Forced to Flee - I Tried Camping in Amazon's Best Selling Tent - Rain Camping Adventure

What Could Go Wrong?
I purchased the cheapest tent being sold on Amazon which happens to be the Best Selling Camp Tent on there.
Get Ready for a rainy and foggy Adventure......
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- SIRUI Carbon Fiber Travel 5C Tripod : amzn.to/3BEahZX
- Batteries : amzn.to/3geFtG5
- Rode VideoMic Pro Plus Mic : amzn.to/3iZMqMO
- Sony TOUGH-G SDXC UHS-II 128GB V90 Memory Card : amzn.to/3efDS16
Clothing :
- Fjallraven Zip-Off Pants : amzn.to/3leUdXb
- Soloman Boots : amzn.to/3AgcV5X
- Arcteryx Conveyor Belt : amzn.to/3l5KBRX
- Darn Tough Socks : amzn.to/3mx20A5
- Patagonia Men's Micro D Full Zip Sweater : www.patagonia.com/product/men...
- Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Down-like Hoodie : www.outdoorresearch.com/us/me...
- Helikon-Tex Windrunner Windshirt : amzn.to/3CaTJdE
- Smartwool Merino Wool Hat : amzn.to/3JqyFUU
- IO Merino Wool Mask : No Longer Available
- Knit Gloves Base :
- (Orange) Marmot Minimalist Rain Jacket : amzn.to/3wuGWh7
- Outdoor Research Helium II Rain Pants : amzn.to/3bKRiS9
- Garmin Instinct Solar GPS Watch : amzn.to/3GvkPMC
- Kershaw Cryo II Folding Knife : amzn.to/2Sej6aD
- Oakley Men's Gradient Flak Jacket 03-881 Black Wrap Sunglasses : amzn.to/3BmWcBI
Gear :
- Weboost Drive Reach OTR Cell Booster : amzn.to/3RGWcTb
- USB Qooltek 60LED 7W Light Strips : amzn.to/34awT4J
- Haven String Lights : haventents.com/products/haven...
- Nite Ize Lantern : amzn.to/3fCFbHN
- NiteCore NU33 Headlamp : amzn.to/3NuMS38
- NiteCore Power Bank : amzn.to/3B4hiD0
- Anker 20,000 mAh Battery Pack : amzn.to/3U2RHUu
- Heater Buddy : amzn.to/3T4gwNP
- Propane : amzn.to/3zC4VyP
- Propane Fuel Filter : amzn.to/3sYh2SV
- Jackery Explorer 1500 Battery Bank : amzn.to/3DJGvp3
- Heating Pad : amzn.to/3X7ejDi
- Savotta Vehicle Bags : • Forget Kifaru and Myst...
- Force Protector Gear Duffle Bag : www.forceprotector.com/fpg-on...
- Helinox Chair One : amzn.to/3Y4fmFr
- OneTigris Worktop Table : amzn.to/3hbSWCc
- Wakeman Outdoors Tent : amzn.to/40IMVyK
- Arc’teryx Alpha FL 40 Pack : amzn.to/3ELkGqd
- Teton Sports Pillow : amzn.to/3vnigH6
- Wenzel Sleeping Pad : amzn.to/389W2i1
- Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad : amzn.to/3GJffJs
- Sea to Summit Aeros Down Inflatable Pillow : amzn.to/3pdSBzE
- Therm-a-Rest Parsec 20F Sleeping Bag : amzn.to/3XbtCeX
- Toilet Bucket : amzn.to/3wIgnoT
- Trash Bags for Toilet : amzn.to/3z363Jm
- Odor Bio-Blue for Toilet : amzn.to/3AXS0Hh
- Cat Litter : amzn.to/3BnoJan
- Dometic CFX45 Fridge/Freezer : amzn.to/3BZl8QL
- Dewalt Air Compressor : amzn.to/34czT0h
- Dewalt Batteries : amzn.to/3wAtOHn
- Dewalt 12” Chainsaw : amzn.to/3udE4DD
- Mechanix Wear Work Gloves : amzn.to/3EoZ1R3
- Decathlon Folding Table : www.decathlon.com/products/ca...
- Smart Bottle 5 Gallon Collapsible Water Bag : amzn.to/2XaL2yS
- - Klean Kanteen 64oz Stainless Steel Water Container : amzn.to/3Hv8Xfw
- Insulated Coffee Cup : amzn.to/337pJBl
- Shineuri Camping Pans Frying Pan and Small Pan with Handle : amzn.to/3mfkbvK
- Snow Peak Stove : amzn.to/3YnvsKx
- Butane Fuel : amzn.to/3oTpWyw
- TOAKS Titanium Long Handle Spoon with Polished Bowl : amzn.to/3vcItrL
- Trangia Kettle : amzn.to/3FIA6ut
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[@keithoszmanjr4802]

I have a "two-person" Walmart tent I bought in 2010 for $35. It's surprisingly well made, with tons of seam tape and a large rainfly. It's big enough for a cot, room for all my gear, and a bed for my dog. Even though I have a newer, lighter, more expensive tent I still use this from time to time because it's so tough and it doesn't leak a drop.

[@mikeandloria]

After 12 years, I can say the Ozark Trails tents we bought recently from Walmart are junk. The new designs allow so much air flow under the fly that it is ridiculous. I'm pretty sure rain could get through.

[@tank8285]

​@Lori A airflow is a good thing. And not bashing u but "pretty sure rain could get thru" isn't proof it will.

[@gscryinlikeabitch]

@@tank8285 I used to work for walmart and even people that have worked there for 10+ years mentioned how much the quality of their products have dipped considerably. Walmart is an absolutely breeding ground for incompetency I can guarantee you that much for a fact. There is no shortage of dumb people shopping there and at the end of the day the product will "sell" regardless

[@tank8285]

@SacrificialSnake okay... I've been camping all my life. Part of the experience is making due with what u have. even the crappiest tent in decent weather will keep bugs and dew off of your face. Ur boy bein to hard on that $20 tent.

