The North Face - Wawona 6

On my first trip with my Wawona 6, we had bad unexpected storms pop up both nights. We knew it was supposed to rain a bit, but the forecast didn’t say storm! But in anticipation of the rain, we set up the tent properly, guy-lines and all. The Wawona performed excellently. It didn’t budge or leak. Meanwhile, our camping buddies were in a Coleman dome that was staked down, and it blew over. It pulled half the stakes out and tossed everything around inside.

I've got the Wawona 6 and love it. It's really convinced me that concerns about needing a full rain fly are overblown. I did a \*ton\* of research before buying, and found plenty of people online saying they're "concerned" about rain intrusion, but couldn't find any examples of people actually experiencing it. Check out [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Y_iXNrJsI) (this girl's channel has a lot of really good camping gear reviews and tests). She sets the Wawona 6 up in a torrential downpour for three straight days. So much rain that at one point the ground couldn't hold anymore and it's just sitting standing water a couple inches deep. By day three, one of the walls got slightly damp to the touch on the inside, but otherwise everything stayed dry, which is about the best you can reasonably ask for. She has another video where she does a similar test with a Big Agnes tent with a full rainfly (I think the Bunk House, not sure), and while the rainfly worked fine on it, it had much more significant water intrusion through improperly sealed seams.

We've got 6 tents and the only 2 that get use are the half-done 2+ (backcountry), and the Wawona 6 for car camping or canoe in (no portage). Somebody mentioned this above but IMO multiple good 2 person tents are much more usable than a 6-8 person tent.

Up until last season my car camping 4person kelty that I literally got fifteen years ago. It still functions fantastically in dry conditions and I'm sure if I seam sealed it and reapplied waterproofing it would still be a great three season option. We used the leak as an excuse to get a North Face Wawona 6 but if we we car camping somewhere dry without a lot of space for the footprint we will use the kelty. All that to say they slap really hard for the price and are very durable. They don't tend to be ultralight but they are good quality

North Face Wawona 6. We have one and the reviews were great, including wet weather experiences. The tub held up well in reviews. Our only regret is not picking up the 8 and vestibule when they were on sale. We have huge cots that eat up a lot of space. We got our for around $300 at REI on sale.

I have the Wawona 6, the "portable chateau". Don't judge me. It's essentially the same as the Wawona 4. We use it car camping and used it quite a bit last year during very hot weather - high 90s F. I think it's a pretty ok tent but I actually found the ventilation to be inadequate. Without the fly you don't have much privacy in the front and there really isn't good airflow with it on. They certainly tried - there are little vents and the windows up very wide but they are up high on the sides so you don't get much of cross-breeze. I was trying to take naps in the afternoon and it was always *way* hotter than the already hot 'outside'. Also, the fly is the absolute bare minimum for any kind of rain. Despite all this I think it's a good tent and was a really good value.

Getting the rainfly onto the wawona 6 by yourself can be a pain in the ass but I’ve done it plenty of times camping with my son. He’s too young to be of any help with a task like that. Attaching the fly to the back of the tent first and then throwing it up and over is how I’ve always done it. That tent is a castle. I love the space you have in the vestibule but it can be a pain setting up something with such a large footprint in some sites so make sure you book one where it will fit. I actually just ordered a marmot limestone 4p so I can have something smaller for when I won’t have the luxury of using the wawona and its massive vestibule.

Absolutely. For years I, then we, had smaller backpacking tents. Then I got a great deal on a North Face Wawona 6 and it’s been amazing. Before we had a kid it was great to just have space to be able to stand up or hang out in if it rained. Then we had a kid and it was big enough for his pack-n-play. I’ve had backpacking tents that took more time to set up so aside from the space it takes up when packing, which isn’t too much more than a regular tent, there aren’t any downsides really. I’ll even take it when I go out by myself if I’m going to be somewhere for a few days.

When car camping, think comfort. I have a hiking tent, but I also have the North Face Wawona 6 Person Tent https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/camping-tent/the-north-face-wawona-6 For the times when the desire to stand up or leisurely stretch out is desired.

