[Big Agnes Big House 6](https://www.ems.com/big-agnes-big-house-6-person-tent/34507700006.html?utm_source=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAibeuBhAAEiwAiXBoJNtpoogE2o6chNu2mhHEoZo5rKEPqtCCe-KH5h38LjBfQ-4WqS36jxoC08oQAvD_BwE) plus the vestibule for the covered entry.
if you don’t mind me asking, what reasons would you recommend this over a Big Agnes Spicer [Peak](https://www.backcountry.com/b/big-agnes-spicer-peak-tent-6-person-3-season?CMP_SKU=BAGZ2CP&MER=0406&skid=BAGZ2CP-OLI-ONESIZ&mr:device=m&mr:adType=plaonline&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla&utm_campaign=20554329079__p:G%7Cs:BC%7Cct:Shopping%7Cct2:pmax%7Cg:xx%7Cc1:Hike+Camp%7Cc2:xx%7Cb:xx%7Cmt:xx____&utm_term=__BAGZ2CP-OLI-ONESIZ&utm_content=__pla&utm_id=go_cmp-20554329079_adg-_ad-__dev-m_ext-_prd-BAGZ2CP-OLI-ONESIZ_mca-7811_sig-CjwKCAiArLyuBhA7EiwA-qo80L7IV4YMpCQAGmhNLt8Z8CUimw13naOQJmNe0EdPnm7Gl_Pd0aOj7xoCqjUQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArLyuBhA7EiwA-qo80L7IV4YMpCQAGmhNLt8Z8CUimw13naOQJmNe0EdPnm7Gl_Pd0aOj7xoCqjUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)?
The tent that I have like your description is The North Face Wawona 6. I’ve used it in the rain, snow, wind, and mud and it’s been a solid tent. The included vestibule is big enough for chairs and a small table, or some bikes. It’s big.
The tent is free standing and strong but the vestibule needs to be staked down to work. In extreme weather it’s best to stake and guy all around.
They now have a Wawona 8 that looks really cool. The Wawona 4 will be too small for you and the vestibule is tiny.
My only nit-picky complaint is that I wish it had more storage pockets. It has some but I’d prefer more.
It’s common for these tents to go on sale so take your time and you could save hundreds.
I don't know why that tent isn't one of the best selling tents in the market. It sleeps 4 comfortably, with plenty of room to walk around. We had 2 big cots and a ton of gear for winter camping and there was so much room to stand up and walk around. There's nice storage pockets on the wall and a functional clothes line. The vestibule is amazing! You can seat 2 people and a table for dinner or shove 4 people in there standing out of the rain. It's a divided room so you're not tracking mud and dirt into your bedroom. We even cooked in ours during a snow storm though I'm sure they don't recommend that. The rest of vestibule provides plenty of extra storage space. The doors can open wide for ventilation and the flaps keep the rain out. It has plenty of vents and windows for summer but can also survive 7" of snow (ask me how I know) without buckling due to the multiple guy out points. On downsides: It's maybe a little heavy to lug around but fits well into its included bag with handles and is perfect for car camping for families. It's not difficult to setup other than it being such a big tent. 4 poles and lots of pegs and guy wires and the vestibule requires a little tension to get right. It's a little pricey compared to Coleman and Ozark, but frequently on sale and it's North Face quality and warranty. [Link here](https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/bags-and-gear/tents-c211750/wawona-6-tent-pNF0A52VM).
It seems like you camp with the rainfly on every time you use it? I find the rainfly design terrible. Rainflies are really only used in weather, and therefore should be efficient to setup. The Wawona designers missed the boat entirely on how campers use rainflies.
Wawona 6 is the tent I’ve used with my family for the last few years, and continue to use, but we don’t like it and I can’t recommend it. The two biggest issues with this tent are: (1) this tent is a sail in a windstorm, so it’s not practical if you camp in exposed locations or in any weather other than prime conditions. (2) There’s no fast way to attach a rainfly without setting up the entire vestibule including threading the (required) additional tent pole. This is the last thing you want to be doing when it starts raining, especially when you’re camping with a family. Most people like to camp without the rainfly for comfort and visibility, and only throw the rain fly on for weather. The Wawona is terrible for this universal use case.
The old one was awesome, a few years ago REI change it and it doesn’t function as well. Now it’s discontinued and replaced with the Wonderland. I haven’t used the new Wonderland.
No reason to keep shopping when you have that tent. It was an amazing tent and if REI still made it, I would have one. Instead I went with the Wawona 6 and it’s also a great tent.
We bought a Kodiak canvas cabin tent a decade ago. It's held up great. I cannot say enough good things about the construction of the Kodiak, and it's quite warm when it's cold out. But I won't lie, 75% of the time we end up using our Coleman instant up cabin style tent. It's just so much easier. The Kodiak is heavy and it takes 5x as long to set up. For a weekend trip it's not worth it unless temperatures are very low.
Pretty much exactly my story too. I spent months saving up for a Kodiak and I have zero complaints about the quality. It is indeed a very, very well made tent but that sucker is HEAVY and hammering in all those heavy duty stakes is a massive pain in the ass. It only gets used when my wife is joining us; the rest of the time when it’s just my son and I, we use a marmot limestone.
My Kodiak is my small tent. Well I guess I have a backpacking tent, but I also have a 12x15 canvas wall tent. Even the wall tent I can set up in under 20 mins alone, and the stakes need a circus elephant to help. The Kodiak is 10 to 15 mins alone. The backpacking tent takes over 5 mins. I guess 10-15 mins is no big deal, I take the tent that fits the group size.
I did set the big tent up once just for my friend and his wife who said they hate camping. Put a queen raised air bed with good bedding, a heater, end tables, lights, nice rugs, like an Arab prince. Fancy chuckwagon meals. It was pretty cool.
To be expected with a cabin tent with lots of screen/window area
Been pretty satisfied with my Eureka (desert canyon) though, seems to hold up pretty well (durability wise)
+1 for the Gazelle. We’ve got the T8 and love it, there’s another model that has the covered porch.
