Ozark Trail 13' x 10' Pentagonal Dome Tent

This tent was a "blue light special" at KMart many years ago (maybe 20+ years). I've set it up for whole summers in my backyard. It's been a good tent overall other than the closet pole broke (but I'm replacing it through the manufacturer). There are puddles on the tent floor after rain (but I have it up on a tent deck with a canopy that has an air vent which drips rain over it. Am adding a 20ftx20ft tarp over that as well. It's lasted a long time without a lot of care—can't complain—it didn't cost me much and serves as my "she-shed".

I'm 64 and so far am able to set the tent up myself despite limited mobility and arthritis.

It's held against rain, wind, I usually have it brought in, dried and put away before snow.

Unfortunately, I do have puddles and moisture in the tent when it rains (not terrifically waterproof).

It does become rather hot when the rain fly is on—I leave the rain fly off and house it under a  12'x12' canopy—but that has an air vent so rain comes in. I tried putting the tent rain fly over the air vent in the canopy but now am buying a 20ft by 20ft tarp to put over the canopy. The screens only allow nice airflow.

I haven't figured out a way to get the whole tent, rain fly, poles, etc back into the original bag together—but am sure if I worked on that and really folded it correctly it could be done.

Poles are reported by other reviewers to break/snap easily. The only pole that broke on mine is the closet pole which I'm ordering another two of them through hdkglobal customer service.

Background

I would buy it again if it were not obsolete. If I find another one on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, that was not overused and for a good price, I would likely buy it.

I have been tent camping for over 20 years and have always had a cabin style tent and endured many wind and rain storms. After a severe storm with some wind gusts of 70+ mph and some flying tree branches totaled my last tent I decided to try this dome tent because, for one it looked like it would be cool in the hot weather and easy to put up by myself.

Big, Huge mistake. 2 days after setting it up, a rain storm came up and I watched this tent buckle and fold up like an accordion and eventually collapse (It does hold water very well). I thought I had set it up wrong so I even reread the directions and have been using it the last 4 weeks and have tried numerous things to help it withstand the winds of only 30 mph and it still wants to fold up and if the winds are over 30 mph and it starts to rain hard I just go sleep in my car.

The only good thing is that the poles have not broke yet and I automatically waterproofed it so I have had only 1 or 2 small leaks when it rained lightly.

I wish I still had my receipt because I would return this poor excuse for a tent and get my money back. I will never buy another dome tent, and now I wish I would have checked the reviews before I bought this one. I am going to buy another cabin tent.

I only ever set it up once in 2013. It was easy and nothing broke. I don't know if it leaks because there was no rain and I only set it up in a friend's backyard so the kids could camp out overnight.

Well, after reading all these reviews I'm really upset. I've had this tent since 2013 and only ever set it up once in a backyard that year.

Now circumstances have changed in my life and it looks like I'm going to have to rent a campground site for the summer and I only have this tent for shelter. I'm physically disabled and by the sound of these reviews I don't think this tent will make it a day...

Well, I'm not sure what to do I'll start looking for a used waterproof tent. Thanks for the heads-up.

Background

One night in a backyard

Having purchased a smaller Ozark some twenty years ago without incident, I felt a need to purchase a larger tent.

Trusting that Ozark provided a fairly good quality tent for an economical price, I purchased the 13 X 10 Pentagonal Dome Tent and immediately set up my old tent and the new one for seam sealing in the yard.

Upon closer examination of the newer tent I observed a dramatic compromise in the material and the quality of this tent, compared to my older Ozark. Thinking that the lighter fabric used was due to technological advancements, I dismissed the notion that it was an inferior tent.

When I began to put in the stakes I observed that even the stakes were inferior compared to my older stakes. The stakes that were provided were half the diameter of the stakes that were once provided. Again this raised my suspicion and I looked this tent up online. Only to have my suspicions confirmed by other reviews that this tent is not water resilliant and can barely withstand a breeze.

My advice if you cannot get your money back is to donate it to your neighbor's rottweiler.

I have had a Ozark Trails pup tent for close to 20 years.  Never had any problems with it but as I age, I no longer want to crawl in and out of the tent.  Bought this tent because I could walk in and out of it. 