[@tabithas1554]

My Walmart tent is incredible too

[@randystaller2366]

This is.a perfect example of why we need pure unbiased no agenda reporting. Thanks Luke.

[@farmhouse43]

I second this notion

[@michaellatham9737]

I love this. Just a dude helping another dude. Lol

[@Robert-yp9zs]

I agree, 100%.

[@mikejurnak4253]

If we had that the idiots that voted for Biden wouldn't have 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@funnyyylock]

Hey! That's my name!

[@sondrajohnson2564]

This is a kids' backyard play tent! I laughed my way through the entire video! This was hilarious! Brings back vivid memories of being 12, camping in the back yard, waking up in a rain squall floating in about 4 inches of water. The cows in the field behind us were mooing at us and a police car was driving slowly past shinning a flood light on us. Thanks for the memories!!!🤣

[@richiehimes7990]

No wonder you had water, what all with the cops shining a FLOOD light on you! 🤣👍

[@bobogigio9072]

EXACTLY the first thought that popped into my head! People must be buying this for the backyard for the the kids, or even the basement, lol. It looks like it's made out of Kleenex.

[@tundranomad]

Fun story!

[@thatlolguy6799]

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@brett19890]

This is homeless encampment approved tent. Only hobos would use it.

[@jadin558]

honestly this is the type of tent i look for so the kids can play outside in the yard with it, have overnight sleepovers when its nice, and thats about it... i cant see any real world use with a tent like this in an actual camping setting lmao

[@michaelcase8231]

Given the size and quality, I would say that 20bucks for a summertime kids backyard playhouse isn't bad really. This being said, I'm getting to the point where I have to wonder if it would cheaper to just make a tent than buy one anymore.

[@mkendall8393]

Nylon and canvas has gone up nearly 9 fold since the pandemic started. So not really feasible anymore.

[@ven.clydejarudhammo9716]

Exactly correct!

[@Vladviking]

First thing would be a sewing machine upolstry grade like a Sailrite would be great but a Flea Market Singer will manage.

[@michaelballard7323]

This tent saved my life. Ran out of water after eight hours walking in 110° heat in the Mojave desert. Set up this tent. No rain and it leaked anyway. I had water the rest of my hike! Thank you, Stansport. 11 stars.

[@smartclock727]

Hilarious

[@StormShadowX37]

😂😂

[@jonkator8254]

How did no rained and it leaked anyway? Your make-up story is crap.

[@michaelballard7323]

@@jonkator8254 I am JOKING! 😂😂😂

[@jaylo912]

​@@michaelballard7323The tent is a direct replacement for where your water bottle is stored. Its perfect for those soaking wet desert trips 🤫

[@nickl1844]

Nice video! I think you should make a follow-up video on 'How to make the most of a super cheap tent,' showing what you would do to make this particular tent a feasible camping option, such as using a waterproofing spray, using seam sealant, hanging a tarp over the tent, sleeping diagonally, etc.

[@christopherpike8269]

For this series, if you are able to find a descent cheap tent, maybe top three or five, can you also then do a video on how it performs if it were improved. Seem sealed, taped, better stakes, added guy lines. Things like that. Can you basically make a cheap tent into something actually usable. I would love to see a whole series on cheap gear in general. Sleeping pads, cook stoves, etc. like a cheap version of that Snow peak stove would be interesting. Thanks for all you do for the camping community in reviewing this gear.

[@amywilson1046]

As someone newer to outdoor life on a budget, I’d love to see how to videos to improve a less expensive or older tent. Sometimes we have to make do with what we have or can afford, the important thing is to get outside for adventures!

[@thomasmusso1147]

@@amywilson1046 👍👍👍 Yep, not everyone has seemingly bottomless pockets. Gear, gear, gear .. buy, buy, buy. Some of us have to make do with what we can afford and / or with what we have got.

[@girlbotTV]

You can totally make crappy tents good, I would reinforce tents with bungee and curly stakes from homedepot, bought better material that I got from a junkyard and cleaned then used it as waterproofing, amongst other things. Also most importantly, a good sleeping bag suddenly makes a crappy tent warm (the only good thing I had was that sleeping bag). I've camped CO to MT this way.

[@Truth1561]

Why would anyone expect a decent tent for the price of 2-3 Starbucks?

[@brnrecluse2946]

Rainfly looks like a toupee! Great video as usual, Luke. Strength and honor.

[@globalfamiliesfirst]

Hilarious 😂😂😂 ! Toupee ! Regards, Frances

[@stevestormssr5492]

Does is shrivel up in cold weather? 🤣🤣

[@viz.on7]

Great idea for a series, cheap budget friendly products and test them in the field. I actually had the same exact tent but the popup version, it was my first tent that I bought from a local gas station, I couldn't fit inside I'm 1.82m height and I was sleeping diagonal or with the tent's door open so I can somehow fit inside... it was funny experience haha, thanks for bringing up some memories.

[@FatalChaz33]

For the record, I love watching Luke prepare his food and eating. He has a lot of good ideas of how to eat well but still staying practical. Anyone with an issue with this needs to lighten up. By the way, what an amazing looking dinner he had. Simole but you know it's tasty. Keep up the good food Luke, it's a great part of these videos.

[@chriskummer5276]

Hey Luke! I hope all is well with you and yours. I am a newer subscriber to your channel (about a year) but, what you do in your videos and what you do for people is priceless. I hope you know for some of us it goes way beyond product review. Product review is very informative and is absolutely great for those of us wanting the best bang for our buck and to get the best experience possible. But man, let me tell you…I get it. From the moment in the car driving to the location, to getting there and breathing in that air, watching that afternoon sun hit the trees, hearing nature around you and eating some good food. Talk about one heck of a way to hit all the senses. It’s one of the very few things on this planet that I believe we all share and THAT, is special. And THAT is what you capture. I just want to say, thank you. Chris

[@DyrewulfNV]

That 'rain fly' looked more like a gear storage shelf for the inside of the tent.

