User Review: Ozark Trail 12' x 10' Family Dome Tent

Reviewed July 9, 2008 by James E

Rating:
Design: dome
Sleeps: 6+
Ease of Setup: one person can set this up in less than 8 minutes after becoming familiar with the tent
Price Paid: $39.98

I love this tent and thought I'd share what I love about it, as well as the few nitpicks I have. It is as many others have said, well ventilated. Proof of that is I used a propane grill to heat the inside of my tent (I'll cover that in a bit) and the ventilation was adequate enough to keep fresh air flowing where it was safe to do this. I have used other tents where this was not possible and under the circumstances I'm about to cover you would have had to freeze. i

I purchased this tent at a local Wal-mart prior to going on a dirt biking trip with friends in March. for those who don't know, March in Colorado means sudden snowstorms and REALLY cold nights in the mountains (even though the days are warm).

This tent, still new in the cardboard box inside the carry bag and never set up, was the best thing to happen to me. We got where we were going in late evening, and that night (about 20 minutes after arriving) we started feeling frozen droplets. In less than 5 minutes it was snowing hard, and looking off the ridge we were on (which is not ideal for a tent because the top of a ridge is always hardest hit by severe weather, but safer from flash flooding and avalanches than down in a valley) we could see a blizzard with 100% white out conditions and it was heading our way FAST.

Having never set up this tent before going out (which ANY tent should be set up before going out) we broke it out of the carry bag, cut the tape on the cardboard box and pulled it out (I'd like to note I also purchased coghlan tent pegs with this tent) and proceeded to set it up with NO TIME to read the sewn in instructions. We put down a drop cloth (i.e. a tarp) and spread out the tent, faced the door AWAY from the direction of the blowing wind, and staked down 2 corners to keep it from blowing away (the wind now blowing a steady 15 mph according to the wind gage we took along).

We assembled the shock corded poles IN THE DARK (no previous setup) and with driving snow, slide them into place on the tent. 2 guys hooked in the rear corners while 2 of us bent the poles (erecting the tent upright) into place and hooked them in the front corners. We then attached quick clips, while 2 guys took the rainfly, put it into place, and put in the rainfly pole. We then finished staking the tent down and guying out the tent and rainfly.

Wind was now blowing at a constant 30mph and snow driving HARD. We piled in, lit a lantern and were all very cold. I went out to my truck, place cooler outside tent (not knowing how long it would snow, but please don't do this unless a situation similar as it's not advisable due to bears) and grabbed my propane grill and 3 propane bottles preparing for the worst. Lit the propane grill inside the tent and soon the tent was warm enough to take off our jackets. We then set up sleeping bags, etc. Put coats on, turned the grill to the lowest setting and went to sleep.

In the morning we woke up to a STILL warm tent (grill still running of course) and 20 inches of snow on the ground and about 10 inches still on the tent. Tapped tent walls and snow slid right off the dome. That day it all melted and tent stayed dry inside while the fabric dried very quickly.

We found out in the morning from a ranger who had came to check on us, that during the night the ridge we camped on took winds up to 65 mph during the night, and tent did not sustain any damage from the winds. That's what I like about its performance.

Here's the reason I only gave it 4 and a half stars though. My biggest complaint is the poles to the tent. They are fiberglass (which when fiberglass tent poles are made a certain amount of plastic is added to the mix to keep the fiberglass from breaking as it is bent and flexed). These poles that came with it had more plastic mixed in with the fiberglass than they should have. Therefore they are fragile.

During set up one of the guys stepped on one of the poles breaking it. During the night some of the snow broke the other pole (both were in the section at the very end). This was easily repaired with a coghlan's tent pole repair kit.

Later had poles break in another section after water got down inside a pole joint and froze breaking it. I then purchased several of the coghlan's tent pole repair kits and made myself a new set of poles. These poles are MUCH more durable, have been through similar abuse and have not broke.

Overall for the money, the performance, and as stated above the ease of setup and use, and durability in conditions considered more adverse than a tent of this type is made for; I would recommend this tent to anyone or any family wanting to start camping and needing a BIG tent at a very reasonable price.

I'd like to note that after reporting my findings to the manufacturer they have revamped the poles (even sent me a set of the new type) and the new poles are much more durable now (just don't step on them as any tent pole isn't made for that).

One person can easily set up this tent in less than 8 minutes (once they've set it up one time so they are familiar with setup procedures) which is great if you have bad weather or bad weather is moving in. It is lightweight enough to be packable (to a reasonable extent) and holds up very well to some conditions most people will never put it to.

Again if you are a family needing BIG tent at a great price that is durable and comfortable in ALL weather conditions this is a great tent for the price.

Two post notes: 1. as with any tent to keep from having leaks around the corners, follow manufacturer's suggestion and put down a ground cloth/tarp first.

2. if you KNOW it's going to rain more than 48 hours continuous, stretch out a tarp over the top of it, as the rainfly only holds up to 48 hours of continuous rain before you start seeing leaks. These are simple fast steps that can be done super quick during set up.

I'm happy with this tent and will no longer be looking for anything better.

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