Ozark Trail 9-Person Instant Cabin Tent Review

ozark trail instant cabinOf course, being an instant set up tent is a strong lure for those who dread the campsite pitch. It has received a lot of positive reviews as it is laden with accessories, has a good quality build, and is priced affordably. Chances are, though, you won’t want to spend half your trip setting up your tent. Manufacturers have found clever ways to make tent setup easier, including attaching the poles to the material so there are no pieces to assemble. Some family tents can be erected as quickly as 60 seconds, especially once you’ve gotten the hang of it. Shawna Newman is the editor-in-chief of Active Weekender, a website that provides resources — from gear recommendations to beginner tips — to people looking to plan outdoor adventures.

Wherever you are in your journey, whatever gear you’re searching for, you can be sure to find unbiased and up-to-date reviews for all of your needs. Ease of setup (how easy it is to pitch and take down a tent) is pretty much always a high mark for Ozark Trail tents. 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 tent” design that uses pre-attached poles.

ozark trail shower tentThis isn’t an instant tent, but ease of use is still a high point of this model thanks to the simple setup. Just slide the roof poles into place, then plug the side and corner poles into their designated hubs and raise it all up. Two people can get this cabin set up in about five minutes, but setting the 2 Room Cabin up solo isn’t out of the question either. It was very difficult to roll the tent back into its original shape to return to store. I’ve read many people have had the same problems and went to army surplus to buy a bigger durable storage bag.These are the two QUEEN Mattress I received with my bundle order. I did not open these boxes because they too needed to be returned with the tent.

These shelters tend to be much heavier and bulkier when packed up due to the frame design, so you’ll want to make sure you’ve got room to transport them in your vehicle and store them in your home before buying. 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. If you still want a 6 person tent, but want something that doesn’t have any problems with the flooring, although it’s not an instant setup tent – it is still in the same price range, AND has its own porch area. 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.

Not all manufacturers go the extra mile to ensure no rain will get in. Tent is made of polyester and steel with large windows and mesh screen. While the waterproofing on this tent is good, it is recommended you provide added protection with water-resistant spray you can pick up at any outdoor store. Even though Ozark Trail 9 Person Instant Tent is a rather large tent, you want to make sure there is a good amount of venting going on. This makes charging your devices or running electric heaters/stoves simple. Additionally, there is large shelf storage on the tent’s interior wall so you can house your essentials an arm’s length away.

In addition, it comfortably fits three queen airbeds or up to 12 campers in sleeping bags on the floor. Two internal room dividers allow you to create separate sleeping and living spaces. Keep cool with the oversized ground vent that also fits an air conditioner. Gear up for your next outdoor adventure with the Ozark Trail 11-Person Instant Cabin with Private Room.

Caters to those who are looking for a large shelter for family or group camping. A mesh room is the main draw here, with its large size allowing it to be configured any way you choose. You have plenty of mesh around and if you have to keep all the windows and doors closed, you still have a large vent on its narrow side, see the picture below.

ozark trail canopy tentIn this Ozark Trail 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent review, my main goal is to debunk all feedback that it has received and find out if this product is even worth it or not. Despite this, our customers report that around 1 in 1000 products arrives damaged due to mail service mistreatment. He is a dedicated backcountry explorer and a trained Wilderness First Responder. Tyler has hiked every mountain range in the US and summited Highpoints in several US states as well as Germany.

All in all, you will need a car for the transportation of this tent. But the area is 140 ft² (13 m²) so this is far too small for such a number of users although indeed it should be possible to put 10 sleeping pads on the floor. Note again that the tent is fully floored, so this can work for a group of friends at a summer festival and for other similar activities. But for a family camping, it is best to downgrade this number by half. You have to add the fly as well, so it is best to have somebody to help you. This is why I have added it to my list of best instant camping tents.