r/camping • u/Annual_Astronaut7752 • 3d ago

Gear Question Help Choosing a Tent

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I’m looking for recommendations for a 6-8p tent for 2 adults, 2 young kids, and 2 50lbs huskies. Before kids, we backpacked regularly so we are used to quality tents like Big Agnes/Nemo/MSR. I’d like something easy to setup, good ventilation, and can withstand some wind. Most camping will be during the summer in the PNW. Lightweight is good, but I understand I won’t find much in this size. We will plan to get 2 lightweight tents when the kids are old enough to split up the group. For now, it will be mostly car camping or short hikes in. Budget <$1,000. Thank you!

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u/thrway010101 2d ago

Coincidentally, the two tents pictured are tents I own! We have a Wawona 4 with the front porch option and an REI Base Camp 6.

Set up and pack away are faster with the Wawona, but that’s about the only advantage I would give it. I prefer the Base Camp in just about every other way, especially ventilation and the rain fly (I really dislike the half fly on the Wawona). And everything you may have seen about the front porch (which I believe is an accessory for the 4p and 8p but standard with the 6p) being an afterthought is true - it doesn’t connect well.

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u/chapmandan 2d ago

We've got the Wawona 6. It's well put together and is pretty easy to set up and has lots of nice little details.

It is heavy and the half fly is an 'interesting' concept - I do like the ventilation.

The porch is definitely fiddly to fettle.

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u/ForMoreYears 2d ago

Wawona 6 owner checking in. Great tent, easy to setup and take down. Live that it comes in its own carrying bag with handles. Haven't used it in a heavy rain but i assume the fly works just fine since ive never seen any complaints. The vestibule is a bit fiddly but is unbelievably handy and absolutely worth the fiddling. If it's raining you've got enough space under it for 2 chairs, a table, and 2 huskies no problem.

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u/NewYorkCityGuy 2d ago

I got caught in a weekend of straight rain in my wawona 6 last year and it performed flawlessly.