Greater than two decades in the past when I used to be in school, my girlfriends and I went automotive tenting at the Olympic Peninsula. It was once pouring rain and the interior of our tent and our drowsing luggage were given totally soaked. I stopped up amassing what was once left of my dry equipment and hiding out within the driving force’s seat of my automotive. It was once a depressing enjoy, and I realized that probably the most necessary automotive tenting necessities is a high quality automotive tenting tent.
An ideal automotive tenting tent is straightforward to arrange, spacious, sturdy, and can stay you dry regardless of the elements. I’ve been checking out the just lately up to date REI Base Camp 4-person tent, and it hits all the marks – a lot of room, a HUGE vestibule to your equipment, a number of vents to strengthen airflow, and an insane quantity of wallet to stay issues arranged at the inside of.
On this REI Base Camp 4 Tent Assessment, I proportion my reviews on why I really like this tent and a couple of issues I’d like to peer advanced after checking out it in a lot of climate stipulations.
Backed through REI Co-op
REI Co-op is my favourite out of doors equipment store and a long-time supporter of my paintings right here at Bearfoot Principle. Their 1-year go back coverage for Individuals is hands-down the most productive within the trade, and Individuals additionally get 10% again on their purchases once a year.
REI Base Camp 4 Tent Assessment
This REI Base Camp 4 Tent overview is in line with my enjoy checking out it in a lot of climates over the previous couple of months. On one go back and forth to the Arizona desolate tract, stipulations ranged from a blistering 95 levels to 50 mph winds and heavy rain showers. I’ve extensively utilized it within the Uintas in Utah the place midnight temperatures were given down into the 30s. On each and every go back and forth, the tent has carried out smartly, and it’s full of particular options and main points that make this certainly one of my favourite automotive tenting tents thus far.
REI Base Camp 4 Tent Main points
Execs
Cons
Save this put up!
Input your e mail & I will ship this put up in your inbox! You’ll be able to additionally obtain my weekly publication filled with useful recommendation for making plans your adventures.
Ease of Surroundings Up
Alone, I used to be in a position to set the REI Base Camp 4 Tent up in 15-20 mins the primary time round. I couldn’t to find the directions…seems they’re hooked up to some of the stuff sacks that the tent is available in. Nonetheless, the color-coding made it extraordinarily simple to determine.
As a result of its dimension, it feels a bit of bulky the primary time if you’re environment it up on my own, however that may be true of any 4-person tent. Additionally, in case you’re the use of a 4-person tent, perhaps you could have an extra set of palms that can assist you.
Towards the tip of this overview, you’ll to find step by step directions for tips on how to arrange the tent, in conjunction with much more pictures.
Spaciousness
Whilst the REI Base Camp 4 is rated for 4-people, it might be lovely tight seeking to have compatibility 4 adults in right here. If truth be told, I arrange a NEMO Double Roamer (a 2-person drowsing pad), the REI Campwell Slumbering Pad, and every other previous Thermarest automotive tenting pad I’ve, they usually didn’t all have compatibility. You’ll be able to see within the symbol underneath how the blue and purple drowsing pads overlap.
Now, the auto tenting drowsing pads I arrange have been wider than the common drowsing pad, however I do assume 4 backpacking-style drowsing pads would have compatibility, no drawback. Then again, even then there wouldn’t be quite a lot of wiggle room with 4 adults, which is why I give it 4/5 stars for spaciousness.
Now for 2 adults and two children (or doggies), this tent would paintings nice. For much more convenience, I’d individually wish to restrict it to a few humans which might leaves a bit of of additional house in between the 3 drowsing pads so it doesn’t really feel such as you’re drowsing on best of each other.
My circle of relatives of three plus 2 canine can have compatibility in right here with some room to spare (however our canine are at the smaller facet). You’ll be able to see on this picture how a lot better it’s with drowsing pads that accommodate a complete of 3 humans.
This tent would even be nice for 2 adults who merely need extra space. I slept in right here with a female friend and beloved how we each had our personal house. It’s essential simply have compatibility two cots in right here, a small desk, and even two compact camp chairs in case you have been hiding out from the rain.
Home windows and Vents
One in all my favourite issues about this tent is all the home windows it has. Now not simplest does this strengthen air flow in scorching climate or cut back condensation out of your breath on a chilly night time, it additionally lets you experience all the great perspectives.
If you happen to don’t put the rainfly on, the highest has 4 mesh panels so you’ll be able to stargaze as you’re falling asleep. I like that this mesh doesn’t come at the price of your privateness despite the fact that.
