Ozark Trail 4 Person Dome Tent

Are you in the market for a reliable, affordable 4 person tent? Looking for a spacious tent that can fit your family or friend group comfortably for camping trips and outdoor adventures? Then the Ozark Trail 4 Person Dome Tent deserves a spot at the top of your list.

Ozark Trail tents are known for their excellent value, combining decent quality with very wallet-friendly prices. The Ozark Trail 4 person dome tent is roomy, sturdy, and loaded with handy features, while still being very budget oriented. This tent is sold exclusively at Walmart, making it easily accessible for most buyers.

In this detailed buying guide, we will cover everything you need to know about the popular Ozark Trail 4 Person Dome Tent, including:

• Dimensions and interior space
• Setup and ease of use
• Build quality and durability
• Rain protection and waterproofing
• Materials and ventilation
• Weight and portability
• Availability and cost
• Reviews and comparisons
• Colors and styles
• Doors and windows
• Backpacking suitability
• Wind resistance
• Setup time
• Carrying case inclusion
• Warranty information
• Care, repairs, and maintenance
• And more!

Let’s get right into this comprehensive buying guide for one of the best bargain 4 person tents around – the Ozark Trail 4 Person Dome Tent.

Spacious Interior and Room Dimensions

One of the top selling points of the Ozark Trail 4 person tent is its surprisingly voluminous interior.

This dome style tent measures 9 x 7 feet, giving it a total livable floor area of 63 square feet. The center peak height is 4’11”, allowing ample head room for most users to move around and sit up comfortably inside.

With 63 square feet of floor space, the Ozark Trail 4 person tent provides each occupant with nearly 16 square feet of personal space. Compared to many competitive 4 person tents in this price range, the Ozark Trail model is more spacious and livable.

The dome shape creates plenty of usable space while still maintaining a relatively low, aerodynamic profile. Owing to the generous dimensions for a 4 person tent, you’ll enjoy more freedom of movement and less claustrophobic cramped quarters inside. This added spaciousness is a major advantage of the Ozark Trail tent.

Hassle-Free Setup in Just 10 Minutes

Setting up the Ozark Trail 4 person dome tent is about as easy as it gets. Thanks to the straightforward pole assembly and clip-on attachment system, you can pitch this tent completely on your own in roughly 10 minutes or less.

The process goes like this:

1. Spread out the tent on the ground and stake down the corners
2. Assemble the 2 main fiberglass poles – they are color coded for easy matching
3. Insert one pole through the pole sleeves on one side, bending it into an arch
4. Insert the second pole through the remaining sleeves, joining the ends to form the dome frame
5. Clip the tent fabric to the poles at each junction using the attached plastic clips
6. Stake out the guy lines for added stability and you’re done!

With a little practice you can set up this tent in just a few minutes. The intuitive dome shape goes up quickly and smoothly.

Take down is just as fast – simply reverse the process, detach the clips, pull out the poles, and pack it all up. Assembly couldn’t be much easier with the Ozark Trail 4 person tent.

Reliable Rain Protection and Waterproofing Features

No one wants to spend a rainy night in a leaky tent! Fortunately, the Ozark Trail 4 person dome tent provides excellent protection from wet weather and comes equipped with multiple waterproofing features.

The tent fly and floor are both made from coated polyester fabric with tape-sealed seams throughout. This creates a water barrier that keeps rain from seeping in, while allowing moisture to escape from the inside.

All zippers are weather-resistant as well, staying closed against wind and rain. An integrated rainfly provides further precipitation protection, covering the roof and doors of the tent.

While it may not keep you 100% dry in an absolute deluge or severe storm, the Ozark Trail 4 person tent provides reliable defense against wet conditions – more than adequate for most general camping needs.

Durable 75D Polyester Construction

This tent is constructed using 75D polyester for the fly, floor, and canopy. 75D describes the density of the fabric – the higher the number, the thicker and more durable the material.

75D polyester is abrasion and tear resistant, able to withstand outdoor use and abuse. It’s a lighter weight fabric compared to canvas or other heavy duty textiles. This keeps the tent’s packed weight down while still retaining good durability.

The fabric is coated to provide water resistance, while allowing just enough air permeability to reduce condensation. For a 4 person tent that costs less than $100, the 75D polyester build is impressive. It’s far more robust than a cheap, thin material vulnerable to rips and holes.

Rest assured that the Ozark Trail tent fabric will hold up well for multiple camping seasons. It’s a very solid combination of durable and lightweight.

Surprisingly Light Weight at 14 Pounds

Despite the spacious interior and robust materials, the Ozark Trail 4 person tent still remains reasonably portable at just 14 pounds.

The simple dome shape and pole assembly avoids excess framework that would add unnecessary weight. The tent components and fabrics are also engineered with weight savings in mind.

