Despite this minor issue, the tent’s strong poles and zippers gave me confidence that it would last for many more camping trips. My recent adventure with the Ozark Trail Screen House was nothing short of unforgettable. While camping in the wilderness, I needed a shelter to enjoy the great outdoors without getting bitten by insects.
The product line, including its tents, should remain available through the end of 2024. The biggest material difference between the Sundome and our other picks is its crunchy, tarp-like polyethylene floor. The other tents in this guide all have bathtub-style tape-seamed polyester floors, which is the standard ozark trail canopy among high-quality tents. The Sundome’s tarp is clearly a budget material, but for what it was, we found it user-friendly. It’s easy to mop up after wet paws and spills, and it doesn’t hold moisture. It’s unlikely to be as durable, though, as the softer, stronger polyester found in our other picks.
Its mesh construction also offers excellent ventilation, keeping the interior cool and comfortable during hot summer days. Overall, the 14X12 is an excellent choice for those seeking a functional and comfortable outdoor living space. Our only quibble with the Mineral King 3 is that it comes with only six stakes. (Our runner-up pick comes with eight.) Six is enough to secure the tent and fly but not to fully secure the tent’s extra lines in very windy conditions. These inexpensive stakes are comparable to the ones that accompany the Mineral King 3; these slightly more expensive stakes will serve you well in any car-camping terrain. However, one downside was the ease of setting up the tent without the companion canopy.
Even though I was the only one testing it out, I can only imagine how fantastic a gathering spot it would be for a group of friends or family. But don’t think protection from bugs, wind, and rain is the only advantage — the heavy mesh makes for some sweet ventilation too, and it has enough room for 6 of us. I had the chance to test out the Waypoint Screenhouse Tarp and let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with it.
After we pitched the tent, the Mineral King 3’s adaptable fly let us leave half the mesh dome uncovered. At the first sign of rain, it took only a few seconds—and a quick hand stuck outside the tent—to unfurl the fly and secure it for a dry night’s sleep. When we awoke, we could roll back one part of the vestibule, make coffee, and watch the sky lighten even though it was still raining. To compare tent fabrics, you also need to know their overall rip strength.
I loved the size of this screen house but after a few uses, the 4-way hub gable cracked and a couple of the curved roof poles bent a little. I was wondering if anyone out there can e-mail me the manual. I packed my Ozark Trail WMT1412R 14’x12′ Screen House away because of Huricane Katrina and I guess in all the confusion I did not pack the manual in a waterproof container. ozark trail screen house My screen house and all the poles were safe but the manual got water soaked and since we did not get the screen house out it is now unreadable besides we cannot separate the pages. We’ve tested (and recommended) Eureka tents in past versions of this guide. In October 2023, Eureka’s parent company, Johnson Outdoors, announced that it was discontinuing the Eureka brand.