ozark trail backpackWhen heavy trade winds buffeted our Oahu-coast testing site, we pitched each tent in full face of the blast. We then rotated the tents looking for structural weaknesses, and we tested their guy lines and tabs to see which tents had the best and most intuitive design for withstanding wind. Temperatures ranged from the 50s at night to the 80s during the day. This dome-style tent has nearly vertical walls, high ceilings, and a single vestibule the size of an actual mudroom.
An avid hiker, camper, and long-haul road-tripper, Claire Wilcox has slept in (and occasionally improvised) tents in 11 states. She covers outdoor gear for Wirecutter and worked on the most recent update of this guide, testing couples’ tents and family tents. One thing we love about Ozark Trail canopy tents are the accessories that can be added to the shelters.
These include sidewalls, weight bags, and a host of other great add-ons that can really increase the use and versatility of the canopy tent. Perhaps our two favorites are camping tent additions that connect to the frame of the shelter and leverage the stability of the 10×10 frame to support a camping tent structure. It’s worth highlighting that despite the advertised dimensions of the 10×10 Ozark Trail, because this is a slant leg shelter the top only measures 8×8. You’ll be able to comfortably fit up to 4 chairs underneath the 64 sq.
The tent comes with a full rain fly that adds two vestibules for storage (each 14 square feet), totaling 115 square feet of livable space—which is fairly generous yet still practical for most campsites. Car campers who plan to brave miserable weather will appreciate the extra strength and protection of the REI Co-op Base Camp 4 Tent. The main bodies of our other picks are structured with two main poles with added support from smaller brow poles. The Base Camp, by contrast, has four full-size aluminum struts woven throughout it, somewhat like a basket, plus an additional brow pole that frames the front entrance and supports the larger of the two vestibules.
ozark trail outdoor equipmentThe Mineral King 3 has a full rain fly, which you can roll up halfway or completely remove for epic stargazing. It also comes with a groundsheet (aka footprint) to protect the tent floor. If the Mineral King 3 is out of stock, or if you’d like a slightly larger tent, we recommend the Marmot Tungsten 4.
There may not be many bells and whistles, but we don’t think it’s necessary here. For adjusting the height of this model, there is a push switch system that is designed to make things as easy as possible for the user. You’ll find orange buttons on each leg that are quite large so that you can effortlessly press them and move the poles up and down. With the massive influx of instant canopies taking over the market, it can be hard to find one that lives up to its claims. For a day at the beach, sunny picnic party, or other outdoor event, you want something that’s going to protect from the harsh rays of the sun, but is still easy enough to transport and assemble on site.
The feet areas of the legs are also something to mention, as they are shaped like pads instead of a simple pole. It’s typically used by families, couples, or groups of friends going to outdoor events, but we can see it being used for more commercial purposes. The North Face Wawona 4, which we used to list in our Other Good Tents section, has been redesigned; it’s now made of polyester, not nylon. Weighing just 7 pounds, the tent is light enough to double for backpacking trips, especially if you divide the pieces among hikers. The estimate assumes all products are in Like New, Grade A, Fully
functioning condition and include, original manufacturer
accessories and packaging.