Utility Shelter

ozark trail instant cabinLike the previous model I mentioned, this one doesn’t have a base. An enclosed top means this tent provides far better protection from the rain than the last model. The aluminum frame in the NEMO Heliopolis shower tent is designed to create a solid, rust-free structure, while the webbing guyouts ensure it’s windproof.

Even the heaviest shower tents are light enough to carry a short distance without too much effort. If you wish to shower semi-comfortably in the great outdoors, we think a shower tent is worth it. The canopies themselves are fairly inexpensive, and the feeling of cleanliness while you’re camping or backpacking is priceless.

It’s unlikely to be as durable, though, as the softer, stronger polyester found in our other picks. The separate fly, which covers the upper half of the tent, uses a third, shorter “brow” pole to form protective peaks over the door and the back window. In our tests, an experienced camper took only about six minutes on the first try to set up the tent body alone and stake it out. Getting the fly placed and staked properly took about five more minutes. Like the Mineral King 3, the Tungsten 4 has a mesh canopy, though the opaque polyester part of its walls go higher, and provide more privacy, than the Mineral King’s. Its tape-seamed bathtub floor and fly had no problem handling rain.

We then rotated the tents looking for structural weaknesses, and we tested their guy lines and tabs to see which tents had the best and most intuitive design for withstanding wind. To compare tent fabrics, you also need to know their overall rip strength. For most fabrics, rip strength is expressed as a measurement of the diameter of the fibers in their thread, or a denier—the higher the denier, the stronger the fabric.

We also value our supplier relationships as much as our customer relationships. This leads to collaborative negotiations that result in unique promotions and discounted pricing for you. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations. Blew the shower down and broke the plastic thing that holds the poles together into 2 pieces. I need one of the poles as a replacement part as I dropped one in the river accidentally so if you can direct me where to get one I would love it.

Adults over 6 feet tall will be able to walk upright inside this tent—which has almost-vertical walls that can easily accommodate beds, cribs, and cots—as well as in the vestibule. And this tent is easy to set up and pack down, especially considering its size. As with most six-person tents, the Wawona 6’s footprint is sold separately. A full rain fly with easy-attach color-coded clips covers the tent body and adds two large vestibules. Like the Mineral King 3, the Tungsten has aluminum poles that are connected at the top (for lightning-quick pitching) and pre-bent, which increases the dome tent’s headroom.

ozark trail instant cabinThat isn’t to say there aren’t some awesome pop-up tents out there, so if you are a fan of that idea then go for it. At the end of the day, it really comes down to your own personal preference and what works for you. There are so many different options out there and that can make choosing a shower tent overwhelming. Deciding which one is right for you is really going to come down to what your personal priorities are. On top of that, it’s got some sweet extra features like pockets to hold your things and a clothesline.

We also wanted self-standing tents, which can stay up on their own. Even so, you should, ideally, stake down each corner securely; in some crowded campgrounds, however, finding a flat spot with soil soft enough to do that can be difficult. A tent that requires staking to stand up—especially a larger, six-person tent—is unwieldy, and it’ll be impossible to set up on a hard surface such as blacktop or on raised wooden tent decks. Whether you’re thinking of hitting the road or staying close to home for your next car-camping adventure, you and your loved ones will need a comfortable place to sleep. It’s wonderfully versatile and can be used for a wide range of purposes. It’s stable and tough, so you’ll always be able to depend on it for all your outdoor adventures.

For this guide, we focused on tents that suit the most common terrains you’re likely to encounter when car-camping—grassy lawns or clearings, beaches, dirt campsites, and basic platforms—in spring, summer, and fall. We’re not looking at tents designed for such specialized activities as mountaineering, backpacking, or winter camping, though some of our recommendations have cross-over potential. Great for backyard overnights, this simple dome-style tent is for anyone who doesn’t want to spend more than $150 on a tent but also doesn’t want to buy another one next year.