14 pounds is still manageable for one person to carry alone over shorter distances. And the tent breaks down into a compact package that can be split between two people. For car camping and shorter hikes, the weight is no issue at all.

While it’s not ideal for hardcore backpacking, the Ozark Trail tent offers excellent space to weight ratio compared to many bulkier and heavier 4 person tents. The impressive livability combined with the light packed weight make this tent a versatile, portable choice.

Where to Buy the Ozark Trail 4 Person Tent

Ozark Trail tents are sold exclusively at Walmart stores and on the Walmart website at www.walmart.com.

The Ozark Trail 4 person dome tent typically comes in right around $50 – $60, although prices do fluctuate somewhat seasonally. It’s most affordable to purchase this tent during non-peak times, ideally in late fall as retailers begin offloading summer gear.

You can check inventory and pricing on Walmart’s website, and may be able to score occasional online deals and discounts. But your best bet is often to check stock and pricing at your local brick-and-mortar Walmart stores.

The Ozark Trail tents are regularly stocked in the sporting goods section, and you can’t beat scooping one up at these bargain basement prices. It’s a very affordable tent option for car campers, families, and casual outdoorsmen alike.

Reviews and Performance Compared to Competitors

The Ozark Trail tents consistently punch above their class when it comes to budget-friendly tents. For a tent costing usually $60 or less, the livability, features, and build quality are downright impressive.

Looking at customer reviews and ratings, the Ozark Trail 4 person dome tent scores very well:

• 4 out of 5 star average rating based on 6,000+ user reviews
• Praise for the cavernous interior space
• Reliable waterproofing in wet conditions
• Easy 10 minute setup process
• Favorable ratings for durability over multiple seasons
• Great quality-to-price ratio

When compared to competitors like Coleman Sundome and Core Dome tents, the Ozark Trail model competes very favorably:

• More generous interior dimensions
• Lighter packed weight
• Lower cost
• Similar quality and durability
• Equivalent ease of setup
• Comparable weather protection

The Ozark Trail 4 person tent consistently matches or beats the performance of competitors that cost 2 or 3 times as much. For shoppers on a tight budget, it delivers outstanding value.

Color Options: Green, Blue/Grey, or Red/Grey

The Ozark Trail 4 person dome tent comes in three distinct color schemes:

• Green: Forest green fly with grey accents
• Blue/Grey: Light blue and dark grey color combo
• Red/Grey: Vibrant red and grey contrasting colors

The varied color schemes let you choose a look that suits your tastes. Color preferences come down to personal choice.

The green blends in well in wooded areas, while still maintaining high visibility. Blue/Grey offers a bright, eye-catching look. Red/Grey sets up a bold, vibrant contrast.

All color schemes incorporate plenty of grey to nicely downplay dirt and maintain a clean appearance after heavy use. You really can’t go wrong with any of the available color options.

Two Doors and Windows Provide Flexible Ventilation

The Ozark Trail 4 person dome tent is designed with two spacious doors as well as smaller mesh windows to allow excellent airflow.

The generous front and rear doors have zipper closures, storm flaps, and handy storage pockets. These two doors make entering and exiting the tent easy while also facilitating cross-ventilation.

Smaller mesh windows on the tent sides can be opened to enhance airflow as desired. You can keep the rainfly on and windows open in rainy conditions to maintain visibility and a breeze.

Having multiple doors and several window options creates versatile ventilation. You can zip up one side of the tent to block wind or rain while leaving the other side open to draw air through. Overall ventilation and temperature management are quite good with the ample openings.

Backpacking Capable But Better Suited to Car Camping

At 14 pounds, the Ozark Trail 4 person tent falls into the lightweight backpacking category. You can split up the components and carry this tent into the backcountry over moderate distances if needed.

That said, the tent is better optimized for car camping and shorter hiking trips. The materials focus more on interior space and durability rather than extreme minimalism.

For extended backpacking trips where every ounce counts, a more spartan 3 season ultralight tent is a better choice. But for most recreational camping needs, the Ozark Trail tent offers a great balance of space, protection, and reasonable packability.

While possible for backpacking, it really shines for drive-in campsites, family camping, festivals, and similar frontcountry adventures. The tent is portable enough but best suited to car camping rather than hardcore backpacking pursuits.

Withstands Moderate Wind and Rain

Thanks to the dome structure and sturdy build, the Ozark Trail 4 person tent performs quite well in windy conditions. The aerodynamic shape causes gusts to flow over and around the tent rather than catching it broadside.

User reports indicate the tent stands up fine against moderate wind speeds. It may flap and shake a bit but remains securely staked and resistant to collapse. However, in extreme winds over 40 mph, performance understandably starts to suffer.