The doorways of the tent are made of 2 layers. First is a cast layer that may be zipped up for privateness. If you wish to have higher airflow and perspectives, you’ll be able to zip down the cast layer, revealing a 2nd mesh layer that assists in keeping the insects out.
Along with the mesh at the ceiling and doorways, there also are two-floor vents that you’ll be able to open. I like this selection as a result of from time to time I wish to really feel a bit of additional breeze on my face on heat nights.
In any case, there are 4 vents at the rainfly that may be popped open. Those permit one of the heat air from within the tent to flee because it rises which prevents condensation.
Wallet and Group
There are 18 wallet within the REI Base Camp 4 tent! I don’t assume I’ve ever slept in a tent with that many wallet. They’re comfortably positioned everywhere in the tent, so in case you have been drowsing with 4 humans in right here, everybody would have their very own wallet for his or her stuff inside of succeed in.
Now not simplest are there a large number of wallet, however they’re all truly large. I have compatibility my Nalgene within the pocket through the door with no need to stretch the fabric. Within the others, I positioned my Kindle, headlamp, telephone, hat and gloves and different necessities that I would like right through the night time.
There also are loops you’ll be able to hold issues from like a small lantern or perhaps a small transportable fan. I used the loops to thread up my string lighting fixtures which created a pleasing atmosphere when placing out in right here at night time.
In any case, I’ll point out the pocket through the door. The doorways unzip virtually all the manner, and they’re much to special to simply roll to the facet. It took me a minute to determine this out, but if the door is totally unzipped, you’ll be able to stuff it within the pocket subsequent to the door so it’s out of the best way.
Vestibules
Merely put, the vestibules within the REI Base Camp 4 tent are superior. With a complete of 38.5 sq. toes throughout the two vestibules, there’s greater than enough space for ALL of your equipment. It’s essential have compatibility a cooler, a few backpacks or suitcases, sneakers, and no matter else you wish to have to stay out of the weather.
My pal and I even arrange my two Dometic GO Camp Chairs in right here with room to spare. I may just see this being truly to hand on a scorching day when you wish to have to get out of solar. And with the vestibule at the different facet, you continue to have a lot of room to your equipment.
Every vestibule has two zippers, one on every facet. This makes it simple to get out and in of in the midst of the night time.
The one explanation why I’m docking part a celeb this is as a result of rolling up the middle of the vestibule is a bit of tough. It’s a large number of material and slightly vast, so rolling it up with one consumer was once difficult.
Weatherproofness and Sturdiness
Whilst I will be able to’t but talk to long-term sturdiness since I’ve simplest had this tent for a couple of months, I will be able to say that it will probably resist heavy winds and rain. When I used to be just lately tenting in Arizona, we were given hit with a unexpected hurricane, and the REI Base Camp 4 tent stayed dry as a bone at the inside of.
The bottom the place we arrange the tent was once virtually as difficult as concrete, so the tent wasn’t staked down in addition to I’d like. We additionally didn’t have get admission to to special rocks to crush the stakes. As a substitute, we have been in a position to safe the man traces in a couple of puts, and we additionally put a few of our camp furnishings within the tent to weigh it down up to imaginable.
With how poorly the tent was once staked down, I couldn’t imagine how smartly it held up. The poles are lovely thick, so that they don’t bend or buckle simply just like the poles from a lighter-weight tent would. The rainfly didn’t leak a unmarried drop.
In rain, you’ll wish to make certain that the 4 roof vents are closed and secured with the velcro so water doesn’t blow in thru the ones.
I’ve complete self assurance that the REI Base Camp 4 tent is hard sufficient for use in virtually any form of climate that you’d camp in.
Packability
The REI Base Camp 4 tent weighs greater than 17 kilos, and the footprint provides every other 1 lb 5 ounces. Whilst this sounds awfully heavy in case you’re used to drowsing in a backpacking tent, in case you’re in search of a tricky 4-person automotive tenting tent that you’ll be able to virtually rise up in, you’ll be hard-pressed to search out one this is considerably lighter.
Anything else this is lighter goes to be lacking options that make this tent so purposeful. As an example, The North Face Wawona 4 weighs 13 lbs, but it surely simplest has one vestibule this is considerably smaller than the REI Base Camp 4. It additionally doesn’t be offering any privateness with out the rainfly on.
