Is The $4 Ozark Trail Walmart Survival Tent Worth It? Fab Or Fail?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- Let's test a 4$ survival tube tent from Walmart sold under the Ozark Trail Brand.
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I had one of these two years ago when I was on the run from the Arizona State Police.
I covered myself with it and it Did defeat the heat detectors from their helicopters!
I was able to escape back to Georgia with no problems.
A Great Piece Of Kit!! 😊😊
A wool blanket works even better. Just keep it propped up off you so you aren't actually touching it.
😂😂 thats freaking great!
Stealth proven😊
Read the comment I just posted about how I used an emergency blanket with such under like a teepee type of structure it's great for stealth camping as well as hiding from thermal imagery
A 55 gal drum liner or larger with maybe a hole to look and breathe out of would be a good instant shelter for wind and rain. Good video to show the short commings of the tent.
50 gallon contractor's bags for a quick and extremely durable bivy. Always two in my jacket pocket when out in the woods.
@@JamesSmith-gn9ouWheely bin liners are large as well. Not particularly thick n strong but water proof.
Please don't give up on this survival tent. The cost is minimal for a good amount of mylar. Over 15 years ago, I asked my wife to make me a tarp. 10X12 ft. from rip stop nylon. She used banding to make loops around the tarp. I took 2 space blankets and 3M spray glue after hanging the blankets in the garage and using a hair dryer to get the wrinkles out. It's light weight, and durable. The mylar reflects the heat well.
I also have used it on the inside of a rainfly on cheap tents bought at Big5 that are mainly net on the upper half.
Works well, even if you only bring the rainfly with the glued mylar, you have something to work with. A few carabiners and 550 cord goes a long way. I believe with a pattern, a tarp with nylon and mylar and clear plastic can make a good super shelter..
What about utilizing that inside a regular tent as an extra layer of protection? For $4 it would pay to carry it for its reflectiveness and the ability to get completely inside it.
Very true
Yes, it would more than likely be helpful. I use my bivy inside a tent during winter or otherwise freakishly cold nights. Staying warm is nothing more than controlling airspace and the heat flow in it. Smaller equals easier to control. Your outer layer whether its windproof or not is going to function as a heat sink. So using it inside a tent no longer makes it the outer layer. Itll still leech inside the tent but its going to come to equalibrium faster by having a smaller space to vent to and not being exposed to wind
Potentially, yes.
Good idea do not see why not for the right conditions.
Using it as a sleeping bag cover would be reasonable--at least for one or two nights. Unfortunately, this un-reinforced mylar makes toilet paper seem pretty durable.
Along the lines of
@marksolum1794‘s comment…. I have carried that same Ozark Trails (Walmart) brand Mylar “Emergency Tent” in my get home bag for about 4 years. Thankfully Ive never needed it. But I’ve wondered too, how well it would serve me in a true emergency situation. Unfortunately, unlike more durable and forgiving equipment, it’s not really something you can practice with, then put away properly to be used again later. So that’s why your video here is so appreciated. Now I can anticipate an epic fail in real life conditions, plan to replace that shelter with something more stout and use the Mylar tent as a simple heat reflector or bivy.
Thank you for this realistic and informative demonstration.
I love testing this stuff so others don't have to! Thanks for watching
Very much appreciated! And another reason I subbed and keep watching.😁
Now you know, 😢.
Never really cared for Ozark Trail, seems everything they make says Made in China on the back. There are several Made in U.S.A. emergency shelters out there. True they don't cost $4 but they are reusable, many times over.
So, it's a mylar tube tent.
Deal with it. Climb in, spread it out, secure with weights. Tube tents have been made and used for over 50 years.
I have one but I keep it for a bivy liner if needed.
Thats at least some mylar and some "rope". It would keep ya alive. Its not supposed to keep you comfortable, just alive.
Thanks for the review The most I would use it for is an extra layer to go in my shelter system. Not even sure that would be worth it. Great video though.
I keep a few Dollar Tree Shower curtains on hand that can be utilized as emergency shelters that are more durable than this. 2 shower curtains and a roll of cheap Dollar tree paracord will cost about the same as this monstrosity and will be just as light weight and compact and can be utilized in a variety of ways to provide temporary shelter in an emergency.
The second you mentioned that this was made from mylar, I knew exactly what would happen as soon as you took it out of the plastic. No matter how careful you are with mylar, at best it might, MIGHT, provide a one time shelter. At least with the shower curtains, if you're careful, they can provide use multiple times and are slightly more durable.