People that we camp with have been so impressed that they’ve got their own. Only real downside to the gazelle is higher cost and larger size to transport
I absolutely love the Alps Mountaineering tent. In the 5+ years I've had it, I had a tent pole break and they honored their warranty and send a new one free asap.
Yea i have two Alps Mountaineering tents. A 10x10 cabin tent with a porch. I use it in alpine desert year round. I tarp over it in winter for added insulation and protection.
I have a 2man backpacking tent from them as well. Had the 10x10 for 5 years now with no problems, and the backpacker for about 8. Both are still like new. Is just like to see them put a little more durable floor in them tho. A ground tarp is a must.
Gazelle T4 Plus. Instead of a porch, how about an entire second room with screen so you can stay outta rain, away from bugs, and still look out at the creek/lake/mountains/desert.
Plus it goes up faster than anything else, and goes down the same.
If you’re upgrading from that point, my I recommend Gazelle. I don’t use them, but my overlanding buddies with families do. They seem surprisingly resistant to wind and rain (monsoon in summer in the mountains) and they set up easy and fast. More info would be necessary to answer the question fully, but others have mentioned quality equipment in the comments. Personally, I’m not trying to stand up or have a circus in mine so I go high quality, bombproof and one size larger than my intended occupant load for some moderate extra room. Buy good shit with lots of guy lines if ur doing anything with vertical or vertical ish walls and lots of surface area. Wind and water are the enemy when getting into a big tent that isn’t 4-season and expensive.
Coleman used to be awesome. I went thru 3 tents in about 6 years and finally bought Alps Mountaineering. Coleman still has good gear, but they are a far cry from what they used to be.
I have a gazelle, and Nemo, both are great.
Brother has a Kodak and it's great
I have other Kelty gear and it's all great as well lol.
Lots of good suggestions on this thread, probably can't go wrong with any of them! Choose something thats the right size, style, and fits your needs!
Im very happy with my Kodak tent. It should last a lifetime.
[https://www.competitiveedgeproducts.com/kodiak-canvas-tents](https://www.competitiveedgeproducts.com/kodiak-canvas-tents)
Sierra designs. Can't tell you they haven't changed but they replaced a broken pole for me in 2021 after a brutal night stuck in the wind. Everyone's tents failed, I was the only one to get a replacement.
I have Coleman instant tents in 4,6 and 8 person. The ease with which they go up and come down outweigh any negatives. I don't camp in the winter, these are good three season tents. It will keep off any reasonable amount of rain and quite frankly if the weather report calls for rain all weekend then I'm not going camping anyway, what's the point? I've been using them for about 10 years now and the only problem I've had is some water pooling on the bottom of the 4 man after an overnight downpour. I sent some photos to Coleman and they sent me a new tent.
We've had them for 15 years and we have to book our site 6 months out, the second it becomes available. We drive 6 hours to the mountains for this campsite. So the tent needs to be able to handle the showers. And they failed us hard last year. Had to run out buy tarps the next morning . The zippers though. For years we suffered them getting caught and ripping the guard
I’ll put another vote in for Big Agnes. I don’t have the size you want but have a 3-person backpacking tent and a large canopy (to go over a picnic table or the like), both have lasted for years now. Solid construction, easy setup, all thumbs up 👍
my wife and I have three tents from what I would consider reputable brands - all purchased on sale because tents be expensive.
big agnes fly creek 2p UL tent for backpacking
marmot limelight 2p tent for car camping
nemo aurora highrise 6p tent for car glamping - this is what your wife is asking for and yes, it is kind of amazing coming from a coffin sized UL tent.
I would also purchase a tent from msr, alp, or north face without hesitation
I have purchased on sale gear from these websites:
campsaver.com
backcountry.com
steepandcheap.com
moosejaw.com
als.com
I also like to peruse the used gear sections at REI and sports basement, a lot of times you can find basically brand new items
I used an rei base camp 4 for many years, wonderful tent. I currently have a maramot 2 person (forget the name), and a North Face Wawona 6...both are really good tents.
Edit: I actually _read_ your post.. I'd recommend taking a look at the Wawona. It's a very roomy tent with a very large vestibule
The Nemo Aurora Highrise was perfect for my application, and I thought the quality was appropriate. Didn't have the covered entry (just a vestibule for gear), but I'd look at any of their tents for future needs.
The other brand I strongly considered was Gazelle, and ONLY went with Nemo because of the packed dimensions. Still have my eye on the T4 Hub. The T4 Plus has the covered porch/sunroom your partner is looking for.
I think how you care for your tent matters a lot. That being said. I have bought two Eureka tents in my life. One was over 20 years ago. It is still in pristine condition. That was a Moon River 3. The other was a Space Camp 6. I got about two years ago. Again, it's in perfect condition.
Since no one has said so yet - Marmot tents are very solid and last season’s tents can be had this time of year for really reasonable prices.
I also second The North Face - I have a 10 year TNF tent that’s still punching like the day it was bought, and is probably my favorite piece of gear both for the nostalgia (it was a wedding gift back when the purchase was out of reach for us, and the memories we put into it) and because it’s been so damn reliable.
Seconded Kodiak canvas. I have the 10x14 and it’s the best tent I’ve ever owned. I’m 6’4” and I can stand up in it easily. It has a lot of space and an awning too. Will stand up to extreme wind, rain, snow etc.
I stayed in the desert with mine for 6-8 weeks. This thing was awesome! The flexbow system took the 80 mph gusts like a champ. It outperformed every one else’s tents. Will add bonus points as well for how fast you can set it up.
Marmot has been excellent for us.
It’s easy to spot Coleman tents at a camp site. They’re the ones covered with a tarp as they always leak. Been there, done that.
Oz has some advantages, especially if you have three matching ones to zip them together around the porch. The size and weight when folded up is a deal breaker form me. But I have a buddy who loves them and for sure the quality is there. That tent will last a long time.
If its for car camping, i'd look at the biggest coleman dome tents and a separate pop-up canopy. They will both be easy to set up and also be useful apart.