Big mistake!  Didn't get a chance to set it up before we went camping.  It sets up easily but the quality if very poor.  One of the stake loops is coming unsewn, the door zipper is not sewn in right and has two spots where the thread is loose, it came with a shelf but the shelf only had three straps on it and one of those came off before I got it put back in the bag. 

The wind started blowing and although the tent poles handled the wind, it was so noisy that there was no way you could sleep. Also, the screened wall had a flaw in it allowing larger insects into the tent.  We ended up taking down camp and driving home. 

I would not recommend this tent to anyone.

This tent is not even water "resistant," so don't take it out if there is any chance of so much as a light shower. I used mine this weekend for only the second time since purchase, setting it up on Friday evening. Saturday morning, it began to sprinkle, and almost immediately, the leaks began developing, all over the entire surface of the tent. Not the seams, nor the floor, but every part of the walls and ceiling started dripping water.

I wound up driving into town, a 30-mile round trip, to buy a tarp with which to cover it, which cost me half again what I had paid for the tent. A good thing, too, as later that night it came a-flood. If not for the tarp, all of my gear would have been soaked through and ruined. This would have been especially bad and expensive having occurred during a medieval re-enactment event.

Easy to set up, not bad looking, but if there is so much as a heavy dew, you're going to get soaked--don't waste your money.

I bought this tent last fall from Walmart and the first time I used it I loved it. Then when I was airing it out after camping I went outside to discover the main pole had snapped in half. It wasn't breezy, so I figured it must have been a freak accident. I still had my receipt, so I returned it to Walmart and exchanged it for a new one thinking this was just an unfortunate incident.

Now last night I got the tent out again to get it ready for this weekend and the same thing happened again! The main tent pole broke again!!! I went on to walmart.com to look for a different tent and found mine with over 20 bad reviews on it and how the cheap tent poles consistently break.

I went back to Walmart and explained the situation and they told me that I would have to contact the manufacturer. DO NOT BUY THIS TENT FROM WALMART!

I put the tent up in the backyard so that we could check it out before camping. There was no wind and nothing around to damage it. One of the main tent poles broke within one hour of having it up!!! It put a hole in the top. I have never had this problem in all the years that I have set up tents, and that has been many times in the last 44 years!

I like the style and the tent looked nice for the hour it was up! I can't believe that the poles broke so easily with no wind or any rain to damage it. What would have happened had we gone camping with the teenagers in there? I can't imagine what kind of damage there would have been had we actually used it to camp. Sorry but it really is not worth the money or time.

Great tent.

After reading reviews here I guess I got the only one that was made right. I've had my tent 10 years and no major problems. No broken poles.

One trip I got rained on for two days, slight leak near power inlet but just a few drops. I did not waterproof seams so that's on me really.

Tent even did OK on some colder nights about 40 degrees with a small electric heater. Condensation / moisture was an issue due to thin material but it's not a 4-season tent so I can't complain.

Fits back in carry case every time. Best $50 I ever spent. The reviews when I bought it were 4 out of 5 stars 290 people.

Most of the reviews of this tent that I have read have been complaining about the waterproofing. While I have only had one night in this tent I had no problems in that department.

I took my two oldest boys on a Cub Scout camping trip. It rained so hard that, initially, we considered backing out. I actually set the tent up in the rain. Any water that made it into the tent did so before the rain fly was attached. I had no problems with leaking after the fly was put on.

It does specifically say in the instructions that the tent should be treated along the seams with waterproofing, by the way.

For the price, I think this tent would be hard to beat. I bought it for my family of five (three small boys) and it has plenty of room.

I purchased this tent to replace one that I bought in April for my cub scout. The first one worked two times and I thought my boys must have damaged the tent — broken poles.

I called Ozark and explained what I thought my boys did. They were no help. They said that they have replacement poles and the cost would be $34 plus shipping.

I explained for the same price I could buy another tent for my cub scout at that price and there reply was (yes you could) and she said that there was nothing they could do. So I called Walmart talked to them and they offered to replace it.

So after reading other reviews of this tent. I'm going to take it back and look somewhere else.

I got one good night. Slight wind snapped a pole in middle of the night. This tent lasted EXACTLY 9.5 hours.