The same goes for heavy rain – this tent will keep you dry in moderate precipitation but may leak in absolute downpours. The fabric and seams resist light-moderate rain very effectively. But endless hours of torrential rain is beyond what this tent is designed to handle.

Overall, the Ozark Trail tent provides good protection against wet weather and wind, making it suitable for most camping scenarios. Just don’t expect miracle performance in severe storms and hurricane gales.

Sets Up in a Timely 10-12 Minutes

As we covered earlier, the Ozark Trail 4 person dome tent sets up smoothly in about 10-12 minutes.

The logical dome design takes shape easily. Lay it out, connect the fiberglass poles, clip on the corners, stake it down – that’s all there is to it. With a helper you can get it pitched in under 10 minutes with a little practice.

Many owners report consistently setting up this tent in 10-15 minutes after getting the hang of it. For a spacious 4 person tent, that’s impressively fast and hassle-free. Takedown and packing is similarly quick and painless.

The fast setup time is especially handy in bad weather when you want to get sheltered ASAP. Overall, ease and speed of pitching help make the Ozark Trail tent fun and frustration-free to use.

Storage Bag Included for Toting

Ozark Trail tents always come with a dedicated stuff sack for storage and transport. The storage bag for the 4 person model has both top and side zippers, letting you pack it vertically or horizontally.

The tent components fit neatly into the wide opening bag. The side zip option then lets you flatten it down into a more compact rectangular shape. Drawcords and adjustable straps secure the load and compress it for easier handling.

Having this expansive yet compressible storage bag makes transporting the folded up tent much more convenient. The stuffed pack fits nicely into the trunk of a car or strapped to a backpack.

While not the most elegant solution, the versatile Ozark Trail storage bag gets the job done. The tent breaks down smaller thanks to the well-designed, easy packing carrying case.

1 Year Limited Warranty Against Defects

Ozark Trail tents are backed by a 1 year limited warranty which covers defects in materials and workmanship. This protects against things like:

• Fabrics ripping at the seams
• Zippers failing prematurely
• Pole assembly issues and breakage
• Defective guy lines, attachment points, etc

Normal wear and tear from use, damage from weather events, accidents, and abuse are not covered. But manufacturing flaws and early failures will be remedied under the 1 year warranty.

For the low price, this tent warranty provides decent protection against the product being defective out of the box. Between the warranty and Walmart’s general exchange policy, you’re reasonably covered if you get a lemon.

Patching Small Rips and Tears

With rugged outdoor use over time, it’s possible the Ozark Trail tent fabric may eventually develop small tears and holes. These minor rips can be easily patched and repaired at home.

For small fabric tears under 2-3 inches, use a tent seam sealant like Gear Aid Seam Grip or McNett Seam Sure to patch holes and damaged spots. Clean the area thoroughly and allow to dry fully before applying a thin seam sealant layer and letting cure.

Larger holes can be patched with ripstop nylon and tent sealant. Cut a nylon patch to overlap the tear by 2-3 inches on all sides. Apply sealant completely to the patch and tent area, let cure fully, then stick them together.

With a bit of sealant and nylon, minor rips, holes, and worn spots can be affordably patched to keep using the tent. Repairing small damage extends the functional life span.

Clean with Mild Soap and Water

For cleaning general dirt and stains off your Ozark Trail tent, use a mild soap and warm water.

Set the tent up to expose all surfaces. Hand wash the fabric using a soft sponge or brush and warm water with a small amount of gentle soap.

Rinse thoroughly to remove soap residue, then allow the tent to air dry fully before packing it up. Harsh chemicals can degrade the waterproof coatings.

For tougher stain removal, a tent wash solution like Gear Aid ReviveX can break down stuck-on grime safely. But regular usage just needs a mild hand wash to keep the tent fresh.

The Best Budget 4 Person Tent – Unbeatable Value

If you need an affordable 4 person tent with ample space and decent performance, it’s virtually impossible to beat the Ozark Trail 4 Person Dome Tent. This tent punches far above its ultra-low $60 price point.

For less than the cost of a tank of gas or a meal for four at a restaurant, you can get a fully enclosed tent with space for up to 4 people and their gear. The Ozark Trail tent boasts impressive livability, sturdy and dry construction, ample ventilation, and hassle-free setup.

While it’s not built for hardcore expeditions, the Ozark Trail model works extremely well for recreational camping, festivals, and family trips. For the budget-conscious shopper, this tent delivers excellent quality and outstanding value.

So for roomy, capable 4 person lodging on a bargain basement budget, look no further than the Ozark Trail Dome Tent. This is one of the best tent deals going – and one of the most popular tents on the market overall thanks to the unbeatable price-to-performance ratio.