[@jantefft2442]

Yes, at first sight that is exactly what I thought it was.

[@darksun2789]

these adventures where you dont know what will happen with the tent as you camp in them are my favorite episodes

[@raespeck4810]

Whenever I've seen a review posted that turns out to be completely bogus I enter a rebuttal...always. This is on another topic but could not find a place to add, but LOVE LOVE this channel and watch it continually. I never go camping anymore (too old and most of my friends and family are deceased or live far away) but it's so fun to know. You are a great instructor and wow has camping equipment improved! The last time I camped, my son accidentally pushed my sleeping bag up against the wall of the tent. When the rain came my bag was drenched and I had to sleep in the car (sons were with their dad in the tent). The car had no head and I was frozen. Got up at 4AM and started a fire outside just to get warm..LOL. Here is what I love the most: 1) the use of instant coffee. People made fun of me camping when I used instant coffee, but it's a godsend. 2) The use of light weight tarps! We used the old heavy plastic tarps which were ok, but those light weight tarps are amazing. 3) the use of freeze dried packets for food. As long as accompanied by some fresh product, such a great time saver. Cooking over a campfire and cleaning up all the prep and post mess is not fun. (plus attracts too many creatures (great and small). THANK YOU Luke and Suzy. Not camping now, but I can dream.

[@Prometheus203]

Years of truck camping has taught me there is nothing better to camp in than a quality 10x10 canopy with tarp walls and a good quality cot. You don’t get condensation, you’re off the ground and away from bugs and dampness and you have plenty of room to stand and work inside if it’s raining. Work the ground a bit and throw a floor tarp down and you can be comfortable in anything but a lightning storm.

[@jdtallant3751]

This is a very good idea for a series. Experienced hikers and campers have on average moved beyond the lower end entry level tents. This kind of information is important to the person just getting into spending time in the outdoors. All it takes is one bad experience with a leaking tent and it can turn someone off to the outdoors forever or worse be fatal. Keep up the good work.

[@westoftherockies]

most people who buy this tent probably use it for kids in a backyard, some weekend summer camp at the local lake etc. it has its place, every part of the country isn't hammered with storms, move to california or arizona you're not gonna see much rain even in the winter, you'll rarely get wet here, almost never. even if it does rain the storms don't last long and a cheap tarp thrown over the tarp would make it almost completely rainproof even in a downpour. this type of tent isn't meant for serious weather.

[@Funkteon]

I have this exact tent except in the larger (6'5" length version), I got it for $10 USD from Kmart in Australia (called the '2 Person Dome Tent'), and I've taken it camping in some semi-heavy rain here in Tasmania and it stood up just fine... Obviously there are quality control issues which mean some are better than others that come from the factory. That tiny rain fly is basically a body heat chimney cover that prevents rain getting into the main aeration hole. So long as the rain isn't coming in sideways from strong winds, this tent is fine...

[@jonkator8254]

Looks like he got a crap ones compared to others.

[@PsylomeAlpha]

EDITED TO PLACE WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN SEVERAL COMMENTS INTO A SINGLE ONE Me, two minutes in: "Please have brought a tarp and guy lines to set up a pup-tent as back-up" Correction: he brought a truck bed. That's even better! The only way this thing could be used by an average adult-sized person is by laying corner-to-corner and hoping you don't roll over in your sleep. I personally think for a two-person three-season tent roughly $50-150 would be the range I'd be okay with paying. At a price-point larger than that I'd expect either more space, or something a bit too sturdy to consider it a three-season tent. If it's something with enough space for several more people, several rooms, intended for use in extreme conditions (like the ones meant for setting up halfway up a mountainside) or a winter tent, then I'd be willing to pay more to ensure build quality and structural integrity. This thing is only really useful as a learning aid for your kids to figure out how to put tents together without risking something actually worth something. A disgraceful waste of resources even making a tent this shitty

[@flytime5]

Love the direction your going this year. Finding someone who gives advice on how to experience the outdoors on a moderate budget, with out digging through the garbage bin to come up with a cook set. LOL Love your videos. Also miss Susie.

[@deborahhuckaby4623]

That tent is the sorta tent you buy for your kids to play in but not take seriously for camping.

[@alaroony9890]

I like these types of videos. Not everyone can afford the nice stuff right away and might not know if they like camping. I'm also interested in options for helping the homeless. Buying things to give that aren't expensive but keeps a person dry and warm.

[@saracasey1993]

Hi Luke! New subscriber here. I really appreciate what you do. I haven’t camped since I was a kid and have recently found need of a backpacking tent (the plan is a couple of weeks in the spring and a month in August… in Louisiana woods). Thanks to your agenda-free style, I haven’t bothered looking at reviews on Amazon. I use what I’ve learned from you and then see if you’ve done a Test Night a tent that I’m considering. I think it’s more than fair to say that even though I have not yet decided on any tent, you have saved me from making costly mistakes. Thank you!

[@troyfabrizius9942]

Find a military surplus 2 man combat tent

[@KaedeSenou]

This sounds like a great survival tent! Just set it up, and in the morning you’ll have water! No more worries about dehydration!

[@scottseverythingoutdoors462]

Perfect for the kids to play around with in the backyard! That's about it!

[@rocketman5648]

No overnights if it rains...

[@globalfamiliesfirst]

Should be advertised as “Toy” tent! With disclaimer that says not to be used in the rain! Lol Frances

[@rocketman5648]

@@globalfamiliesfirst Correct. Should be in the toy isle...

[@michakuiper9780]

I love this channel. Honest reviews of outdoor crap nobody should buy 😁 I would stay in the truck. Greetings from Norway.

