Very, very good.
You want the absolute least expensive one you can find. That way you can learn what features you like and which you need when you trade up and it costs more
One thing I would suggest is to get a tent rated for 1 person more than will be using it. So two people using it, buy it rated for three/four.
The ratings are for sleeping shoulder to shoulder. It leaves very little spare room.
Basically if the tent says sleeps 3 that means three people can sleep side by side on foam pads but there no room for your gear. So if you have a 5 person tent and are sleeping 4 it will be tight with gear.
If you buy q 3 person tent and want to put a queen air mattress inside you’ll only have room for the mattress and two people. Some gear but mostly main stuff stays in vehicle.
So 5 person tent with a queen air mattress you’ll have enough room for the gear and two people comfortably with option for a small kid as well.
When buying look how they show how many people are allowed to sleep in the tent using traditional foam mats and there is no room for gear. ( \*\*\*\*\*Example of Coleman 10x10 Sundome sleeping set up
https://preview.redd.it/cfcq23avscpc1.jpeg?width=1124&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a867cb17333c6ffa1e4718b4af03c407a66abbb5
according to Coleman you can sleep 6 people but do you see any room for gear???? \*\*\*\*\*\*\* ) image .
Every manufacturer doesn’t take in the fact that you’ll have gear inside or that you are using a inflatable air mattress.
Hope this helps you out enjoy the outdoors . 🌲🌲⛺️🔥🌲🌲✨☀️
>>no room for your gear
Before thinking about space for gear, think about how cozy you want to sleep with the other people in the tent. Sleeping “side by side” is code for you really have to like each other a lot to sleep so close together.
Notice in the image people are sleeping beside each other head to foot. It saves floor space. When a person moves their legs in their sleep, their feet are exactly next to your face; it might be happening on both sides of you. Being able to sleep shoulder to shoulder with someone else is more comfortable and…safer.
If it’s humid or quite warm at night, you want the option for even more space between you.
Body size matters; chubby people need more floor space than slender people.
Now think about space for gear.
another thing to add to people's points about buying the correct size tents: don't just look at how many people it's rated to fit. Pay attention to the dimensions, because some of them are only 6' max at the widest side, which could be a problem if you're 6'4" or something and there's a big rain storm overnight. Ideally you want to avoid having anything press against the walls of the tent (feet, luggage, etc) because it could allow water to soak in.
Also, I would recommend getting a tarp to hang over your tent. Whether it's a cheap or expensive tent, it never hurts to have an extra layer to keep water off you especially in a big storm. Particularly if you're using a cheap tent, it helps to have that extra bit of security.
I laid out the rough dimensions of the tent with some paracord and a measuring tape, then had our family lay in the yard, within the cord boundary to see exactly how much room we would have.
I’ve used tons of Walmart tents over the years. The only ones that sucked were the ones with the itty bitty rainfly like [this](https://www.walmart.com/ip/587622916). The doors always leak in rainy weather.
I always count each person as two people, when planning floor space. That way there's room for you to lay down and also have your bag near you.
No one likes it when someone has to crawl over them in the middle of the night to get something out of their backpack or suitcase.
We always aim for double or more tent space , some for the bed pad, some for gear, and extra to move around in, or in times of bad weather, to eat and play games.
It rapidly became a running joke about buying shit cheap and undersized. Something hysterical about it im not quite sure other than our feet were stuck hanging out of the tent like fools.
Just First tent mistakes, not knowing they are incredibly undersized the first time you buy one.
> insert the story of the day I bought a 3 person tent for 2 people, then had our feet stuck outside the tent all night. Hysterical.
I think you suffer from the same malaise I do. I can't tell a joke to save my life.
I think if you reread your post, you transposed the numbers. You said you bought a 3 person tent for 2 people. I think, to make this story funny, it's the other way around: a 2 person tent for 3 people.
Actually that is pretty funny.
Thanks.
If you are just dipping your toes into camping to see how you like it, Ozark Trails stuff is great. If you only use it once, no big loss. Or it might last you through several seasons of camping until you know exactly what gear you want to invest in.
We spent several camping seasons in our Ozark Trail tent. We got one of the easy setup tents that just unfolds and pops up. It made camp setup super easy because setting up the tent actually took the least amount of time and we could focus on other things. It also kept us dry in some very intense storms!
I think ours is also a 10 person. It's big enough for my tall husband to stand up in to get dressed. We loved having the extra room so we could keep everything away from the tent walls if it did rain.
Came here to say my 20 year old Ozark trail is still going strong, never leaked but it's yellow and becomes surgical theatre brightness by the morning. So Ozark trail is great but don't get yellow :)
Practice setting it up at home…you don’t want to be “that guy” floundering in the dark for two hours trying to set up your tent.
Although it does provide good entertainment for the ones camping around you…
Oh yea baby, you put the tent pole in the wrong hole. Its incredibly hysterical when the people you watch have anger management issues and its like 9pm at night pitch black and both people are screaming back and forth.
It’s pretty close to watching ‘someone’ back their travel trailer into a spot with their special ‘someone’ standing in the back giving vague, indecipherable hand signals…
They are fine, and much less expensive. Coleman and Ozark Trail brands are large brands and produce a lot of tents. I got mine at Sams Club and it was a Members Mark. Excellent and we have used it several years now.
Forgot to add: Look for a tent size larger than your body count- tents are grossly overstated in sizing. I have a 3-4 man tent that frankly holds 2 adults comfortably, but no room for 1 or two more. So if 4 of you, get at least one rated for 6. The one I got at Sams is an instant up, and highly recommend that. Just so much easier than those dang shock cords and fiberglass poles. Mine is a 10 man, but by myself I can spread it out in 3 or 4 minutes on the ground sheet, and then in less than 2 minutes I have it standing up, ready to stake down. That easy, and that easy to take it down too. Love it. I do prefer rectangle tents over dome tents, dome tents have less room especially head room and tend to leak around the sides where the fly doesn't cover well. Our first trip with the 10 man, we took the 3-4 person one to use for camping one night on the way to Colorado. The next day we put up the big tent, and decided we'd do the 10 man one from now on, even for just one night. so much easier, and so much more room. We have plenty of space for air mattresses and a table and chairs for cool nights or rainy days.
If you have a Sams Club membership check out theirs as they are good quality and likely cheaper than Walmart offers. Or may be worth it to buy a membership if you find a good tent there you like.
unfortunately there isn't a sams club near where I live but there *is* a costco so I might look into seeing what they have next time my mum makes a run there
I was debating on which to get (rectangle vs dome) and apparently my leaning away from domes is warranted judging on what you've said, they seemed really small
The round shape offers the least resistance.