Nice! I have the same tent. Funny story. I made the cardinal sin of setting up for the first time on site. I couldn’t get the vestibule pulled evenly to stake it. Considering it’s also the rain fly (and it started raining and getting dark), I improvised and pulled some guy lines out at and staked it anyways. After calming down and assessing later- I think I crossed the curved vestibule pole with the forward most tent pole. Was solo camping, so my small brain had to work by its lonesome. Things I learned: packing extra stakes and paracord saved me. Even though the vestibule wasn’t perfect (my fault), I LOVE how it allows for flexibility with all weather camping. Extra gear, chairs, etc stays dry. Tent stays clean with shoes and crap to leave outside. I am definitely into tents with a porch. All tent manufacturers need better instructions. They are a joke with their meaningless diagrams. I was able to laugh at myself though.

Absolutely love my wawona 6. I’ll be camping in it this weekend. My family of 4 is comfortable in it.

As others said large tents limit camping options. My Wawona 6 I’ve even had to avoid some spots not many but it happens. I’d look at modular or pod tents that connect to each other. Shiftpod comes to mind with their tunnel connectors but they are expensive, they have like literal tent cities of these.

Nicest tent with best fabric I’ve ever seen is an Overlandish Basecamp. It’s a hub quick setup tent. Saw it at Overland Expo. Port holes for AC or Diesel Heater, Triple Layer Insulated fabric looks like quilted material and triple layer windows. It’s costly though but if was camping a lot I’d get it. I own a North Face Wawona 6 that is pretty good for a regular tent with typical fabric.

Off topic but I got a wawona 6 last year for 70% off at a North face outlet mall and I love the thing. What more would you want your tent to do? I think the wawona 6 is fairly easy to set up so I could imagine the 4 is easier. Do they make portable showers?

North face Wawona 6 is awesome.

I’ve used it in AZ for a lot of camping up to a week. Also for a long weekend during the monsoon season and stayed dry. The porch add-on is currently 1/2 price at REI with good reviews..

We have the Wawona 6 and love it- only downside is if you really open it up for airflow you do have to get outside to close it up if it starts raining. This has been inconvenient about once. On the privacy front, if the air is still you do need to open up the rear window/ door/ whatever you want to call it to get air moving well, which means it's generally helpful to pitch the tent so that side points towards privacy. We do a lot of walk in campsites so this hasn't been a huge deal. Having camped in both the Limestone and the Wawona 6 in rain with a kiddo, the much larger vestibule of the Wawona makes dealing with wet gear and muddy shoes vastly more civilized- we can keep a few chairs and a ton of hooks in the Wawona and have plenty of space for people and gear and taking gear on and off and etc.

I camped forever with a half dome, ostensibly a 2 person tent but really a solo tent, and even brought my kids a few times. Finally bit the bullet and bought a 6 person tent (north face wawona) and the only question I had for myself is why I didn't do it sooner.

When solo I’m ultralight and sometimes even cowboy camp with no tent. BUT… when car camping with my partner we always go big. Used to use the Marmot Limestone 6, but recently switched to the North Face Wawona 6 (the huge vestibule is a game changer.) being able to set up shop inside the tent, stand fully upright, and comfortably fit a queen sized mattress all make a world of difference. In short, yes, it’s 1000% worth the bigger tent for car camping as a couple. I’ll never go back to small tents in that scenario.

I love this tent. This extensive review got me to buy it. https://youtu.be/G6Y_iXNrJsI?si=O75CeT3P8UpmdYUl

I have the wawona 6 and I’d say it’s overkill for one person. It’s doable to set it up alone but it will take more time , especially taking it down and packing it neatly. I’d go for a 4 person tent if you’re solo and want space.

Yes, 100%. North face Wewona was on sale for a little over 200$ last year. 6 person. Great for car camping. As a couple, we can stand up and get out on either side of the air mattress. Two doors an a great vestibule .

We just got the North Face Wawona 6p tent and wow! We have so much more room, can stand up, and the dogs can spread out. It’s perfect!

I love my North Face Wawona 6. It's a 4-seasons tent that I picked up on sale for about $375.