[@liddybird3608]

I haven't seen the whole video yet, but I would be surprised if he didn't end up there.

[@raleighthomas3079]

He actually spent the entire time in the truck huddled next to the Mr. Buddy heater….

[@daviddemmers130]

Loved the video, fun to see the test. I recently saw a great tent from a company I personally am not familiar with but I was wondering what you think of it’s interesting features. It’s called the slingfin portal 2, most interesting features for me are the option to add trekking poles to a freestanding tent to increase rigidity and snow loading possibilities. Also the option for guy lines to better distribute the forces in high wind.

[@freezinweasle1]

Thank you sir for your unbiased reviews. Tents like this one should be labeled as play tents for kids to set up in their livingrooms and nothing more. If you live in a cold climate and lose power, set it up in your living room and crawl in there. Much easier to retain body heat in a small space. Outside? Maybe in Arizona in the summer during the dry season.

[@elderhiker7787]

Hey Luke, for $20 you could set it up underneath a tarp and put a couple of kids in it and have a good weekend at the lake. With the cost of good tents going through through the roof, a cheap tent and a tarp and you’ve saved some money and had some fun for your kids. It could also serve as a backyard play tent for kids too. So, it’s not totally worthless.

[@NikkiEvernight]

I bet you damp or water would come up through the floor, and the condensation would Soak everything. If you have a tarp you'd be better with just that!

[@coldcoilinc]

Yeah but good tarps are also expensive

[@jeannierenton7542]

I agree it is small, but most people do not sleep totally spread out. I’m 5.6 & would curl up probably way less than 5 feet😁 I still wouldn’t purchase a tent like this & it certainly is not a 2 person tent unless you’re speaking about children😂

[@mkendall8393]

I have one of these and know what to expect when you only spend $20. It’s a fair weather tent for kids in the backyard, nothing more. Most people reviewing these online are saying the same thing. In its defense it does say in the instructions that the seams should be sealed if to be used in heavy weather.

[@Hunterr8]

And that'd be okay, if it were not for the company trying to pass it off as a serious tent...

[@captaincarl1603]

Thank You Luke for a very funny review! I really appreciate all the time and effort you put in to create all this great content for us to enjoy🙏 Cheers from Sweden!

[@fairy8i8]

I have this tent bought from Walmart. The one I got seems to be crafted better in terms of seems. I use it for a child on camp trips, but I can sleep in it at 65" tall, so maybe you got a short one. I DO NOT expect it to live through rain, but I live in a dry area, nowhere with fog. I keep a tarp in case of rain that I plan to drape over it. However, I would give it a great review myself. My child can set it up, has his own sleep space, it stays warm on cool summer nights down to 40 degrees, and is light weight and compact. A $20 tent that gives my child his own sleep space on camping trips (goes to bed earlier) and keeps him from waking everyone else up (siblings) in the mornings is priceless. Definitely not a rugged outdoorsman tent for all sorts of climate conditions, but a great fair weather tent for privacy and to keep the bugs off.

[@seanprosser5420]

Hi from Nova Scotia Canada Luke! Great vid, thanks for everything you do to look out for the community. We appreciate it. Good or bad, i swear by my ICS (ORC version) It may not be the best tent out there, but it's never failed me, and does what I need it to do, even if it IS a bit heavy. Hi to Suzie and the Fam, keep up the great work, and hopefully we get to see some more of your "cabin" setup and build out soon (being a full time RV'er I'm interested to see the direction you went with certain things)

[@magi267]

Hi from Cape Breton. I'm glad you enjoy camping. I enjoy watching from my armchair. Lol

[@pufthedragonCCS]

I bought one of these for $15 4 years ago to try to make a tent inside a tent system as a sort of cheap DIY 4 season tent for winter camping, but...I wasn't brave enough to test it out lol. So I never used it.

[@rocketman5648]

Good for you.. it would have failed 😔

[@magi267]

Rain fly. Well, it probably will do very well keeping the rain off of a fly. Thank you for all your hard work taking me camping from my armchair. And thanks for being a good guy and giving the other camper a boost.

[@satguy27]

My other addition to this, I also happen to have this tent and thankfully I didn't pay for it. What you didn't get to experience was the obscene amount of condensation build up in dry weather (48⁰F) . A simple "mattress" of a heavy duty comforter and a light blanket. Keep in mind, I'm 6'1" , 245 lbs. I made due with the fetal position all night and woke up multiple times to dry my face. I'm glad it didn't rain cause otherwise I would've ended up like you almost did had you stayed in it. All in all, a simple tube tent of heavy grade plastic tubing has almost always been my go to as I'm old school when I go camping and I simply do not like unneeded weight for just a bit more comfort luxury, but that's my own doing. A simple tarp for moisture control is about as luxurious as I get when i go camping, which also ensures why no one likes to join me going camping so I can go stay in remote area's here in Arkansas with minimal gear and full privacy even though my 40 something body will make me pay dearly when I wake up and hike out 3 days later. But would love to see your version of a quality tube tent camp and if you do, I will be nice and not critic you for extra comfort 😂.

[@ZepHezR]

Yes! So glad you made this video, my sister bought this tent last year and found the same results as you. I'm fully on board with exposing these crappy tents and the companies being negligent of any standards.

[@mkendall8393]

Why would anyone expect a kids backyard tent to have superior quality and be rain or off for $20? When there are $700 tents online that have water management problems.

[@laurendamasoruiz]

Lack of experience and budget. Lots of hopes and dreams. Not everyone is an avid camper. Some people just want a cheap tent that they can abandon after Glastonbury.

