Greater than 20 years in the past once I was in school, my girlfriends and I went automotive tenting on the Olympic Peninsula. It was pouring rain and the within of our tent and our sleeping luggage bought fully soaked. I ended up gathering what was left of my dry gear and hiding out within the driver’s seat of my automotive. It was a depressing expertise, and I discovered that one of the vital automotive tenting necessities is a high quality automotive tenting tent.
An incredible automotive tenting tent is simple to arrange, spacious, sturdy, and can hold you dry irrespective of the climate. I’ve been testing the not too long ago up to date REI Base Camp 4-person tent, and it hits the entire marks – loads of room, a HUGE vestibule to your gear, a number of vents to enhance airflow, and an insane quantity of pockets to maintain issues organized on the within.
On this REI Base Camp 4 Tent Assessment, I share my opinions on why I like this tent and some issues I’d wish to see improved after testing it in a wide range of climate situations.
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REI Base Camp 4 Tent Overview
This REI Base Camp 4 Tent evaluate is predicated on my expertise testing it in a wide range of climates over the previous few months. On one journey to the Arizona desert, situations ranged from a blistering 95 levels to 50 mph winds and heavy rain showers. I’ve additionally used it within the Uintas in Utah the place nighttime temperatures bought down into the 30s. On each journey, the tent has carried out effectively, and it’s full of particular options and particulars that make this one among my favourite automotive tenting tents up to now.
REI Base Camp 4 Tent Particulars
Professionals
Cons
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Ease of Setting Up
On my own, I used to be in a position to set the REI Base Camp 4 Tent up in 15-20 minutes the primary time round. I couldn’t discover the directions…seems they’re hooked up to one of many stuff sacks that the tent is available in. Nonetheless, the color-coding made it extraordinarily straightforward to determine.
Due to its measurement, it feels a bit of cumbersome the primary time in case you are setting it up alone, however that will be true of any 4-person tent. Additionally, if you happen to’re utilizing a 4-person tent, almost definitely you will have an extra set of arms that will help you.
Towards the tip of this evaluate, you’ll discover step-by-step directions for find out how to arrange the tent, together with much more pictures.
Spaciousness
Whereas the REI Base Camp 4 is rated for 4-people, it could be fairly tight attempting to suit 4 adults in right here. The truth is, I arrange a NEMO Double Roamer (a 2-person sleeping pad), the REI Campwell Sleeping Pad, and one other outdated Thermarest automotive tenting pad I’ve, they usually didn’t all match. You possibly can see within the picture under how the blue and pink sleeping pads overlap.
Now, the automotive tenting sleeping pads I arrange had been wider than the typical sleeping pad, however I do assume 4 backpacking-style sleeping pads would match, no downside. Nonetheless, even then there wouldn’t be a complete 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 pups), this tent would work nice. For much more consolation, I’d personally need to restrict it to 3 folks which might leaves a bit of additional area in between the three sleeping pads so it doesn’t really feel such as you’re sleeping on prime of each other.
My household of three plus 2 canines can slot in right here with some room to spare (however our canines are on the smaller facet). You possibly can see on this picture how a lot better it’s with sleeping pads that accommodate a complete of three folks.
This tent would even be nice for 2 adults who merely need extra room. I slept in right here with a girlfriend and cherished how we each had our personal area. You can simply match two cots in right here, a small desk, and even two compact camp chairs if you happen to had been hiding out from the rain.
Home windows and Vents
Considered one of my favourite issues about this tent is the entire home windows it has. Not solely does this enhance air flow in scorching climate or cut back condensation out of your breath on a chilly evening, it additionally lets you get pleasure from the entire good views.
When you don’t put the rainfly on, the highest has 4 mesh panels so you may stargaze as you’re falling asleep. I really like that this mesh doesn’t come at the price of your privateness although.
