The tent has two small, internal pockets—fewer than on any of our other picks—and a loop at the ceiling center to hang a small, lightweight lantern or other light. The tent weighs just 16 pounds, less than any other family tent we tested for this guide. Most of the tents we tested were roughly equally comfortable to sleep in. However, those that ozark trail wall tent provided the best night’s sleep all seemed to have some features in common, namely accessible gear pouches and plenty of carabiner loops in the ceiling. And we found ourselves feeling rather affectionate toward models with zippers that didn’t snag when we tried to open them, probably because so many of the cheaper tents failed this simple test.
Both doors zip open to the side that’s color-coded blue, as opposed to zipping open to opposite sides. This means the vestibules equally protect the doors, rather than providing opposite entries and exits—the latter creates a situation where, in stormy weather, one side of the tent is always more exposed to blustering wind or rain. In other words, one partner—or one partner’s gear—is always going to get a dose of weather when they head out.
Not the best, but certainly better than other shelters I’ve stayed in. It sucked the trip the camping everything because the damn zipper broke and I got beast up on by mosquitoes and bugs. Trust me, it’s worth the money when you are soaking wet a long distance from your car. Protects your roof from UV rays, sparks, sap, pitch, animal droppings. Fly will cover tent front to back and have a 1’ overhang on each side. Features reinforcements in all 4 corners in addition to d-rings every 3’ along each eave.
Our other dome-style tent 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 weaved throughout it, somewhat like a basket. The Base Camp also offers superior privacy compared with our other picks—with or without the rain fly. So yes, the Ozark Trail is an absolute steal of a deal if you’re into the bell tent design, but there are a few shortcomings you’ll want to be aware of if you’re considering it. First, although it’s a great space to hang in good weather, the yurt’s ventilation struggles to keep up in serious heat. If you plan to use it during summer, you may want to consider taking advantage of its e-port to run a tent air conditioner.
It features more ventilation than the Alpha Tent above, and the windows can allow a breeze in. This is one of the best waterproof canvas wall tents for small groups and is very affordable. Families who regularly pitch their tent in rainy locales need a wind-fighting tent with a good-size vestibule for storing wet shoes and gear, as well as a full rain fly for added weather protection. The WHITEDUCK Alpha Canvas Wall Tent is our number one recommendation for anyone looking to buy this style of tent.
Note that these tents are strictly meant for car camping; the Base Camp 4 and the Base Camp 6 weigh 16 and 21 pounds, respectively, so you won’t want to carry either one very far. That’s especially true of the 2018 redesigns because you can no longer wear either tent’s storage sack like a backpack—you now have to sling it over one shoulder. Like almost all of the tent companies we asked, Eureka recommends that campers use a tarp or ground cloth for added protection.