Base Camp 4

There's definitely a luxury tax on it for the brand and aesthetic/vibe, but it's also an incredibly well made tent. I think only the REI basecamp 4 is more sturdy in a storm, well that and expedition style tents but that's a whole different category. The poles are super thick and feel really strong, materials are thick and sturdy, stitching on mine is really clean and even. Tons of guyout points that make me feel secure. Lots of ventilation to avoid condensation. I feel like this will last me years, and I love camping so I've taken it out a bunch this season. I did get mine on sale at REI though, I paid $400 something I think

A quality tent that is easy to set up. We have the REI Base Camp 4 and I love it. A good sleep system - bags/ pads/comfy pillow I bought a Buddy heater a couple of years ago and it's incredible. BougeRV fridge - No more filling with ice or throwing out wet food! A Jackery to power the fridge, phones, etc. Moji lights are incredible A reusable 2.5 gallon spout container for water with a cheap collapsible sink on the ground under it. The container becomes a faucet for washing hands or filling water bottles. The sink catches any runoff. I love my Lodge DO. We can cook almost anything in there. Your kids will need a kite. Buy a cheap one that's easy to fly. We have an entire bag of camp games.

I don't have any experience with the Westward, but I don't personally buy new REI brand tents anymore ever since I bought a $500 Wonderland 6 and had a pole break on the very first use. REI build quality and materials have taken a nosedive in the last 5 years or so, which sucks but I'm not going to gamble on my shelter. Especially when I'm paying $500 for gear, I expect it to be reliable and to last. (My old REI Base Camp 4 held up for 15+ years without any issue, too! Unfortunately it seems like REI is coasting on their prior reputation nowadays.) EDIT: Just looked up the Westward on their site and saw that it's so new to their product line that there aren't any reviews at all. I'd steer clear of any brand-new product like this, since any design flaws or cheap materials won't be apparent until you're using it. Personally I'm not trying to be a guinea pig for any manufacturer.

I have a REI basecamp 6 that holds up well to wind. We camp on the east coast a lot and it’s regularly 20-30 mph winds. There’s been more than once where our tent was the only one still standing after a big storm. If it’s just you and the dog you could probably get the basecamp 4.

If you’re coming from a Hubba mindset, you’re going to be happiest with a “real” freestanding 4p that has a solid rainfly, full-coverage fly, good vents, and a bathtub floor. A lot of the big “family” tents leak or sag in storms mostly because of fly coverage + poles + poor staking. A few that are commonly recommended in that $400–500 range and actually do well in heavy rain: big agnes copper spur hv ul4 More technical build, good materials and design, solid in storms if you stake it properly. It’s lighter than you need for car camping, but it’s a nice bridge from backpacking to family camping. Downside is the lighter fabric needs a bit more care with a kid + dog. msr habitude 4 More “family friendly” shape with good headroom and still msr quality. Not as light as the copper spur, but it’s designed to be livable and handle weather well. nemo aurora highrise 4p (or aurora 4p) Roomy and easy to live in, good rain protection when fully guyed out. More comfort-oriented but still better-built than the typical big-box family tents. rei base camp 4 More storm-forward design. If you get real downpours and wind, this style tends to feel more confidence-inspiring than the super airy “summer family” tents. A couple practical notes for “midwest surprise storms” regardless of tent: * prioritize full-coverage fly + lots of guy-out points, and actually use the guylines * practice staking and tightening the fly before you need it * footprint is optional, but a groundsheet cut slightly smaller than the tent floor helps keep water from pooling under you * for kid + dog, interior space matters more than the “4p” label; some 4p tents feel like a tight 3p once you add a dog Quick question: are you mostly camping in wooded state parks (less wind, more humidity/bugs) or more open sites (more wind)? That can push the choice toward a more ventilated tent vs a more storm-focused one.

We use a "4 Person" REI Basecamp - it is Just big enough for the 2 of us + reasonable sleeping gear. On one hand, it is NOT tall enough to stand up in, but on the other hand it has (thus far...) stood up against some Very Bad weather - high winds with & without thunderstorms. As others have noted, a 6 Person tent is seems more likely to offer standing height. We "cheated" and added a NorthernBreeze 10ft "screen house" as a dining shelter, after too many Cold Wet Mornings trying to prepare food beneath an open tarp "dining fly." Car campers / day hikers - so bulk not too much of a concern, as we are not carrying any heavy loads very far! As a 'bonus,' the smaller tent stays warmer than the relatively huge NorthernBreeze - we prefer spring / fall, and have ran into overnight temps in the low- to mid-30s on a number of trips (but always recovering to at least mid-50s during the day).

Will echo the recommendation to go larger than a "4 person" tent. Wife and I use an REI BaseCamp 4, and while it has been great for sleeping - and has withstood both high winds and torrential rains - we eventually added an Eureka 10' Northern Breeze as a Dining / Its-Going-to-Rain-ALL-Day shelter, since being 'stuck' in a 4 person tent (with small vestibules) for long time periods is not Great Fun. Note: We prefer Spring / Fall for camping, frequently with overnight temps into the mid-30s (lower 30's a couple of trips), and trying to fix meals / eat beneath a simple tarp in those temps got old - especially if the wind is up / rain falling. (Surprisingly, we have yet to see Actual Snow while camping, low temperatures notwithstanding - but, again, "shoulder seasons" NOT "Winter!")

I can 2nd the REI base camp. The quality vs price is very hard to beat. We have our older model (don’t remember which exactly ) away and I’ve missed it.