The doorways of the tent are made from two layers. First is a strong layer that may be zipped up for privateness. If you would like higher airflow and views, you may zip down the strong layer, revealing a second mesh layer that retains the bugs out.
Along with the mesh on the ceiling and doorways, there are additionally two-floor vents you could open. I really like this function as a result of generally I need to really feel a bit of additional breeze on my face on heat nights.
Lastly, there are 4 vents on the rainfly that may be popped open. These permit among the heat air from within the tent to flee because it rises which prevents condensation.
Pockets and Group
There are 18 pockets within the REI Base Camp 4 tent! I don’t assume I’ve ever slept in a tent with that many pockets. They’re conveniently positioned throughout the tent, so if you happen to had been sleeping with 4 folks in right here, everybody would have their very own pockets for his or her stuff inside attain.
Not solely are there numerous pockets, however they’re all actually massive. I match my Nalgene within the pocket by the door with out having to stretch the fabric. Within the others, I positioned my Kindle, headlamp, cellphone, hat and gloves and different necessities that I want all through the evening.
There are additionally loops you may hold issues from like a small lantern or perhaps a small moveable fan. I used the loops to string up my string lights which created a pleasant ambiance when hanging out in right here at evening.
Lastly, I’ll point out the pocket by the door. The doorways unzip virtually the entire approach, and they’re much to massive to simply roll to the facet. It took me a minute to determine this out, however when the door is totally unzipped, you may 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. ft inside the 2 vestibules, there may be greater than sufficient room for ALL of your gear. You can match a cooler, a few backpacks or suitcases, footwear, and no matter else you need to hold out of the weather.
My buddy and I even arrange my two Dometic GO Camp Chairs in right here with room to spare. I might see this being actually useful on a scorching day while you need to get out of solar. And with the vestibule on the opposite facet, you continue to have loads of room to your gear.
Every vestibule has two zippers, one on all sides. This makes it straightforward to get out and in of in the midst of the evening.
The one purpose I’m docking half a star right here is as a result of rolling up the middle of the vestibule is a bit of troublesome. It’s numerous cloth and fairly broad, so rolling it up with one individual was difficult.
Weatherproofness and Sturdiness
Whereas I can’t but converse to long-term sturdiness since I’ve solely had this tent for just a few months, I can say that it could face up to heavy winds and rain. After I was not too long ago tenting in Arizona, we bought hit with a sudden storm, and the REI Base Camp 4 tent stayed dry as a bone on the within.
The bottom the place we arrange the tent was virtually as exhausting as concrete, so the tent wasn’t staked down in addition to I’d like. We additionally didn’t have entry to massive rocks to overwhelm the stakes. As a substitute, we had been in a position to safe the man strains in just a few locations, and we additionally put a few of our camp furnishings within the tent to weigh it down as a lot as potential.
With how poorly the tent was staked down, I couldn’t consider how effectively it held up. The poles are fairly 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 single drop.
In rain, you’ll need to ensure that the 4 roof vents are closed and secured with the velcro so water doesn’t blow in via these.
I’ve full confidence that the REI Base Camp 4 tent is hard sufficient for use in virtually any kind of climate that you’d camp in.
Packability
The REI Base Camp 4 tent weighs greater than 17 kilos, and the footprint provides one other 1 lb 5 oz. Whereas this sounds awfully heavy if you happen to’re used to sleeping in a backpacking tent, if you happen to’re on the lookout for a troublesome 4-person automotive tenting tent you could virtually arise in, you’ll be hard-pressed to seek out one that’s considerably lighter.
Something that’s lighter goes to be lacking options that make this tent so purposeful. For instance, The North Face Wawona 4 weighs 13 lbs, however it solely has one vestibule that’s considerably smaller than the REI Base Camp 4. It additionally doesn’t supply any privateness with out the rainfly on.