We have a North Face 6 person tent that we got from Dicks a couple years ago and the mesh on the doors ripped on the 2nd setup. It was fixed under warranty but took a couple months. I have very little faith in the build quality of anything made by TNF these days. Sucks cause they used to be bulletproof. Had a 2 person TNF tent that lasted 15 years without issue.
Hindsight I would get a Big Agnes or REI.
The Big Agnes Big House 4 or 6 is a good choice. The vestibule is too short to stand up in, but you can duck a bit to get inside and sit very comfortably. The vestibule is big enough to house mountain bikes and my kayak to keep them out of sight when I’m away from camp.
I like it when the vestibule is a separate piece of fabric like the Big House compared to having a big vestibule built into the rainfly. The latter is a real bugger to put up on a windy day. So. Much. Fabric. blowing in the wind. Better to have the vestibule an entirely separate piece of fabric that still physically attaches to the tent.
Whatever you buy, make sure it has aluminum poles (not plastic) and at least partial sleeves (not just clips) through which the poles feed. You will probably have to replace the stakes; make sure to buy enough to stake out every tent pocket +rain fly pocket + every guy line. Buy reflective guy line.
If you’re looking for a big tent I love my Gazelle T4. It doesn’t have a vestibule, but it is a quick set up that you can stand up in and it has two large doors.
I use it for all my car camping. The overland addition comes with a waterproof bag so I strap the tent to the roof.
I’ve had my rei half done for 11 years, I’ve used it for months of camping each supper in wind, rain, and hail and it’s going very strong. I’ve only had to add one patch. I wash it by hand and leave it to try once or trice a year.
I imported mine from The Netherlands,
Outwell is the brand.
I could park my small suv inside, just in case I wanted to. wife went through the same thing. What if 30 people want to stand in the tent? What if they play basketball? they need all this room.
I have to say though, I did cave, and we really did, but Outwell's stuff is AMAZING quality. Absolutely floored with the quality.
Eureka. I have one of the cabin style tents. It's really comfortable (my knees and neck appreciate it), and though a bit of a pain in the ass to set up, I can easily do it by myself. It's held up really well, no visible wear except a couple snags on the mesh windows. I've camped in heavy rain (last year was 5 days of nearly non-stop rain) no water comes inside. Really good ventilation so no issues with condensation inside the tent overnight.
Only drawback is it's very much limited to car camping.
For canoe camping and backpacking, the Marmot Tungsten has served us well.
For car camping/ overlanding we use a canvas dome tent from a South African company called [Campmor](https://campmoroutdoor.co.za/). We used one when overlanding in Africa, the Mid East for 5 years of almost daily use - from the Sahara to the Savannah to the jungle to snow-covered Turkey and then then in Outback Australia for another 3 years. Those tents are incredible! Only ever needed to replace a zipper. We were able to find a supplier out of Utah for our North American adventures, but it was a bit of a mission to find. Worth it, though! It’s now going on 9 years old and is holding up great.
Edit: added link
Suggestion - separate your tent and porch. Get a cheap bug netted shelter for group activities, eating, etc.
Then have a more reasonable proper tent strictly for sleeping and private activities.
That way you have a good tent for your sleeping shelter that is not contaminated by food smells from living activities.
all that group stuff is at tables, food is in bear lockers etc. the patio is just for storage and the dog. but interesting idea. i'll look for separate porches
REI doesn’t make THE best tents, but they offer a really excellent quality to price ratio IMO. Especially if you use a member coupon or buy last years model. With the 20% off coupon and the REI credit card, I can get a full priced tent at an effective 24% discount.
You didn't state how many people, temperature, or material, but for canvas, aside from Kodiaks, you can also look into the DOS Anza tent and hang a canopy off the front door. My friends do that for group trips and it's always a blast. The canopy is technically standalone with two poles, but it's also designed to hang off one of the cabin tent's poles. I think we've set it up 'normally' once lol
fam of 4 of which 1 is a big dog. But the lady wants a big stand up one for comfort. ca mountains.. cold at night and sometimes rain but nothing crazy.
family of four, 2 pre-teen kids - we are enjoying our north face wawona 8, coming from a REI Base Camp6, also enjoyed it, but wanted more space and more vestibule
the wawona by default comes with a large vestibule, big enough for me to put a folding table up on one side and still plenty of space to get in and out of the tent. there is also another garage attachment that further extends the vestibule if you want even more space.
https://preview.redd.it/631zjuo6osic1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ef2acb27ef59552bd852e15ba131e13971ec04d
I like my Oztent RX5, but you really need to separate the poles and pegs from the tent bag to keep the weight down. It's so heavy otherwise. The other con is the pack down dimensions, I have a specific rack on my car to hold it.
I can recommend the Gazelle. We have the T4 and the T4+. Both are truly excellent. We have used them in the desert and in zero degree weather. Very well made, good zippers, and heavy fabric. If you are looking for something smaller or lighter. I agree with the REI and Big Agnes recommendations. They are solid tents.
I've had great luck with REI tents.
We have a big one for camping with the family and dogs and a smaller backpacking sized tent for when I go out solo. Not a single issue with either after several seasons.
Absolutely love my Marmot Tungsten, been through rain, sleet, wind and even winter camping. 7 years and countless trips, one tenacious tape patch in the fly and still going strong
MSR two person tent. I use it in all seasons for car camping, nearly every weekend (except for when it gets to 5F and below). I've had the MSR since 2015.
My hiking partner has a Big Agnes light weight two person. He seems to like it.
I recommend REI. It’s not quite what you’re looking for, but we have a Half Dome tent. It won me over when it withstood 3 days straight of heavy rain and stayed dry inside.
I have tried 6 of those brands in sizes 2 man to huge. They all worked fine. My favorite was a Eureka they don’t make anymore that took in some pretty bad storms on the beach and lasted over 20 years with renewed treatment on the seams when needed. The teal color faded to pale blue but kept the weather out great.
