The REI Base Camp 4 tent is the closest that you can get to having a portable cabin when it comes to durability. The Base Camp 4 will keep you warm and dry in the most severe weather. My collection of tents has included some of the worst designed tents on the planet as well as some of the best. Owning a bad tent sure gives me an appreciation for this sturdy shelter that has yet to fail me.
You Need A Base Camp 4 If You Have Experienced Any Of The Following Camping Disasters
- The wind blew rain through the screen windows of your tent
- You asked your kids to search YouTube for videos on how to set up a tent.
- You left one of the tent support poles at your last campsite.
Ten years ago, I took my family on our first camping trip and it was a complete disaster. Mind you, I am not new to camping. I spent 6 months on the road touring and camping along the way through the United States on a bicycle. However, when it came to family camping, I was at a complete loss. Buying a tent that was nearly impossible to set up was my first mistake. That was the last time that I bought a cheap tent.
I replaced the tent with high quality Eureka tent that lasted two camping seasons and was put on the "injured" list when it flew out of our cargo carrier that I forgot to close. That tent was replaced with an REI Base Camp 4 tent that has been used on 6 camping trips that were each 3 weeks in length.
The Base Camp 4 Has Plenty Of Wiggle Room
If you are a family of 4 or less, you will fit comfortably. Having 60 square feet of tent space gives you enough room to store some gear. While I may be more inclined to use a larger tent for adults, we have more than enough room for my wife and 2 children. We like to fill up the extra space with duffel bags so our air mattresses don't move around. This tent allows me to stretch out my entire 6 feet without having my feet and head touching the walls. It's not tall enough to stand in which is not a concern for me because I use a tent for sleeping.