials.

ozark trail canopy tentFirst, 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). The rest of the tent uses a low to high system, with staked out ground vents on the side of the tent allowing fresh air to enter, while the myriad of mesh windows and ceiling panels expel it. The adjustable nature of the low vents and zip-up windows allow you to fine-tune the airflow to your liking.

With a lot of flexibility, and a center height of 7 feet, there is plenty of space for everyone no matter how you configure the tent. She points out that, when shopping for tents, you will absolutely get what you pay for. Higher-quality tents will have seams already sealed to protect from rain. They will also have a rainfly, which helps when you experience unexpected bouts of rain. She also suggests looking for a family tent that offers good internal storage, like pockets and ceiling loops for water bottles, lanterns and the like. Note also that the packed size is not so impressive, but again, this is normal for instant camping tents that come with telescopic poles.

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.

ozark trail instant cabinOf course, being an instant set up tent is a strong lure for those who dread the campsite pitch. It has received a lot of positive reviews as it is laden with accessories, has a good quality build, and is priced affordably. Chances are, though, you won’t want to spend half your trip setting up your tent. Manufacturers have found clever ways to make tent setup easier, including attaching the poles to the material so there are no pieces to assemble. Some family tents can be erected as quickly as 60 seconds, especially once you’ve gotten the hang of it. Shawna Newman is the editor-in-chief of Active Weekender, a website that provides resources — from gear recommendations to beginner tips — to people looking to plan outdoor adventures.

The table includes four large hanging mesh pockets at its sides, which, along with the multiple pockets found along the walls of the Ozark Trail Yurt, make storage and organization another high point of the tent. The tent itself is nice and roomy, and boasts a 6-foot peak height to make changing clothes a drama-free endeavor. So the walls are steep and straight and the peak height along the main axes is 78 inches (198 cm). This is also an instant setup tent with the frame preattached to the tent, the declared setup time is 2 minutes only, see the steps shown in the picture below. Weight plays an important role when determining whether specific camping gear is right for you or not.