[@michalmaixner3318]

@@mkendall8393 not superior quality but if it is marketed with certain dimensions and being waterproof, then you expect it to be more or less true. For layman it doesn't seem as hard job to make something waterproof. At least in a sense that it will manage some moderate rain. Maybe a drop or two will get through but who cares if it is just for festival or for a vacation on a beach? It seems just a cheap plastic bag can manage well enough, so why not a cheap tent? The biggest problem with these tents is not that they are leaking a little, it is that the bottom is keeping all the water in, so after a while it forms a pool and you have to get out or get wet. Small leaking wouldnt be such a big deal with a good tarp setup for example. Still not the most pleasant experience, but something you can manage for that one music festival or something.

[@irenejoseph9547]

You are such a professional and I certainly appreciate your no-nonsense, pull no punches style of reviewing products. Keep up the good work. Storms moving through East Tennessee right now and probably heading your way. Time for another weather adventure!!

[@stevestormssr5492]

Ok Luke, I have one you have not tested or reviewed yet. I purchased Walmart's "4 person Connect Tent" by Ozark Trails. I knew exactly what I was purchasing when I got it. Would I like a better tend and maybe a rain fly cover? Sure, but at 69 I don't have too many hunting trips left in me. I needed a shelter from wind and light rain while car camping. nothing more. It could sleep 4 as they say, but tightly. 2 with gear would be pretty comfortable. It connects to a 10' by 10' canopy, but could be hung between trees with the help of a couple poles. The vent is half of the flat roof. NO JOKE! It was $39.99 at the time of purchase. Is it rain proof? probably not! I sleep on a cot and elevate my gear. At best, it is a light two season tent. I camp two or three times a year during hunting season in North Texas, so not much is needed most of the time. I have ways to make it more comfortable with extra tarps I already had. My son and I have three of these to set up around a canopy and one tarp as wind breaks and can be pretty cozy. This is a Pretty interesting set up for the price and on cold windy days and nights quite comfortable. I can't provide pictures, but it can be found on Ypoutube!

[@3primaryevils]

Hi Luke thanks for the great video, I will suggest to fix it on top of your videos because this is great help. Addressing some of your questions: Yes, there is people purchasing this, specially outside of the US, (economy changes among countries), here in Mexico I can tell you Walmart is in fact selling those tents, I purchased one 2 years ago before watching your channel, Big regret; but also that is a factor; most people starting think is just fine for one night but we are unaware of the risks!. Example; the weather was dry warmth semi desert the tent was: during day hot as hell, during night really cold. but was just fine (this was a test night in my front yard) another test fortunately there was rain; the tent was the same as yours, flooded inside. So people who is purchasing this is people unfamiliar, people who don't want to make the commitment of such an investment ($100+), or people who is already used to "suffer camping" (a friend likes to cowboy camp but for the wrong reasons) I do think this is the best video for beginners in your channel, addressing the WHY NOT to purchase such product, as you have always mentioned, its supposed to protect you, maybe user think was a sunny weekend and turned out into a heavy rain... you get the picture. As always, thanks for all your effort and happy camping

[@mikeweber3441]

Hey Luke! Love the discussion surrounding costs. I think DD Hammocks should be on your list for consideration. Great stuff, durable, reasonable, and the customer service is the best I’ve ever dealt with. Excited to see what 2023 brings!

[@Ijsje1979]

I agree and I'd like to add "Bushmen Travel Gear " to that list .

[@MrRoosterx]

I'm guessing people buy this tent for their kids to play around in. Summertime sleeping out. I'd say for that price it is quite good. No one would realistically believe this tent was meant for anything else, at that price. 🙂

[@diktatoralexander88]

I agree, thats like the perfect and only useful use for this tent. For either kids to play around in inside the house or just a one time use tent.

[@JefferyHall-ct2tr]

Luke, this has to be your most entertaining review yet! Had me rolling on the floor when you showed that TINY rain fly!!

[@DigitalProphet]

I'm looking forward to the cheap tent series. I bet you get surprised by a couple. Amazon used to be okay like.. 10-15 years ago. Both the interface (which is now designed like a social media site to force specific products on your searches) and its scam/bot control (which is essentially non-existent) have made it one of the worst shopping experiences online. It's almost *always* better to go to a company's website for whatever you are looking for, rather than Amazon.

[@ferrisk9116]

Thank you for helping those hikers, you must have been an angel to them at that moment

[@earlshaner4441]

That's why I enjoy watching your adventures and equipment testing

[@pammiedoodle8693]

I’m looking forward to your “Cheap Tent Palooza” coming up! Ordering from Amazon is definitely a gamble unless you know exactly what you are getting already. I enjoy all your videos!👍🏼😊

[@DavidHSmith74]

Something common I've seen in my neck of the woods is to pitch a tarp over a cheap tent, leaving off the rain fly.

[@carolinebutler2068]

That was nice of you to help those hikers. You cracked me up when you showed the rain fly. Hilarious. I like your new segment on reviewing more economical gear and look forward to seeing the next one.

[@christianb8228]

Same here 😂 I thought it was for gear storage

[@Spikedpistachio]

So what you’re saying Luke is because I’m 6’4”, I should avoid this value tent and stick with my current outdoors selection? 😅

[@ReasontoLiveAdventures]

Before I buy gear these days I only trust your reviews Luke. They have never led me astray. From an ILBE back pack to a LiteFighter tent, and so much more. 🤙

[@LigmaFrank]

I used one like this, only it had moro pattern and the entrance was on the bigger side. Also, I knew that it was made in China, so I bought 4 person tent (in reality it is comfortable for one person plus gear). And I can't complain. I take it as secondary bed for bike tour (my main was DD hammock with tarp, but knowing from experience, every 3 or 4 days it's good to sleep on the ground and stretch the back). So this cheap tent plus tarp on top was perfect. I never get soaked even in heavy rain and condensation was taken care of by undo the entrance and leaving only mesh. But this kind of set up is good only for late spring and summer weather. You can't really do the trick when it's cold. So if you need a backup or secondary way of going through the night, and you are aware that it is a gear for one season or few serious trips, then go ahead. Mine was surprisingly sturdy, I expect much less, but I didn't buy it on Amazon.