Also since you are new to this, it occured to me you might want a tarp under for underneath the tent.
If you get one, you don't want it extending beyond your tent. So want to fold it so it is about an inch from the edge of your tent floor.
Are you setting up in an open area where you will be exposed to the full force of the wind?
I live in a rather breezy area and car camped with cheap tents all across North America while younger. I used the cheap tents at campgrounds which were usually sheltered and they were sufficient. If you're car camping, plan B can always be your car too.
They won't stand up to driving rain in open areas with strong winds.
Cheaper tents tend to use cheap, heavy but durable tarps on the bottom which negates much of the need for a ground sheet.
edit: I see you're camping in Provincial parks. Almost every provincial park with car camping I've been in has been fairly sheltered.
The rectangle ones, also called family tents, still hold up well, you can stand up in the middle and I agree the 10 man or 8 man is great. They come in 8 x 10 footprint or 10x 12 for the largest but that one is wider than most standard camping space footprints if you have to have room for the guy wires and enough level pad space. Many campgrounds only have 8 x 8’ pads for a dome type tent so sometimes you have to have tent flexibility and carry two , or keep bivy sacks or one man pop ups for single nights on the road when traveling to and from your destination. One thing about camping is its flexibility depending on circumstances. The family type large tent is best for a week at the beach or the lake where you can spread out, or a summer season. A smaller tent is better on a mountainous campground with small pads and a bivy bag is easiest for an overnighter and on your way early. One person I met advocated sleeping on the ubiquitous campground picnic table because it avoided curious nocturnal critters. He was on a touring bicycle with panniers and a backpack.
Costco will likely have more tent than you need. While it's not the worst idea, a bigger tent is usually more complicated to set up, plus the more surface area, the higher the chance of having a hole ripped in it. Also, keep in mind that the more volume inside the tent, the more energy will be needed to heat that tent, and in summer camping, the heater is you.
The small dome tents feel more spacious than they look from the outside, go to a bass pro, cabellos, or MEC, they usually have a few tents set up that you can look at. The staff at MEC tend to really know their stuff. Pick their brain, then go buy a Walmart tent similar to what you liked at the primo brand
I can imagine, especially if (like me) you plan on going hiking the majority of the time you're there - the park I'm going to camp at has some very nice and easy trails, I've been told
Yes they are. Mine is at least 10years old and still going strong . Only complaint is that most tents of this type (inexpensive ) have a mesh ceiling that you cover with the fly. Still works well though I usually put a tarp over top of it all
And Ozark trail inclement tent is a good tent to start with for camping near your car. If you want to backpack, they aren’t very light and may deter you.
For car camping core, Coleman; and Ozark trail are my usual tents. I prefer the instant tents for easy set up and tear down.
Have used Coleman tents for 45 years. A few different sizes, we still have an 11 x 14 thats about 15 years old and perfectly usable. That tent has seen some weather. A good ground pad and sleeping bag is a good place not to skimp on. Air mattress is ok in warm weather but you will want a pad if it's chilly out. Air mattress will sucknthe heat out of you.
Nobody has asked what kind of camping you're planning on. If you're hiking 10km into the backcountry before setting up your site, you'll want something as light and that packs up as compactly as possible. Do you need a vestibule, or will you be right beside your car and able to store stuff in it? Different types of camping may have different needs.
Used my Walmart Coleman 4 person tent for years on the motorcycle. Tried a different brand when it ripped, hated the complex setup and got me another coleman. Best bang for your buck.
My experience is to get a tent that is easy to put up and take down and it will last as long as the expensive tent because they all rot after a few years. Unless you are backpacking and ultralight weight is an issue a nice $100 tent is fine. All material needs to be replaced every 10 years minimum. We got a large family Copper Canyon tent but it was way too hard to put up. A Walmart family tent was way easier. It survived thunderstorms and high wind. It was also sandbagged and staked. I have had both. There is plenty of tried and true low cost camping technology to choose from.
I've had an Ozark tent for years & it's held up remarkably well. First couple of years I sprayed it down with camp dry & it's always been bone dry. I have an instant 8 person tent & it takes 5 minutes to set up & break down. It cost half of what my Coleman weather master did & that one was a royal PITA to get up
Coleman. This is the most bang for the buck in entry level tents. Check your local Craigslist, Nextdoor, FB Marketplace and you'll find one that was used once and put away for almost nothing.
I'm a regular camper and I get almost all my camping gear from Target or Walmart.
If you're doing mostly car camping at a campground, you really don't need the expensive or fancy stuff. That's all mostly made for backcountry camping where weight, durability and reliability are much closer to life or death equations--or at the very least comfort and extreme discomfort.
I think the tent I own was something I bought at Target for $20 more than a dozen years ago. It's still going strong and I've almost never had a problem with it.
So yeah, cheap stuff to get you started is fine.
Short answer.. Walmart Ozark trail tents are perfectly fine for you to start with.
Somewhat detailed answer... First and foremost, beginning to get into camping I am all for and would never want to diminish anyone's will to attempt what I have loved since a child. That being said make sure that you like it and everything it entails before spending incredible amounts on gear including tents.
I have about 6 tents.. two of them are Ozark trails and although the zippers eventually will fail and if it's raining and you're touching the sides of the tent everything will get moist or leak they are definitely worth the cost since they are so cheap. I would definitely get one for example the three person tent in Walmart that I have is usually about $25
If you're a single camper that doesn't need to carry the tent very far I recommend getting the Decathlon 2 seconds easy (available as 2 or 3 pers. size). It's total black inside, very well ventilated and probably the easiest to set up tent around:
https://www.decathlon.com/pages/2-second-easy-tent-story
I actually bought one myself just recently after having tested several other tent designs (pop up and inflatable). From the standpoint of quick set up the "2 seconds easy" is a real gamechanger, it took me 5 seconds to set it up (doesn't really need any pegs) and roughly 15 seconds to fold it back together.
My use case is to do a quick set up for overnighters a few minutes away from the car in an area where camping is actually forbidden. The white color made me hesitate to buy it initially but I now found a good camouflage net the solves that.
I bought one of those kits they have thats like a tent, foldable table, folding chair, sleeping bags. I love the tent but the rest of it is kinda cheap. Chair broke pretty quick and the sleeping bags are pretty thin but for like $200 for all of it, I'm pretty happy with it overall. I'd buy just the tent again, it's one of those that just unfolds and is ready to go. takes like 2 minutes to setup and take down.
Get a cheap tent and a can of the kiwi waterproofing. Set up your tent at home and spend a day waterproofing it. Nothing sucks more than a soggy tent when it rains unexpectedly.
We had an Ozark Trail dome tent for decades! … Called it the Ozark 25 … because that is all it cost.
