As you realize this is a nicely balanced construction, very stable and self-supporting. The tent is a true freestanding structure, and this remains so even after you add the fly and clip it to the corners, so you can move it around and rotate. But the fly is with four guyout lines and you can stake it out in windy conditions. To avoid waking up in a puddle during an inevitable storm, add a tarp over your tent for extra protection. One of the biggest complaints about Ozark tents is that they tend to spring leaks easily. Often, campgrounds have size limits when it comes to how much room you can take up.
However, one of the rear hooks (that also seats the fly pole) started pulling out of the seam, so we managed to swap it for a replacement @ a Walmart in North Carolina. The replacement worked fine for the remainder of our tour, including surviving a pretty heavy thunderstorm in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I am 6′ and definitely could stand up straight in the centre.
I have the JW-7607 which is a 2-3 (read that as two) person tent. It has held up to kids camping in the living room and back yard, many camping trips to desert / forest / lake environments and even survived a bear “attack” with only a small tear. Although Core tents are ozark trail canopy slightly more expensive than Ozark Trail, they still remain as an affordable option. Furthermore, Core features many similar tents to Ozark Trail, such as the instant tents that come pre-assembled. When it comes to hot weather, Ozark Trail does not fail with ventilation.
The 2 green pole sleeves are for the longer diagonal poles (with 9 fiberglass segments), and the 1 blue pole sleeve is the for the shorter pole (with 5 fiberglass segments). So I called the company requesting new poles and a month later I have yet to see my new poles. They claim they are weather tested, but I feel they don’t include rain or wind as elements of the weather. I could make a better shelter out of cardboard boxes and scotchgard. Also using a ground cover under the tent (seems obvious to me) will help prevent water from coming in from the underside of the tent. If and when I buy a new tent, I will go with Ozark again, and will not buy it from walmart….if you watch a doc.
If it’s below 50 degrees, use a good sleeping bag or lots of blankets. About the rain and leaking; I read these reviews right after I bought it and was afraid that my tent would do the same thing. I even let it sit outside through two thunderstorms and I’m impressed by how dry the inside was. Coleman is another affordable camping gear brand that also produces a lot of the same style tents as Ozark Trail.
If you need more options to consider, please check around in various categories in the site, this is all about family camping tents and you will surely find something for you. This Alps Cedar Ridge Rimrock 6 Tent is also very affordable and built in a different style. This lofty, uniquely designed 10 person tent works well for a family camping trip. This classically shaped and sized cabin tent can sleep 6 adults, is easy to set up, and offers a couple of unique features. Certain brands are tailored towards certain camping styles, depending on how many people you want to bring.
The poles are not color-coded, but the pole sleeves are. Browse Ozark Trail’s top-rated hiking and camping gear and more. Find the best hiking/camping product for your next outdoor adventure using our independent reviews and ratings.