Waterproof tents · Brand check
Are Ozark Trail Tents Waterproof? (REAL Pictures & Evidence!)
No — they are water-resistant. Here is what I found on both of mine, with the photos and the rain timings.
- 2 Ozark tents owned
- 30 tents tested
- 0mm HH rating
- $0 sponsored
- ~5 min read
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The short answer
No — water-resistant
No hydrostatic head rating at all, and they leak the moment the rain gets heavy.
The rating ↓15 min light rain, 0 in heavy
Coleman and Core both gave me 3 hours in light rain by comparison.
The rain test ↓Only in three cases
First-timer, very tight budget, fair weather only. Otherwise no.
Should you buy ↓Ozark Trail is a rather infamous — cough — well-known name in camping. I like the price, and they are fine for a beginner fair-weather camper. They are not waterproof, and I own two, so here is the evidence.
Part 1 of 7
The waterproof rating: there isn’t one
I own two: the Ozark Trail 10-Person Family Cabin Tent and the Ozark Trail 6-Person Dark Rest Instant Cabin. I went through the internet and the box documentation looking for a hydrostatic head figure for either, and found nothing. The other two budget brands I own both publish one:
| Brand | Hydrostatic head rating |
|---|---|
| Core Equipment | 600mm |
| Coleman | 450–1,000mm |
| Ozark Trail | None |
The thresholdA waterproof tent generally rates at least 1,000mm. Below that it is water-resistant, not waterproof — and Ozark Trail does not even clear the bar of having a number.
Part 2 of 7
The rainfly does not cover enough
The marketing reads “rainfly included for long lasting rain protection”. On both of mine the rainfly barely covers the ceiling mesh and stops well short of the windows and door.
So every window and door gets drenched, I cannot open any of them, and water runs straight over the uncovered fabric into the tent.
Part 3 of 7
Not all the seams are taped
The other claim is “fully taped, factory-sealed seams provide dry zone camping”. Both of mine have some taped seams — and both have an un-taped inverted seam at the bottom, where the fabric meets the bathtub floor. First place to leak in both.
Part 4 of 7
And the tape that is there does not last
Shortest-livedseam taping of all 30 tents I have tested
A few months in storage and the entire seam taping on my Instant Cabin 6 had turned yellow. Right after this photo I tried to pitch it and the taping fell off completely — no taped seams left at all. Never happened to me with any other tent, Coleman and Core included.
Part 5 of 7
How much rain an Ozark Trail tent actually takes
| Brand | Light rain | Heavy rain |
|---|---|---|
| Core Equipment | 3 hours | 30–60 minutes |
| Coleman | 3 hours | 30–60 minutes |
| Ozark Trail | 15 minutes | 0 minutes |
Part 6 of 7
Should you buy one anyway?
I hardly ever recommend Ozark Trail. Three cases where I still would:
Buy one if…
- + You are a first-time camper and not sure you will keep at it
- + You are on an extremely tight budget and only Ozark fits it
- + You are camping in fair weather only, no rain, no wind
Buy something else if…
- − You have a little more to spend
- − You expect to take the tent out repeatedly
- − You expect moderate to heavy rain
My adviceIf you tick all three on the left, get the Ozark. If not, Coleman or Core are the better budget brands — or go straight to the waterproof tents I have actually tested. To decide for yourself, here is how I choose a waterproof tent.
Part 7 of 7
Can you waterproof an Ozark Trail tent?
Any cheap tent can be waterproofed properly. This is what I use:
- Waterproofing sprayA fresh coating over the fabric. The spray I use on polyester tents.
- Seam sealantFor the un-taped seams, which is where these leak first. The sealant I use.
- A tarp shelterRigged over the tent on the wet trips. I like this budget-friendly one.
- A groundsheetUnder the tent. An inexpensive one from Amazon does the job.
My adviceSpray and sealant are the bare minimum; the tarp and groundsheet cost more. Do all four and you will stay relatively dry.
The bottom line
Not waterproof. No hydrostatic head rating, rainflies that do not reach the windows, un-taped bottom seams, and the fastest-failing seam tape I have handled. 15 minutes of light rain, nothing in heavy.
Quick questions
FAQ
Are Ozark Trail tents waterproof?
No. They are water-resistant. There is no published hydrostatic head rating, and both of mine leaked immediately in heavy rain.
What is the hydrostatic head rating of an Ozark Trail tent?
There isn’t one. Core Equipment publishes 600mm and Coleman 450–1,000mm; Ozark Trail publishes nothing.
How long will an Ozark Trail tent stay dry in the rain?
About 15 minutes of light rain in my testing, and it starts leaking straight away in heavy rain.
Keep going
Where to next
I bought both Ozark Trail tents myself. Every rain timing and photo here is from my own testing.
