REI Base Camp 6 Tent

Comments about REI Base Camp 6 Tent:

About three years ago we got blown out of our campsite at Anza Borrego Desert State Park in California. We bought this tent to withstand those terrible winds coming out of the canyons. We bought some great stakes and tied our Base Camp 6 down this last weekend. The winds came, and they were tough and accompanied with rain. There are over 100 campsites in the campground, and it was full. The next morning ours was the only tent left standing, and it hardly moved in the wind. If you want a tent that can stand up to wind, this is a good bet. You just need better stakes than REI provides.

Comments about REI Base Camp 6 Tent:

I owned a Base Camp 4 for about a year and was very happy with it. But when the family decided they all wanted to camp, it was just too small. I moved up to the Base Camp 6. I took it to woods expecting a bigger replica of BC4. I was surprised that REI had added mesh - all lot of mesh that can not be zipped shut to this version. Not that big of a deal with fly on - but even then there is not complete privacy because of the fly window and no ability to close the "door". In summer, this tent will likely perform better then the old design - but in cooler temps it has a bit of a draft because all the new mesh around sides and doors - and a fly that does not go all the way to the ground. I had to stuff pinestraw around the bottom to stop some of the cool breeze (granted it was a chilly and windy night).Bottom line: this tent would be perfect if REI would add the ability zip the door mesh shut (not an option on this version). My family got tired of having to go through the fly - and then the mesh door to get in and out. Plus, I like mesh when it is hot, but I also like to be able zip it shut when it is cold. [...] I ended up with a Kingdome (which after 1 backyard campout is a hit with the family). This is still a great tent - just make sure you are OK with the more backback design of this family tent. Cheers to REI for another solid product [...]

Comments about REI Base Camp 6 Tent:

The first time I used this tent, a tornado happened to come through a few miles away. I was not near any permanent shelter or my vehicle, so I had to stick out the storm in the tent. This tent didn't even budge during very high winds and larger than golfball-sized hail that lasted quite some time! Not a drop of water got into the tent, and although there were pools of water collecting under the tent, no condensation formed on the tent floor. I was throughouly impressed: I didn't think there was a tent in creation that could withstand the kind of weather I was in!

Comments about REI Base Camp 6 Tent:

We wanted the smallest, high quality tent I could stand-up in. Time for us to begin using cots! I have used Sierra Design tents for the past 15 years, so I have very high expectations for product performance. A tent that won't hold-out a Rocky Mountain summer thunderstorm, or hold-up to a fall snowstorm, isn't of any use to me.

This tent is very well designed and the construction quality is top-rate. I set-up the entire tent by myself in 10 minutes the very first time. (Getting the fly over the top does take a little imagination.) Having the instructions sewn to the tent bag is genius! The tent stakes are nice and tough.

We just returned from camping at an alpine lake in the Idaho back country and experienced an all-night thunderstorm. A total gully-washer. This tent is tough. We did not get a single drop inside. It was raining so hard that it was too loud to sleep!

Great product!

Comments about REI Base Camp 6 Tent:

We live in one of the most remote areas of the world, Mongolia. We needed a tent that was roomy enough, and one that would stand up to the wind and sand/dust storms that are a regular occurrence here. The tent was fantastic. We slept through wind, sand, and even rain. Awesome.[...]

Comments about REI Base Camp 6 Tent:

After 5 years of owning this tent, I'm still impressed every time we use it. We use this tent about 2 times per year for camping in California. Materials, craftsmanship, waterproofness and design are excellent. Most recently (5/08) we camped with 9 other families at my kid's annual soccer team's camping event. It drizzled most of the weekend and rained quite hard at night. With the rainfly, this tent stayed nice and dry inside for all 3 days. NOTHING got wet inside. We almost felt guilty hearing the other families' sad stories of tent leaks, wet sleeping bags and difficult nights sleeping in their cars. Felt blessed that we didn't own a cheap tent. High praises for this tent's waterproof capabilities, durability and general high quality.

Comments about REI Base Camp 6 Tent:

Just returned from 4 day family camping trip on Lake Huron. Fortunately, we had nothing but sunny blue skies. So, I can't rate the waterproofness (is that even a word?)

