REI Base Camp 6 Evaluate

Backside Line

The REI Base Camp 6 is a storm-worthy tent with powerful supplies, a sensible flooring plan, and extra inside storage than some other six-person tent we’ve examined. One factor to know entering into: The 74-inch peak peak sounds tall on paper, however the ceiling tapers towards the partitions, so precise standing room is generally concentrated within the heart. At 6 toes 2 inches, one in all our analysts was simply grazing the height together with his head.

This is likely one of the extra concerned tents to pitch. It goes loads higher in case you decelerate and comply with the system as a substitute of attempting to wing it. Between the 5 poles, dead-end sleeves, and eight stakes only for the tent physique, there’s a lot occurring. We additionally discovered the arduous manner that the blunt finish of the pole goes in first. When you get the sequence down, although, the colour coding helps loads, and subsequent setups really feel a lot smoother.

The twin vestibules are top-of-the-line components of this tent. With 27 sq. toes up entrance and 17 within the rear, they supply helpful coated area for gear, sneakers, camp chairs, or simply some respiratory room outdoors the tent. 

Totally guyed out, the Base Camp 6 handles wind higher than most six-person tents we’ve examined. Our primary hesitation remains to be the poles. Regardless that they’re aluminum, they bend extra simply than we’d anticipate for a tent at this value. We’ve seen comparable considerations in person suggestions. 

For extra choices, try our information to the very best tenting tents.

How We Examined

We packed up the youngsters and hauled the REI Base Camp 6 to Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park. The winds there aren’t any joke, and establishing a five-pole tent in that surroundings gave us a transparent image of how the system performs underneath strain. We additionally examined it at different Colorado campsites, pitching and breaking it down on heat afternoons and cooler evenings, deploying each vestibules totally, and totally evaluating air flow with the doorways and vents open and closed.

Consolation

The Base Camp 6 feels fairly roomy when you get inside. With 84 sq. toes of flooring space, it matches a queen air mattress or three vast sleeping pads with out feeling crammed. We additionally just like the sq. form greater than loads of six-person domes. It’s much less tunnel-like and tends to suit higher into imperfect campsites, which is a type of traits you admire as quickly as you begin establishing.

Headroom is rather less spectacular than the 74-inch peak peak makes it sound. The partitions angle in shortly, so standing room is generally within the heart. At 6 toes 2 inches, our taller analyst’s head was brushing the highest, and a step or two in any path required ducking. There’s sufficient room to face as much as change, nevertheless it’s not the form of tent the place tall campers can stroll round upright.

REI used nearly each little bit of wall area for pockets, loops, and storage. This makes an enormous distinction when you’ve been at camp for a day or two. As a substitute of every part ending up in a pile on the ground, there’s truly a spot for headlamps, layers, and all of the little issues that are inclined to disappear at bedtime. The 2 large doorways make the entire tent really feel much more open. They unzip vast and tuck away cleanly as a substitute of hanging awkwardly in the way in which.

Air flow is respectable, however you do must work with it somewhat. The roof vents and low facet vent assist, and we like that you could modify them from contained in the tent. In case you’ve received the doorways, vestibules, and vents open with a breeze transferring by way of, it feels fairly comfy. On scorching, nonetheless afternoons, although, it positively warms up.

Sturdiness

The Base Camp 6 feels prefer it’s constructed for reasonable to heavy use, not only a handful of fair-weather weekends. One in all our analysts nonetheless makes use of a 15-year-old REI Half Dome, which says loads concerning the model’s observe file. That very same degree of high quality exhibits up right here. The materials really feel good, the zippers run easily, and a lot of the tent provides off that stable, confidence-inspiring really feel. After a number of nights of tenting, together with a windy stretch at Nice Sand Dunes, the tent physique, flooring, and {hardware} all held up with none actual points.

The poles are the one half that gave us pause. Regardless that they’re aluminum, they appeared simpler to bend than we’d anticipate for a tent at this value. We discovered ourselves dealing with them somewhat extra fastidiously from the very first pitch. That very same concern exhibits up fairly repeatedly in person critiques, so it doesn’t really feel like a one-off. It’s value being affected person throughout setup and teardown as a substitute of forcing issues.

We additionally had one zipper pull come off throughout testing. At this level, that feels extra like an remoted situation than a bigger sturdiness purple flag. Nonetheless, it feels value mentioning on a tent on this value vary.

Climate Resistance

Of all of the household tenting tents we examined this spherical, the Base Camp 6 is the one we’d most wish to be in when the climate turns. The dome form, full-length pole sleeves, and full-coverage rainfly give it a safer, storm-ready really feel – paying homage to burlier four-season designs. Totally guyed out at Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park, it dealt with excessive winds impressively properly. The caveat is that it have to be totally guyed out and staked down. In any other case, the poles will start to flatten in excessive winds. 