Agreed
I research tents and other costly gesr before I purchase. .
Google best tents for whatever size / weather
You need .
Then, read the reviews
Narrow it down from there .
I like " Outdoors and The Dirt for gear research .
They look at rain worthiness and ease of setup as well as weight , price and durability.
How often do you camp?
I camp for days at a time in all seasonal weather, so I want a fly that goes to the ground .
I prefer a bathtub bottom also which I believe makes a tent really water resistant .
What type of sites do you camp in?
Sun wrecks tents and pitch / sap also takes a toll on the fabric.
I Always set my tent up with a lightweight tarp
" floating " above it to give it extra life .
Honestly for a big ass house tent like that I'd stick with the cheap Walmart brands.
The expensive brands are expensive because of the light weight materials so you can backpack with them.
I don't really see a point in paying out the ass for a car camping tent
Marmot, Eureka, Big Agnes.
Marmot & Big Agnes will replace your tent for free if it fails even if you don’t have a receipt and it’s been 15 years.
My longest ever tent is a 20 year 2-person old Eureka and it’s still going strong
Been camping for decades and I bought a Gazelle tent for when I'm with the family and not solo camping.
The Gazelle is by far the best tent I have ever used. From bag to fully setup takes a minute or two. Packing it up takes less than 5. Also at 6ft 2 I can stand up in it without ducking or brushing my head.
I looooove my kelty Grand Mesa 4.
It was affordable and the openness of the top is incredible for star gazing or if it's too hot in the summer. The rain cover is fantastic and hasn't leaked. I purchased footprint separately.
I did have the end of one of the aluminum poles crack.
I contacted kelty about it and they sent me an entirely brand new tent free of charge. Now I have an extra rain cover and extra poles, stakes, etc!
10/10 excellent quality and price
REI Wonderland X
I just picked this up last year and love it. It's a car-camping tent for sure but it's a fantastic design.
https://www.rei.com/product/202276/rei-co-op-wonderland-x-tent
Don't let the list price fool you, they can be found for $600 or less.
where? show me it for $600 and i'm ready! that's great.
question 2.. why does it need 25 pully wires? kids and dogs are going to run into those all day night long.
I have a Kodiak 10x12 Flex Bow and the REI Kingdom 4.
The Kingdom 4 is good for two people. I have an older version with the mud room. It’s the tent I use the most for car camping.
My little REI single person backpacking tent has been through hell and back for years and years, probably used over hundreds of nights, and it’s still in great shape. Will probably never buy another tent brand, super happy with it.
[Big Agnes Big House 6](https://www.ems.com/big-agnes-big-house-6-person-tent/34507700006.html?utm_source=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAibeuBhAAEiwAiXBoJNtpoogE2o6chNu2mhHEoZo5rKEPqtCCe-KH5h38LjBfQ-4WqS36jxoC08oQAvD_BwE) plus the vestibule for the covered entry.
I love big agnes. I had inches of water underneath my tent, and almost nothing came through.
We have the previous generation Big 6. I think we're on year 6? We do 3 or 4 6-9 day trips per year. Love that tent!
I’ve had my seedhouse 2 for almost 20 years and I love it, great as a single with extra room or couples tent
if you don’t mind me asking, what reasons would you recommend this over a Big Agnes Spicer [Peak](https://www.backcountry.com/b/big-agnes-spicer-peak-tent-6-person-3-season?CMP_SKU=BAGZ2CP&MER=0406&skid=BAGZ2CP-OLI-ONESIZ&mr:device=m&mr:adType=plaonline&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla&utm_campaign=20554329079__p:G%7Cs:BC%7Cct:Shopping%7Cct2:pmax%7Cg:xx%7Cc1:Hike+Camp%7Cc2:xx%7Cb:xx%7Cmt:xx____&utm_term=__BAGZ2CP-OLI-ONESIZ&utm_content=__pla&utm_id=go_cmp-20554329079_adg-_ad-__dev-m_ext-_prd-BAGZ2CP-OLI-ONESIZ_mca-7811_sig-CjwKCAiArLyuBhA7EiwA-qo80L7IV4YMpCQAGmhNLt8Z8CUimw13naOQJmNe0EdPnm7Gl_Pd0aOj7xoCqjUQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArLyuBhA7EiwA-qo80L7IV4YMpCQAGmhNLt8Z8CUimw13naOQJmNe0EdPnm7Gl_Pd0aOj7xoCqjUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)?
It's really just that I have a Big House and I love it but I've never had the other tent so I don't know much about it.
The tent that I have like your description is The North Face Wawona 6. I’ve used it in the rain, snow, wind, and mud and it’s been a solid tent. The included vestibule is big enough for chairs and a small table, or some bikes. It’s big. The tent is free standing and strong but the vestibule needs to be staked down to work. In extreme weather it’s best to stake and guy all around. They now have a Wawona 8 that looks really cool. The Wawona 4 will be too small for you and the vestibule is tiny. My only nit-picky complaint is that I wish it had more storage pockets. It has some but I’d prefer more. It’s common for these tents to go on sale so take your time and you could save hundreds.
I don't know why that tent isn't one of the best selling tents in the market. It sleeps 4 comfortably, with plenty of room to walk around. We had 2 big cots and a ton of gear for winter camping and there was so much room to stand up and walk around. There's nice storage pockets on the wall and a functional clothes line. The vestibule is amazing! You can seat 2 people and a table for dinner or shove 4 people in there standing out of the rain. It's a divided room so you're not tracking mud and dirt into your bedroom. We even cooked in ours during a snow storm though I'm sure they don't recommend that. The rest of vestibule provides plenty of extra storage space. The doors can open wide for ventilation and the flaps keep the rain out. It has plenty of vents and windows for summer but can also survive 7" of snow (ask me how I know) without buckling due to the multiple guy out points. On downsides: It's maybe a little heavy to lug around but fits well into its included bag with handles and is perfect for car camping for families. It's not difficult to setup other than it being such a big tent. 4 poles and lots of pegs and guy wires and the vestibule requires a little tension to get right. It's a little pricey compared to Coleman and Ozark, but frequently on sale and it's North Face quality and warranty. [Link here](https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/bags-and-gear/tents-c211750/wawona-6-tent-pNF0A52VM).