I’m in az and car camp a lot, got the NF Wawona 6 with the vestibule and like the size and functionality.

Hey campers, I'm reposting this as my first try got taken down. But I'm new here and would definitely like to contribute in the future by posting camp setups and gear review. I recently picked up the Wawona 6 from The North Face and couldn't be happier. Here's my 2 cents. I'm used to backpacking tents and smaller tents in general. For reference I've used the Stormbreak 1 and REI Flash Air 2 for backpacking. For car camping, I've used the North Face Trail Lite 3 and Marmot Tungsten 4. This is my first large tent and I don't think I'll go back when it comes to car camping. The luxury and space is unbeatable. My favourite thing about the tent is the large vestibule, it's so useful for storing all your gear especially when it's raining. I normally put up a tarp when it rains, but now I don't have to as I can fit a small dining/chill area right inside the vestibule. I also like to use cots when car camping. For this setup, I'm using 2 cots that have legs so we're pretty high off the ground. Its also nice to not have to squat or crouch when moving around or entering/exiting the tent. I've yet to experience any cons to this tent other than it's very cold on cold nights due to large windows and lots of mesh for ventilation. But this tent is definitely designed for summer. Although we did use it for below freezing nights, it was no problem since we used our winter sleeping bags and down layers. Overall I think this is a great tent for a small family or older people that may have trouble getting low to the ground. Or if you're like me, you can use it for 2 people and a dog to experience maximum space. At regular price I think it's a touch expensive, but If you can find this tent on a deal I think it's well worth it. If you have this tent please share your experience. I'm willing to answer any questions to the best of my ability. Happy camping!

In terms of setup, here’s a copy paste of my reply to a similar question in this thread: I have been able to assemble this on my own before. I wouldn’t say it’s hard but I wouldn’t say it’s easy. Somewhere in the middle. The hardest part is getting the initial “X” structure through the pole sleeves and into the grommets which pitch the main inner tent. If any parts of the poles snag on the sleeves it can get a bit cumbersome. That being said I was able to pitch it in about 10 minutes alone but helps to have a friend. Hope that helps! In regards to finding enough space, it might be a bit more challenging if you’re at a smaller site. So far I’ve only camped with this tent on large sites, prioritizing flatness for the main tent body and less for the vestibule.

I have been able to assemble this on my own before. I wouldn’t say it’s hard but I wouldn’t say it’s easy. Somewhere in the middle. The hardest part is getting the initial “X” structure through the pole sleeves and into the grommets which pitch the main inner tent. If any parts of the poles snag on the sleeves it can get a bit cumbersome. That being said I was able to pitch it in about 10 minutes alone but helps to have a friend. Hope that helps!

Larger tents aren't always better tents or truly more spacious tents. The cheaper and bigger they are, the less actual usuable room them have. My North Face Wawona 6 *easily* fits 4 people, and a boatload of gear extremely comfortably. It fits me and my partner (who are both tall), with ease. We fit a full double air mattress, basically 2 night stands, and would still have room for a dog bed if we weren't cat people. And we can stand up. And it's incredibly well put together and durable and takes all of 5 minutes to put together by myself. A 10 person one is 3x the effort, and absolutely requires 2 people to put up.

We use The North Face Wawona 6P for 3 people and it’s nice. The vestibule and tent is tall enough for an average person to stand in with no problem. It would give you plenty of room for your dog to move around at night and even have their own dog bed. I also like Big Agnes tents. Most of the ones I have seen have the ability to be set up without the tent. The footprint, poles and fly work together to create a shelter. This can be great when you want something quick, or it’s not too buggy and you want to sleep in the open. Outdoor Gear lab is a good source for information. It helped me choose the Wawona 6p. Unfortunately, the 4P is pretty much the same cost as the 6p if you want the vestibule addon. Which I highly recommend its a good place to strip down, check for ticks, store your extra gear. Its big enough to put a cot, or some chairs to sit in if you want.

I love TNF Wawona 6

The vestibule is one of the defining features of this tent. If you use the vestibule on this one, but want one smaller, there is always the wawona 6. That should be fine for 2 adults, 2 dogs, and gear. Otherwise, there are plenty of other 6 person tents that could be even smaller overall if you don't need the wawona vestibule.