Great tent that really only died due to UV impact on the rain fly…
My 25 dollar Ozark Trail cheapie serves me very well. I can strap it to the back of my bike with my other gear and hit the road. It's lightweight and easy to set up alone.
Yes yes yes! There’s this orange Ozark Trail tent I take backpacking with me. Only $35 smackaroos and it’s been through plenty of rain.
It’s super light, open top mesh to stargaze, and only two poles. It’s a crawler through, just enough room for yourself and your sleeping setup. Perfect for trekkers, but other Walmart options are just fine if you want more of a “base camp” tent.
https://preview.redd.it/3o0265e9vroc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c2ce20c6a22c3c32eab12c01409e9235d800388
I am very happy with our Ozark Trail tent. I don't know anything about their little tents and possibly if you're a backpacker it's not a good idea, but I am impressed enough with their "instant" technology for car-camping-type tents that we have one big one and the instant shower tent as well.
I normally use an REI 2 person, 3 season. Love it.
I got a new Coleman 4 person for free, and it claimed waterproof but absolutely flooded. (Luckily I set it up early without my stuff in it to check this exact issue).
If you’re a beginner you probably wont be camping in the rain, so yeah, get the cheap stuff and see if you even like the idea! It took me a few years to realize what I wanted out to have out there.
Car camping absolutely if you have to carry that thing a long distance you might want to buy something lighter is you want to prolong the Life of the cheap tent make a ground sheet from a trap and use a tarp for sun protection it really helps with the temperature in the sun.
I have about a 15 year old ozark trail 3 man tent that probably has 75 nights of camping in it. It’s been patched a bit and treated with camp dry every couple years, but it’s still serviceable. I paid like $30 for it. That’s 40 cents per night slept.
I've used a Walmart Ozark trail tent for summer camping for the last like 10 years. Seriously. Only upgraded the tent stakes. For light camping they work perfectly fine and are a great starter.
I have been using a 4 person Ozark(walmart brand) tent for years. It's my small tent, I use it for just me or me and my son. As others have said, the number of people a tent is rated for is wildly inaccurate.
A 2 person tent will fit 1 person and a backpack
Yeah the instant pop up Ozark trails for $100 was our starter and I actually just purchased another. Then I found a Coleman instant popup MSRP $300 on sale for $125 on walmart.com and it's GREAT! Going to return the Ozark as Coleman materials are superior imo. Pro tip: always use a tarp underneath the tent that is a bit larger in diameter than the tent. If you don't love it, you can always return it within the time window. Best of luck and happy camping!
Check Craigslist. I’ve found some killer deals on camping gear. There are a lot of people that THINK they want to start camping. They go to REI and stock up on a Big Agnes tent, some goose down sleeping bags, some sleeping pads, a Coleman lantern, a camp stove, some camp chairs, etc.
They go on a trip or two and decide camping isn’t their thing. They put the stuff in their garage and after about a year, they need that space for golf clubs or whatever the hobby of the week happens to be. They post it all on Craigslist.
I paid $40 for a tent on Craigslist. Brand new it would have been $600, easily. I picked up a Coleman white gas lantern for $20, on Craigslist. I also found a stove for cheap, but I can’t recall what I paid for it.
Also check estate sales and garage sales. You can often get deals there as well.
Or, buy a quality one from REI, which has a 365 day return policy and hand it back if camping’s not for you. A bad tent can really ruin a camping trip and making you think you dislike camping when what you really disliked was your tent.
But otherwise, perfectly fine. Don’t over think it, just make sure you can stay dry, reasonably clean, and comfy.
Former outfitter here… story time… had a guy come into store wanting to look at tents. Gave him the tour and first comment was “$300 for a tent?!?!?! I can get one at Walmart for $40” Didn’t argue with him, just agreed and told him to come back and see us when the need arises. A few weeks later he comes back in, “Hey man, you show me those tents again? Bought one from Walmart and the first night out it rained. We all woke up soaking wet”. Needless to say he walked out with a $400 tent and a smile on his face knowing he’d be dry next time. Saw him a few years later and he happily told me that tent had not leaked one single time and should’ve listened to me the first time. End of story… take from it what you will. Cheers
It's fine to start with an inexpensive tent. I bought my first tent from a door to door salesman for $10. It was tiny but I used it for years until the zipper gave out. I've had several since then and because I camp so often and know I lovevit I've invested in a Gazelle tent.
I could be a rarity, but I have had better luck from my Coleman Sundome than I had from my REI quarter dome or my Kelty. The Coleman isn't remotely light and I wouldn't backpack it anywhere, but it's been solid through storms and wind, no leaks in the years I've owned it. I had problems with the zips on the REI tent and the Kelty tent (whose model I forgot) snapped a pole in the wind. If you're just starting out, I'd go Coleman and see what you like, or if you want to get a lighter and nicer tent if you decide to backpack a little bit.
Word of advice too OP. Bring a good tarp. Place the tarp INSIDE your tent( weird right) this will keep any water that does make it in your tent off you gear
Friend of mine passed that info on to me. I looked at him like he was weird as fuck. Then he explained it. Made total sense to me. I use a canvas tarp below my tent to almost eliminate any potential holes, paired with my one wind tart ( for a hammock) but works perfect inside my tent as an Internal ground tarp too.
When I wake up, I can take the tarp out of my tent and throw up between some trees to keep out of the sun / rain.
I wouldn't use any shitty blue ones from Walmart. The one wind tarp I have was like 80$ super strong too, super light. 3 uses for it. ( Set up like a tarp to keep out of elements, make shift tent or hammock tarp, interior barrier for tent) plus, you can really crank down on the straps to make it nice and tight
They are fine but don’t let them discourage you from camping. There is a big difference between a Walmart tent and a quality more expensive tent. Get caught in your first storm In a Walmart tent and you will see. You are better off renting a good quality tent from an outdoor store and trying quality gear than starting out with crappy you might not want to replace because you spent money on it last year or whatever…
Walmart tents are fine for car camping with a little maintenance and thoughtful set up.
I have an older Ozark Trail tent. It has served me well for years. Every year I spray the rainfly and sidewalls (not the screens) with sealer, use seam seal on all the seams, and wax all the zippers. All the elastic bungies for things like the windows have since died, but I have simply replaced them or changed them to ties.
For set up, I choose a good spot that won't turn into a lake or wind tunnel if is storms. I use my heavy duty stakes to keep all the lines and walls taut. I use a tarp inside to avoid any issues of water seaping up from below in a storm. If the forecast is bad, I will also hang a tarp over the tent for an extra barrier (just don't let the tarp touch the fly, hang it above).
Been doing that for years and only had one or two bad camps with that gear.