I am a Scoutmaster of a Disabled Boy Scouts Troop. I am so glad I do not own these tents for My troop. I came on this website trying to find a replacement pole and after reading all these poor ratings I am going to take it back to Walmart and Get My Money Back on it.

Too bad I was out in a campground in South Dakota with others around to assist me with lodging the remainder of MY 10 days camping. Shame a new tent and I had to sleep in someone's trailer 9 out of the 10 of them... Despicable.

I just purchased this tent less than a week ago from Walmart to take a few days off to go fishing. I have set up several tents over my 50 plus years camping and this is the first time that I have ever purchased anything so rotten.

The support poles just snap as you try to stick them together. I had to tie the tent up to the picnic table and my boat in order to sleep tonight.

I will have to move to the lodge or cut my trip short if there isn't a vacancy at the lodge tomorrow.
What a disappointment and your name is on the outside for everyone to see.

Very Disappointed
Mark Tyler

I have one of these tents but lost the 3-way hub. Since many of you seem to have junked this tent, does anyone have the hub they'd like to give/sell me? thanks!

I love this tent. I hate that someone decided to steal a bag off my porch that contained the hub.

I liked the tent. It set up nice with little help. It DID NOT STAND UP TO THE NORMAL WIND AT THE LAKE.

I now have a broken pole and a hole in the tent. I have camped there all my life and have never had that problem. so for that reason I do not like the tent.

It was the 2nd time of use and I am not happy with a tent that can not stand up to the normal wind that comes with a lake. In the past I have been at other lakes that has had a lot more wind then what this tent was not able to take.

I bought the tent to take my wife camping with friends the first time we wnt alone for 1 night and setting it up was fast and easy. no problems, even breaking camp next morning went smoothly. The second trip we went with friends and I had boasted how great my tent was especially since they were in a camper (not camping at all in my opinion). We went for 3 nights and the 3rd night 1 of the two main poles snapped on the top tearing through the covering. I took it back and spent an additional 26 dollars buying a coleman 31 x 11 hopefully this one will last.

You have to be kidding me. bought the tent and the first outing was great. but the second time out the poles and closet pole all 3 snapped. after a quick fix and set back up the first night was ok. went fishing the next day and came back to the same problem. lucky my sister had gone for supplies and was able to have my old tent brought out but alas it to failed. age had taken its toll, lol.

won't endorse this tent nor will i buy one like it to replace it. i will try another tent or maybe another brand.

HORRIBLE PRODUCT AND VERY CHEAPLY MADE. THANKS FOR NOTHING. QUIT SELLING CRAP!

I've been camping for over 40 years and this is absolutely, the worst tent I have ever purchased. I am glad I brought a cheap tarp with us, otherwise, we would have been soaked and blown away.

What happened to your quality? Our last one lasted us 5 years....looks like we're going back to Coleman products. One use of this "so-called" tent and it's going back to Wal-Mart. I guess I need to quit buying your products cos' your queen elevated blow up bed also leaked air the first nite.

thanks.

RAIN FLY NEEDED

I feel bad that so many of you are having trouble with this tent. I have not had any trouble at all but we did lose the rain fly to ours (well, our son lost it!). Does anyone here want to sell me theirs? I cant find replecement parts for this tent anywhere...only the poles (which I now understand after reading all the problems you all have had with the poles...maybe mine will go soon as well!.

Anyway, if anyone wold like to sell me their rain fly please write me at kristin65@cox.net

Thanks!

We've had this exact tent model for at least 6 years and we love it! I'm actually looking for another one exactly like this one!

We've camped in rugged rocky mountain terrain in heavy storm winds, rain, even snow and it not only held up, but we were the most comfortable in the group of tents there.

The only reason we're looking for a new one is because we ripped our fly (our own fault).

If this is the same tent we purchased 6 years ago, it's great and really easy to put up!

I got my tent from my sister for a birthday gift in February. I got it out a little later to get good waterproofing on it. I got it out for Memorial Day weekend. It flooded. My seams leaked and i have a random waterpuddle around a tote.

Every tent I ever had from Ozark Trail leaked. My last tent I woke up and I had 4 inches of water inside. I never let anything touch the sides. I don't know what to do.