The Wawona 6 is BALLER. I got mine on clearance too and I'm still mad about it being stolen.

100% worth it for car camping. We are looking at getting a Wawona 6. We already use a Coleman Skydome 6p for the two of us.

I believe you're referring to Liz, channel name is "Camping Guidance". Her reviews are phenomenal and a great resource for those shopping for tents. I bought a Wawona 6 as a result of her reviews and demonstrations. https://preview.redd.it/hooque6e9aqe1.png?width=1008&format=png&auto=webp&s=bf5ed8b86615a51d26d48af48586fb76a9a92c64

I'd agree with that assessment. It's definitely a three-season tent only.

I watched a guy on YouTube use this in a storm and it leaked. Not a lot but water did breach. I will say I love my Wawona 6! I really wanted the Habitude 6, but oh well lol.

We have a wawona 6 and it is my palace! We have a comfy megamat duo in there and still room to do a full yoga routine (including standing up) in the tent if it is raining outside. 

In that price range my top two would either be a Wawona or the REI Wonderland. Both have space to stand up inside, more roomy design that the Base Camp style l, and do great in even super rough weather with a couple guy-lines staked out. Go for at least a 4P, but we have a 6P, and it was worth it the few times we've been stuck inside it for hours waiting out a heavy rain storm.

Wawona 6 is definitely going to be more of a struggle to do solo, but not impossible. Maybe a bit overkill unless you're bringing glamping-level amounts of gear with and plan to hang out in the tent. For 1-2 people where weight isn't a factor, I think I'd actually lean towards some of the newer Coleman or even Walmart designs that include a divided layout, where you can even use the front portion as a screen-tent for eating or hanging out bug-free but not have to bring a separate screen shelter along. If your itinerary while car camping is more active and you're in the campsite mostly just for sleeping and dinner, then I think a pretty standard 4 person will do just fine. If you don't need super harsh weather capability, maybe consider something like the Coleman Peak1 4-person with a peak height of 70 inches.

If you want a “good” tent you will need to spend more than $400 unless you get lucky. However if your girlfriend wants a big tent and previously bought an outbound one, she doesn’t seem too concerned about having a really good tent (I don’t mean that in a rude way, but outbound is not considered quality and people looking for “good” would never consider one, and most people looking for something really technical are buying at most a 3 person, it’s just how this works). I’d just get the same one if she was happy with it. That said, as another suggested, if you keep an eye on sales you may be able to get her a slightly fancier tent like the north face Wawona for a good deal, and if she knows about good gear she’ll probably be stoked, because the wawona is just about the only tent people will suggest as a good big tent. Depends on whether you are looking to just replace/make things right, or try to treat her at the same time. Either way is fine.

DAC poles, lifetime warranty and full coverage rainfly. Marmot Halo 6p Marmot Limestone 6p MSR Habbiscape 6p Eureka Spacecamp 6p Big Agnes Bunk House 6p Sierra Designs Nomad 6p The North Face Wawona and Nemo Highrise are also good but they don't have full coverage rain flies. Buy additional guyline and upgrade your tent stakes. The stakes that come with lost tents are not good.

I never buy anything that is trying to be sold to me by an “influencer“.  I’m sure they are pretty neat in the way they go up, probably a lot less so when you are putting them down. I highly doubt they would last as long as a similarly priced normal tent. More moving parts always equates to more problems.   I guess if you have space in your car/truck/trailer for it, the extra cash, and dislike of a regular tent then go ahead.  I will stick with my lightweight REI, or my Wawona for more comfortable car camping. If I wanted a more convenient solution I’d get a rooftop or a teardrop trailer. 

6'4" here, also Halo 6. Upgraded from a first gen NF Wawona, which I could also stand up in.

Look at Northface Wawona and Marmot Limestone. Both are solid, seam taped and built like bomb shelters. The Wawona is taller, 6'2 in the middle, so slightly taller than Limestone. But if you want standing room being 6'4, you might have some tough time finding one for 4 person.

That's how we fell in love with the Wawona by watching Liz!