Four-Person A-Frame Instant Tent

I love my 4 person instant pop up tent. I don't even remember what brand it is. I got it on sale from Walmart so maybe it's Ozark trail? I've had it a few years now and it still works great. Set up and take down is much quicker than my friends with normal tents.

I’ve used a couple 4 person instants and have been impressed. Gazelle (excellent) and an Ozark Trail very cheap but still quite good).

I have that exact A frame Ozark Trails. It's great until the rains come. Still use it all the time on quick trips. It's fast to put up, so if you aren't planning on doing anything but sleeping in it, it's my first choice.

Hey, thank you so much for this! I’ll definitely check out the items you listed. When people say car camping I’m thinking more like country camping, where you pack everything in the car and set up at a campsite, but definitely not sleeping in the car itself. Though I’ve done both, and they’re both fun! I want to start going more often, sometimes solo, sometimes with a friend. I really appreciate the breakdown in terms of the big three as it makes everything way easier to wrap my head around. Tents make the most sense to upgrade first, especially something that works for solo and two-person trips. The tent I had in the picture actually melted last July when I camped at Kernville, CA on a really hot day. Now I have an Ozark 4-person all-season tent, but I’ll check out those Naturehike models and some of the higher-end options to see what feels right. Sleep system is next on my list too! Comfort and warmth matter way more than I realized. Thanks again for laying it all out so clearly, it makes all the options feel way less overwhelming. Appreciate it!

I hated that tent too, lol. I used it for the first time for my first solo camping trip and it literally melted on me, like plastic pieces coming apart. I got it off Amazon and ended up returning it and they actually accepted it. I have an Ozark 3 season 2 to 4 person tent now that I’ve used a few times and it’s held up so far. I agree with the first upgrade suggestion. I camped in Yosemite National Park last December and I was cold af, so a down or synthetic throw over my bag probably would’ve made a big difference. Appreciate the tips, I’ll look into that next!

I had issues with the tent in the photo. It literally melted on me, lol. I ended up returning it to Amazon and replaced it with an Ozark brand from Walmart, which I’m still using now.

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.

Yep. I’ve had my Ozark trail 4 person tent for about 5 years now, we camp at least three times a summer usually more. The tent still is in great condition no leaks (I did spray it with weatherproofing when I first got it) and all the zippers are still good.

Much depends on your use. Are you driving out and camping in a campground? Basically car camping? Do you hike in 15 miles, camp and hike out? Do you use your tent just to sleep or do you hang out in it? Do you share your tent? It seems like it is just you and the dog and maybe one other person and it is out and back weekends at a campground. For long trails, backpacking months at a time, Durston tents are good for one or two people. The Pro 2p is what I’ve owned in the past. The XMid has a good price point. The REI half dome has more interior room and is easier to set up. For car camping and spending some time in the tent an Ozark Trails 4 person tent used for two is great (walked out to my garage to check ours). We got it at a garage sale but only use it for car camping bb My current primary tent is for backpacking with my wife, months at a time. I love it but I would not recommend the Zpacks Trio for your use. From what I can tell from your post weight doesn’t really matter. Interior comfort does. But without more none of us here can tell. Finally, most online lists are trying to get you to buy so they can rake in affiliate marketing kickbacks. That results in confusing and scattershot reviews and advice. Wish you luck.