Got this kit from Wal-Mart and overall it just works great. I thought that just the tent was a value, but it came with two chairs, two bags, and its own case that everything fits in.

I took the time to set it up before the camping event (which I highly recommend) and not only was it easy to set up, it worked well. We had hail and severe gusts, and we were dry, and tent still standing.

Purchased this tent 1 week before our camping trip.Set it up that night prior to leaving and found 1 pole missing. I contacted the manufacturer (HKD Global) and they were able to send the part out right away. I received it within 2 days and was able to enjoy my trip.

It did rain a little but I had no issues with any leakage. Anybody with leaking problems may consider better stakes for the fly portion.

I have to agree with all reviews posted - 2nd time out poles (main support) and one of the rain-fly broke.  Self repaired. 

Third and fourth times - main pole broke both times. Fourth time needed to use duct tape to repair and hold tent up - luckily no wind.  

I have been searchong for replace ment poles and it is difficult to find. Tent design is good - POLES ARE BAD!

I would not recommend this tent at all. I bought the first one right before the 4th of July. The poles broke the first night on top caving the tent in.

I took it back to Walmart and exchanged for a second one. It did the same thing. This is the cheapest tent I ever owned. I can't wait to take this one back and get a Coleman tent!!!

Nice size tent but lost top rain cover in fire; If have one please contact loxabull@hotmail.com. Thanks

I lost the poles to this tent when a friend used it. Does anyone have any poles they would like to sell? If so write to me at coxfirefighter5@aol.com

It is a great size but the first time out with the Scouts it rained and the tents all leaked and held water in the little storage compartment and all over the floor.

Was very disappointed with the waterproofing (apparently there is none).

What campout does it never rain on somewhat -- would not recommend it for this reason.

We have two of the Ozark Trail 13*10 pentagonal dome tents. Used them in the back yard before we go camping, both sets of the poles broke on both tents, now we have to get a new tent just to go camping. Don't buy this tent. If you even think about it you are out some money.

I put it up, no problem. It stayed up one night and both main poles snapped. There was no wind or rain. I am glad it was in my backyard, and not on a camping trip. It was a cheap tent but it was not worth anything to me. It is going back!

I bought this tent, 2 days later went camping. I set this tent up in 10 mph. winds. 30 minutes later one pole snapped,and we fixed it with some good old duck tape. That night it rained and this tent does not keep rain out at all.

2nd time out , it rained hard and oh guess what? it leaks.
3rd time out (no rain or wind) broke the rear locker rod and 1 main pole on the 2nd day of a 3 day trip . it seems as if they just shattered.
Very disappointed.

Better have an ark! Should have looked at the Walmart Website first 42 people gave it a one star due to its misrepresented "weather resistant" any rain and you are in a pool and it leaks from EVERY crevice! Junk, pure Junk!!!!!!!

For anyone needing replacement parts, call 1-800-775-1965 or 800-366-1599 Monday-Friday 7am-5pm CST.

It is helpful if you have the model number. The parts no to the rainfly w/ 5 s hooks is RFLY-GYRD0607

Hope this helps.

It will get you out of the sun and that's it. Two poles broke after first night's use. Rained the second night and the tent nearly flooded. Leave home without it, you are better off with a blanket.

The first time we used this tent it was great. The second time we used this tent one of the main poles broke, and ripped the tent.

I highly recommend that no one buys this tent.

I just love my tent! The only problem is that it leaks behind the two storage pockets. I just put towels under those two parts. Other than that it is great.

This tent is worthless in rainy weather. The ENTIRE tent leaks. Bailing water out of my tent and putting up with the rain is not my idea of fun camping.

Bought this tent July 2009 to go canoeing set it up 4 times 5th time pole broke. Would not recommend for serious campers. Wal-Mart will not help you.

I went camping with the Scouts and the poles broke after one trip. It couldn't resist the wind and it also flooded.

Worst tent I've ever purchased. First time out 2 broke tent poles, when 1 main broke it ripped the tent.....don't buy!!!!

The poles broke 2nd night — NO WIND.

Wal-mart made me exchange it for the same garbage.

P.O.S!!!! don't buy this worthless crap.