Half Dome 4

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.

Backpacking or car camping? I use an rei 1/2 done for backpacking or my old school north face mountain 24. Car camping I use a Cabelas Alaskan Guide six person. It's a beast. Takes the wind and rain. Great tent. But expensive. So is my mountain 24 when i bought it in 1997. Rei 1/2 dome. Make sure you seam seal it.

My REI half dome 2 from 2004 is just starting to reach the end of its life. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. They make a 4 person model.

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!

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.

Also don’t disregard REI brand tents. My husband and I have been using a 4 person REI tent for several years now and it’s sustained a few solid rainstorms. It’s similar to the westward model! Also If you have an in person REI near you check the “re-sale” section, great way to snag stuff at a deal. As you go to upgrade I’d upgrade things based on what erks you when camping and you wish was just a bit easier or more comfortable. For us being able to stand up to get dressed in the tent was huge, and we prioritized a taller tent pretty quickly and oversized bc we usually travel in chilly weather to go fishing. So having space to store our layers inside and use our vehicle for only fishing gear has made it much much easier to stay organized!

I own 3. I go camping with my wife. 1. 3 person Mountain Hardware I bring for backcountry or always bring with us as backup if car camping just in case. 2. 4 person Nature Hike 10.9 for car camping and long weekend stays. 3. REI 4 person. Can’t remember the name if the tent site is small or short stays. Fairly light with small vestibule. I always have #1 as a backup tent every time we car camp.