For a few dollars more you can have one of those blue 8 x 10 Poly tarps and a hank of Paracord for around $12. That would be a lot more effective in a situation like this. With a knife you can carve your own tent stakes and make a plowline shelter , away from the wind, and you'd be cozy for the night.
Even a lightweight 8x10 poly tarp is going to weigh literally at least 10x what an emergency tent like this weighs, and take up a huge amount of space in your pack. Nobody wants to carry that around, especially on a day hike.
@@flingonber Not if you do it right, use the tarp to wrap over your sleeping bag and extra clothing to keep it all dry if you have to walk in the rain or across a creek. It's not like a 8x10 tarp weighs a whole lot, they weigh 2-3lbs not 25-30lbs..... I have 2 of one in my pack with all of my supplies and one on the outside wrapped around my sleeping bag with my smaller hammock inside my sleeping bag.
@@TheREALOC1972 A lightweight mylar survival tent like this weighs less than an ounce, so I stand corrected - a blue tarp is much more than 10x heavier. The tent also fits easily in the palm of your hand. You bring three tarps, a sleeping bag, and a hammock on a day hike? If you're bringing a whole sleeping system you don't need this, it's an EMERGENCY tent.
@@flingonber Exactly, it's an EMERGENCY tent, how long is that lightweight Mylar going to hold up in high windss or a driving rain? and yes everytime I go hiking I bring my B.O.B. because just never knew, Every heard of Murphy's law? it's a real thing, if it can happen eventually it WILL happen, I'd willingly trade 4-6 lbs on my bag if I KNOW it's going to work then have to rely on something that MIGHT work for a few minutes and then I'm assed out.
@@TheREALOC1972 LMAO That's nuts, man, but OK. The point of this is that you can stick it in a daypack like a normal person and not really notice it's there. If you want to carry a backpacking pack and 50 pounds of gear every time you go for a walk, you do you brother. 99% of people aren't going to do that.
The only thing it's good for is a super shelter. That and some clear plastic. Your warm if you have fire.
I think I remember Mors Kowanski talking about cutting a mylar tube tent to get a super sized mylar blanket to go in a kit. Probably intended to use it with other components as a super shelter.
The best pocket sized space blankets were the Heatsheets from Adventure Medical, but they stopped making those years ago because the bean counters wanted better margin. These days, a 5 or better 6 mil contractor bag, the silvering of the mylar doesn't actually change their ability to serve as wind break to stop convection and to create a microclimate.
Love that u work with the ozark trail and other budget gear. This is very important to see in real world situations. Some of there gear is acceptable but its nice to see the ones that require certain environments or conditions
Thank you!
I have a quick video on my channel showing the tube-tent concept using a ~10x10 sheet of clear 3-mil plastic. With a good debris mattress and stuffed full of more debris, it was much better. The sheet was stitched into a tube using sticks for thread.
You might be able to makeshift it with two large garbage bags, alternately.
One of the worst things about mylar blankets is that if you're wearing electronic hearing protection, you will be shut down constantly! That metallic crackle really is that bad.
And as far as that reflective stuff being warm.... Not if you touch it!
I wonder what failed here? The product or you? If you had no survival blanket or other gear, wouldn't you look for a location which sheltered you from wind? Like the brush thicket in the deep background, rocks or dirt banks, fallen trees, or debris piles with fallen brush...anything handy. It is a no brainer that this item won't survive high winds...but it still could be a useful item, if used properly within its limits. Understanding your surroundings and the natural conditions in your particular situation are foremost requirements in a survival situation.
This was a test. Don't you get that expert
@@ThePreparedWanderer You are the expert with the YT channel...I'm just a guy who knows how to stay comfortable in bad weather. This was not a test...just a demonstration of one method to destroy a mylar shelter.
@@JohnH-rd3xy Agreed...we both saw the same things...
Rudeness.
@@craigja88683 Thanks for you comment!😄
After trying one, in wind like that I'd find a windbreak and crawl into it like a sleeping bag. And be careful if you buy a mylar emergency 'sleeping bag', the 3 I have tried almost came up to my chest. I'm not a little guy but they're made for scouts!
We used these when backpacking in the early '70s. Like any other tent, you need to clear anything out from underneath so nothing pokes through. We also took some bank line for the ridge and a few clothespins to close the ends. Never had any problems with them. Great emergency shelter for a bug out bag.
Clothing pins is a good idea
The ones we had were a fairly thick plastic. They were sturdier than these seem to be.
🌷I bought a 2 man tent for $10 and after seeing this video I think it was a good buy. I might buy one of these if I can find one for $4 here in interior Alaska 😊
Bought a couple already, but was skeptical of the line, which your video confirmed. Maybe a normal ridge line of paracord would not cut as easily as the thinner line. Still not great for a windy day.
