Bottom Line
The North Face Wawona 6 remains our favorite all-around basecamp tent for families and groups who value space, durability, and usable covered storage. Its 75.7-square-foot interior is already generous, but the defining feature is the enormous front vestibule. During our testing, that vestibule worked as a gear closet, bike storage area, muddy-shoe zone, and even a protected hangout space when weather pushed us under cover.
The Wawona is especially comfortable for a family of four. Six people can sleep inside, but with that many occupants the main benefit shifts to the vestibule, where bulky gear can live outside the sleeping area. A 76-inch peak height and tall walls make the interior feel much more like a room than a sleeping shelter.
The tradeoff is bulk. At 19 pounds 7.1 ounces, this is a true car-camping tent, and the amount of fabric and pole structure makes setup slower than average. We also wish a footprint were included at this price. Still, the Wawona earns its premium through excellent materials, strong poles, thoughtful ventilation, and better storm performance than many tall family tents.
How We Tested
Six weeks of family travel gave us a broad look at how the Wawona 6 behaves as a true basecamp tent. Across eight states, CleverHiker gear analyst Ben Dawson repeatedly pitched and packed it through windy camps, heavy rain, warm weather, and ordinary day-to-day family use. That test period gave us direct evidence on livability, weather resistance, storage, ventilation, setup difficulty, and material quality.
Quick Specs
- Capacity: 6-person
- Floor Area: 75.7 sq. ft.
The North Face Wawona 6
Best Camping Tent Overall
CleverHiker Rating: 4.8/5.0
Price: $585
The size we tested feels: Luxurious for 3-4, comfortable for 5, tight for 6
Measured Weight: 19 lb. 7.1 oz.
Dimensions (LxWxH): 116 x 94 x 76 in.
Pros
- Huge front vestibule
- Spacious, tall interior
- Strong poles and durable fabrics
- Excellent ventilation
- Plenty of organization
- Many guyout points
Cons
- Heavy
- Slower than average to pitch
- Footprint not included
Spaciousness & Comfort
The Wawona 6 earns its top comfort marks because the usable space extends well beyond the sleeping floor. The interior measures 75.7 square feet, which we found luxurious for three or four people and still workable for five. Six can sleep inside, particularly if some of the occupants are kids, but at that point there is little spare floor room for duffels, toys, or other camp clutter. The 76-inch peak height lets most adults stand upright, and the walls stay usable farther from the center than they do in many dome tents, so changing clothes or moving around does not require constant crouching.
The front vestibule is what separates the Wawona from most large family tents. At roughly 44.7 square feet, it behaves more like a covered porch or gear room than a normal vestibule. During our family testing, it swallowed bikes, coolers, toys, muddy shoes, and bulky gear that otherwise would have eaten into the sleeping area. We also used it as a protected hangout when weather rolled in and even as a quick cleanup area after a muddy outing.
That much shelter makes the Wawona especially good for multi-night basecamps. The downside is that the comfort comes with a large footprint and substantial packed weight, so it is best when the campsite is close to the vehicle and has room for the body plus vestibule. For families who want a tent they can genuinely live around for several days, the Wawona remains our most complete option.
Comfort Score: 4.8 / 5.0
Ease of Setup
The Wawona 6 is straightforward to understand but slower to pitch than most tents in this guide. The pole colors match the corresponding sleeves and attachment points, so the sequence itself is not confusing. The challenge is simply the amount of fabric and structure involved. In our testing, a solo pitch took about 11 minutes in calm conditions, and that was after we were familiar with the design. Adding wind makes the tall body and oversized vestibule noticeably harder to control before everything is tensioned.
A second person changes the experience considerably. With one camper managing the body while the other handles poles or the fly, setup becomes much less awkward. That matters for families because the person doing the pitching may also be supervising kids, unloading gear, or trying to beat incoming weather. We did get faster with repetition, but the Wawona never became a five-minute tent for us.
Several details keep the process from being worse. The color coding is clear, the pole architecture is logical, and the guylines come pre-attached, which saves a step once the tent is standing. Packing it away is also manageable once the large fly and body are rolled tightly.
We would not choose the Wawona for frequent one-night moves where setup speed is the priority. Its strengths show up once camp is established. If you normally stay put for a few days and can recruit a second set of hands, the slower pitch is a reasonable trade for the huge living space and vestibule.
Ease of Setup Score: 3.9 / 5.0
Weather Resistance
The Wawona 6 performed better in rough weather than its tall, spacious shape might suggest. Large family tents create a lot of surface area for wind, so we deliberately paid attention to how the structure behaved in exposed camps. Properly staked and guyed, our test tent handled winds above 40 mph without a structural problem. The many guyline points are not decorative on a shelter this large; they are a major reason the tall walls and vestibule remain controlled when gusts pick up.
Rain performance was similarly reassuring. We camped through driving rain without experiencing leakage. The fly does not extend all the way to the ground around every part of the tent body, which is less protective on paper than a true full-coverage design such as the REI Base Camp 6. In severe sideways rain, that exposed geometry could become a disadvantage. In the conditions we actually encountered, however, water stayed out and the interior remained dry.