[@EdwardClinton]

The honest review is greatly appreciated. It was also laugh-out-loud funny and a pleasure to watch. Thank you for the effort, work and, sadly, wasted dollars that went into this masterpiece.

[@balthazarquinn]

Luke, would you consider doing a second test after you’ve weather-proofed the tent? (Possibly filming the process.) I’d be keen to see if it could be made useable with proper seam-sealing and water-proofing. Sleep on a diagonal, etc. Maybe make a list of the cheapest safe gear list a person could put together for day-to-day survival.

[@johnjensen8470]

When your “rain fly” is the size of a folded diaper… you know it’s gonna work perfectly…😂

[@jaycimbak7781]

We were seasonal campers a few years back and I'll never forget at the end of a rainy weekend in the dumpster were these types of tents and all looked brand new!

[@markcrowell2727]

Great review - my question is what do you do with all of the stuff that is crap?

[@2BaKeD_2PLaY]

Coming from many years in the bedding industry I can tell you a queen size mattress is 60" X 80" and a Full size mattress is 54" X 75". But going from Luke's inside dimensions neither would fit! A twin mattress is 39" X 75" and that wouldn't even fit!

[@DN-el2mx]

Don't know why you resonated tonight so well, been watching for couple years. Subscribed before you even got inside this hunk of junk. Realistic, informative, and gut honest is the vibe. Edit: Watched till the end. ;D

[@jazdia78]

When my kids were in elementary school, I could take them in a tent like this and I would sleep in front of the door with no problems. But, I'm 5'3. My 6' husband required something much bigger, and he prefers to have head space as well. I would take the kids camping during the summer here in NM, so we didn't have to worry too much about rain, and he was working. Once they turned 12, they all were my height and it was no longer feasible for us to use a tent like this.

[@karig5568]

Yet since I purchased some stuff using reviews as references and once I got it realized it was junk and returned it, Amazon sent me a nasty letter stating I had unusual amounts of returns and I needed to " read reviews " before purchasing items or they could revoke my right to purchase on Amazon. 😂

[@kinjiru731]

Just how we all want to spend our nights, curled up in the fetal position in a swimming pool.

[@AA4PJM]

I buy a similar tent to this to go to summer music festivals. Its basically a cover for your bed, light to drag around if we have to move, gets covered in dust and we usually bin it before we go home or use it as a beach shelter. It isn't for cold weather camping.

[@robd99]

I spent a few nights at a campsite in the Pyrenees - I had my typical backpack tent / gear, on the second night a lady and her teenage daughter turned up with what was obviously a brand new budget instant-erect tent. That night the sky opened up and at first light I saw them shivering and soaking wet in their car. The remains of the tent were later seen in the rubbish skip. My Dad once bought a sub 1GBP pac-a-mac to go on a fishing trip - it didn't last the trip. I remembered him telling me about "cost per use" and false economy as I rested warm and dry in my 30 year old "expensive" Terra Nova - pretty much as good as the day I bought it....

[@michakuiper9780]

It's so funny when he opens the tent and starts to laugh 23:41 😁 I would be so miserable in that "tent" I'd burn it. That's the only way it can keep you warm.

[@azclaimjumper]

Good one. Burn it to keep warm, no way to stay DRY.

[@Cassie4486]

Hi Luke! LAUGHED when you were showing/reading the reviews. Not sure if anyone saw the bottom line of that review, "Best tent coming out of China". China...that just says it all. Maybe should put the tent into a balloon & send it back to them. 😂😂

[@philippek81]

Actually some chinese companies are doing some very good tents : Naturehike, 3ful Gear to name a few. Really good quality for a very fair price.

[@phil2082]

​@@philippek81 OH BOY, I SURE DO LOVE GIVING MONEY TO THE PEOPLE WHO RUN LITERAL CONCENTRATION CAMPS

[@laurendamasoruiz]

I said this elsewhere but I know exactly why this tent has so many good ratings. Festivals. Use the tent for one weekend and abandon. It does the job. You might even avoid bad weather. Tens of thousands of happy ‘campers’.

[@JBurney]

I've got two of them. I bought one on amazon for $20, then found another at the Habitat Restore the very next day for $2. When me and my buddy hiked a couple AT sections a few weeks later we each took one and had no issues. Even with a tiny bit of light rain. I honestly wasnt expecting anything good from it but me and my dog slept comfortably each night and my buddy didnt have any complaints in his. Probably used it 4 or 5 times total, suffered no injuries, and did not die.

[@JBurney]

For what its worth, im 5'10" but i was able to sleep fully extended on top of a single sleeping mat, and my 65 lb boxer/pit had plenty of room next to me. So the usable length is definitely more than the 60" you came up with. Please note i am not trying to bash you, my GF and I have enjoyed your content for years. I used a sheet plastic groundsheet I learned from you, and we did upgrade the stakes with some that were a bit meatier, but like I said, we had zero issues, and I'm still alive to speak of it! *edit* One other point, I never used it in fall or winter, that would be insane. Like I said, I knew what to expect for $20. Also, it was 2018 when i bought it, and it was $20 then like it is now.

[@Velshard]

You do realize that we all think you're lying, right?

[@JBurney]

@@Velshard me? Seriously?

[@JBurney]

@@Velshard which part? Please be specific

[@nonservitium]

This seems like a punch down, but useful in as much as informative content. Luke, will you post this on their Amazon page?

