Unfortunately, the steel pole in the back of the tent did not lock into position, so this tent is defective. I did not continue to set up the screen porch (which has no floor) or put the rainfly on. I did go inside the tent to stand up and not hunched over and noticed the mesh ceiling with lots of ventilation. I’m sure this tent is good during a wind storm and rain/condensation issues. ozark trail shower tent This screened-in shelter also gets high points for its price, which is always a selling point with an Ozark Trail tent, but this one represents a particularly good value considering all its features. Layout wise is virtually identical to the Core Instant Cabin we evaluated for our 10 person tent roundup, but delivers those same massive interior dimensions for about $100 less.
So I would not put it to very serious tests in harsh weather conditions. The bigger part of the tent is a single-layer structure, only the ceiling is with the mesh and here you have the minimal fly added as the second layer. However, the windows and the door are also double-layer with mesh and waterproof panels. As stated above, durability and materials are the main pain point of Ozark Trail tents. The fabrics are often thinner and less technical (regular polyester rather than ripstop, etc.), and the poles are pretty much always made from cost-saving materials like fiberglass and thin steel alloy.
In terms of drawbacks, this is a particularly budget-friendly model from an already budget-focused brand, so you’ll need to be mindful of a few shortcomings to get the most out of this shelter. First, Ozark Trail uses sealed seams on this tent, but the fabric itself isn’t made for a rainstorm. You’ll want to give the entire tent a thorough Nikwax treatment before taking it on the road. Second, the fabric feels thin, and a few users have reported ripping it during setup, so you’ll need to take your time both setting up and taking down this tent. There’s a lot to love here, but as the Ozark Trail Three Room Instant Cabin is still a budget department store tent, you’ll want to be aware of a few shortcomings.
This is also a cabin style tent with straight but angled walls, though you do not have a stand-up height, the tent is with the peak height of 66 inches (168 cm). The dimensions and the shape are the same as in their Ozark Trail 6-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent. The one exception to the rule here is for the larger cabin-style ozark trail canopy tent tents, especially those with an “instant tent” design that uses pre-attached poles. Large dome tents are also an option, and although they’re a little less flashy, they have some perks of their own. First off, dome tents are typically less expensive since they have fewer total parts and less sophisticated frames.
There is a pocket for batteries and with the switch on the ceiling, it is visible in the picture. You might like to know that the windows are with zippers so you can keep the panels at any height to regulate the amount of light and privacy. We’ve also put together a handy buyer’s guide down at the bottom as a resource for shoppers who are new to the Ozark Trail brand, so make sure to check it out.