These tents are built for first-time and/or fairweather campers, so Ozark Trail puts a lot of effort into making them easy to use. The one exception to the rule here is for the larger cabin-style tents, especially those with an “instant ozark trail camping tent” design that uses pre-attached poles. Each of the cabin’s three rooms includes its own privacy divider, and each is large enough to fit a queen-sized mattress as well, so it’s a great option for large groups or families.
Ozark Trail tents are pretty much all “fair-weather” shelters, but dome tents get the advantage here. Second, Ozark Trail tents are affordable because they use very basic materials. All Ozark Trail poles are either steel alloy or fiberglass, and the fabrics used throughout the tent are typically on the thinner side. Again, not a deal-breaker, but don’t expect these tents to stand up to the same use and abuse as their premium alternatives from brands.
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. Livability describes the overall day-to-day experience of owning and using a tent, and tents that are more comfortable, convenient, and easy to use score the highest in terms of livability.
Pack rain gear to stay warm and dry, and consider bringing one set of clothes to change into at camp as well as one or two sets of clothes for hiking. There were a lot of miles today — I hit the Berryman Trail loop, which feels optimized for mountain bikes. It was easy to cruise on it, but not so great for finding a spot to camp at the end of the day.
A bushwhack to Eleven Point River and 20 minutes of rest and water-gathering helped. The highlight of the day came at mile 9.4 – Brockman Spring. I nearly walked by it without seeing it, and that would have been a tragedy. It is perhaps the coolest spring I have ever seen. I ate lunch there and drank as much as possible — it was getting hot. Spiffyguy had plans to meet a friend at the next trailhead north and shuttle back.
On any given day, Ozark’s 22-piece set would cost you $149; however, you can pick it up for just under $100. When you do the math, each of the 22 items featured only cost $4.50. No, you’re not the only one who is in sheer disbelief that the summer is nearly over.
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. It’s designed to resemble the sorts of cabins that’ll remind mom and dad of summers spent camping at local state parks or the regional Boy or Girl Scout camp. Beyond aesthetics, this A-frame cabin tent combines size (a spacious 14′ x 12′ with 113-inch center height) with simplicity (it’s made for easy set-up and pack-down). Comfort’s in play, as well, with this spacious option fitting two queen-sized air mattresses, which cover enough space for 12 sleeping bags.