The downside of this tent compared to the North Face Wawona 6 is that there’s limited vestibule space. We found it easiest to set-up the North Face Wawona 6 tent with two people, but do believe it could be done by a single person as well. But you’ll need to offset this against how often you’ll be using the tent and in what weather conditions. Larger tents typically come in a wider range of designs. It’s worth comparing different styles to figure out what type of layout will work best for you.

The battle for our top spot was a bit of a stand-off between the REI Kingdom 6 and The North Face Wawona 6. The solution? We recommend looking for a double-wall tent with a minimum of two sizable vents integrated into the rainfly. A fly with multiple vents gives hot and moist air somewhere to escape, while also allowing cooler fresh air to make its way inside between the fly and the canopy. A significant upgrade in recent years is the improved pole structure designed to give extra stability in bad weather and make setup easier. A close up of the vents on the Marmot Tungsten 4: These large ports give hot air somewhere to escape at the top of the tent, which reduces condensation while also pulling cooler air inside from the bottom. Easy to pitch and nails all the essentials. A well-made tent from a well-established brand at department store prices. See ReviewGood outdoors gear can be a big investment, and durability is the make-or-break factor that decides whether that investment is long-term or short-lived. We look for two main contributors in assessing a tents durability: Fabric quality and hardware quality. Nemo Aurora Highrise 6: A smart alternative to the Nemo above if you’ve got the money but prefer traditional vestibules. Tons of headroom, outstanding weather protection, and premium quality materials throughout. Read our full test and review of the 4-person model…

You can either have it set up as one big room or use a central divider wall to separate the tent into two areas – great if you want to put the kids to bed early. Pushes the limits of interior space for a four person tent. Innovative design and high-quality materials with a bright and handsome style. See Review You’ll also find a handy buyer’s guide down at the bottom of this article, which we’ve designed to help you understand how the best waterproof tents work and how to select the right one for your next trip. All that extra space means that the Highrise will actually sleep four campers on full sized sleeping pads.Space and comfort are the main reason most campers choose a 6 person tent over smaller 4 person models, and the Wawona absolutely delivers the goods here. We were already impressed by the Wawona with just the canopy setup, but as you’ll read below, the sleeping quarters are only half the equation. Even the 4P version of the Nemo Aurora Highrise includes standup height ceilings, which adds a ton of livability in any camping tent. A premium quality four-person shelter with solid weatherproofing and unique features. Rainfly doubles as a standalone portable shelter. See Review As long as it’s 20 lb. 15 oz. weight is not an issue for you, there’s not much wrong with this tent. In reality, it is very hard to find a lighter 6-person tent out there, but the Big Agnes Big House 6-Person tent is slightly lighter.

Our group all felt that durability was another high point for the North Face Wawona 6, and the poles and tent floor shined particularly bright. Seam sealing is important because it seals all of the tiny needle holes left in the seams of your tent when the fabric is sewn together. A tent without sealed seams is simply not a waterproof tent, and you shouldn’t even consider models without taped/sealed seams in the rainfly and floor at minimum. Speaking of the rainfly, when it comes to waterproofing, we always prefer a full-length rainfly whenever possible. This isn’t a dealbreaker one way or the other as we’ve had success with a handful of flys that doesn’t quite reach the ground or leave a portion of the canopy exposed, but if you’ve got the choice between full coverage and something less, full coverage is ideal for peace of mind. VentilationThe North Face takes both its name and inspiration (and logo, for that matter) from the famous Half Dome granite formation in Yosemite National Park. It’s a fitting moniker for a company that started in 1968 as a Bay Area climbing supply company, but climbing is just the tip of the iceberg for The North Face nowadays as they make everything from hardcore mountaineering supplies to trail running shoes, as well as some of the best camping tents on the market like the Wawona series tested here. What we don’t: Quite a bit less spacious than a dedicated camping tent (and the new version is even smaller than its predecessor). An expedition-proven tent built to withstand the worst weather on the planet. Incredibly tough yet surprisingly comfortable and easy to live with. See Review There’s plenty of room to hang out under the Bunk House’s vestibule, but you can extend it even further as a pole-supported awning.