[@Ijsje1979]

That was hilarious , kinda reminds me of the Dutch army tents , those also make great swimming pools . I still have an extra 1person Dutch Army tent btw . So Luke : if you are interested in trying out the zip/combine (assuming you still have yours) I'd be happy to send it to you . Say what you want about the cheap Decathlon tents ,.....but at least they do not leak !!!!! I've had one of their tents out in my backyard for 4 months now , the "Quechua MH100" 3 person ( 50 Euro) my son likes to play in it and occasionally we have camp nights and sleep in it . It's been in snow/freezing temps and a lot of rain ...and still : Bone dry . There is a 2 person variant of the same tent (35 Euro) ,also tested that one over a longer period of time with the same results. And yes I know they are not meant to be used that way (for that duration ) but I was curious haha. These are not great tents for lightweight backpacking ,considering their weight and pack size (though the 2p one is doable in a pinch) ...but if you just want to go camping with your family these will keep you dry and safe for very little money !! Combine it with a cheap tarp for some extra space / porch area and you're good . Anyways,.... keep up the good work , we are really looking forward to the rest of these tests !!! Strength and Honor.

[@pissedoffpotato1882]

This is one of the funniest vlogs I have ever seen from you. It just made our day extra hilarious. We just got home from camping overnight & already craving for your new vlogs 💙 Keep doing what you are doing luke!

[@timcurry192]

Oh, yes. Best Adventure Evah! I now know what to take along on my next Antarctic trip. Please, more of these! If you hear "Luke, don't do it!" from half a million subscribers, you know you're on the right track. Hilarious. We'll be seeing a lot more of amped-up Luke before this series is over...

[@matthewturnbull9547]

Id probably buy that for a festival camp to be honest or It’ll be a best seller because it’s cheap & it’s literally for the kids to camp out in, in the garden or the woods during the summer holidays, it is what it is for a quiet night with the kids out I feel like it’ll be money well spent.

[@jerryfarmer5989]

My tent is one I'll never give up. It is 6' 8" at top. A 6 man tent and 5' 4" at sides. It is a task to put up but it stands up to pretty strong winds and is dry in pouring rain. I also have a little pup tent also. And yep that is a kids back yard adventure shelter.

[@helidude3502]

Simple setup without actually reading the instructions. Enjoyable tent for the 45 minutes I spent in it during a nice day with nice weather. Haven’t actually camped overnight in it yet. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My review for the $30 tent from academy🤪 I’m not expecting much. But I figure it’s worth the gamble to get me out of the house on my budget. I’m hoping it will keep the majority of bugs off and snakes from sharing my bed during decent weather. Perhaps shed an unexpected sprinkle. I’ll also have a car to hide in should things get sour. I like the idea of budget reviews. 👍😎

[@undertheradar001]

Single skin play tent for a back garden or if you are at a summer festival. If you went into the wilds with that thing, your life would be in danger.

[@martinhafner2201]

At current prices, I generally look for a tent from $150 to $250 or so in the 3.5 season variety (up to light snow). I will inspect, apply seam seal and spray the fly heavily with silicone waterproofing spray. I used to live in Idaho, so I require a full length, deep rain fly. My current favorite is the Henry Shires Pro-Trail. It is currently near the top of my range at $240 and hasn't changed price much in the last 6 years. At 24 oz with 45 inch sitting height, 84 inch sleep sleeping tray at 30-42 inches wide, depending on your choice of tray depth setup for ground water rejection it makes a luxurious lightweight backpacking tent. I'm six feet tall and it should take someone up to about 6'4" comfortably. It has a small vestibule (10 sq feet) in the front. Good enough for a backpack, boots and a lantern. It is waterproof and bug proof. I've been in heavy wind with no problems. My tarps tore from gusts, but not the tent. It has tons of tie outs (8) for wind. It is silnylon and is over 6 years old and working great. It is a tensioned 2 pole tent, which some people may hate. It sets up quickly. I've used it over a hundred times. I can pack 5 ounces of poles (24" and 45"), take the short pole and use my trekking pole or just use found wood if there is any. I'm in Arizona and usually don't have decent wood around, so I bring the vendor poles. It there are good trees around you can skip the long pole and tie an ascending line to a tree instead. Really flexible and tensions up nice and firm. The new versions of it are now in silpoly (24 oz), which is an improvement over nylon, or cuben fiber at 16 oz and many more dollars. I chose to do my own seam sealing from their cheap little kit of thinned (mineral spirits) silicone seal and a foam brush. Worked great except for a seam above the inside gear pocket, which I missed. Fixed it the next time I used it and no problems since. I apply silicone spray about once a year. If you want bigger, they make a two person version (MoTrail - heh) and a few other designs. This one is a souped up version of their original minimalist tarp tent, for which they still supply the plans if you want to make your own. While their tents are not cheap, they tend to run quite a bit less than major brands like Big Agnes at the same lightness, size and strength. If I need to go cheaper, the Eureka brand generally provides a cheaper, heavier, lower tech and reliable alternative. Anything under $100 in the current economic climate is generally a disaster and requires a lot of manual fixes to make them work.

[@1Fracino]

I appreciate what you are doing, very useful info here that might save some ones life if they are not more careful.

[@TheOutdoorGearReview]

Thank you so much LittleFreak, I really appreciate your support. S&H - Luke

[@captainnutzlos3816]

Sleeping in a swimmingpool is an adventure 😄 better using the floor as a tarp would keep you dry, maybe...

[@lindawoody8501]

A great dry weather play in the backyard tent for children. Probably a lot of the reviewers are mothers who purchased for good weather camping with one child in the tent with them. Or purchased for a family where there are two tents and kids slept in this one and only in pleasant weather. By the way I've never heard of a white bbq sauce. Must be regional. I am from the West Coast.

[@starflier]

Funny thing seeing this review. I think my wife got me this EXACT tent for my birthday last year because I wanted to go camping. As a gulf-coast Texas camper, my biggest problem with this is the utter lack of ventilation. Even with the "rain fly" removed and the door open it was sweltering and horrible with no airflow at all.

