The Ozark Trail Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent is a really big tent with lots of cool features! It has three separate rooms, enough space for 12 people to sleep, and it stands up on its own without needing to be staked into the ground. It’s also super easy to set up – it pops right up! And the special design helps to reduce glare from the sun, so you can sleep in longer.
Key features and advantages
- Fits a crowd: This tent has enough space for 12 people!
- Sets up in a flash: It takes just 2 minutes to set up.
- Sleeps in late: Special technology helps to block out sunlight so you can sleep longer.
- Tall and comfy: Plenty of headroom and space to move around.
- Tons of space: Lots of room for everyone and all your gear.
- Three rooms: Separate spaces for sleeping, hanging out, or storing gear.
- Easy access: Two large double doors make it easy to get in and out.
- Power up: Has a special port for an electrical cord.
Where to buy:
- You can buy this tent from Amazon or Walmart.
What is the nature of this tent?
Okay, the name of this tent tells you a lot about it, but let me explain some of the words in the name. It’s called the Ozark Trail 20 x 10 Dark Rest Instant Cabin Tent.
- 20 x 10: This means the tent is 20 feet long and 10 feet wide. It’s shaped almost like a rectangle.
- Cabin style: This means the tent has tall walls and is shaped like a little cabin. It’s a very comfortable and spacious design.
- Instant: This means the tent is super easy to set up! The frame is already attached to the tent, so you just unfold it, extend the legs, and you’re done! It takes about 2 minutes to set up with two people.
- Dark Rest: This is a special feature that helps to block out sunlight so you can sleep in later. Some companies call these “dark room tents” or “lights out tents.” They’re becoming really popular!
This Ozark Trail tent is part of a series that includes smaller tents for 6 and 10 people. There’s even another 10-person tent on the list of dark tents.
This tent has three separate rooms, so you can have some privacy. You can even take the dividers out if you want one big space.
The tent can stand up on its own, but you should still stake it down securely, especially if it’s windy. It’s a big and heavy tent, so you don’t want it to blow away!
But what exactly is a dark rest tent?
This tent uses a special dark material, especially on the top, to help block out sunlight. You can also adjust how much light comes in and reduce glare. This makes it easier to sleep in or take a nap during the day, and it creates a more relaxing atmosphere inside the tent.
Who is this tent intended for?
The company says this tent fits 12 people, but that’s only if everyone sleeps on the floor like backpackers! It might work if you’re only staying one night, but it’s not very practical for real camping trips. Plus, there’s no place outside the tent to store your gear or shoes. Realistically, this tent is best for 6 or 7 people.
They also say you can fit four queen-size beds inside, but then you’d have to climb over the beds to move around! Three beds would fit better, but even then, there are better tents for using with beds. Since this tent is so tall, bunk beds would be a great option. You can even get bunk beds made for kids. That would save you a lot of floor space and give you room to store things under the beds.
This tent is big and heavy, but that’s normal for a tent this size. It’s really meant for camping where you can drive your car right up to your campsite.
Because it has so many windows and a small rainfly, this tent is best for summer camping. It’s not really made for cold weather.
But, you can close some of the windows to keep some heat inside. So, you could use it in cooler weather if you really needed to.
Construction and Materials
The Poles
The tent poles that hold it up are made of steel, and the poles for the roof are made of fiberglass. They’re already attached to the tent, so you don’t have to worry about putting them together.
The Fabric
The tent fabric is a strong polyester with a coating to make it waterproof. They haven’t said exactly how waterproof it is, but the seams are sealed with tape to prevent leaks. The ceiling has two layers: a mesh layer and a solid layer with zippers. You can close the zippers to block out light or open them to let light in. There are a few small areas where there’s only mesh, so air can flow through.
The rainfly is waterproof and has several skylights made of a clear material that lets light in. It’s like having windows in the ceiling! You can use the zippered panels on the inner tent to control how much light comes through.
All of the windows and doors have two layers: a mesh layer for ventilation and a solid layer with zippers for privacy. The solid panels can be rolled up and tied back when you don’t need them.
The floor is made of a tough material that goes up at the edges like a bathtub to keep water out. This is common in tents like this.
Rooms and Other Features
The tent has dividers that you can use to create three separate rooms. You can use one divider to make two rooms, or you can use both dividers to make three rooms.
Each room has four storage pockets. They’re okay, but it would be nice to have more pockets since there’s so much wall space.
There’s also a special place to put an electrical cord, and a hook in the middle of the tent where you can hang a lantern. The inside of the tent is simple and boxy, but it can get really dark when you close all the windows and zippers.
Ventilation
The tent has two small vents, one on each of the narrower sides. They might seem a bit small for such a big tent. But, you can open the ceiling as much as you want to let air in and out, and the windows also have two layers that you can adjust. So, you should have plenty of airflow.
Specifications
- Space: Fits 12 people (but 6-7 is more realistic for comfort!)
- Weight: 54 pounds (it’s a heavy one!)
- Size: 20 feet long and 10 feet wide
- Floor area: 200 square feet
- Headroom: 80 inches (that’s over 6 and a half feet tall!)
- Packed size: 43 inches long and 11 inches wide
- Warranty: 6 months
- Setup time: 2 minutes (with two people)
- Comes with: A carrying bag and 19 tent stakes
Final thoughts
“Thanks for reading! Feel free to drop any questions or thoughts in the comments. Happy camping!”