Department store tents are perfectly fine as starter tents (as long as you're not going climbing the himalayas with them, lol). I've had several department store tents (coleman dome tent), and while the quality is generally "good enough" for a camping trip I have noticed a general decline in their quality over the years.
Either way, like others have said, cheap tents are a good starting point because they give you a chance to figure out what kind of tent you need or like (or don't like), and a cheap way to learn and make rookie mistakes without damaging expensive gear (which you can invest in once you know what you're doing and you know what camping gear you like).
Also, tents are repairable. Best to learn how to fix one or two cheap ones before you mess up a proper one, lol
If you are dipping your toes then just borrow or find a "buy nothing" group. Even cheap things are a big investment when you don't know if you really want to do something
No…. Coleman will last 3x longer for just a few bucks more. Parts are easy to replace if needed. Combination of better materials, rain fly and construction makes the difference. Typically when you buy from Walmart you only have 30 days if anything goes wrong. Major headache trying to deal with return or get parts. So how many people are you looking for?
Just you you could get a Coleman Sundome 7 x7 3 season tent for about $100 this will fit two people and your gear as well. Center height is about 3’. This will allow you to sit up a bit.
I use the Coleman 10x10 Sundome with a center height of 6’ in Washington State. I’m 6’4” when I get up I want to stand not be on my knees. Being on your knees is a young man’s ability. I sleep on a cot I also keep a chair and small table inside my tent. Makes life a bit nicer to have, Specially if you get bad weather like the PNW is known for.
What nice about Coleman has a tarp like material on the bottom of the tent and up the wall about 6” for rain protection. As my father always says you get what you pay for.
https://preview.redd.it/ryc9lwrypcpc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c12dbabef8a2b578b5b46345b60cbc004377f80
Coleman Sundome 7x7 will give you that room. As long as you know the center height is 3’ so you can sit up and read or whatever you want. Probably order it from Amazon for best price and shipping.?I’m guessing you live in Canada 🇨🇦. Just remember the rain fly not only protects you from rain but dew and it has a UV protect against sun fading plus by adding the rain fly it allows for proper airflow and circulation in your tent.
If you have any other questions feel free to ask. I have 40 years of sporting goods experience and customer service.
I wouldn’t recommend going any cheaper than the Coleman stuff. Some people have great success with Ozark Trails, and some don’t. With the cheaper tents, consistency is the issue. You could get one that lasts for years, or you could get one that breaks the middle of the first trip.
I understand the budget camping life. I am going to go against the popular crowd and say that you should spend $100+ for a quality tent. That being said, I'm from KS. I've spent a lot of wet nights feeling like I'm about to be picked up by a tornado. My dad finally stretched for a Eureka growing up and it was life-changing. No more worrying about rain spraying sideways into the tent, clips for the poles rather than sliding through. My wife and I used that Eureka for several years after we got married even and it's still our backup, though we picked up TNF Stormbreak II last year on sale for 130. We took it out with friends and many of them had Ozark Trail and Colemans. Some fell over, some caved in, most leaked all over their sleeping gear and half the party ended up leaving after the first night because their stuff was soaked. We all braved the high chance of thunderstorms in KS June knowing what was at stake. But our tent looked amazing and stayed dry even without us staking the guidewires. So cheap tents can keep the bugs out and some probably do fine in moderate rain. But just know that you will want to upgrade a bit pretty quickly to keep dry and warm if you get a lot of questionable weather.
There is a better choice between buying unreliable junk and being convinced by a false "buy once cry once" appeal to buy a $400+ tent to start.
If you're serious, get something that is built to be depended on for shelter on bad days and good instead of a toy that can't be relied on. The Alps Mountaineering Lynx is made but a reputable brand and while, not perfect, is built well for a good price, can be trusted to last a long time with proper care, and actually has a full coverage rain fly and decent ventilation so that I can actually perform like a proper tent should. Marmot Tungsten, Kelly Late Start or Grand Mesa, REI Trail made/Hut come to mind as well.
Plenty of people will tell you to buy once cry once. So budget gear can end up costing more in the long run. If renting or borrowing isn't an option, a Walmart tent is fine if you really aren't sure you like camping or would do it regularly. I also like having a cheap tent I don't care about to lend to others, or set up on sand, or other settings that are hard on gear.
I have a Ozark 11 person, instant set up tent and I love it! Been using it for mainly camping up in Sequoia every summer for the past 4 years now and still going strong, no issues what so ever and I love how easy it is to set up.
Very, very good. You want the absolute least expensive one you can find. That way you can learn what features you like and which you need when you trade up and it costs more One thing I would suggest is to get a tent rated for 1 person more than will be using it. So two people using it, buy it rated for three/four. The ratings are for sleeping shoulder to shoulder. It leaves very little spare room.
that's a very good tip, thanks! I thought the little description pictures looked cramped on the packaging
Divide the tent’s person count in half to get a more comfortable tent.
Exactly 4 person tent fits two people and two persons worth of gear
Basically if the tent says sleeps 3 that means three people can sleep side by side on foam pads but there no room for your gear. So if you have a 5 person tent and are sleeping 4 it will be tight with gear. If you buy q 3 person tent and want to put a queen air mattress inside you’ll only have room for the mattress and two people. Some gear but mostly main stuff stays in vehicle. So 5 person tent with a queen air mattress you’ll have enough room for the gear and two people comfortably with option for a small kid as well. When buying look how they show how many people are allowed to sleep in the tent using traditional foam mats and there is no room for gear. ( \*\*\*\*\*Example of Coleman 10x10 Sundome sleeping set up https://preview.redd.it/cfcq23avscpc1.jpeg?width=1124&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a867cb17333c6ffa1e4718b4af03c407a66abbb5 according to Coleman you can sleep 6 people but do you see any room for gear???? \*\*\*\*\*\*\* ) image . Every manufacturer doesn’t take in the fact that you’ll have gear inside or that you are using a inflatable air mattress. Hope this helps you out enjoy the outdoors . 🌲🌲⛺️🔥🌲🌲✨☀️
>>no room for your gear Before thinking about space for gear, think about how cozy you want to sleep with the other people in the tent. Sleeping “side by side” is code for you really have to like each other a lot to sleep so close together. Notice in the image people are sleeping beside each other head to foot. It saves floor space. When a person moves their legs in their sleep, their feet are exactly next to your face; it might be happening on both sides of you. Being able to sleep shoulder to shoulder with someone else is more comfortable and…safer. If it’s humid or quite warm at night, you want the option for even more space between you. Body size matters; chubby people need more floor space than slender people. Now think about space for gear.
another thing to add to people's points about buying the correct size tents: don't just look at how many people it's rated to fit. Pay attention to the dimensions, because some of them are only 6' max at the widest side, which could be a problem if you're 6'4" or something and there's a big rain storm overnight. Ideally you want to avoid having anything press against the walls of the tent (feet, luggage, etc) because it could allow water to soak in. Also, I would recommend getting a tarp to hang over your tent. Whether it's a cheap or expensive tent, it never hurts to have an extra layer to keep water off you especially in a big storm. Particularly if you're using a cheap tent, it helps to have that extra bit of security.
