A premium quality four-person shelter with solid weatherproofing and unique features. Rainfly doubles as a standalone portable shelter. See Review Easy to pitch and nails all the essentials. A well-made tent from a well-established brand at department store prices. See Review If you want a 6-person tent that’s easy to set-up, durable enough to last countless seasons, and full of unique features – the ‘ North Face Wawona 6 Tent‘ could be the one for you. On the cheap end of the spectrum, you get less mesh and fewer options to get air flowing without opening up doors or windows (thereby compromising weather protection). In addition, some entry-level designs like Coleman’s Sundome include single-wall panels (this means there’s just one layer of fabric to protect you from the elements), which can lead to a muggy interior on warm days and more condensation in the night. In the end, many campers are willing to compromise in ventilation given the large price gap between designs, but it’s undoubtedly another feather in the premium tent market’s cap. Mesh-heavy designs help with airflow in warm conditions Build Quality and Durability Unbelievably spacious interior and tall ceilings. Excellent exterior storage and premium materials throughout. See Review

We’ll also note that some models nowadays come with covered windows that can be left open rain or shine. These designs usually cost a bit extra, but there’s nothing like having extra airflow and a view of the outside world to keep claustrophobia to a minimum. Ease of Set-up It ended up tied with our Editor’s Choice tent, the Core 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent with an overall score of 86/100 points. After testing and analyzing dozens of the best options available this year, we found the North Face Wawona 6 to be the best waterproof tent overall. We spent several nights inside the Wawona enjoying its large floor plan, stand-up height ceilings, and more covered exterior storage than we could ever use. We’re happy to report that this tent delivers comfort and rain protection in equal measure, and does it all for less money than most of its premium competitors.

Taking all the above factors into account, we found the North Face Wawona 6 to be the best waterproof tent overall. We love the Wawona because it combines weatherproof construction with excellent material quality and tons of external storage, and does it all at a price that’s almost too good to believe.

An expedition-proven tent built to withstand the worst weather on the planet. Incredibly tough yet surprisingly comfortable and easy to live with. See ReviewBut having a smaller volume is an advantage in cold weather, as there’s less air inside the tent to keep warm. What we don’t: Very heavy and bulky; doors are awkwardly positioned and make it harder to get in and out. This change of mind return policy is in addition to, and does not affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law including any rights you may have in respect of faulty items. In addition to a nice aerodynamic fly, we also look for a good amount of guylines attached to it, as these are ultimately what give a tent’s structure its strength. There’s no better example of a windproof and well-secured rainfly than the Mountain Hardwear Trango 4 we recently tested, but tents like the North Face Wawona, Big Agnes Bunk House, and MSR Habitude 6 are all good examples of how a good rainfly and tough guylines allow a big tent to survive in the wind. Ease of Set-up

Its cabin-style design with straight sidewalls is great if you’re tall or want to set up cots inside. Excellent interior space, reliable weather protection, and an impressive “gear garage” vestibule. Premium tent quality at an affordable price point. See Review An internal clothesline (or attachment points for you to hang your own) can be handy for drying out wet clothes. So what makes any waterproof tent worth buying? Here are the criteria we use when evaluating a shelter. Space and Comfort

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There are some truly impressive tents in the list above, but as you’ve read, some of them deliver the goods for considerably less money. At the end of the day, value will always be subjective both to your budget and your intended use, but we have a few “bare minimum” value requirements for a tent to make the cut. As if the impressive front vestibule wasn’t enough already, this Wawona 6 person tent from North Face comes with a second vestibule as well. Its rear door comes protected from the elements too, just in a slightly more modest fashion. The tent is relatively easy to set up, even if you’re doing it by yourself. It weighs more than some other 6-person tents (22.5 pounds), so it’s definitely a car camping tent, but it’ll provide a comfortable home away from home at a reasonable price. Many campers head out in the warm summer months, which means a tent’s ventilation design is a key consideration. And in general, performance is closely tied to price tag. Many premium models utilize a double-wall construction (the outer rainfly is separate from the inner tent body) and lots of mesh, which help keep things reasonably cool and limits moisture build-up. In addition, deployable vents are often incorporated into the rainfly as a way to encourage more airflow, and some tents like REI’s Skyward 6 have adaptable rainflies that can be rolled up partway in mild conditions. Deploying one of the vents on The North Face Wawona 6

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.

What Other Camping Tents Should You Consider?

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.