12-Person Instant Cabin Tent with Integrated LED Lights

Full on gear junkie here. My parents bought what I refer to as the Taj Mahal from Walmart to start camping again. They ended up buying an rv instead and gave it to me. I’d never buy this 12x18 3 room tent. It was probably $100. It was f’n amazing when we brought our kid camping when they were months old. There was room for the pack n play, a changing station, a blow up bed. We ultra light backpacked for years with the bare minimum, that thing was a whole new world. Couldn’t recommended it enough and available for borrow to my friend group. I think I own 7 tents from a bivy type to a canvas to the Taj. They all have their place.

We purchased the Ozark trail 12 person instant cabin. We love the Ozark tent we got, just took it out for our first trip. It rained a lot, 1/2 inch or more. Everything stayed dry, rainfly did not leak and we had a ground tarp. I do not know how long it will stay waterproof but it did not let us down on that trip. With the extra room in the middle we could bring our wet dogs in. Dry and crate without touching our sleeping area. It set up really fast and had tons of room. We had two 4x5ft dog crates set up on one side and a queen size sleeping area for my wife and I on the other side. We had so much room left in the middle and around the edge of the tent. We absolutely could have had 3 more people sleeping in the tent. This thing is 18x10 with 80 inch ceiling. Its bigger than what we need, but this is our campground tent. We have a small trailer we tow with all our gear on it. So with this Bass Pro tent 14x8 it is smaller than 3 queen size mattresses lined up (assuming 60''x80'') So what is your 5 plus a dog? Married couple with 3 kids, or is it 5 full size people plus a dog. I think if you guys are a couple with your kids you would fit fine. Just think maybe you do a test setup to see how much gear you want to keep inside the tent before your trip. But if its 5 friends and a dog trying to camp comfortably I think this would be too small. If everyone has their own pile of stuff they want to bring and store in the tent. I think you would end up having a wet dog walk on everything. Looks like a nice tent though. We are in New York, camping weather is mostly nice. So we went with a cheaper alternative. Looks like a well made tent, I am curios to hear from anyone that owns the Bass pro tent. [Here's the Walmart tent we got](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-12-Person-Instant-Cabin-Tent-with-Integrated-LED-Lights-3-Rooms-47-87-lbs/55260502?classType=REGULAR&athbdg=L1100&from=/search)

Honestly for car camping with little kids, look at the big instant up multi room ozark trail tents from Walmart. They’re heavy and pack down big, but they’re well under $200, ours has lasted for years and through many rainstorms, and it has enough room to stand up. Also the front room doubles as a screen room which is really nice if it’s super buggy. https://www.walmart.com/browse/sports-outdoors/pop-up-tents/ozark-trail/4125_546956_4128_887708_4094354/YnJhbmQ6T3phcmsgVHJhaWwie?adid=22222222265446360557&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=b&wl1=o&wl2=m&wl3=74904359694166&wl4=dat-2326704043460416:loc-71240&wl5=108901&wl6=&wl7=&wl14=ozark%20trail%20instant%20up%20tents&veh=sem&&msclkid=28b64cefffd2149f863824cddc429607&gclid=28b64cefffd2149f863824cddc429607&gclsrc=3p.ds I wouldn’t suggest a nice tent with little kids unless you’re actually backpacking. They tend to be hard on things, and the more room the better

We use the Ozark instant up cabin tent, not the popup. We have used it through many rainstorms and many, many scouts putting it up and down. They aren't gentle handling jt. And it has lasted so far through the years. I am 5'2" as well and can put them up easily by myself. We have almost all of the size options of the tent. Pretty easy to pack up as well.

I'd also recommend an ozark trail instant tent, They're the new coleman from decades past. The average mans tent, for whoever is just getting into the hobby and doesnt want to break the bank. Great for familys who may go camping a handful of times a year in mostly fair weather. They'll last some rough handling for minimum a few years to a decade, plenty of time to get use out of it and upgrade. Any from the instant tent line will be big, bulky, and heavy but quick and easy to set up even if its just one person going it. Ive personally set up a 10 person myself in less than 5 minutes. I've also used mine during souther arizona monsoon storms, high winds and sideways rain and I stayed nice and cozy with room to sit around to relax in unlike a dome tent.

The kingdom tents from REI are great. the tubeshape and features are quite nice so are the extras.... but if you want easy to put up an down the instant tents from Ozark Trail I used with my family when kids were young in cub scouts for 5+ years. I the integrated poles made for putting it up and down very quick and easy even by myself, and I could stand up and had 4 cots in them. The may be cheaper than others but there are a few brands that make the instant tents with integrated poles. I was surprised how well my ozark held up. also check out the alps brands, they are built well, but heavy.

I ran a instant up Ozark trail for well over a decade. Went a few years with a small camper and sold it to get into a nice gazelle and I couldn't be happier. I don't do hiking/backpacking due to disabilities but it's perfect for car camping. Throw it on my roof rack get to camp and 10 min later my tent is set up.