REI Co-op - Base Camp 6

I borrowed a Wawona 6, and ended up buying a basecamp 6. There's good comparison reviews on YouTube. The vestibule was amazing on the Wawona, but in smaller tent sites it would be a bit too big to fit. It also was a bit colder than I would like for a 3 season tent, the rain fly doesn't come down all the way and the main door is all mesh. You're basically heating up the whole vestibule with body heat at night. Super easy setup, like crazy easy for a tent that big. Basecamp is extremely sturdy, easy to set up, and very well designed. Pockets everywhere, color coded poles, huge doors, and a decent sized vestibule, although not as big as Wawona. Have camped in some wind and it felt solid. It's quite warm with everything buttoned up, but has plenty of ways to vent, including some cool triangular windows near the bottom and top vents accessible from the inside.

Piling on another recommend for the Base Camp 6. We currently own 7 tents for various uses and some I should sell. I'm a gear hoarder. I have REI, TNF, Big Agnes, Columbia, Kelty and two Mountain Hardwear. Our 2 car camping tents are a decade old REI Base Camp 6 for winter and if we expect winds and a current model The North Face Wawona 6 for summer. The BC6 can be a bit stuffy if the fly is not fully staked out or the fly bottoms aren't rolled up (which is a great feature) in hot dry weather. The W6 doesn't have a full fly and I don't trust it in a heavy downpour although in testing when fully staked out so the water from the fly doesnt run onto the mesh portion it in theory perforns better in rain. The BC6 isn't as tall as the W6 and the poles aren't as thick. The W6 has thick overbuilt poles. The W6 has a nice large front vestibule you can sit in or park bikes in but the BC6 has a good size front vestibule for a packs or a large cooler and a small back vestibule. I can't fully stand up in the BC6 like I can in the W6. The W6 is roomy with a high profile and straighter walls but the BC6 is a bomb proof shape. The only thing I don't like about the BC6 is that the older model I have has small clear vinyl windows that can't be covered. There isn't total privacy. The new ones don't have that problem. With the vestibule on the W6 closed there is total privacy. With it open it offers decent privacy as the vestibule opens at a right angle to the full mesh front of the main body of the W6. The W6 has junk pole, stake, and tent bags. The BC6 has a very nice bag with backpack shoulder straps and pitch instructions printed on the bag. The BC6 footprint also comes in a nice bag with instructions on it and it all fits easily into the tent bag. Both have ample pockets for storage inside, but the W6 has lots of pockets on the rear door, that is more window than door, and may not be convenient if the window is being used. The W6 foot print is not obtainable anymore although I think it has always been difficult to find. The REI Skyward 6 footprint fits the TNF W6 fine, and in some ways is better than the correct TNF foot print. It doesn't fit well into the TNF Wawona bag well but the bag really doesn't hold the tent well either. The W6 footprint has a small extra flap in the vestibule for shoes but I prefer the Skyward 6 footprint with nothing for the vestibule and using a Wawona large tarp for shoes that I can move as needed for chairs or bikes or however I need to arrange the vestibule in the moment. I'll keep a Yeti cooler in the vestibule and sit on it for taking shoes off. In the day when wearing the shoes I'll roll up the tarp and then have full space for camp chairs in the vestibule. My ideal car camping tent would be a slightly taller REI Base Camp 6, including the great tent bag, with a huge front vestibule like the TNF Wawona 6 and if possible a way to dry pitch it like my Mountain Hardwear and Big Agnes.

Rei base camp 6. Bombproof design. Keep an eye out for sales and coupons. I have the 4 man and love it

I swear by the base camp ⛺️

We love our REI Basecamp 6. Can fit 2 cots, 2 camp chairs, and the dog bed no problem.

REI Basecamp series. We have a Basecamp 6, for 2 people and a dog. The reason it’s my favorite is because the rain fly goes down to the ground on all four sides, effectively making it a double wall tent. You will not get wet no matter how hard it’s raining. I see a lot of people in this sub complain about morning dampness inside their tent and that just does not ever happen with the Basecamp tents. https://preview.redd.it/dbwogx5tsq9d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01e7ffa5449f829e457fb72bfa9e0f1f85cc55c4

Rei base camp 6 or 4 depending on your sizing needs. We just used ours camping this weekend and LOVE it. The large vestibule was really lovely to have to put our bags and extra stuff In without cluttering the main tent. You can’t stand up in it and pockets galore! We were able to fit 2 double sleeping pads and a baby pack and play no problem.

I have a Basecamp 6 I got used from REI. Love it, been holding strong for 4 years now. Negative degree winter, beach camping, high winds. Its been a trooper.

I had a Wawona 6, I loved that tent, but when it gets windy there is too much mesh and sand can be blown in. I returned it after a few trips and got the Base Camp 6. If you are not going to hike in the Kodiak 10x10 or 10x14 are good options. Depending on where you camp the 10x14 might be too big for some campground tent pads.

No, on my Wawona the mesh starts around 6" off the ground. On my REI Base Camp 6 the mesh is only in the top 4" or so and the door and windows can zip close.