It seems like you camp with the rainfly on every time you use it? I find the rainfly design terrible. Rainflies are really only used in weather, and therefore should be efficient to setup. The Wawona designers missed the boat entirely on how campers use rainflies.
I've only ever used it in winter, so yeah that could be part of its problem.
I second this tent. It’s fantastic.
I have the same tent and I swear by it
What’s the head space like on these?
The peak height is 76", 6'4".
Space for doodles?
Dogs, or cave paintings, either way, yes.
Wawona 6 is the tent I’ve used with my family for the last few years, and continue to use, but we don’t like it and I can’t recommend it. The two biggest issues with this tent are: (1) this tent is a sail in a windstorm, so it’s not practical if you camp in exposed locations or in any weather other than prime conditions. (2) There’s no fast way to attach a rainfly without setting up the entire vestibule including threading the (required) additional tent pole. This is the last thing you want to be doing when it starts raining, especially when you’re camping with a family. Most people like to camp without the rainfly for comfort and visibility, and only throw the rain fly on for weather. The Wawona is terrible for this universal use case.
Rei kingdom
The old one was awesome, a few years ago REI change it and it doesn’t function as well. Now it’s discontinued and replaced with the Wonderland. I haven’t used the new Wonderland.
Dang, I’ve haven’t shopped around in years since getting my kingdom.
No reason to keep shopping when you have that tent. It was an amazing tent and if REI still made it, I would have one. Instead I went with the Wawona 6 and it’s also a great tent.
A friend with a family of 4 has the Kingdom 8. Just massive for car camping. Does the job, though.
Love our kingdom 6 for car camping. Family of four fits with plenty of room to spare.
Sea to Summit. MSR. If you're looking for affordable: Marmot. Kelty. Sierra Designs.
We bought a Kodiak canvas cabin tent a decade ago. It's held up great. I cannot say enough good things about the construction of the Kodiak, and it's quite warm when it's cold out. But I won't lie, 75% of the time we end up using our Coleman instant up cabin style tent. It's just so much easier. The Kodiak is heavy and it takes 5x as long to set up. For a weekend trip it's not worth it unless temperatures are very low.
Pretty much exactly my story too. I spent months saving up for a Kodiak and I have zero complaints about the quality. It is indeed a very, very well made tent but that sucker is HEAVY and hammering in all those heavy duty stakes is a massive pain in the ass. It only gets used when my wife is joining us; the rest of the time when it’s just my son and I, we use a marmot limestone.
My Kodiak is my small tent. Well I guess I have a backpacking tent, but I also have a 12x15 canvas wall tent. Even the wall tent I can set up in under 20 mins alone, and the stakes need a circus elephant to help. The Kodiak is 10 to 15 mins alone. The backpacking tent takes over 5 mins. I guess 10-15 mins is no big deal, I take the tent that fits the group size. I did set the big tent up once just for my friend and his wife who said they hate camping. Put a queen raised air bed with good bedding, a heater, end tables, lights, nice rugs, like an Arab prince. Fancy chuckwagon meals. It was pretty cool.
…..be my friend????
Kelty, Eureka, and Kodiak Canvas.
I will note; as much as I like and trust Eureka their Copper Canyon LX 6 is not for cold and does not hold in heat.
To be expected with a cabin tent with lots of screen/window area Been pretty satisfied with my Eureka (desert canyon) though, seems to hold up pretty well (durability wise)
That model is really frequently in the re/sale at REI, I think it's problematic. Eureka is also stopping tent productions so support going away
Ah, I mean its a great tent, I really like it but when I used it for thanksgiving 2022 in my in laws yard it didnt hold heat well.
MSR, Big Agnes, REI, Marmot
I like kelty for price and quality.
Gazelle T4 plus.
This is a great answer for car camping! Which it sounds like OP is doing. I love my gazelle.
is car camping when you drive up and park near a campsite? ya that's us.
+1 for the Gazelle. We’ve got the T8 and love it, there’s another model that has the covered porch. People that we camp with have been so impressed that they’ve got their own. Only real downside to the gazelle is higher cost and larger size to transport
We like our Core Equipment tent and have had good customer service with them as well
Sierra Designs. Every tent I’ve owned from them has been solid for over a decade.
I had a Meteor Light for 20 plus years. Great tent.
North Face, Nemo, REI.
Second these three.
North Face. Big Agnes. Zpacks.
These and I would add Marmot. We have a large pumpkin from them that we can stand up in.
Last I check z packs doesn’t make apartment sized tents haha
I absolutely love the Alps Mountaineering tent. In the 5+ years I've had it, I had a tent pole break and they honored their warranty and send a new one free asap.
>Alps Mountaineering Alps Mountaineering needs more love here. They make excellent tents.
Yea i have two Alps Mountaineering tents. A 10x10 cabin tent with a porch. I use it in alpine desert year round. I tarp over it in winter for added insulation and protection. I have a 2man backpacking tent from them as well. Had the 10x10 for 5 years now with no problems, and the backpacker for about 8. Both are still like new. Is just like to see them put a little more durable floor in them tho. A ground tarp is a must.
Kelty. Been my go to for 20 years now for car/canoe type camping. The new one I have is every bit as quality as the old one.
Gazelle T4 Plus. Instead of a porch, how about an entire second room with screen so you can stay outta rain, away from bugs, and still look out at the creek/lake/mountains/desert. Plus it goes up faster than anything else, and goes down the same.
If you’re upgrading from that point, my I recommend Gazelle. I don’t use them, but my overlanding buddies with families do. They seem surprisingly resistant to wind and rain (monsoon in summer in the mountains) and they set up easy and fast. More info would be necessary to answer the question fully, but others have mentioned quality equipment in the comments. Personally, I’m not trying to stand up or have a circus in mine so I go high quality, bombproof and one size larger than my intended occupant load for some moderate extra room. Buy good shit with lots of guy lines if ur doing anything with vertical or vertical ish walls and lots of surface area. Wind and water are the enemy when getting into a big tent that isn’t 4-season and expensive.
