Whether you’re a regular camper or you just need to get out of the house after months of pandemic, tents have been hard to come by. Everyone wants to get away for a little while.
Last spring and summer, my daughter spent four months in a 6-person tent in our backyard. All that space was luxurious for her and our dog, and the only thing that brought them back inside was winter weather and the fact that the rain fly had rotted out in the sun.
That meant it was time for us to get a new tent. I had a hard time replacing our 6-person tent, so got a smaller version for family camping—the Big Agnes Big House 4.
Made from breathable polyester and polyester mesh, the tent also has a waterproof polyurethane coating on the fly and floor for additional protection. There are two large doors with storm flaps, and the front door has two closure options: mesh only for ventilation or the complete polyester layer. All seams are taped with waterproof polyurethane tape.
Big Agnes tents are extremely easy to pitch, with color-coded webbing and buckles, Velcro tabs that connect the fly to the pole structure, and pre-cut guy lines and tensioners attached to the fly.
This 8-pound tent is ideal for car camping, or setting up a base camp from which you can explore. Head space is 60 inches (5 feet), so you don’t have to duck too low when you’re inside. The floor area, 56 square feet, is plenty for four people sleeping side by side. If you’re like my family, you like a little bit of space, so the fact that our fourth is a dog helps give us a little bit of elbow room.
The Big House 4 tent is available in green and lists for $299.95 on the Big Agnes site.