An alternative choice – the MSR Habiscape 4 – weighs 12 lbs 11 oz (I’ve a earlier model of this tent known as the MSR Habitude). It has extra headspace than the REI Base Camp 4, however equally to the Wawona, the vestibules are a lot smaller. In my expertise, it additionally doesn’t appear fairly as sturdy because the REI Base Camp 4.
Aside from these two options, the REI Base Camp 4’s packaged weight may be very a lot in keeping with different 4-person automotive tenting tents. For the entire options it provides, I’d select this over the opposite automotive tenting tents I personal, so long as I can drive proper as much as my campsite.
What I do like concerning the REI Base Camp 4 is that every little thing simply matches within the bag that it got here in. I didn’t must battle to get it again in after utilizing it, and the footprint even matches in the identical bag, even these it’s bought individually.
After I’m storing it, I don’t trouble attempting to fold all of it good and neat. I simply stuff it within the bag like I’d if it had been a sleeping bag.
The best way to Set Up the REI Base Camp 4 Tent
Organising the tent may be very straightforward. It takes me about 15-20 minutes on my own, and if Ryan helps me, that point will get reduce all the way down to 10 minutes. Listed below are the steps:
1. Put down footprint and pull every little thing out
The very first thing to do is to unfold the footprint and pull the entire tent components out of the bag. I like that the poles, stakes and tent all have their very own sacks to maintain every little thing organized.
The REI Base Camp 4 Tent Footprint is bought individually, however I extremely advocate it because it offers an added layer of safety for the underside of the tent. It is usually the precise measurement of tent and may be staked out.
2. Insert the gold poles into their sleeves
Discover the 2 gold-ended poles and insert them into the gold sleeves on the tent. These 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 find yourself pushing the poles via. This makes it a lot simpler to arrange by your self with out the assistance of one other individual. The one factor it’s a must to take note of is that the rounded finish of the pole have to be inserted first
As soon as the poles gained’t undergo any additional, insert the tip of the pole you’re holding into the grommet.
3. Insert the brown poles into their sleeves
Subsequent, there are two poles with brown ends that present extra assist for the tent. These run via the brown sleeves throughout the highest of every door.
As soon as via the sleeve, you’ll run the poles diagonally throughout the facet of the tent sticking the ends within the brown color-coded grommets.
On the perimeters of the tent, there are clips that you simply connect to the poles to make the tent extra taut.
There may be additionally a hook that goes round each poles holding them collectively the place the cross.
4. Stake down the tent
Earlier than you placed on the rainfly, make any changes to your tent’s placement, ensuring it’s even with the footprint. Then stake out the tent loops and the footprint loops collectively.
5. Add the Rainfly
The cool factor about this tent is you don’t really want the rainfly for privateness. The strong cloth on the doorways means folks can’t see via the tent until they’re very tall and standing proper subsequent to it, peering in from the highest.
However in case you are anticipating any climate or it’s chilly and also you need to reduce down on the breeze, then it’s price placing on the rainfly.
The rainfly creates two different-sized vestibules. I recommend placing the larger vestibule on the facet the place you assume you’ll be coming 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 need 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 closing silver-ended pole via the rainfly’s pole sleeve and stick the 2 ends within the grommets.
6. Stake out the vestibules and tie out man strains
The ultimate step is to insert the remainder of the vestibule clips into the tent clips after which stake out the vestibule corners. This may create a pleasant patio and guarantee. the vestibule doesn’t flap round within the wind.
If it’s windy, the REI Base Camp 4 Tent additionally comes with a set of man strains that may simply be hooked up to the tent. We had to make use of these down in Arizona as a result of the bottom was too exhausting to correctly stake out the tent and fly. The man strains helped immensely in that situation.
The place to Purchase
The REI Base Camp 4 Tent is barely out there at REI. It retails for $474, however it continuously goes on sale throughout REI promotional occasions. Listed below are the hyperlinks for the tent and its non-compulsory equipment.
I hope you discovered this REI Base Camp 4 evaluate useful! If in case you have any questions or expertise with this tent, depart a remark under.
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