[@dg11306]

Have you ever tried a “vintage” camping experience, similar to what a reenactor does with gum blankets, canvas tents, and period sleeping accommodations? If so I’d love to see it. I’ve been reenacting about 2 years and just got my first canvas a-frame wedge tent. Thanks!

[@jjjingleheimerschmidt4446]

Amazon shopping works like this: search tent sort by price glance at rating add to cart There is no mystery. Cheapest item is always the best seller and you always get what you pay for. Also I'm sure the cheapest tent makes up a fair chunk of every homeless encampment so that's where the sales number comes in.

[@briansimpson8116]

Ok, it's a twenty dollar tent. It has a bathtub floor. So you buy a $12.00 tarp and set it on top of the tent. And you sleep from corner to corner. Now you have a one person tent for only $32.00 with Zero leaks. 🤷 Also, if it isn't raining, you don't need the tarp at all.

[@Ucceah]

i'd be all for a series on best bang for the buck products. case in point, a "Quechua 2 Seconds Fresh and Black" goes for around 100 eurobucks, and looks and feels like it could well cost 3-4 times as much. really well designed and made, just not for heavy rains. i was quite impressed, when a friend brought one along, and after looking up the price, i bought one right away. it does look pretty sweet too, in all white. nothing for lightweight hiking: it's a somewhat bulky 3.3kg throwing tent with two layers, tailored towards festival goers, and designed to remain cool and dark inside, when you're trying to sleep of a hangover on a hot summer morning. but i'm sure it's conna be nice and warm too, on a cold night.

[@cookieberkheiser7227]

Thank you for your honesty. I greatly value your opinion. You are a tremendous asset to the camping community. Thank you for your time and energy. You are greatly appreciated.

[@DaHiddenGemz]

I love this channel and the new series, Luke! You definitely inspire me to get out amd camp more often!

[@TheWtfnonamez]

I bought a couple of tents identical to that one for twenty bucks. They are great. Like any kit you just need to know their limitations and how to work with them. When it arrives, put it up and check it, then douse it in Fabsil. Personally I take a light sleeping bag and a goretex army surplus bivvie in case of condensation. People often claim these tents "leak" but my experience has been that they are perfectly waterproof, but like most single skin tents, they have issues with condensation in the cold. Obviously the condensation gets worse when its raining because the rain cools the skin of the tent. Put it this way, I have camped three time with these in the Scottish Highlands and got pounded with rain. The tent stayed dry during the day when we were out hiking, and I only had condensation when I was in the tent at night. These cheap tents are much maligned, but if you are on a budget, they will serve you well. Just remember to spray them with a waterproofer, have some kind of bivvie to create a barrier between you and any condensation, and take something like a shemagh or a cloth if its going to be cold and wet. This said, you are going to have condensation issues with any single skinned tent. Thats just physics

[@Elfdaughter]

Definitely a kid's toy - it's the sort of tent I'd have up in the back garden when I was young in the middle of summer with a paddling pool outside. I do have another use for this as an adult, however - when I did summer outdoor archery competitions, I'd use a little cheap tent like this as a storage base for equipment and coolbox to keep the sun off. That's the only thing that's suitable for.

[@eddiespain2410]

I had the chance to spend a week last summer in a National Forest Campground with only Pit Toilets.... It rained 3 of day 6 days I was there... Know what I noticed.... All Five Ozark Trail Tents had a Tarp covering them because they leaked so badly. so Ozark Trail tents could be in competition with this tents..

[@lananieves4595]

I think what you're missing is that a lot of people buy tents not for real camping, but for one-time events such as music festivals. I would put money down that a ton of people who choose a $20 tent do so because they only plan to use it once, for 2 or 3 nights and all it'll be for is to grab a few hours sleep here and there. It's crappy that people think of something like a tent as disposable, but a ton of people think in exactly those terms: buy a $20 tent for Coachella or for that 2-day event in the desert (no rain to worry about) and then trash it.

[@journeybrook9357]

The Walmart Ozark 1person XL tent is a great tent. But I used a light tarp over on real rainy days but on light rain no tarp no leaks. Great room, length room for equipment but small. One draw back was it can tear easy with brush. Everyone knows how netting goes it is a soft netting so snag is easy.

[@CampfiresandColdBeers]

The string pull at 6:57 with absolutely no comment 👌

[@dennyj8650]

I think I'll get that $20 tent...to use as a placemarker for a campsite, when I'll actually be camping in my SUV! If I have to travel and come back...looks like I'd have to put rocks in the tent so it wouldn't blow away, LOL

[@gordonball2293]

Luke, great review. I am in the market for what I would call a mid-range backpacking tent. Would it be possible for you to review the kelty Grand Mesa backpacking tent. I have watched you review some of Kelty's stuff in the past but not this specific product. It's about 150 bucks on Amazon and I would love to hear what you have to say on it.

[@tamiosher3679]

Perfect for kids in the backyard in a nice climate. That's it, though.

[@carlrobison6065]

It would be interesting to see what it would take to make this tent 'acceptable'. Can't do anything about the size, but maybe scotch guard and sealing tape... Totally a lipstick on a pig situation, but it might be interesting.

[@81Alfetta]

Really enjoyed this vid. As someone who is constantly tempted to buy at least one example of the cheapest of anything out of pure, morbid, curiosity, I'm really looking forward to this series.

[@Tom-tt1vg]

Glad you had the truck, can you imagine if you had gone out backpacking in that weather

[@hetheringtonfamily8798]

In Australia we have Kmart. At Kmart I bought a $14 and a $7 tarp. The tent came with a rain fly. A real one that fits over the whole tent. It worked great. There are reviews on You tube that said they were good but I wasn’t sure. Now I keep the tent in my car as part of my emergency supplies

[@mikeweaver5632]

Great video. I appreciate the work you put into this. I'm impressed by your gear list. Btw, the link in the description for the heater didn't work for me.