REI Co-op - Half Dome 4 Plus

If you are over landing and just driving all day a roof top could make sense for some. In a campground rtt’s seem pointless. If I am staying for more then two days someplace I set up my Cabelas six man guide tent. If I am weekend camping REI 1/2 dome four person. Easy to set up and roomy.

You mean four. REI 1/2 dome 4. Divide the poles, fly, tent and ground cloth between the three. I have carried the tent by myself. Spacious family backpacking tent. Wife, myself and two young kids and a dog. Gear stored outside under a tarp that hangs over the tent.

If car camping is 90+% of the use case, size and weight are really no longer considerations imo so then you’re really looking at comfort features and weather resistance. If winter camping isn’t something you’ll be doing, the REI half-dome or NorthFace Wawona are two solid 4-person tents. These aren’t backpacking tents, but you’ll be able to stand, you can stow all your gear inside, they’ve got great weather resistance, and you, your dog and your friend will fit comfortably inside. For the few backpacking trips, my suggestion is to borrow or rent to get a feel for what features resonate with you.

That really does look like a decent option. I appreciate the input! Yeah, I currently have two REI tents, one solo backpacker - I think it’s called the Passenger 1 - and a four person tent I can stand up in (also can’t remember what it’s called). That one is exclusively a car camper as it’s big, bulky, and weighs like 12 pounds. Both have design flaws I’d like to see improved, while excelling in other ways. That one you’re pointing me to is cheap enough I can try it out and if I’m not wild about it, I won’t feel like I got screwed. Thanks!

Me too, I have the half dome plus for trips where packing volume matters but weight is not an issue and also because it is more roomy and made of more robust fabrics. I do a fair amount of trips that start with a flight so a lighter tent that takes up less room is a must. Copper Spur is perfect though I have also used a 20+ pound REI Kingdome when space was less of an issue.

I did a study on the tents available in school. The answer is “some” tents are 2-person tents, but very few. At the time, the REI Half Dome 2 was the best in terms of largest size, with reasonable weight and cost. The half dome 2 plus was even better. I think the half dome 2 has an accommodation % of 78% on length and 97.5% on width, assuming two sleeping pads side by side. I’m taller than 6 feet and two people my size fit into the REI Half Dome Plus with some gear just fine. The majority of the gear goes in the vestibules and stays reasonable dry above the ground.

I like the rei half dome plus. It’s about $370 which is out of the price range but you could wait to an rei sale like Labor Day or get a used one on eBay.

Cabelas six or 8 Alaskan Guide Tent. I have owned this tent for 15 years. Did lots of family camping and kept us dry. Backpacking I just use the rei 1/2 dome. Seam seal it. However my hard core backpacking day are behind me.

If a ten person tent is your jam go for it. I have a six person tent I use for the campgrounds. I will only put it up if I am staying at least three days. I use my REI four person for anything less than that. We don’t spend much time in the tent. It’s just for sleeping.

Same here. The Cabela’s alaskan guide tents are great, but heavy. Definitely wouldn’t want to backpack with one. I’ve got a North Face, can’t remember the name but it’s their version of the rei half dome. Bought it used in the early 2000s and it’s still going strong.

REI half dome! My husband and I backpacked the whole PCT with it. Was absolutely perfect. My husband is 6 ft. I think it would be a good fit with your height.

I was happy with my half dome, handled some nasty storms. I am very happy with my nemo dagger, lighter and more feature rich.