I have two of these tube tents in my bug out bag for the family
Knowing the set backs, what if you weighted down the bottom after you get the cord through? Don't tie it until the bottom is secure?
I think you're right, for the price what's it going to hurt? It doesn't take up a ton of space and it's very light.
When I was in t Boy Scouts the best use we found for a tube tent was to cut it length wise and use it for a tarp. Several of them used like that can make a spacious,patrol sized pavilion.
I carry a blue 8x12ft trap in my rzr for emergencies. Figured I would throw it over the rzr for a wind break and have it for waterproofing any leak that could get through the rzr's cabin area. Rzr has a full enclosure but not very waterproof.
It's not a regular 1500 dollar tent, but if you had the skills how to use that 4 dollar blanket it could be a live saver
Very well said. Those thin little mylar sheets have saved lives. One hundred percent undeniable! Not what you want to have to rely on sure. Much better than nothing!
💯 you want a real poncho (rip stop) or a lightweight real tarp at a minimum. No way around it. Thank you for your honest review.
For$3 or 4 bucks, you can get a regular junky tarp at harbor freight as well.
Great video!
Good heads up. I picked up the Arcturus XL Survival Tarp-insulated reflective thermal camping tarp 8.5' x 12'. It is a beast.
I'd suggest that I'd you are in conditions like that, that you include wind as part of your site selection. Find an area on the Lee of a hill or on the down wind side of some fat trees and let nature help you muffle the wind. You could also use that in combination with several emergency shelters made from branches, logs and rocks. Build with the solid stuff line it with the tent. That way you have a sturdy and warm shelter
Also if nothing else at least this way you get a bigger emergency blanket
Absolutely agree. But also part of this exercise is to show what someone who is the casual user or untrained hiker would face. Plus there was no better sight selection where I was. You can’t hike miles looking for the best spot
I have always treated the thin cheap mylar tube tents as a bivy bag. I put my pancho and liner inside to make a barrier to wet ground, or minimize heat loss. My tip is to use it inside of a 55 gallon contractor trash bag. Less ripping.
Thank you for showing the reality of trying to set one of those things up. And it was not even raining, And you were having a hard time setting it up just with a little breeze blowing. So I can imagine how difficult it would be if you add rain to the mix.🤔
I think the tube tent or better yet, the $3 solar blanket is a must for every camper or the people who head out into the desert or hiking in winter. It can be a life safer.
I first bought both in 1973 ($1 each) and used both while backpacking/camping around California and Colorado in summer. Easy to pack, light and just plain practical.
Real world conditions tend to show up in emergencies. As is equipment failure.
Good video 👍👍
In 1969 I was in scouts,. We used tube tents on a 50 mile, 1 week camping/hiking trip thru the White Mountains in N.H. The tube tens we used were 8 feet long, orange, and were a lot thicker then what you have there.
I've always been skeptical about the real-life usage of these tents and now you've proved my theory correct, thank you! I've always wondered if they'd "cut through" or not when suspended by the string..??.. .. sure enough! I still purchase these when on sale and have a multitude of them put away, "just in case", because I've always seen them as a larger source of Mylar than the standard blanket and a person could simply crawl into one and have more protection, for you and your gear, than a standard-sized survival blanket, as you have shown. Lots of uses for the larger-size "tent" if a person uses their imagination and the cost normally isn't really much more than the survival blanket. Myself, I'll go with the tent-size. Thanks for posting this video!
Thanks for reviewing!
It's good for a wind sock.🤗
May not be the best, but should do the job. It's still cheaper than a beer 🍺 at your local watering hole.
I used one of those tube tents they had back in the 60s and 70s. They were plastic or cheap nylon, but very simple to set up with a rope between trees . My grandmother tried one and hated it. So she bought a better tent.
I got an emergency tube tent in a survival kit. I haven't tried to set it up. Thanks for the real world example.
Thanks for the honest review.
Thank you for an honest and realistic evaluation of an inexpensive piece of Walmart gear. Although it is not totally useless, it is not far from it! I Walmart also has a survival poncho which is basicalyl a cheap plastic disposable poncho with a Mylar liner. Your video is a reminder of why gear needs to be field-tested somewhere before actually conting on it for an emergency. Thank you & may God bless you. Your objective approach persuaded me to subscribe!
good video. Saw those and figured they would be too flimsy for an effective shelter. Thanks for confirming.
A heavy duty thermal survival blanket draped between 2 trees over some paracord and staked to the ground at the corners might work just as well. Then wrap yourself in the $4 tent for warmth.