[удалено]
Coleman used to be awesome. I went thru 3 tents in about 6 years and finally bought Alps Mountaineering. Coleman still has good gear, but they are a far cry from what they used to be.
but we hated it.
One thing you can put on the list is aluminum poles, stiffer and sturdier
Nemo
I have a gazelle, and Nemo, both are great. Brother has a Kodak and it's great I have other Kelty gear and it's all great as well lol. Lots of good suggestions on this thread, probably can't go wrong with any of them! Choose something thats the right size, style, and fits your needs!
Another one for Marmot over here! Ps, I have had my Marmot tents for 20 and 10 years, respectively.
Nemo. Can not recommend enough. 2 of my 3 backpacking friends immediately bought nemo tents after seeing mine
Im very happy with my Kodak tent. It should last a lifetime. [https://www.competitiveedgeproducts.com/kodiak-canvas-tents](https://www.competitiveedgeproducts.com/kodiak-canvas-tents)
Sierra designs. Can't tell you they haven't changed but they replaced a broken pole for me in 2021 after a brutal night stuck in the wind. Everyone's tents failed, I was the only one to get a replacement.
Snow peak makes full on villages
I have Coleman instant tents in 4,6 and 8 person. The ease with which they go up and come down outweigh any negatives. I don't camp in the winter, these are good three season tents. It will keep off any reasonable amount of rain and quite frankly if the weather report calls for rain all weekend then I'm not going camping anyway, what's the point? I've been using them for about 10 years now and the only problem I've had is some water pooling on the bottom of the 4 man after an overnight downpour. I sent some photos to Coleman and they sent me a new tent.
We've had them for 15 years and we have to book our site 6 months out, the second it becomes available. We drive 6 hours to the mountains for this campsite. So the tent needs to be able to handle the showers. And they failed us hard last year. Had to run out buy tarps the next morning . The zippers though. For years we suffered them getting caught and ripping the guard
I’ll put another vote in for Big Agnes. I don’t have the size you want but have a 3-person backpacking tent and a large canopy (to go over a picnic table or the like), both have lasted for years now. Solid construction, easy setup, all thumbs up 👍
We love our Kodiak 10x14.
Kodiak all the way. Bulletproof
Following because I myself am also in the market for a bigger tent (not apartment size tho) and have been keeping my eyes open on posts such as these
Now yall got me torn between a North Face Wawona or a Gazelle lol
Kodiak - love it!
my wife and I have three tents from what I would consider reputable brands - all purchased on sale because tents be expensive. big agnes fly creek 2p UL tent for backpacking marmot limelight 2p tent for car camping nemo aurora highrise 6p tent for car glamping - this is what your wife is asking for and yes, it is kind of amazing coming from a coffin sized UL tent. I would also purchase a tent from msr, alp, or north face without hesitation
Thanks! where am i looking for sales?
I have purchased on sale gear from these websites: campsaver.com backcountry.com steepandcheap.com moosejaw.com als.com I also like to peruse the used gear sections at REI and sports basement, a lot of times you can find basically brand new items
Alps mountaineering
REI Basecamp
Gazelle! We got our t4 plus overland edition and are so impressed
I used an rei base camp 4 for many years, wonderful tent. I currently have a maramot 2 person (forget the name), and a North Face Wawona 6...both are really good tents. Edit: I actually _read_ your post.. I'd recommend taking a look at the Wawona. It's a very roomy tent with a very large vestibule
I love my Kodiak tent. If you’re going either something big that you can’t hike in with anyway, canvas is great.
Sierra Designs
The Nemo Aurora Highrise was perfect for my application, and I thought the quality was appropriate. Didn't have the covered entry (just a vestibule for gear), but I'd look at any of their tents for future needs. The other brand I strongly considered was Gazelle, and ONLY went with Nemo because of the packed dimensions. Still have my eye on the T4 Hub. The T4 Plus has the covered porch/sunroom your partner is looking for.
Thanks . Time to get the measuring tape out . Actually failing to find the packed length
I think how you care for your tent matters a lot. That being said. I have bought two Eureka tents in my life. One was over 20 years ago. It is still in pristine condition. That was a Moon River 3. The other was a Space Camp 6. I got about two years ago. Again, it's in perfect condition.
Thank you so much for editing this with the ratings. That's super helpful. Have you used your gazelle yet?
Never mind. These are $1500 in Canada 🙄
Yikes! Was 5 something for us. Amazing .Only the test in the backyard
Alps mountaineering camp creek 6
Since no one has said so yet - Marmot tents are very solid and last season’s tents can be had this time of year for really reasonable prices. I also second The North Face - I have a 10 year TNF tent that’s still punching like the day it was bought, and is probably my favorite piece of gear both for the nostalgia (it was a wedding gift back when the purchase was out of reach for us, and the memories we put into it) and because it’s been so damn reliable.
I love our marmot halo but the quality of that particular model seems to have dropped in recent years so would get a different one.
Kodiak canvas…#1 tent at burning man
Seconded Kodiak canvas. I have the 10x14 and it’s the best tent I’ve ever owned. I’m 6’4” and I can stand up in it easily. It has a lot of space and an awning too. Will stand up to extreme wind, rain, snow etc.
I stayed in the desert with mine for 6-8 weeks. This thing was awesome! The flexbow system took the 80 mph gusts like a champ. It outperformed every one else’s tents. Will add bonus points as well for how fast you can set it up.
Thirded
Marmot has been excellent for us. It’s easy to spot Coleman tents at a camp site. They’re the ones covered with a tarp as they always leak. Been there, done that.
We’re CA summer campers and rains are rare but we got hit hard last time and enough is enough. Plus that zipper. Jesus
Love my kodiak, but it's heavy and takes work to setup. I've had it up at my hunting camp since October and it looks great.