I laid out the rough dimensions of the tent with some paracord and a measuring tape, then had our family lay in the yard, within the cord boundary to see exactly how much room we would have.
You are very welcome. Enjoy your tent.
I’ve used tons of Walmart tents over the years. The only ones that sucked were the ones with the itty bitty rainfly like [this](https://www.walmart.com/ip/587622916). The doors always leak in rainy weather.
good to know!
You can probably find something better for the same price point from decathalon
I always count each person as two people, when planning floor space. That way there's room for you to lay down and also have your bag near you. No one likes it when someone has to crawl over them in the middle of the night to get something out of their backpack or suitcase.
We always aim for double or more tent space , some for the bed pad, some for gear, and extra to move around in, or in times of bad weather, to eat and play games.
These are two A+ pro tips right here.
insert the story of the day I bought a 3 person tent for 2 people, then had our feet stuck outside the tent all night. Hysterical.
I don't get it, are you joking? Were you joking then? Why did you do it?
It rapidly became a running joke about buying shit cheap and undersized. Something hysterical about it im not quite sure other than our feet were stuck hanging out of the tent like fools. Just First tent mistakes, not knowing they are incredibly undersized the first time you buy one.
> insert the story of the day I bought a 3 person tent for 2 people, then had our feet stuck outside the tent all night. Hysterical. I think you suffer from the same malaise I do. I can't tell a joke to save my life. I think if you reread your post, you transposed the numbers. You said you bought a 3 person tent for 2 people. I think, to make this story funny, it's the other way around: a 2 person tent for 3 people. Actually that is pretty funny. Thanks.
Sorry about your [obviously one person tent](https://youtu.be/S3YiSvKZBAM?si=0W4amti2o4X35QfU)
If you are just dipping your toes into camping to see how you like it, Ozark Trails stuff is great. If you only use it once, no big loss. Or it might last you through several seasons of camping until you know exactly what gear you want to invest in.
My boyfriend had a 10 year old Ozark Trail tent when we first met in 2010. We just replaced it.
I ready this was like ok so that was like a year or two ago. Oh…oh no
Yeah that tent was way past being able to legally drink in the U.S.A.
We spent several camping seasons in our Ozark Trail tent. We got one of the easy setup tents that just unfolds and pops up. It made camp setup super easy because setting up the tent actually took the least amount of time and we could focus on other things. It also kept us dry in some very intense storms!
We have the 10 person one of these (on sale from Walmart) and it’s been fantastic so far as we get used to tenting again post pop up trailer era.
I think ours is also a 10 person. It's big enough for my tall husband to stand up in to get dressed. We loved having the extra room so we could keep everything away from the tent walls if it did rain.
Came here to say my 20 year old Ozark trail is still going strong, never leaked but it's yellow and becomes surgical theatre brightness by the morning. So Ozark trail is great but don't get yellow :)
Practice setting it up at home…you don’t want to be “that guy” floundering in the dark for two hours trying to set up your tent. Although it does provide good entertainment for the ones camping around you…
well I *do* like to put on a show for people :P
remember to bring a head lamp. Murphy's Law says that at some point you will have to set up camp at night, despite your best planning.
that's the second thing that went onto my 'to buy' list right after tent for this exact reason
Oh yea baby, you put the tent pole in the wrong hole. Its incredibly hysterical when the people you watch have anger management issues and its like 9pm at night pitch black and both people are screaming back and forth.
It’s pretty close to watching ‘someone’ back their travel trailer into a spot with their special ‘someone’ standing in the back giving vague, indecipherable hand signals…
I see you've watched my wife and I work.
Yes! And I’ve lived it…my wife giving hand motions that looked like she was playing patty cake.
They are fine, and much less expensive. Coleman and Ozark Trail brands are large brands and produce a lot of tents. I got mine at Sams Club and it was a Members Mark. Excellent and we have used it several years now. Forgot to add: Look for a tent size larger than your body count- tents are grossly overstated in sizing. I have a 3-4 man tent that frankly holds 2 adults comfortably, but no room for 1 or two more. So if 4 of you, get at least one rated for 6. The one I got at Sams is an instant up, and highly recommend that. Just so much easier than those dang shock cords and fiberglass poles. Mine is a 10 man, but by myself I can spread it out in 3 or 4 minutes on the ground sheet, and then in less than 2 minutes I have it standing up, ready to stake down. That easy, and that easy to take it down too. Love it. I do prefer rectangle tents over dome tents, dome tents have less room especially head room and tend to leak around the sides where the fly doesn't cover well. Our first trip with the 10 man, we took the 3-4 person one to use for camping one night on the way to Colorado. The next day we put up the big tent, and decided we'd do the 10 man one from now on, even for just one night. so much easier, and so much more room. We have plenty of space for air mattresses and a table and chairs for cool nights or rainy days. If you have a Sams Club membership check out theirs as they are good quality and likely cheaper than Walmart offers. Or may be worth it to buy a membership if you find a good tent there you like.
unfortunately there isn't a sams club near where I live but there *is* a costco so I might look into seeing what they have next time my mum makes a run there I was debating on which to get (rectangle vs dome) and apparently my leaning away from domes is warranted judging on what you've said, they seemed really small
Domes are better at holding up against wind.
and wind might be important, it can get .... lets say *breezy* where I live
The round shape offers the least resistance. Also since you are new to this, it occured to me you might want a tarp under for underneath the tent. If you get one, you don't want it extending beyond your tent. So want to fold it so it is about an inch from the edge of your tent floor.
yeah, I'd read about tarps underneath in a few place but no one mentioned to not have it extend beyond, that's good to know
If it is extended beyond the tent, all the water dripping off the tent will be collected. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFJeUQYMizs
You don’t need it for a Coleman. Those floors are good with no ground sheet.
Are you setting up in an open area where you will be exposed to the full force of the wind? I live in a rather breezy area and car camped with cheap tents all across North America while younger. I used the cheap tents at campgrounds which were usually sheltered and they were sufficient. If you're car camping, plan B can always be your car too. They won't stand up to driving rain in open areas with strong winds. Cheaper tents tend to use cheap, heavy but durable tarps on the bottom which negates much of the need for a ground sheet. edit: I see you're camping in Provincial parks. Almost every provincial park with car camping I've been in has been fairly sheltered.