Good concept, not thought through. Space blankets are a must along with this maybe? For $4 I will stop by and pick a couple up. Just because.
Sometimes, things depends on the weather. You need thicker wooded area or set it up on a non-windy day.
This is for emergencies. You don’t get to pick our choose the conditions or location. That’s the point.
A movie called Congo came out in 1993 or 94. In this movie, the actress Laura Linney pulled out a smaller package from her back pack and, Pow, Presto, it instantly turned into a tent.
Not only that, but it even came with a small AC unit.
Pretty good CGI, or the real thing?
Wow….seems like that mylar would be in shreds after just a couple hours in the wind. Some people have talked about adding a backing, bonding it to other material or sewing it, but that is a bit of a hassle.
Could use it too cover up gear or wrap up gear, for 4$
Rule #1 with any kind of survival in adverse weather is to get up off the ground Rule #2 is stay dry. When I go for a walk/hike I always take my B.O.B., in which I have 2 8x8 tarps, one is inside with most of my supplies in it and the other is on the outside with my Sleeping bag and my hammock wrapped inside it. People say "Well those tarps weigh alot", not really, Each tarp weighs 2-3 lbs (depending on the brand) so yes I've added 4-6 lbs to my pack but I have a shelter when and IF I ever need it, it's a trade off and I'd rather have it than not, I'd rather lug around an extra 6 lbs if it means I'm going to survive.
It's amazing how many channels like this say nothing about getting off of the ground.
@@kevinmoore2929 yep and most of them have no idea what they are talking about, This guy seems to be somewhat legit, I grew up on a family farm with a family full of hunters, fishermen and outdoors men and then spent 21 years in Combat arms in the Army spending 250 or more days in the field, plus 11 of the 13 years since then I have lived in an off grid tiny cabin. Not to toot my own horn but I've been a "survivor" my entire life, I spend more time out in the woods a year than the overwhelming majority of these TH-cam "Survivalist" have in their life.
Thanks for showing just how thin they are.
A $1 dollar store rain poncho and 2 Steele Reserve 24oz 8% beers for $4 would be my choice
The problem is you have the line to high on the trees. you need to lower and have four heavy objects like rocks etc to hold it down. I know its hard in the wind but can be done.
I have an emergency tube tent made out of tarp material. It is actually quite good and durable
IM no expert but i do live in a windy area...gorilla tape. tape the top corners to the line, its like a one time use thing anyway and part of the center, will stop it form moving and from tearing so easily.
I have a two person mylar tent and two mylar sleeping bags. They were more expensive but you get what you pay for
without even watching I'd say fail. My use for it would be a primative lean-to shelter. Cover with soft grasses or leaves and add this on top and then cover again with soft matterial liike grasses or leaves and then weight all down with sticks and wood to have a completely water resistant roof. Other than that, just give me a 55 gallon drum liner or a small sil-nylon tarp.
In high winds, Personally I would tie off one end of survival tube. Get in against a sturdy tree.
Seems like there might be some value in that item if they are still 4$. Might be cheaply made but also might be useful in an emergency, especially for the price. Just has to be viewed as a limited, one-time use item.
The first nine (9) minutes was painful to watch. You said it all, "under perfect conditions." During typhoon season in SE Asia, when an emergency is likely to occur, this shelter would not be reliable. I was also thinking about cold nights up on a mountaintop in Baguio, north of our home base. What a nightmare if the strong winds that are often in that area blew your shelter away as the mercury plunges. Thank you for the warning.
lf it were that windy I would forget about the string and use it as a tubular space blanket , opening one end and just pulling it down around me. Regardless I would try to find a place to set up that was sheltered from the wind, ideally where I could be against a berm, tree or bush, any place except in a hollow or an open flat area. Even a wall of snow would be better than being in a flat open area because wind will cause heat loss. Personally if I had to grab something as an emergency shelter it would be of 40 gallon trash bag which I could use as a poncho or crawl into without worrying about it tearing.
So what I did with my emergency blanket I folded her over like a sleeping bag sewed different areas of it and then duct taped the whole thing obviously leaving the top part open it makes it warmer waterproof tear proof dirt and mud proof and you can still slide it into your backpack as a lightweight emergency blanket
Just get some jiffy puff popcorn, and you're all set .
🎉widow maker talk is cool this seams good for bugs 😊
thanks
It's windy in the afternoon setup in evening.
