Gear: The Ozark Trail Screenhouse

I was impressed by the 12.0 lb packed weight, which, as it turns out, is a good thing since the tarp can easily withstand some heavy wind. However, there’s one glitch that almost ruined our camping trip. One of the poles was screwed into the wrong part of the connector piece, causing the tent to collapse repeatedly until we figured it out. We didn’t expect such an issue with a product that otherwise seems well-designed and durable.

A friend kept sharing her deals so I had to start following and I’m so glad I did. I have been able to purchase so many items at great prices because of her posts. She is great about commenting back to questions or even just saying thanks to people who let her know they picked up an item she posted! The Clam Quick-Set Escape weighs 34 pounds and comes in a 6-foot-long, ski-bag-shaped carry case that is too big to fit into most sedan trunks. As we pulled this monster out of its box, we were skeptical that we would erect it in anything close to the promised 45 seconds.

The Ozark Trail 12-Person Cabin Tent turned out to be a spacious and convenient option for my recent camping trip. With its 180 square feet of living space, tall center height, and adaptable room divider, it felt like a second home in the midst of nature. The separate doors for personal sleeping spaces or convertible screen room was a thoughtful feature for a group campout like ours.

ozark trail screen house

It took longer than I expected, and I even saw a few complaints in other reviews about stitching issues and water resistance. But overall, the pros outweigh the cons, especially considering the affordable price and the ozark trail chair tent’s spacious capacity. The Ozark Trail 12-Person Cabin Tent might not be ideal for long hikes or backcountry camping, but it’s perfect for a family or group looking to make unforgettable camping memories together.

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. In terms of how the two tents feel, the Marmot Tungsten 4 is more geared toward hunkering down and providing stalwart defense against wind, rain, and sun. In contrast to the Mineral King 3’s triangular vestibules, the Tungsten 4’s vestibules are trapezoidal, opening via a central door with protected areas on either side. This design does a better job shielding the tent from incoming—and sideways—wind and rain. The Tungsten’s two brow poles create an especially effective awning over the tent door, so very little water gets in when someone comes or goes. Like most dome-style tents, the Wireless 6 withstands wind like a champ—it fared noticeably better than the Camp Creek 6 in 15-mph gusts.

The continuous curve of the dome shape allows for wind to pass over and around it. You can also get a nice cross breeze going by leaving the vestibules open. On sunny days and clear nights, take off the fly and enjoy the sky through the tent’s clear mesh canopy. Some testers, though, thought the tent was stuffy when the fly was fully closed and the sun was out. Our only quibble with the Mineral King 3 is that it comes with only six stakes.

The Eurmax and E-Z Up both received lower portability scores because they are heavy and more difficult to lift from the car to the ground. Likewise, they are larger and more difficult to fit into a smaller vehicle. However, once on the ground, their roller bags make it extremely easy to pull them over concrete, dirt, and grass. The Eurmax was followed closely by the Quick-Set Escape and E-Z Up Pyramid. Every stress point on the Quick-Set Escape is reinforced, and all its seams are double-stitched and taped. We feel the E-Z Up Pyramid is almost as well-made as the Eurmax; however, its frame and canopy materials are slightly thinner.

During our testing, our Base Camp shrugged off both a rainstorm and a desert windstorm as if they were nothing. Despite losing some headroom in comparison with the Kelty Wireless 6 and The North Face Wawona 6, both of which measure six-foot-four in height, the Base Camp 6 offers a substantial six-foot-two. Like our couples’ tent pick, the Wireless 6 is a dome-shaped tent with a tried and true two-pole design.

A handful of REI customers complain that the tent is not stable in strong winds. Though the previous version came with four guylines—the stabilizing lines that allow you to stake out the tent for added security in windy conditions—the current version does not, which is inconvenient. Plus, you get the estimated savings by improving and recommendations. After that, we will generate your personal promo code to share with your friends.