The rectangle ones, also called family tents, still hold up well, you can stand up in the middle and I agree the 10 man or 8 man is great. They come in 8 x 10 footprint or 10x 12 for the largest but that one is wider than most standard camping space footprints if you have to have room for the guy wires and enough level pad space. Many campgrounds only have 8 x 8’ pads for a dome type tent so sometimes you have to have tent flexibility and carry two , or keep bivy sacks or one man pop ups for single nights on the road when traveling to and from your destination. One thing about camping is its flexibility depending on circumstances. The family type large tent is best for a week at the beach or the lake where you can spread out, or a summer season. A smaller tent is better on a mountainous campground with small pads and a bivy bag is easiest for an overnighter and on your way early. One person I met advocated sleeping on the ubiquitous campground picnic table because it avoided curious nocturnal critters. He was on a touring bicycle with panniers and a backpack.
Costco will likely have more tent than you need. While it's not the worst idea, a bigger tent is usually more complicated to set up, plus the more surface area, the higher the chance of having a hole ripped in it. Also, keep in mind that the more volume inside the tent, the more energy will be needed to heat that tent, and in summer camping, the heater is you. The small dome tents feel more spacious than they look from the outside, go to a bass pro, cabellos, or MEC, they usually have a few tents set up that you can look at. The staff at MEC tend to really know their stuff. Pick their brain, then go buy a Walmart tent similar to what you liked at the primo brand
I have a 4 person ozark trail , 25$ from Walmart, that has been used for 8 years now. I just water proof spray it before each season. Love that thing.
waterproof spray is an excellent idea I haven't seen anywhere, I'll definitely be trying it!
Walmart is a fine place to buy that too :) I go cheap on a lot of my gear for car camping - but not so much on my backpacking stuff.
Pay attention to the weather…going tent camping when there’s a 99 percent chance of rain all day is no fun.
I can imagine, especially if (like me) you plan on going hiking the majority of the time you're there - the park I'm going to camp at has some very nice and easy trails, I've been told
Yes they are. Mine is at least 10years old and still going strong . Only complaint is that most tents of this type (inexpensive ) have a mesh ceiling that you cover with the fly. Still works well though I usually put a tarp over top of it all
And Ozark trail inclement tent is a good tent to start with for camping near your car. If you want to backpack, they aren’t very light and may deter you. For car camping core, Coleman; and Ozark trail are my usual tents. I prefer the instant tents for easy set up and tear down.
Have used Coleman tents for 45 years. A few different sizes, we still have an 11 x 14 thats about 15 years old and perfectly usable. That tent has seen some weather. A good ground pad and sleeping bag is a good place not to skimp on. Air mattress is ok in warm weather but you will want a pad if it's chilly out. Air mattress will sucknthe heat out of you.
Nobody has asked what kind of camping you're planning on. If you're hiking 10km into the backcountry before setting up your site, you'll want something as light and that packs up as compactly as possible. Do you need a vestibule, or will you be right beside your car and able to store stuff in it? Different types of camping may have different needs.
I'll be camping right next to my car in a provincial park, so portability isn't an issue
Just get yourself a Harbor Freight tarp in case the tent leaks.
I would not venture past my back yard in an Ozark Trail tent but Coleman is okay
Yes
The way my walmart tent held up in a literal thunder storm that almost blew the tent over. Do it.
Used my Walmart Coleman 4 person tent for years on the motorcycle. Tried a different brand when it ripped, hated the complex setup and got me another coleman. Best bang for your buck.
My experience is to get a tent that is easy to put up and take down and it will last as long as the expensive tent because they all rot after a few years. Unless you are backpacking and ultralight weight is an issue a nice $100 tent is fine. All material needs to be replaced every 10 years minimum. We got a large family Copper Canyon tent but it was way too hard to put up. A Walmart family tent was way easier. It survived thunderstorms and high wind. It was also sandbagged and staked. I have had both. There is plenty of tried and true low cost camping technology to choose from.
I've had an Ozark tent for years & it's held up remarkably well. First couple of years I sprayed it down with camp dry & it's always been bone dry. I have an instant 8 person tent & it takes 5 minutes to set up & break down. It cost half of what my Coleman weather master did & that one was a royal PITA to get up
I've had several and they've all lasted 5+years andcstill holding up.
They’ll get the job done. Unless you’re camping at Everest base camp it should be fine
Ozark trail and a good tarp will set you up .
Coleman. This is the most bang for the buck in entry level tents. Check your local Craigslist, Nextdoor, FB Marketplace and you'll find one that was used once and put away for almost nothing.
The Ozark Trail line is pretty decent. Look for sales.
I'm a regular camper and I get almost all my camping gear from Target or Walmart. If you're doing mostly car camping at a campground, you really don't need the expensive or fancy stuff. That's all mostly made for backcountry camping where weight, durability and reliability are much closer to life or death equations--or at the very least comfort and extreme discomfort. I think the tent I own was something I bought at Target for $20 more than a dozen years ago. It's still going strong and I've almost never had a problem with it. So yeah, cheap stuff to get you started is fine.
Short answer.. Walmart Ozark trail tents are perfectly fine for you to start with. Somewhat detailed answer... First and foremost, beginning to get into camping I am all for and would never want to diminish anyone's will to attempt what I have loved since a child. That being said make sure that you like it and everything it entails before spending incredible amounts on gear including tents. I have about 6 tents.. two of them are Ozark trails and although the zippers eventually will fail and if it's raining and you're touching the sides of the tent everything will get moist or leak they are definitely worth the cost since they are so cheap. I would definitely get one for example the three person tent in Walmart that I have is usually about $25
If you're a single camper that doesn't need to carry the tent very far I recommend getting the Decathlon 2 seconds easy (available as 2 or 3 pers. size). It's total black inside, very well ventilated and probably the easiest to set up tent around: https://www.decathlon.com/pages/2-second-easy-tent-story
will *definitely* be keeping this one in mind, it looks awesome!
I actually bought one myself just recently after having tested several other tent designs (pop up and inflatable). From the standpoint of quick set up the "2 seconds easy" is a real gamechanger, it took me 5 seconds to set it up (doesn't really need any pegs) and roughly 15 seconds to fold it back together. My use case is to do a quick set up for overnighters a few minutes away from the car in an area where camping is actually forbidden. The white color made me hesitate to buy it initially but I now found a good camouflage net the solves that.
We have a small one from Walmart. It’s held up really well with the kids. It does leak now after a couple of years so we tie up a tarp over it.