Another choice – the MSR Habiscape 4 – weighs 12 lbs 11 ounces (I’ve a prior model of this tent known as the MSR Habitude). It has extra headspace than the REI Base Camp 4, however in a similar fashion to the Wawona, the vestibules are a lot smaller. In my enjoy, it additionally doesn’t appear slightly as sturdy because the REI Base Camp 4.
Instead of the ones two possible choices, the REI Base Camp 4’s packaged weight may be very a lot in step with different 4-person automotive tenting tents. For all the options it provides, I might select this over the opposite automotive tenting tents I personal, so long as I will be able to force proper as much as my campsite.
What I do like concerning the REI Base Camp 4 is that the whole lot simply suits within the bag that it got here in. I didn’t must fight to get it again in after the use of it, and the footprint even suits in the similar bag, even the ones it’s bought one at a time.
After I’m storing it, I don’t trouble seeking to fold all of it great and neat. I simply stuff it within the bag like I might if it have been a drowsing bag.
Learn how to Set Up the REI Base Camp 4 Tent
Putting in place the tent is so easy. It takes me about 15-20 mins on my own, and if Ryan is helping me, that point will get reduce down to ten mins. Listed here are the stairs:
1. Put down footprint and pull the whole lot out
The very first thing to do is to spread the footprint and pull all the tent portions out of the bag. I really like that the poles, stakes and tent all have their very own sacks to stay the whole lot arranged.
The REI Base Camp 4 Tent Footprint is bought one at a time, however I extremely counsel it because it supplies an added layer of coverage for the bottom of the tent. It’s also the precise dimension of tent and can also be staked out.
2. Insert the gold poles into their sleeves
To find the 2 gold-ended poles and insert them into the gold sleeves at the tent. Those create the preliminary construction for the tent.
One thing distinctive about this tent is that it has “dead-end pole sleeves.” This implies the tent poles don’t poke out the opposite finish when you’re pushing the poles thru. This makes it a lot more straightforward to arrange on your own with out the assistance of someone else. The one factor you could have to concentrate on is that the rounded finish of the pole should be inserted first
As soon as the poles gained’t undergo any more, insert the tip of the pole you might be retaining into the grommet.
3. Insert the brown poles into their sleeves
Subsequent, there are two poles with brown ends that supply further fortify for the tent. Those run throughout the brown sleeves around the best of every door.
As soon as throughout the sleeve, you’ll run the poles diagonally around the facet of the tent sticking the leads to the brown color-coded grommets.
At the facets of the tent, there are clips that you just connect to the poles to make the tent extra taut.
There could also be a hook that is going round each poles retaining them in combination the place the move.
4. Stake down the tent
Prior to you place at the rainfly, make any changes in your tent’s placement, ensuring it’s even with the footprint. Then stake out the tent loops and the footprint loops in combination.
5. Upload the Rainfly
The cool factor about this tent is you don’t if truth be told want the rainfly for privateness. The forged material at the doorways manner humans can’t see throughout the tent until they’re very tall and status proper subsequent to it, peering in from the highest.
However if you’re expecting any climate or it’s chilly and you wish to have to chop down at the breeze, then it’s value placing at the rainfly.
The rainfly creates two different-sized vestibules. I recommend placing the larger vestibule at the facet the place you assume you’ll be getting into and exiting the tent probably the most. The facet with the larger vestibule has a white pole sleeve.
Orient the vestibules the best way you wish to have so the rainfly doorways are aligned with the 2 tent doorways. Then clip the 2 corners of the rainfly down close to the smaller vestibule.
Subsequent thread your ultimate silver-ended pole throughout the rainfly’s pole sleeve and stick the 2 leads to the grommets.
6. Stake out the vestibules and tie out man traces
The overall step is to insert the remainder of the vestibule clips into the tent clips after which stake out the vestibule corners. This may increasingly create a pleasing patio and make sure. the vestibule doesn’t flap round within the wind.
If it’s windy, the REI Base Camp 4 Tent additionally comes with a suite of man traces that may simply be hooked up to the tent. We had to make use of those down in Arizona for the reason that flooring was once too difficult to correctly stake out the tent and fly. The man traces helped immensely in that situation.
The place to Purchase
The REI Base Camp 4 Tent is simplest to be had at REI. It retails for $474, but it surely ceaselessly is going on sale right through REI promotional occasions. Listed here are the hyperlinks for the tent and its non-compulsory equipment.
I am hoping you discovered this REI Base Camp 4 overview useful! When you have any questions or enjoy with this tent, depart a remark underneath.
Save this put up to Pinterest