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MattGlamperGear
Author: Matt Johnson โ€ข Photos/Graphics: Mike Hawthorne โ€ข Updated: March 3, 2023

As the camping season approaches, many people are looking for the perfect tent. And if youโ€™re one of those people, youโ€™ll want to check out this camping tent with lights inside!

This fantastic camping tent has a built-in light system that will keep you safe and secure while camping in the dark. Plus, itโ€™s made with waterproof and breathable fabric, so youโ€™ll stay dry and comfortable no matter what the weather is like.

While itโ€™s not the best tent, itโ€™s decent. Here are some things to note upfront about the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin before we break it down.

  • Lights. They work, but theyโ€™re not the best. Youโ€™ll also need to add your batteries.
  • Space. This tent is enormous with plenty of room for everyone we had.
  • Weight. This thing is a bit on the heavy side, but thatโ€™s to be expected with all the features it has.
  • Quality. I was impressed by the overall quality of the tent. Itโ€™s well-made and should last for years with proper care.

With that out of the way, letโ€™s dive into the details.

Wouldnโ€™t it be nice if the lights were built into the tent?

How many times have you gone camping, only to find that you forgot the lantern batteries?

Iโ€™m not sure why I didnโ€™t think of this before, but a camping tent with lights inside would be great!

There are now a few companies making camping tents with built-in lights so that you can forget about lanterns and batteries altogether. Well, you might need some lighting around the campsite, but inside the tent, it will be plenty bright.

Fortunately, there are camping tents with lights pre-installed, and I was lucky enough to find one and test it out.

I have to say; it was quite a pleasant camping experience not having to worry about lanterns!

Itโ€™s worth noting that not all camping tents with lights inside are created equal, though.

Some models have better lighting than others, and some have more features like USB ports and fans.

With that, we tried out the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent, which was probably not the best, but it did the job.

The main issue we had was that the lighting was not very bright, even on the highest setting. Weโ€™ll get into that in more detail later, but suffice it to say there are better ones, but this was a great budget tent.

This innovative new tent comes with built-in LED lights.

The entire reason I got this tent was so I wouldnโ€™t have to bring a lantern, and it worked perfectly.

Batteries power the LED lights, but they last a long time and are decently bright. They do the trick but are still not as bright as I would like.

Perhaps some donโ€™t like the bright; however, I do.

I could read in my tent without issue, and I could see to get around at night without stumbling. That is the job of a camping lantern, so I guess it did its job.

When I was reading through the manual and product description, I didnโ€™t see anything about how many lumens the LED lights put out, but Iโ€™m going to assume theyโ€™re around 200 or so. Which, for camping, is just fine, but nothing beyond that.

Another area I wish the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent improved upon is the batteries. While most electronics these days can charge, we had to add 4 D batteries to make the lights work. Of course, we didnโ€™t have any (because nobody has D batteries on hand anymore), so we had to pick some up along the way.

It is made from water-resistant and durable materials.

Despite a couple of disadvantages or shortfalls, there is an appeal to this tent. It is made from water-resistant and durable materials, has a nice carrying case, and can be set up or taken down in just 60 seconds. Well, thatโ€™s if youโ€™re good. I didnโ€™t time myself, but it was right around 3 minutes.

Thatโ€™s right, minimal struggling with tent poles and trying to figure out which way they go. This instant cabin tent pops up in a matter of seconds (so they say), thanks to the pre-attached poles.

The material is also quite breathable, which is essential on those hot and muggy summer nights in Central Texas. We didnโ€™t have any issues with condensation buildup inside the tent, but Iโ€™ve heard that can be a problem with some models.

All in all, the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent is a decent camping tent with some redeeming qualities. Itโ€™s not the best on the market, but itโ€™s a great budget buy.

With enough space to comfortably fit up to 10 people!

Ozark Trail Instant Cabin During the Day
Pictures donโ€™t do it justice, but the instant cabin sleeps up to 10 (or at least 2 queen air mattresses).

This is undoubtedly the best feature of the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent.

It has enough space to fit up to 10 people comfortably, which is excellent for families or groups of friends camping together. While we had only four in it, there was more than enough room for all of us. Ozark Trail claims you can fit two queen-sized air mattresses in the tent, and I believe it.

There are also several large windows and a mesh door that can be opened to let in some airflow.

We were also able to fit all of our camping gear inside with plenty of room to spare. If you have a lot of camping gear or if you plan on bringing along some chairs or other furniture, this is the tent for you.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent is a bit on the heavy side. It weighs in at around 15 pounds, which is to be expected with a tent this size. If youโ€™re car camping or camping near your vehicle, this shouldnโ€™t be an issue, but itโ€™s something to keep in mind if youโ€™re planning on backpacking or hiking to your campsite.

A few other neat features of this tent.

Aside from being spacious and having lights, the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent also comes with a few other neat features.

Storage pockets are located throughout the inside of the tent, which is great for storing phones, wallets, keys, or other small items. I think I counted around four pockets and a large organizer pouch.

Another neat feature is the E-port, located near the bottom of the tent. This allows you to bring electrical cords inside the tent to power camping lights, a fan, or other small devices. Of course, you would need a generator or some other power source to make this work, but itโ€™s a nice feature to have nonetheless.

Lastly, the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent comes with a rainfly. This is great for camping in inclement weather or if you just want extra sun protection. The rainfly attaches easily and can be removed just as quickly.

Ozark Trail Comes with a Handy Case
The Ozark Trail Instant Cabin comes with a handy case making it easy to transport when heading out.

Final thoughts on this camping tent with lights inside?

Overall, the Ozark Trail Instant Cabin Tent is a great camping tent for families or groups of friends. Itโ€™s spacious, has some neat features, and is relatively easy to set up and take down. The lights are a nice touch, but they require batteries to work. If youโ€™re looking for a budget-friendly camping tent, this is a great option. If youโ€™re looking for something with a bit more quality, you may want to look elsewhere.

MattGlamperGear

Matt Johnson


Senior Content Writer

Matt is an experienced camper and glamping enthusiast with a Master's degree in Wildlife Science from Texas A&M University. Authoring posts for GlamperGear, he shares his wealth of knowledge on picturesque campsites, luxurious accommodations, and the best gear for outdoor adventures. His passion for nature and knack for comfort in the wilderness make him an expert guide for your next camping endeavor.

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