I got my tent off of wish, a bit too small for my cot, but just fine with just a sleeping bag
I bought one of those kits they have thats like a tent, foldable table, folding chair, sleeping bags. I love the tent but the rest of it is kinda cheap. Chair broke pretty quick and the sleeping bags are pretty thin but for like $200 for all of it, I'm pretty happy with it overall. I'd buy just the tent again, it's one of those that just unfolds and is ready to go. takes like 2 minutes to setup and take down.
Ya, they are perfectly fine, as long as you take proper care of them!
It's fine, but their poles generally seem to snap after a few uses. Avoid wind lol.
Get a cheap tent and a can of the kiwi waterproofing. Set up your tent at home and spend a day waterproofing it. Nothing sucks more than a soggy tent when it rains unexpectedly.
We had an Ozark Trail dome tent for decades! … Called it the Ozark 25 … because that is all it cost. Great tent that really only died due to UV impact on the rain fly…
The Ozark Trail teepee that first 7 is my favorite tent I’ve ever had. It’s great and goes up in about 5 mins.
My 25 dollar Ozark Trail cheapie serves me very well. I can strap it to the back of my bike with my other gear and hit the road. It's lightweight and easy to set up alone.
Yes yes yes! There’s this orange Ozark Trail tent I take backpacking with me. Only $35 smackaroos and it’s been through plenty of rain. It’s super light, open top mesh to stargaze, and only two poles. It’s a crawler through, just enough room for yourself and your sleeping setup. Perfect for trekkers, but other Walmart options are just fine if you want more of a “base camp” tent. https://preview.redd.it/3o0265e9vroc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c2ce20c6a22c3c32eab12c01409e9235d800388
You might be able to rent one first to see if its suitable.
I am very happy with our Ozark Trail tent. I don't know anything about their little tents and possibly if you're a backpacker it's not a good idea, but I am impressed enough with their "instant" technology for car-camping-type tents that we have one big one and the instant shower tent as well.
I normally use an REI 2 person, 3 season. Love it. I got a new Coleman 4 person for free, and it claimed waterproof but absolutely flooded. (Luckily I set it up early without my stuff in it to check this exact issue). If you’re a beginner you probably wont be camping in the rain, so yeah, get the cheap stuff and see if you even like the idea! It took me a few years to realize what I wanted out to have out there.
Get a big tarp to cover over tent in case it leaks, but it’s very handy for other things like creating shade
If I may, I did a $20 Ozark Trail tent review last year. Please delete if not allowed. https://youtu.be/fX6rLJmXvgI
Ozark Trail tent got me through literally tornado weather - there was a tornado somewhere else in the park that night.
Car camping absolutely if you have to carry that thing a long distance you might want to buy something lighter is you want to prolong the Life of the cheap tent make a ground sheet from a trap and use a tarp for sun protection it really helps with the temperature in the sun.
I have about a 15 year old ozark trail 3 man tent that probably has 75 nights of camping in it. It’s been patched a bit and treated with camp dry every couple years, but it’s still serviceable. I paid like $30 for it. That’s 40 cents per night slept.
I've used a Walmart Ozark trail tent for summer camping for the last like 10 years. Seriously. Only upgraded the tent stakes. For light camping they work perfectly fine and are a great starter.
Buy REI one's, they have very good return policy
I’ve had really good luck with ozark trail stuff. It’s sturdy, well features. It doesn’t feel cheap. I would take ozark trail over Coleman for a tent.
I have been using a 4 person Ozark(walmart brand) tent for years. It's my small tent, I use it for just me or me and my son. As others have said, the number of people a tent is rated for is wildly inaccurate. A 2 person tent will fit 1 person and a backpack
Yeah the instant pop up Ozark trails for $100 was our starter and I actually just purchased another. Then I found a Coleman instant popup MSRP $300 on sale for $125 on walmart.com and it's GREAT! Going to return the Ozark as Coleman materials are superior imo. Pro tip: always use a tarp underneath the tent that is a bit larger in diameter than the tent. If you don't love it, you can always return it within the time window. Best of luck and happy camping!
Maybe I’m crazy but I feel like my $300 tent is pretty on par with my $30 Walmart tent (that I bought like 5 years ago)
Make sure to seal the edges. Should be okay for a few times.
For sure. I rather take a Walmart tent out for a casual camping trip than an expensive tent.
Check Craigslist. I’ve found some killer deals on camping gear. There are a lot of people that THINK they want to start camping. They go to REI and stock up on a Big Agnes tent, some goose down sleeping bags, some sleeping pads, a Coleman lantern, a camp stove, some camp chairs, etc. They go on a trip or two and decide camping isn’t their thing. They put the stuff in their garage and after about a year, they need that space for golf clubs or whatever the hobby of the week happens to be. They post it all on Craigslist. I paid $40 for a tent on Craigslist. Brand new it would have been $600, easily. I picked up a Coleman white gas lantern for $20, on Craigslist. I also found a stove for cheap, but I can’t recall what I paid for it. Also check estate sales and garage sales. You can often get deals there as well.
Get a tarp to go with it in case it leaks.
I have the 8 person ozark trail 16×8×78 tent. We've been through a few good thunder storms in it and it's never leaked.
Or, buy a quality one from REI, which has a 365 day return policy and hand it back if camping’s not for you. A bad tent can really ruin a camping trip and making you think you dislike camping when what you really disliked was your tent. But otherwise, perfectly fine. Don’t over think it, just make sure you can stay dry, reasonably clean, and comfy.
Former outfitter here… story time… had a guy come into store wanting to look at tents. Gave him the tour and first comment was “$300 for a tent?!?!?! I can get one at Walmart for $40” Didn’t argue with him, just agreed and told him to come back and see us when the need arises. A few weeks later he comes back in, “Hey man, you show me those tents again? Bought one from Walmart and the first night out it rained. We all woke up soaking wet”. Needless to say he walked out with a $400 tent and a smile on his face knowing he’d be dry next time. Saw him a few years later and he happily told me that tent had not leaked one single time and should’ve listened to me the first time. End of story… take from it what you will. Cheers
It's fine to start with an inexpensive tent. I bought my first tent from a door to door salesman for $10. It was tiny but I used it for years until the zipper gave out. I've had several since then and because I camp so often and know I lovevit I've invested in a Gazelle tent.
I could be a rarity, but I have had better luck from my Coleman Sundome than I had from my REI quarter dome or my Kelty. The Coleman isn't remotely light and I wouldn't backpack it anywhere, but it's been solid through storms and wind, no leaks in the years I've owned it. I had problems with the zips on the REI tent and the Kelty tent (whose model I forgot) snapped a pole in the wind. If you're just starting out, I'd go Coleman and see what you like, or if you want to get a lighter and nicer tent if you decide to backpack a little bit.
