These are simple fast steps that can be done super quick during set up. I purchased this tent at a local Wal-mart prior to going on a dirt biking trip with friends in March. For those who don’t know, March in Colorado ozark trail screen house means sudden snowstorms and REALLY cold nights in the mountains (even though the days are warm). You unfold all the poles and make sure to extend them out. Extending them was the part that took us a bit to figure out.
This would be great for anyone that plans to sit down in the shelter. The one exception to the rule here is for the larger cabin-style tents, especially those with an “instant tent” design that uses pre-attached poles. These shelters tend to be much heavier and bulkier when packed up due to the frame design, so you’ll want to make sure you’ve got room to transport them in your vehicle and store them in your home before buying.
After my rain test, I found that my Coleman Instant Tents, I have both the 10-Person and 4-Person versions, were able to stay dry for about 10 minutes under heavy rain. I’ve camped in lots of Coleman tents over the past few years, and even an Ozark Trail Cabin 10-Person tent, and here are my thoughts on both brands. 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. The three-room cabin is definitely one of Ozark Trail’s more expensive models though, so if you’re shopping on a budget, there are plenty of other models worth considering. The Clip & Camp dome is particularly affordable, and also happens to be one of the most dependable models the brand currently makes.
All these windows are pretty small, which limits ventilation on a hot day. And on top of that, all these windows need to be closed on a rainy day. This shelter may be the least expensive in our roundup, but it still packs some sweet features worth noting. Our favorite is the “storage locker” ozark trail sleeping bag which gives you a protected place to store items like muddy shoes outside the tent, but can also be accessed from inside using a second zipper. It’s a great spot to stash your “middle of the night bathroom break” shoes and anything else you don’t want taking up space inside the tent.
I do like the tent, lots of space, easy to put up, but a couple of things I didn’t like, the front door zippers always get stuck on the little rain flap that covers the zipper. I sprayed the tent with camp dry because I knew it was going to rain the next day. Some rain did get in near the bottom of rear window. I had a Coleman tent in the past and payed twice the money and this tent is just as good as that one. I would love to have a tent with sturdy metal poles, but nobody seems to make a reasonably priced tent with sturdy poles any more. I don’t like D-shaped zippers because they don’t seem to last long term.