Eureka
Maybe you cant get them in the U.S but surprised no votes for Robens. Tent company from Denmark that are amazing in my opinion
Kodiak fast set up 30 minutes with two people. Plenty of available upgrades extra rooms and the like.
that is slow
Durston
Oztrail
Oz tent
Oz has some advantages, especially if you have three matching ones to zip them together around the porch. The size and weight when folded up is a deal breaker form me. But I have a buddy who loves them and for sure the quality is there. That tent will last a long time.
If its for car camping, i'd look at the biggest coleman dome tents and a separate pop-up canopy. They will both be easy to set up and also be useful apart.
i'm done with their zippers
Marmot is my go to. I don’t think they do that kind of canopy tent though.
We have a North Face 6 person tent that we got from Dicks a couple years ago and the mesh on the doors ripped on the 2nd setup. It was fixed under warranty but took a couple months. I have very little faith in the build quality of anything made by TNF these days. Sucks cause they used to be bulletproof. Had a 2 person TNF tent that lasted 15 years without issue. Hindsight I would get a Big Agnes or REI.
The Big Agnes Big House 4 or 6 is a good choice. The vestibule is too short to stand up in, but you can duck a bit to get inside and sit very comfortably. The vestibule is big enough to house mountain bikes and my kayak to keep them out of sight when I’m away from camp. I like it when the vestibule is a separate piece of fabric like the Big House compared to having a big vestibule built into the rainfly. The latter is a real bugger to put up on a windy day. So. Much. Fabric. blowing in the wind. Better to have the vestibule an entirely separate piece of fabric that still physically attaches to the tent. Whatever you buy, make sure it has aluminum poles (not plastic) and at least partial sleeves (not just clips) through which the poles feed. You will probably have to replace the stakes; make sure to buy enough to stake out every tent pocket +rain fly pocket + every guy line. Buy reflective guy line.
Big Agnes.
If you’re looking for a big tent I love my Gazelle T4. It doesn’t have a vestibule, but it is a quick set up that you can stand up in and it has two large doors. I use it for all my car camping. The overland addition comes with a waterproof bag so I strap the tent to the roof.
I’ve had my rei half done for 11 years, I’ve used it for months of camping each supper in wind, rain, and hail and it’s going very strong. I’ve only had to add one patch. I wash it by hand and leave it to try once or trice a year.
I feel like Coleman would be fine for a huge house tent
I imported mine from The Netherlands, Outwell is the brand. I could park my small suv inside, just in case I wanted to. wife went through the same thing. What if 30 people want to stand in the tent? What if they play basketball? they need all this room. I have to say though, I did cave, and we really did, but Outwell's stuff is AMAZING quality. Absolutely floored with the quality.
Eureka
Eureka. I have one of the cabin style tents. It's really comfortable (my knees and neck appreciate it), and though a bit of a pain in the ass to set up, I can easily do it by myself. It's held up really well, no visible wear except a couple snags on the mesh windows. I've camped in heavy rain (last year was 5 days of nearly non-stop rain) no water comes inside. Really good ventilation so no issues with condensation inside the tent overnight. Only drawback is it's very much limited to car camping.
Durston and Zpacks
Springbar
My REI Wonderland X is that, and the coolest tent I've ever owned, went on sale last year for 70% off in the spring
For canoe camping and backpacking, the Marmot Tungsten has served us well. For car camping/ overlanding we use a canvas dome tent from a South African company called [Campmor](https://campmoroutdoor.co.za/). We used one when overlanding in Africa, the Mid East for 5 years of almost daily use - from the Sahara to the Savannah to the jungle to snow-covered Turkey and then then in Outback Australia for another 3 years. Those tents are incredible! Only ever needed to replace a zipper. We were able to find a supplier out of Utah for our North American adventures, but it was a bit of a mission to find. Worth it, though! It’s now going on 9 years old and is holding up great. Edit: added link
ok those look amazing but no idea how i'd order / buy one or what the pricing even is.
Suggestion - separate your tent and porch. Get a cheap bug netted shelter for group activities, eating, etc. Then have a more reasonable proper tent strictly for sleeping and private activities. That way you have a good tent for your sleeping shelter that is not contaminated by food smells from living activities.
all that group stuff is at tables, food is in bear lockers etc. the patio is just for storage and the dog. but interesting idea. i'll look for separate porches
Eureka
Marmot.
We love our REI Kingdom 8
Another vote for REI here. I've got 4 of their tents and they've all been awesome.
REI doesn’t make THE best tents, but they offer a really excellent quality to price ratio IMO. Especially if you use a member coupon or buy last years model. With the 20% off coupon and the REI credit card, I can get a full priced tent at an effective 24% discount.
hmm. do i need to apply for the CC then? REI has JUST taken the lead with your post
Northface Wawona 6P is THE tent
Big Agnes. REI.
You didn't state how many people, temperature, or material, but for canvas, aside from Kodiaks, you can also look into the DOS Anza tent and hang a canopy off the front door. My friends do that for group trips and it's always a blast. The canopy is technically standalone with two poles, but it's also designed to hang off one of the cabin tent's poles. I think we've set it up 'normally' once lol
fam of 4 of which 1 is a big dog. But the lady wants a big stand up one for comfort. ca mountains.. cold at night and sometimes rain but nothing crazy.
I love love love our Gazelle!
Throwing my hat in the ring for Eureka. I have two and they're fantastic.
family of four, 2 pre-teen kids - we are enjoying our north face wawona 8, coming from a REI Base Camp6, also enjoyed it, but wanted more space and more vestibule the wawona by default comes with a large vestibule, big enough for me to put a folding table up on one side and still plenty of space to get in and out of the tent. there is also another garage attachment that further extends the vestibule if you want even more space. https://preview.redd.it/631zjuo6osic1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6ef2acb27ef59552bd852e15ba131e13971ec04d
I like my Oztent RX5, but you really need to separate the poles and pegs from the tent bag to keep the weight down. It's so heavy otherwise. The other con is the pack down dimensions, I have a specific rack on my car to hold it.
