Fast Frame 3P

We have a 3 person Ozark trail tent that’s held up for like 10 years now. We do have to set up a tarp over it now as it is now longer keeping the rain out. We just bought their 10 person tent last year. I haven’t tested it out in the rain yet though.

I have this one which has been great so far. It’s really heavy though. I suppose it doesn’t take up a ton of car space - if they got the6 person version (if there is one) that would probably work out fine. There’s always space under a cot to store stuff also.

If you want to be more cost conscious, Walmart brand (Ozark Trail) has fairly decent 3 person tents that hold up pretty well. Particularly given they are 1/2 to 2/3 the cost of a similar Coleman. I’ve been using a 3 person Ozark Trail tent for the past 5 years in a troop setting. Camping 6 to 8 weekends a year.

I have one of these and can confirm... super easy to set up. A single person can put the whole thing together in just a couple of minutes. Also surprisingly durable for the price. I've had mine for a couple of years now and it still looks new. Have him practice setting it up in your yard before going on the trip.

Walmart / ozark trail 3 person tent. 2 poles, easy to set up - $29 so if he breaks it ... no biggi https://preview.redd.it/b2m3wnmh9jef1.jpeg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=64bc882d179e51d2aaef765ae43b900e768de0b5

I had an older version I used for 4 or 5 years, was eventually vandalized (slashed when left on an island too long). I also had kids one for over a decade. Purchased for a girlfriends kid one year. After that i used it for storing wood and other gear I wanted to keep out of the weather.

See if you have a Sierra store nearby. They are ran by the same folks that do TJ Maxx. They are basically an outdoor centric version of a TJ Maxx, with some incredible deals in the camping department. That being said, no need to go fully kitted straight out of the gate. Buy what you can, and upgrade/replace as you can or need to. I grew up camping, my wife did not. She wanted to try it, so I went out and bought a 3 person tent, a couple sleeping bags, and two chairs, all ozark trail brand, from walmart. I got a used coleman stove off of craigslist, and a few small pots and pans from a thrift store. With that, we camped for two seasons before we started replacing it with better kit.