The remainder of the climate safety feels stable, too. The seams are totally taped, the rainfly successfully sheds water, and the 150-denier flooring is beefier than what we see on loads of tenting tents. We additionally actually appreciated that the roof vents and facet vents could be adjusted from contained in the tent. That form of factor issues when the climate adjustments and no one desires to climb outdoors to fuss with vents.

The primary annoyance right here is the guylines, that are included however don’t come pre-attached. That is one thing you’ll wish to take care of earlier than your journey, not when the wind is already selecting up. We’d completely connect them at house and toss just a few additional stakes in your equipment, too. The tent physique makes use of eight stakes, so if you wish to totally man it out, it helps to be ready.

Ease of Setup

Give your self some additional time with this tent, and convey a second particular person if potential. This isn’t a tough tent to pitch as soon as you already know the system, however it’s positively extra concerned. There are 4 poles and eight stake-out factors only for the tent physique, together with a sq. footprint (offered individually) that takes some consideration to orient correctly. The primary pitch isn’t particularly intuitive. Ours concerned a little bit of standing round, taking a look at one another, and realizing we would have liked to decelerate and really comply with the system.

The colour coding helps loads. REI did a pleasant job matching the poles, sleeves, and webbing. When you perceive the way it all goes collectively, setup turns into rather more affordable. The largest factor to notice is that the 2 primary physique poles want to enter the sleeves blunt-end first. In case you feed them the mistaken manner, you’ll want to drag the entire thing again out and begin over, which we discovered the arduous manner.

The fly can be loads of material to wrestle with, so having one other particular person there helps fairly a bit. The vestibule provides another pole after that. By the second or third setup, the method feels much more dialed. Nonetheless, this by no means turns into a grab-it-and-throw-it-up form of tent.

Packing it again up takes somewhat persistence, too. 5 poles means loads of sections, and getting every part again into the storage sack is a little bit of a squeeze. The shoulder strap on the bag is sweet, although, particularly whenever you’re hauling it throughout camp.

Options

This is likely one of the most organized tents we’ve examined. REI loaded the inside with 14 mesh pockets alongside the decrease partitions, making it simple to stash the little stuff that normally finally ends up scattered everywhere in the flooring. Headlamps, telephones, glasses, layers, snacks, children’ random treasures – there’s room for all of it. The overhead gear loft helps, particularly on longer journeys when issues can begin to really feel chaotic quick.

The vestibules are one other huge win right here. The entrance one is giant at 27 sq. toes, simply becoming a pair camp chairs, boots, bins, or a wholesome pile of drugs if the climate turns. The rear vestibule is smaller at 17 sq. toes however nonetheless helpful for sneakers, baggage, and different gadgets you need shut by. Collectively, they add loads of coated area and make the tent really feel rather more livable.

We additionally just like the doorways. They unzip vast, which makes getting out and in simple, and the panels tuck up into useful roof pockets. Each doorways have half-moon mesh home windows, which assist with airflow. The roof and facet vents are adjustable from inside, which is particularly good as soon as everyone seems to be settled in for the night time.

There are some things we want REI had executed otherwise. The footprint prices additional, the guylines should not pre-attached, and there aren’t any additional stakes past what you want for the principle physique. None of that may be a dealbreaker, however on a tent this dialed, these omissions stand out somewhat extra.

Ought to You Purchase the REI Base Camp 6?

The REI Base Camp 6 is sensible for campers who desire a weather-ready shelter and are prepared to take care of a extra concerned setup. In case you camp usually, get out in blended situations, and prioritize stability and group, this one has loads going for it. Inside storage is a number of the finest we’ve seen, and the twin vestibules make longer journeys much more comfy.

Nonetheless, if you’d like one thing fast and straightforward to throw up on the finish of an extended drive, the five-pole setup could also be too concerned. And if most of your tenting occurs in mellow summer time climate, that is in all probability extra tent than you want. We additionally suppose the pole sturdiness concern is value taking significantly. For a tent at this value, we’d wish to really feel somewhat extra confidence in that a part of the construct.

What Different Tenting Tents Ought to You Contemplate?

If the Base Camp 6 feels like extra tent than you want, listed below are just a few different high quality choices from our information to the very best tenting tents:

The North Face Wawona 6 Evaluate: The Wawona 6 is our prime decide and the one we’d level most households to first. It feels extra open and simpler to maneuver in, and the large vestibule provides a ton of livable area. Nonetheless, the spacious design and partial fly imply it isn’t as buttoned-up because the Base Camp 6 in tough climate.

Kelty Wi-fi 6 Evaluate: If funds is the precedence, the Wi-fi 6 is extra inexpensive however nonetheless provides you numerous room. It’s simpler to pitch, has a tall inside, and prices a superb bit much less. Nonetheless, it’s not as weather-ready or as refined because the Base Camp. 

REI Westward 6 Evaluate: The Westward 6 is a pleasant center floor in case you like REI’s high quality however need one thing simpler to dwell with in heat climate. It has higher airflow, a less complicated setup, and an enormous vestibule, though it’s not as protecting in extended storms.