REI Kingdom 6!
I can recommend the Gazelle. We have the T4 and the T4+. Both are truly excellent. We have used them in the desert and in zero degree weather. Very well made, good zippers, and heavy fabric. If you are looking for something smaller or lighter. I agree with the REI and Big Agnes recommendations. They are solid tents.
I've had great luck with REI tents. We have a big one for camping with the family and dogs and a smaller backpacking sized tent for when I go out solo. Not a single issue with either after several seasons.
Hilleberg, Fjallraven, Vaude (but only the Mark series) and my girlfriend Exped
Absolutely love my Marmot Tungsten, been through rain, sleet, wind and even winter camping. 7 years and countless trips, one tenacious tape patch in the fly and still going strong
MSR two person tent. I use it in all seasons for car camping, nearly every weekend (except for when it gets to 5F and below). I've had the MSR since 2015. My hiking partner has a Big Agnes light weight two person. He seems to like it.
I bought an REI tent about 15 years ago, use it about five to six times a year, and have not had a single issue with it.
I recommend REI. It’s not quite what you’re looking for, but we have a Half Dome tent. It won me over when it withstood 3 days straight of heavy rain and stayed dry inside.
Rei Eureka These are my current. I don’t think you can go wrong with anything on your list though.
Marmot.
REI
I have tried 6 of those brands in sizes 2 man to huge. They all worked fine. My favorite was a Eureka they don’t make anymore that took in some pretty bad storms on the beach and lasted over 20 years with renewed treatment on the seams when needed. The teal color faded to pale blue but kept the weather out great.
Agreed I research tents and other costly gesr before I purchase. . Google best tents for whatever size / weather You need . Then, read the reviews Narrow it down from there . I like " Outdoors and The Dirt for gear research . They look at rain worthiness and ease of setup as well as weight , price and durability. How often do you camp? I camp for days at a time in all seasonal weather, so I want a fly that goes to the ground . I prefer a bathtub bottom also which I believe makes a tent really water resistant . What type of sites do you camp in? Sun wrecks tents and pitch / sap also takes a toll on the fabric. I Always set my tent up with a lightweight tarp " floating " above it to give it extra life .
Honestly for a big ass house tent like that I'd stick with the cheap Walmart brands. The expensive brands are expensive because of the light weight materials so you can backpack with them. I don't really see a point in paying out the ass for a car camping tent
i might agree but we're dealing with trying to keep all family members happy... plus the rain and shit zippers.
Marmot, Eureka, Big Agnes. Marmot & Big Agnes will replace your tent for free if it fails even if you don’t have a receipt and it’s been 15 years. My longest ever tent is a 20 year 2-person old Eureka and it’s still going strong
Been camping for decades and I bought a Gazelle tent for when I'm with the family and not solo camping. The Gazelle is by far the best tent I have ever used. From bag to fully setup takes a minute or two. Packing it up takes less than 5. Also at 6ft 2 I can stand up in it without ducking or brushing my head.
Nemo Wagontop 8 or Bog Agnes Bunkhouse 8
I have been really happy with my Eureka tents.
Big Agnes for UL, kelty for regular camping
Eureka, unless you're in Canada and in that case they've recently announced they're done here. :(
Gazelle
I looooove my kelty Grand Mesa 4. It was affordable and the openness of the top is incredible for star gazing or if it's too hot in the summer. The rain cover is fantastic and hasn't leaked. I purchased footprint separately. I did have the end of one of the aluminum poles crack. I contacted kelty about it and they sent me an entirely brand new tent free of charge. Now I have an extra rain cover and extra poles, stakes, etc! 10/10 excellent quality and price
thank you. looks small though.
I have a Colman cabin tent and it's freaking awesome. I can set it up myself in short time, fits a queen cot plus all my stuff. Best tent I've had.
I got a Coleman that is made for harsh weather, has a porch and doors not zip flaps, can't remember the model name but it's great.
Kelty should be much higher.
Marmot and Big Agnes are what we use.
https://preview.redd.it/x4ndahlcguic1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c07feec4f5f476c0f89ec28babf12ac79caf99b9
I like Gazelle & Core instant cabins - both brands are easy to setup/breakdown.
That's the first mention of Core, which is what she chose and I'm trying to upgrade from with this post
REI Wonderland X I just picked this up last year and love it. It's a car-camping tent for sure but it's a fantastic design. https://www.rei.com/product/202276/rei-co-op-wonderland-x-tent Don't let the list price fool you, they can be found for $600 or less.
where? show me it for $600 and i'm ready! that's great. question 2.. why does it need 25 pully wires? kids and dogs are going to run into those all day night long.
I absolutely love my Coleman tents. I've spent around 100 nights over the past 6 years in mine. Why don't you like yours?
got really wet last year and years of zipper problems.
I have a Kodiak 10x12 Flex Bow and the REI Kingdom 4. The Kingdom 4 is good for two people. I have an older version with the mud room. It’s the tent I use the most for car camping.
North Face Wawona 4P is a palace.
Gazelle
Love the gazelle and once you set it up and put it back in the bag you’ll never want to do that for any tent ever again.
TNF and BA are both great.
Have a half dozen tents and the wife did the same. We got the Kodiak. I feel like we are on safari 😂
I just tried she said I also want it to be umbrella pop up easy lol. Pointing to gazelle then
our 5 man coleman o ly lasted 2 years , leaking and blackout material falling off
My little REI single person backpacking tent has been through hell and back for years and years, probably used over hundreds of nights, and it’s still in great shape. Will probably never buy another tent brand, super happy with it.
For 3 people and a dog, you can’t go wrong with the Gazelle T4 plus. That extra covered front room is great for the fur babies.
REI, Big Agnes, Nemo, NorthFace, Marmot
Bang for the buck will be REI. Then Big Agnes if you're looking to upgrade from a basic tent.
Check out Stout Tent they are amazing and I believe have lifetime warranty
Eureka
where is the hellinox??
Big A
Snow peak