Forget the ridge line set up. Kick up a big pile of leaves to get you off the ground, then unfold the tube, pulling it over your head while standing, pull all the way down to your feet, then lay down on the pile of leaves, you are then basically protected from rain, being inside the tube. What I really do not like about this item is how noisy it is! If the wind was making it crinkle, I could never get to sleep! Why not Just take two big black garbage bags and you could poke a hole in the middle of the bottom of one for your head, then step into the other one and pull it up to your waist, then just sit leaning up against a tree. Again you are protected from the wind and rain and not near as noisy. Or just bring a water proof poncho with you! Ha ha.
Well if the wind was able to cut the tent before you even got into it well it doesnt sound feasible to hold up when crawling inside it definatly not worth it
I am a enthusiasts myself. Have a emergency wilderness prep Bag I am creating.
Cut it up crumble up and put it up into your gortex jacket like bumbs do in large cities. They use newspapers and sleep in -20 F
Thanks for being honest !!....large contractor trash bags would be a lot better than that crap.
Honestly I feel like anything Ozark trail is only good for a 1 time use. Its so hard to find good light weight products that last. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's trash because in an emergency it's definitely going to help but if you have to set up camp a couple times on the way home it's going to fail. Stick with quality over price.
Before you went out you should have duct taped around the sides on both sides this way you could also be able to put pegs into the ground with it so it doesn't blow around so much just an idea
I realize that but that wasn’t the point of the review. The typical Walmart shoppers will buy this think it will help them. I wanted to show it’s failures in less then ideal conditions
@@ThePreparedWanderer oh yeah I totally understand that and thank you very much for doing so I just wanted to gloat about my great idea it really does work super nice nice and warm everything
Thx for the review
I live in Alaska and I've tried the Walmart survival tent and didn't like it or trust it. Now I carry a survival tent by Primal Survival Gear which is 13 OZ in weight and it's a lot better tent, almost like a real tent.
Exactly! Thanks for the info
Thee are several videos on Yutube showing how to make tents out of standard size tarps.
Yeah there are
I usually get to purchase my tube tent at 2 for $1 I have always use them in any scenario
good review thanks
Reminds me of those pocket raincoats I put one on at work my boss laughed said that won't even last 15 minutes I said yeah well this is neat and it was cheap! I started working I do concrete work and I looked down and everyone's laughing and I noticed my raincoat was ripped ripped off by movement only LOL
Saw a lady in the rain use a bivy and even that was a nightmare it went on the rope but she was soaked she did close 1 end with a hair tie and left the door open
I think a 5 dollar blue tarp with some rope would work better. Throw some spikes in and your in business.
nope !!! I would look for a better quality one or just stick with an emergency bivvy
Good luck with that.
That would work to cover the outside of my windshield
Its a super sized dpacy blanket.
Good review, thanks for sharing YAH bless !
One of the best videos I’ve seen probably 3 to 4 years thank you
I have never laughed so hard as I have watching this demonstration. People just take themselves too seriously. But you proved it wasn’t worth the $4.00 you paid. You sir pulled it off with grace. I’ll be watching.
So would you say it,s a waist of money .???👍🇬🇧
Totally worthless
Rolled up into a ball of trash, it certainly appears to be a waste of money, to me a least.
Show people how to make a limb lean to and cover the top with that $4 sheet.
Nice video. I had bought a whole bunch of inexpensive 6 and 1/2 in aluminum Stakes on Amazon and just wrapped them around my packable emergency tube tent with a band. Just put them in each corner at a 45° angle into the ground and you are good to go👍🏼
Back in the 70's when I backpacked a lot in the Cascades I bought a tube tent that wasn't even reflective and took it with me for a weekend shelter in the mountains. I did manage to get into it without tearing it in half but it got holes in it quickly and was on the edge of failure if I even rolled over. No closures at the ends so if it rained I'd be soaked, and the wind blew right through it. After that I carried a space blanket, had it in my pack for several years and finally decided to open it up and try it out. It was fused into a useless lump by then. I've not found the foil blankets to actually be very warm in tough conditions, maybe good enough on a sunny day though. When I would use them I would wonder why I was still cold. A good lightweight tarp is a decent emergency tent, and even a couple of big tough garbage bags works pretty well as warm cover. Nice try with the $4 tent : ).
Think I will just go to a Motel 6.
just don't let it blow away near Roswell New Mexico.
Use it for a blanket, roll up in it. You get what you pay for. (and I texted this right before you said it, dude)
A bag of tater chips is five bucks now so yea it has to be worth it, or we are all screwed.
I've never rough camped on a totally flat surface.
You would have found another fault had you slept in it all night, with all that clothing on , you would have woke up to everything damp on you, deadly, even if it isn't freezing out
Nice to know it’s indented use is junk
I have a real 4 man camo tent in my bugout bag