REI Co-op’s Base Camp 6 has ben our top recommendation for most people going on a couple of years now. This tent is hard to beat thanks to its impressive space-to-weight ratio, ease of setup, and reasonable price. It continues to be a reliable shelter that makes excellent use of headroom and interior space, with a smartly designed pole structure.

The 84 square feet of interior space and a peak height over 6 feet create plenty of livable space for base camping, festivals, or weekend family outings. And once you stake out the vestibules, you get more than 40 additional feet of space. I use this extra space to stash gear and even set up camping chairs to hang out away from the bugs and rain.

I was impressed with the weatherproofing of this tent, thanks to the PU laminate and 150-denier material that fended off dampness from the ground and moderate rain. Like most tents in this guide, the Base Camp 6 is not the fastest to put together. It has a lot of components, and the fly can feel like a sail with just two people trying to wrangle it in the wind. But once it’s stable, it does a great job holding together despite the large size. We’ll update this review with any additional weather and space notes from our long-term testing.

Full REI Base Camp 6 Review

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Coleman recently updated its Skydome line, and we have the Skydome 6 coming in for in-person testing later this season. Making some of my top-value picks across a variety of categories, Coleman is a heritage brand in the budget-friendly outdoors space. Its tents are no exception. The Skydome line is popular and reliable for families who like to get out for frontcountry camping and car camping throughout summer.

The anchor points are wide enough to maximize head space, and I’ve rarely had an issue feeling cramped inside. The 85-square-foot interior fits two queen-size inflatable mattresses side by side. And while it can sleep six people, I’ve found it more comfortable if some of those people aren’t full-size adults.

The Skydome is decently weatherproof against condensation and rain, though it’s been less than stable in windy conditions because of the simpler pole structure and fewer guylines than other tents. The biggest issue is access, though. The tent comes with just one door, which is a questionable choice for group camping, and I typically look for family tents with dual entries and vestibules. Finally, you can opt for the upgraded Skydome 6 Screen Room, made of material that Coleman says blocks 90 percent of sunlight and reduces heat inside the tent compared to its standard fabrics.

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Big Agnes makes some of my all-time favorite backpacking tents, so I was excited to test its redesigned signature car-camping tent. The brand is known for its excellent space-to-weight ratio, and the Big House 6 maintains that so well that I had to double-check the specs. Barely over 16 pounds for 89 feet of interior space is absolutely wild, and the 80-inch peak height makes the most of the straightforward pole design and intuitive pitch.

More than any tent I’ve seen recently, the redesigned Big House is geared toward car campers with an eye for portability and space. The tent has ample standing room and a domed shape to help rebuff wind. And its super-sized doors and simple, secure rainfly were built with ease of entry in mind. The interior has numerous pockets for stashing and organizing gear. Big Agnes even included a backpack-style carrying bag to help you tote the tent from the car to the tent pad. While no one will mistake this for a backpacking tent, it’s clear the Big House comes from a brand accustomed to designing for convenience and ease of use in the backcountry.

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The Wireless is one of Kelty’s most popular car-camping tents, and it released an updated version this year with increased mesh for better breathability, moisture management, and stargazing. It also added the eight-person size and updated the color to a classic woodsy green-and-orange while keeping the convenient dual vestibules, durable pole system, and spacious interior.

The peak height reaches a lofty 83.5 inches, and the interior space of the eight-person is nearly 120 square feet. This is more than enough room for four full-sized sleeping pads and multiple children sprawled on blankets. But if the eight-person is too intimidating, Kelty also makes this in four- and six-person sizes.

Setup is easier than with other super-sized tents, thanks to the brand’s patented Quick Corners—essentially fabric sleeves that the poles slide into for security and simplicity. The Wireless has two doors and two large vestibules built for simple entry and exit, with zippers at the tent corners so people can stay inside while opening, closing, and rolling up the vestibule.

Like others we recommend, the Wireless comes with taped seams for added protection against water, though Kelty saved some weight elsewhere. The floor is a 68-denier polyester, which is thinner than even the lightweight Big Agnes Big House and requires a little more care to maintain.

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The Wawona is one of my favorite designs for long-term base camping thanks to its tunnel-like layout, which increases livable space without a significant weight penalty. The tent’s latest model reduces condensation buildup with an updated hybrid double-wall construction, keeping weight low while avoiding the pitfalls of a single-wall shelter that can get overly soggy inside.

The massive front vestibule is nearly 50 square feet, adding over 50 percent of additional protected area to the giant tent. I’ve also had great luck with the Wawona's durability, including tough materials, quality connectors, and poles. You’ll pay more for this rugged shelter, but the storage and livable space is worth it for long trips or basecamping for backcountry objectives.

I recommend practicing pitching this tent before heading out, though, as it’s not the easiest to get right the first time. It’s simpler than the Snow Peak Alpha Breeze but not as straightforward as the REI Base Camp. And it isn’t freestanding like the Big Agnes Big House. That said, the pole structure allows for extra peak-height headroom, and the tent was clearly designed to be lived in during poor weather. It’s a great choice for extended trips and is among the more weatherproof for family tents thanks to the 150-denier floor and long, domed shape.

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The Westward line is REI’s newest frontcountry camping system, with a range of family-friendly shelter and sleeping options to customize the best car camping setup for your group. You can expand the line with multiple tent sizes, shelter style options, tarps, chairs, and car-camping mattresses, but the Westward 4 is a good place to start.

The large floor area accommodates sleeping pads and cots (whether they’re from the Westward line or not), and the interior organization includes pockets on all sides so each person can optimize their own storage. The whole package weighs just over 15 pounds, which is more than reasonable for such a spacious tent. And the four poles are easier to pitch than the more complex designs of our recommendations.

Like my other favorites, the Westward comes with two doors and vestibules so you don’t have to climb over each other to get in and out, and the doors are tall with a moderate slant to avoid forcing you to hunch and crawl. The poles and hubs are color-coded, and the tent has bug-proof mesh on the windows for ventilation without the horrors of mosquito infiltration.

I love the idea of creating a full camping living system with the Westward line. I recommend it for families heading off on road trips or who plan to spend a lot of time camping during summer season and want a more expansive living space complete with shelters, tarps, and sleep systems designed in conjunction with the other products.

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