ALPS Mountaineering - Koda 1

Alps Mountaineering Koda 1 is my budget one-person go-to. Small and sturdy, full rain fly with vestibule, three and a half pounds, sets up in about two seconds. It's an older model, so I was only able to find one store selling it online, but they have it at about $100. If you can't find the Koda, the Lynx 1 appears to be the newer version of the same thing and is for sale all over the internet for $100-120.

Unnecessary but enthusiastic 4th on them. I have an Alps Koda 1 that's been my backpacking tent for years. It's dead simple to set up and totally bombproof.

Anything by Alps mountaineering. Really good warrantee, great quality, good pricing.

All the tents from Alps mountaineering have treated me very well in wind and rain. Colemans not so much.

I have never used an Ozark Trail tent, but I have used other store brand tents. My experience is the difference between a cheap tent and a half decent tent is waking up with a puddle in your tent. I recommend an Alps Mountaineering tent, but they will run you 100-150.

I love my Alps tent and they’re not too expensive.

Second on the Alps, and I also own a Nemo dragonfly osmo. Some people will say they aren't necessary, but I disagree 100 percent, especially in your use case. Get. a. ground cloth/footprint. Even if it's a $4 dollar general blue tarp. If somebody in the troop has access to tyvek housewrap, even better. You can run that through a wash and dry cycle and make it a lot less crinkly if you want. Unless you plan on camping on carpeting, there will inevitably be a stick, rock, piece of broken glass or debris that will scratch or puncture your floor. As far as purchasing, also keep an eye on the REI Garage Sale. I've seen some really good deals on things that were returned after a couple uses or missing an item that could be easily replaced.

No. Just get an Alps Mountaneering and save yourself a lot of aggravation.