Ozark Trail - 3-Person Clip & Camp Dome Tent

My son was 11 and in boy scouts. The rules were, he needed a tent and had to be able to put it up himself. I got him this one: [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-3-Person-Clip-Camp-Dome-Tent-7-x-7-x-44/587622916](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-3-Person-Clip-Camp-Dome-Tent-7-x-7-x-44/587622916) We practiced a few times and he got the setup and takedown down pat and used it for camping that November. Haven't used it this year yet but we'll be camping in a few weeks :) Its NOT light enough for backpacking, but we car camp mostly :)

I have used an ozark trail 3 person dome tent quite a lot with good experiences. Not very lightweight though, so car camping only.

I've had fantastic luck with Ozark Trail tents. I started with a 3 person dome style, moved into a 4 person cabin style pop-up and then got a 6 person cabin style pop-up. The only reason I replaced the dome style was because I wanted to be able to stand up in the tent. The only reason I replaced the 4 person is because I wanted it to be bigger to accomodate my cot and bedding. They have never failed me, until I've tried to get them back in their dang bags - but that's when everyone becomes a failure, right?

We have a 3 person Ozark Trail dome tent that is still alive after 20 yrs. We call it the Walmart 25 … for the price we paid. It has held up well especially using a water repellent treatment we got at REI- Nixwax

The Walmart Ozark Trail 3 person dome tent is $30 and very light and ideal for Texas, although based on your requirement for space I would go for the 4 or up to 6 if you are fine with carrying more weight. I'm using the 3 person one for just me in Texas and I love it. It's only 5.64lbs and extremely spacious. I usually use it without the rain cover and only add it if there's high chances for rain. Any kind of more expensive tent seems completely unnecessary in your situation.

I honestly think nearly every new camper/inexperienced tent-buyer should immediately go to Walmart and buy the $30 Ozark Trail 7x7 that they always have. It's probably good enough for 80% of the folks out there that don't know what to get, it's insanely easy to set up and take down, small enough to do what you say - things like "just pick it up and shake it out to clean it" - and heck, it would probably last most folks a decade, but if somebody wanted to immediately upgrade, just give it to the next homeless person you see. Shoot, I've spent more for 2 people to eat at McDonald's this past month.

Hang out here long enough and you'll see plenty of posts touting either Coleman or Ozark Trail. OT is the one I usually recommend. 3P for $29 and 4P for $39 and Walmart, and unlike other cheap import trash, it's actually a well-made tent with decent poles and rain fly. (I can't remember but it might even include stakes.) It's not a one-season tent - if you make sure you dry it fully before storing it, and don't abuse it, it'll last years. A 4P is just about right for a couple with a full-sized air mattress and a pack-n-play for the little one. I see your request about size and respect that - larger units are available. But since you're going for such a short time, and this is your first time, I'd like to at least make a case to consider something VERY budget-friendly. There are a lot of other things you'll need to get and this will conserve budget for things where spending money matters more (air mattress, cooler, kitchen setup, etc). The 4P is a bit over 8' square, not much smaller than you were asking, and a foot shorter than you were asking but let's face it, when you say 6' tall, you're not standing in it - in a budget dome tent, that 6' mark is only at the center. If you're crouching when you climb into bed at the sides anyway... Anyway, YMMV, it's a very subjective decision, but it's worth a look. If/when you want to upgrade, this particular tent is so popular that it's super easy to resell or give away. Just a thought.

I have a couple ozark trail 1 and 3 person tents that are fine, but a 6 person one that is very difficult to set up. They are not great tents, but they are cheap and mostly usable. And because they are cheap, if you use it a few times and throw it out you don’t feel bad about the cost.

Wal Mart has a brand called Ozark Trail. I had one of their dome tents for 10 years. I camp at least a dozen times a year, including winter hunting camps in the rainy PNW. It outperformed many of my friends’ high-end tents in a lot of ways. I replaced it with a high-end model when it finally gave up because I could afford one at that point, but I was consistently impressed with that $50 tent that took heavy use without a hitch for a decade.

I'll start by saying that we camp in the Catskills in a remote area with zero amenities or other campers around. My son started staying in his own tent around age 5 or 6, my aunt had given him an Ozark Trail, probably 2-3 person. His tent was reasonably close to ours, and the dogs slept with him, and I would give him the key fob to my truck, if he were scared or needed us in some way he knew how to use the "panic" button on the remote. He used that tent till the wheels fell off, until I bought him a small Kelty when he was like 17 I think. My daughter started sleeping on her own a little later, probably 7-8, but would switch between our tent and her big brother's for a couple years before that. But same for her, she got the dogs and the key fob and an inexpensive, well reviewed Amazon tent that got replaced in a year or two with a Kelty since since her first tent had gotten damaged, not by her.

I have a Ozark dome tent, been having it for 7 years, still holds but want to upgrade my gear now