The North Face - Wawona 8

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 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.

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!

I have a Kelty, an Alps, a North Face, a REI, a Magellan and one from Bass Pro (I can’t remember the name). All are for different situations. Kelty is a great brand. Just realize you are entering a world where you are going to wake up and ask “Do I need another tent?” and the answer is always yes. Applies to backpacks as well :)

We also have an rei half dome, used a lot when bike camping. We progressed to car camping long trips and bought a north face tent that my spouse ( and me too) can stand up and move around in. Fantastic!! On multiple day stays we love it. we took the little tent too and if just getting somewhere late and moving on the next day we used that. The bigger one has a porch and in bad weather having that space and more inside space is so good.

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.

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.

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!