User Review: Ozark Trail 2-Person Junior Dome Tent

Summary

It's cheap ($20 at Walmart), very compact, moderate weight, and a breeze to set up. However, it's not "heavy duty" and I would not want to rely on this tent as my only shelter.

The tent was only $20 bucks at Walmart, and what really caught my eye at first was that a 5' x 6' tent could fit in such a small carry bag (canvas type material with a carry loop). My original intention was to carry it in a motorcycle saddle bag for overnight rides.

Before I was ever able to use it, a neighbor borrowed it for a slumber party. When I got it back, a lot of the poles were split 1-2" from the open ends. They are still usable, but they don't snap into shape like they are originally designed to do. However, with only 2 poles to set up the tent, it is extremely easy, simple, and quick to set up. A kid would have no problem setting this tent up by himself.

The tent comes with 4 stakes, a length of cloth (to tie the tent in a roll) 2 identical fold-a-poles, and the canvas carry bag. The rain-fly is sewn on at two corners, and hooks into two other loops of cloth on opposite sites. The rain-fly is not removable. Convenient, but it limits the use of the rain-fly for any other purpose (such as a wind tarp, or to collect water drip etc).

The 5' x 6' measurement is pushing it, I am 5'10" and I cannot fully stretch my legs out unless I lie diagonally. For kids, you may be able to sleep 3, however, 2 is easily comfortable. Two adults can fit, if you cuddle.

The tent is pretty smothering - it has no windows except for the top-half of the door, and a small screen on the top (covered by the rain-fly). The door zips 180 degrees all the way around the bottom, for ease of getting in and out. The tent itself is made of a rip-stop type nylon, and has single stitching throughout. For this reason, I cannot verify how long the tent will last. I have used it minimally in the year I've had it. However, I would not want to stress the stitching any more then I would have to - not set up for heavy duty.

As far as the rainproofness of the tent, I can only say that it is water resistant. You won't wake up in water, but as with most "waterproof" tents, it is not 100% waterproof. Water will not enter the tent AS LONG AS nothing is touching the sides of the tent. Anything that touches the walls of the tent (blankets, backpack, skin) will get damp as long as it is raining. I have experienced this issue with other tents, some of a very well prestige name. The bottom of the tent is made of a tougher tarp-like woven nylon material and the seams that connect the bottom footprint to the walls are waterproof.