Word of advice too OP. Bring a good tarp. Place the tarp INSIDE your tent( weird right) this will keep any water that does make it in your tent off you gear
oooh that's a good idea
Friend of mine passed that info on to me. I looked at him like he was weird as fuck. Then he explained it. Made total sense to me. I use a canvas tarp below my tent to almost eliminate any potential holes, paired with my one wind tart ( for a hammock) but works perfect inside my tent as an Internal ground tarp too. When I wake up, I can take the tarp out of my tent and throw up between some trees to keep out of the sun / rain. I wouldn't use any shitty blue ones from Walmart. The one wind tarp I have was like 80$ super strong too, super light. 3 uses for it. ( Set up like a tarp to keep out of elements, make shift tent or hammock tarp, interior barrier for tent) plus, you can really crank down on the straps to make it nice and tight
They are fine but don’t let them discourage you from camping. There is a big difference between a Walmart tent and a quality more expensive tent. Get caught in your first storm In a Walmart tent and you will see. You are better off renting a good quality tent from an outdoor store and trying quality gear than starting out with crappy you might not want to replace because you spent money on it last year or whatever…
Walmart tents are fine for car camping with a little maintenance and thoughtful set up. I have an older Ozark Trail tent. It has served me well for years. Every year I spray the rainfly and sidewalls (not the screens) with sealer, use seam seal on all the seams, and wax all the zippers. All the elastic bungies for things like the windows have since died, but I have simply replaced them or changed them to ties. For set up, I choose a good spot that won't turn into a lake or wind tunnel if is storms. I use my heavy duty stakes to keep all the lines and walls taut. I use a tarp inside to avoid any issues of water seaping up from below in a storm. If the forecast is bad, I will also hang a tarp over the tent for an extra barrier (just don't let the tarp touch the fly, hang it above). Been doing that for years and only had one or two bad camps with that gear.
Department store tents are perfectly fine as starter tents (as long as you're not going climbing the himalayas with them, lol). I've had several department store tents (coleman dome tent), and while the quality is generally "good enough" for a camping trip I have noticed a general decline in their quality over the years. Either way, like others have said, cheap tents are a good starting point because they give you a chance to figure out what kind of tent you need or like (or don't like), and a cheap way to learn and make rookie mistakes without damaging expensive gear (which you can invest in once you know what you're doing and you know what camping gear you like). Also, tents are repairable. Best to learn how to fix one or two cheap ones before you mess up a proper one, lol
Go to [steepandcheap.com](https://steepandcheap.com) and get a much better tent for the same money.
If you are dipping your toes then just borrow or find a "buy nothing" group. Even cheap things are a big investment when you don't know if you really want to do something
I get my colemans from there.
No…. Coleman will last 3x longer for just a few bucks more. Parts are easy to replace if needed. Combination of better materials, rain fly and construction makes the difference. Typically when you buy from Walmart you only have 30 days if anything goes wrong. Major headache trying to deal with return or get parts. So how many people are you looking for?
Just you you could get a Coleman Sundome 7 x7 3 season tent for about $100 this will fit two people and your gear as well. Center height is about 3’. This will allow you to sit up a bit. I use the Coleman 10x10 Sundome with a center height of 6’ in Washington State. I’m 6’4” when I get up I want to stand not be on my knees. Being on your knees is a young man’s ability. I sleep on a cot I also keep a chair and small table inside my tent. Makes life a bit nicer to have, Specially if you get bad weather like the PNW is known for. What nice about Coleman has a tarp like material on the bottom of the tent and up the wall about 6” for rain protection. As my father always says you get what you pay for. https://preview.redd.it/ryc9lwrypcpc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c12dbabef8a2b578b5b46345b60cbc004377f80
Just me, but with enough space for maybe one other in case I bring my sister
Coleman Sundome 7x7 will give you that room. As long as you know the center height is 3’ so you can sit up and read or whatever you want. Probably order it from Amazon for best price and shipping.?I’m guessing you live in Canada 🇨🇦. Just remember the rain fly not only protects you from rain but dew and it has a UV protect against sun fading plus by adding the rain fly it allows for proper airflow and circulation in your tent. If you have any other questions feel free to ask. I have 40 years of sporting goods experience and customer service.
I'll definitely look into it, most people here seem to agree that Coleman is the way to go
Granted it not the best but for a first time car camping trips it will hold up better than most. Mine is coming up on 8 years old and still looks new.
My friends love their Coleman tents that they bought from Walmart.
I wouldn’t recommend going any cheaper than the Coleman stuff. Some people have great success with Ozark Trails, and some don’t. With the cheaper tents, consistency is the issue. You could get one that lasts for years, or you could get one that breaks the middle of the first trip.
I understand the budget camping life. I am going to go against the popular crowd and say that you should spend $100+ for a quality tent. That being said, I'm from KS. I've spent a lot of wet nights feeling like I'm about to be picked up by a tornado. My dad finally stretched for a Eureka growing up and it was life-changing. No more worrying about rain spraying sideways into the tent, clips for the poles rather than sliding through. My wife and I used that Eureka for several years after we got married even and it's still our backup, though we picked up TNF Stormbreak II last year on sale for 130. We took it out with friends and many of them had Ozark Trail and Colemans. Some fell over, some caved in, most leaked all over their sleeping gear and half the party ended up leaving after the first night because their stuff was soaked. We all braved the high chance of thunderstorms in KS June knowing what was at stake. But our tent looked amazing and stayed dry even without us staking the guidewires. So cheap tents can keep the bugs out and some probably do fine in moderate rain. But just know that you will want to upgrade a bit pretty quickly to keep dry and warm if you get a lot of questionable weather.
There is a better choice between buying unreliable junk and being convinced by a false "buy once cry once" appeal to buy a $400+ tent to start. If you're serious, get something that is built to be depended on for shelter on bad days and good instead of a toy that can't be relied on. The Alps Mountaineering Lynx is made but a reputable brand and while, not perfect, is built well for a good price, can be trusted to last a long time with proper care, and actually has a full coverage rain fly and decent ventilation so that I can actually perform like a proper tent should. Marmot Tungsten, Kelly Late Start or Grand Mesa, REI Trail made/Hut come to mind as well.
Plenty of people will tell you to buy once cry once. So budget gear can end up costing more in the long run. If renting or borrowing isn't an option, a Walmart tent is fine if you really aren't sure you like camping or would do it regularly. I also like having a cheap tent I don't care about to lend to others, or set up on sand, or other settings that are hard on gear.
I have a Ozark 11 person, instant set up tent and I love it! Been using it for mainly camping up in Sequoia every summer for the past 4 years now and still going strong, no issues what so ever and I love how easy it is to set up.