Overall, we are very happy with the tent. I love the amount of floor space, storage pockets, large vestibules, and the pole system that pulls the fabric taught. Also the fly is much better than competing models that only cover half the tent sides. But I do have two main complaints. First, I wish REI would use rip-stop nylon instead of polyester fabrics. The fly is rip-stop, but the rest of the tent is coated poly. Polyester seems heavier, less durable, and does not breathe (or dry) as well as nylon. Second, it is sometime difficult to insert the poles in the mesh pole sleeves. Why not use simple plastic clips - these are much faster to set up.

Comments about REI Base Camp 6 Tent:

The Base camp 6 is extremely durable, totally waterproof, easily set up by 1 person and very comfortable. If you are a group of 6 we found it a little cozy especially if you wish to keep some gear in the tent. If you are family camping and use air matresses do your homework on the layout! My 2 sons and I fit comfortably with air matress and some gear. There is great ventilation even with the fly on. If you do your homework and settle on this as your tent you will NOT be disappointed! This is one awesome tent!

Service and delivery comments:

Customer service at REI is always the best! Helpful, knowledgable staff and they take the time to be sure you make the right purchase!

Comments about REI Base Camp 6 Tent:

Bought and used this tent for the first time this past weekend on a 2 day camping trip in Pennsylvania. 2 adults and one child (One Cot and one Queen sized blow up mattress). I would think that the tent would be very cramped with 6 people but 4 would be just fine. I am a car camper and I always leave the rain fly set up on my tents (just in case).

Pro's - Very easy to set up. I think that one person would be able to set it up if they had to. Great looking tent if that matters to you. Quality is great - I think this tent will last me a long time. Front vestibule was a great size and when closed was waterproof. Kept it open even during a rain storm just to get some ventilation because it was very hot and humid out. Even when open rain did not enter the tent.
It was hot and humid out and the inside of the tent had zero condesation, a very big plus.

Con's - My only con would be that the tent needs a bit more ventilation when the rain fly is up. I wish that the rear vestibule was the same size as the front so that it could be left open to get some more cross ventilation. You can leave it open but if it rains the rain will get into the tent as compared to the front vestibule. I also wish the tent a some side windows. 2 vents are on the top of the rain fly but I did not leave them open. Was not realy sure how to use them because if you opened them and left the zipper open on the inside of the tent there was no screen so I kept them closed.

A great tent! Very happy with my purchase.

Comments about REI Base Camp 6 Tent:

I spent about a week looking for a good tent for family car camping. As such, weight wasn't so much an issue. The criteria that guided my selection were as follows:* roominess (3 to 4 people plus some gear with ease)* good stability in the wind* tall enough for me to stand up inside* full rain fly... never cared for those cheap tents with tiny little rain covers* waterproof / sheds water efficiently (seam sealing is a given)* freestanding (it's hard to stake at some campgrounds, depends on the ground)* good ventilation with the fly off* footprint offered (I just don't like making them)* vestibule (nice but not entirely necessary)* good warranty and supportI finally settled on the Base Camp 6. A couple of days after the purchase, my family of three took it out for a one-night test spin. The tent was extremely easy to set up with two people, and I don't think it would be that much more difficult to do solo. I appreciate the four-pole design, which seems to make the tent more stable than a lot of the two-pole designs I looked at. Without the fly/vestibules (which need to be staked), the tent is free-standing, and before we left, my wife and I flipped it up and shook out a little bit of grass that had gotten inside.The tent offers great ventilation. We had a forecast of 50% scattered storms, so we wound up putting on the fly/vestibules. Even then, we were able to get some good cross ventilation by rolling up the two vestibule doors and zipping open the door windows. It did not rain, however, so I cannot yet speak to the waterproof nature of the tent. Still, the design, with a full fly and no places for water to collect, suggests that the Base Camp 6 should handle wet weather well.The tent had plenty of room, both for standing and changing clothes as well as for sleeping and gear. No problems there. Gear pockets and a gear loft add some nice storage space in this tent.Functionally, the tent was fantastic. My only qualm was a cosmetic issue. The two doors both had light brown stains that looked like dye from the floor had rubbed off in spots. At first, I thought it was a used tent that had gotten muddy, but the stains were confined only to the door sections and nowhere else. [...] Am looking forward to going out again with this tent. It was a joy to use.