Ventilation is an important part of the weather story. Two kickstand vents continue to move air when the fly is deployed, and the fly can be rolled back along the sides in fair conditions to expose more mesh. That flexibility helps reduce condensation and keeps the tent from becoming overly stuffy during warm storms.
We still consider the Wawona a three-season camping tent rather than a four-season shelter. Campers who routinely expect snow loading, extreme wind, or prolonged alpine weather should choose something more specialized. For normal family camping that includes thunderstorms, rain, and gusty conditions, it offers an unusually strong balance of space and protection.
Weather Resistance Score: 4.4 / 5.0
Durability & Quality
The Wawona 6 feels appropriately substantial for a premium family camping tent. The body, fly, hardware, and zippers all gave us the impression that they were designed for repeated use rather than a few casual weekends. The current version uses DAC MX aluminum poles, and throughout our testing they felt strong without adding unnecessary bulk to an already heavy shelter. That pole quality matters because a tent with this much height and fabric places significant loads on its frame in wind.
The floor is another confidence-inspiring component. The current construction uses a robust 150-denier polyester floor with a polyurethane coating, and it feels markedly tougher than the lightweight floors on crossover or backpacking-oriented tents. We would still use a footprint or ground tarp on abrasive campsites, especially because a footprint is not included with the tent. Protecting the floor is a small extra step that makes sense on a shelter intended to last for many seasons.
We also paid attention to the smaller failure points. The door zippers ran smoothly without persistent snagging, clips and webbing felt secure, and repeated packing did not reveal premature wear. The generous guyout system helps durability indirectly by spreading wind loads across the structure instead of forcing the poles to absorb everything.
The tradeoff is weight. The Wawona is not trying to minimize fabric or hardware, and that contributes to its 19-pound-plus packed weight. For car camping, we see that as a worthwhile exchange: the heavier materials and stout frame are part of why the tent feels dependable enough for frequent family use.
Durability Score: 4.5 / 5.0
Features
The Wawona 6 has one of the most useful feature sets in the category because most of the extras directly improve camp life. Interior organization is excellent. There are enough pockets for headlamps, phones, hats, kids’ small items, and the miscellaneous gear that otherwise ends up scattered across sleeping bags. We did find the pockets mounted on the rear door less convenient because items can shift or spill when the door is opened, and we would like more low pockets that are easy to reach while lying down.
The vestibule remains the defining feature. Its 44.7-square-foot front section creates genuine covered living space, not just a narrow strip for shoes. Bikes, coolers, chairs, and gear bins can stay protected outside the sleeping area, and the vestibule can serve as a sheltered place to sit when conditions deteriorate. That flexibility is a major reason the Wawona works so well as a basecamp.
The ventilation system is also thoughtfully integrated. Kickstand vents remain usable with the fly on, while roll-back fly sections expose more mesh in dry weather. Pre-attached guylines and numerous attachment points make it easier to secure the tall structure when wind is expected.
There are a few omissions. The footprint costs extra, and the included stakes are adequate rather than exceptional for a shelter this large. Even so, the features mostly feel purposeful rather than gimmicky. Families who bring lots of gear will get more value from the Wawona’s storage and vestibule than campers who only use a tent as a place to sleep.
Features Score: 4.5 / 5.0
Should You Buy The North Face Wawona 6?
Buy the Wawona 6 if you want a durable family basecamp tent with genuine standing room, excellent covered storage, and enough weather resistance for trips that are not always sunny. It is especially appealing to families, climbers, bikers, and campers who bring a lot of gear.
Skip it if low weight, fast solo setup, or a small packed size matters more than livability. Campers who rarely need the huge vestibule can spend less and still get a comfortable six-person shelter.
What Other Camping Tents Should You Consider?
REI Westward 6 Review: Choose the Westward 6 if standing height and warm-weather airflow matter more to you than maximum storm coverage. Its 77-inch peak height and large front vestibule make it feel similarly luxurious around camp, and we found the partial-fly design noticeably airier in mild conditions. The tradeoff is prolonged wet weather: the Wawona gives us more confidence when rain and wind become a bigger part of the trip.
REI Base Camp 6 Review: The Base Camp 6 is the stronger alternative for campers who prioritize storm protection and organization over porch-style living space. Its full-coverage fly, dual vestibules, and extensive pocket system are useful on gear-heavy trips when everyone needs a place to keep wet or loose equipment contained. In exchange, setup is more involved, and it does not create the same oversized covered hangout space as the Wawona’s front vestibule.
Kelty Wireless 6 Review: Families who want genuine six-person space without paying premium-tent prices should put the Wireless 6 near the top of their value list. It still delivers standing height, dual vestibules, and a straightforward pitch, so the practical livability is strong for the money. The lower price comes with real compromises in materials and long-term durability, and we trust the Wawona more when weather gets rough.