I got a 6p REI Basecamp on Craigslist for $100 that still had its tags on it, not sure if you can find such a good deal but it rocks for car camping, hella storm proof too

REI basecamp 6. I too have a family of four and we’ve weathered some incredible thunderstorms in it. I do take precautions as far as making sure runoff rain water doesn’t get under it. Mine is 12 years old and I have no plans to replace it

REI Base Camp 6. Two people + gear, exped megamat max mattress, sheets and blankets bedding. Room for easy access, great tent 10+ years. Room to play cards in the rain. I saw you said you’ve got back packing gear. Car camping lets you bring more or larger items. I think you’re asking the right questions. Good luck!

no experience with any of the tents you mentioned, but I wanted to drop in a different suggestion - go straight to a 8 person sized tent car camping means you don't have to be as concerned about the tent pack size and weight tent interior space is always useful, for storage space, for floor space, for head space, which could be helpful for ventilation we used to camp in a REI Basecamp 6 when kids were toddler and baby, now we use a north face wawona 8, kids now pre-teen we were able to even have the kids' friends (two additional kids) camp a night in the wawona 8 and all be comfortable, not cramped second suggestion is to find a tent that has a big vestibule, or garage - exterior covered space is also very useful good luck!

REI Base Camp 6. Not great for hot temps (you'll need a fan) but hella solid in the rain and wind.

We had a half dome (still do) and used that for years. After we had our daughter we found a 6 person base camp as a return at REI. It’s been a life changer, being able to stand up and move around, bigger sleeping area and storage. 100% worth it IMO especially for longer trips.

How many people do you need to sleep? Remember that person ratings are "sardine can" ratings with no gear. I generally take 2 off the rating. If you really need to sleep 8-10 people; 2, 6 person tents is probably a better choice than trying to fit everyone in one tent. For 6 people two 4-persons would probably be good. I've been really happy with my REI Basecamp 6: full fly and nice vestibules for storing shoes and gear. I would probably only attempt to put 4 people in it though.

Big Tent Pros: Lots of space, can stand up inside, comfy! Big Tent Cons: More difficult to set up alone. Takes up more space in your vehicle. Needs a larger flat area to set up. I camp solo and got tired of squeezing into my little 2 man tent and having to do complicated yoga just to change clothes. I ended up getting REI's Basecamp 6 person tent and I LOVE it. It takes a little longer to set up and is a little more difficult to do by yourself (especially if you're short like me), but I love having lots of space for me and the dog and my stuff. For car camping where weight isn't important, I just go all out. That said, if I'm car camping in an area where I know flat, open space at the site will be limited, I'll pack my small tent instead. Most of my camping is dispersed desert camping, though, and I usually don't have any trouble finding space.

We have an REI Basecamp 6 and two Kingdom cots. Just enough space for two glampers, and oh, such a good night's sleep.

I actually do like the tent. I don't doubt it would satisfy my needs. However, I'm more worried on warranty for the price I'm paying for it.

Used to backpack and all my gear was oriented for that. Now 62 and can't quit camping, so we have a standup tent and I have a cot and love both items. I recommend spending a bit more for quality as that also adds to the 'older' experience. I went with a 6ppl REI tent and it is fabulous. 2 adults and 2 standard poodles fit in and I can stand up and not step on a dog on the way out. Totally a good investment IMO. Good luck.

The Base Camp has 4 poles that actually touch the ground and criss cross, and doesn't rely on plastic hubs. It most closely resembles an actual 4 season mountaineering tent, at least conceptually. You lose some livability because the walls can't be made as upright, but properly staked out, I feel like the design would hold up best in inclement weather.

REI “Basecamp” model. Available in 4 or 6 person, with a full fly and a full vestibule on both doors (one of which is pole supported like a front porch).

There's really only one 4 season tent in the $250 range -- Alps Mountaineering Tasmanian. Quality ofc isn't the same as other $800 4 season tents out there but for more casual stuff it'll do fine. The Cabela's Alaskan Guide 4 is currently at $300 and it's got pretty good reviews as a 4ish season offering but fiberglass poles are kinda sketchy for 4 season camping. I am a big fan of the REI Base Camp series as a 3+ season, though, if you're talking inches of snow instead of feet and especially if you can get some tree cover. Exceptional sturdiness and fly design that can handle tougher conditions. They don't retail even close to $250 but REI runs sales that should bring the 4 person closer to $350-300ish if you can wait.

Same. Upgraded to the Base Camp from my Half Dome once I became a family man. Kids got bigger now we have a roomy REI Wonderland. Up to 4 tents now (and a solo lightweight bivvy).

As an owner of a Nemo wagontop, REI basecamp and Kodiak canvas.. I approve this message 😂 I’ve owned a lot of tents and Kodiak canvas feels like the one for me, other than being heavy it’s a perfect tent

If you want a bargain the Eureka Spacecamp 6p is a great buy at $259. Very storm worthy and has a full coverage fly unlike the Wawona. The Wawona is a good tent if you want the porch vestibule area. The Limestone Ilis Marmot's classic done tent. I used to own this and iw rock the Halo 6p. REI Basecamp is a great tent with a terrible 1 year warranty and no after sales support from REI. Aurora Highrise doesn't have a full coverage rainfly; I would skip this one. Between the MSR tents the Habiscape is newer and a better design with larger vestibules. The Big Agnes Bunk House 6p is fantastic with it's awesome stuff sack, nice vestibules and tall peak height. The Marmot Halo 6p is a killer storm worthy tent and the one I went with.