A new tent is going to help more campers get outside.
Part of a new collection from The North Face, the Universal Wawona 3 Tent incorporates universal design principles into a camp shelter that works for a wider range of outdoor enthusiasts, regardless of age or physical ability. The collection, available this month, also includes a sleeping bag, daypack and camp slip-ons.
“We saw a lot of issues with the current tent setups [on the market], and we wanted to alleviate [them],” says Vasu Sojitra, a disability access strategist and professional skier for The North Face who provided feedback to the brand during the collection’s design process.
The Universal Wawona 3 cuts back on some common challenges campers experience, like cramped quarters, too-small tent doors and a high entryway threshold that can cause tripping. The new shelter’s intentional improvements—like ample space for mobility devices or gear and a minimal entryway stepover to make rolling or walking in easy—help all campers spend time outside with more ease.
“I think one of the coolest things about this line is that The North Face brought these products to the disabled community,” says Mo Beck, a professional climber for The North Face who also contributed input during the design process. “They flew to Adaptive Climbers Fest three years in a row, had them set up and got feedback from people with a range of disabilities.”
Read on to learn more about the Universal Wawona and the features that make camping a little easier for everyone —from an integrated, roll-back rainfly to a leash attachment for securing four-legged campmates.
Who is the Universal Wawona 3 for?
The Universal Wawona is designed to make 3-season car camping easier for a wide range of adventurers. Features like a low-threshold entry that accommodates wheelchairs or strollers, wide poles sleeves that are easy to thread, and a roomy vestibule for extra storage space make pitching and using the tent more convenient.
“I think it’s a perfect tent for someone who is mostly car camping, which, when you think about it, is the most accessible style of camping,” says Beck.
Pros
- Large, reflective pole sleeves are easy to thread
- Roomy vestibule provides storage for large items like adaptive equipment or strollers
- Interior has enough space and height for two cots
- Built-in rainfly sets up easily, even in windy conditions
Cons
- At nearly 14 pounds, this tent can’t double as a backpacking shelter
- A single door can make entry/exit harder for multiple campers
Best for
- Small car-camping groups
- Campers who want a shelter large enough for two cots
- Those who need storage space for adaptive equipment, a stroller or other gear
- Anyone who wants a tent that’s easy to setup and tear down
Notable Features
Large vestibule and low-profile entry
Among the standout features of The North Face Universal Wawona 3 is its massive vestibule and low-threshold entryway. The space is designed to fit up to two wheelchairs, without disassembling them, and has an awning to shield gear from rain showers or provide shade on sunny days. A burly, built-in ground mat keeps gear off the dirt while you’re relaxing inside.
“Folks with medical equipment can leave it outside if they want to, whether it’s a walker, a wheelchair or a stroller,” says Sojitra.
Plus, a low threshold makes rolling or stepping inside the tent easy, even during after-dark pee breaks.
Easy-to-pitch design
Campers know the challenges of pitching a tent: threading tent poles through tiny sleeves, muscling tent parts into grommets, orienting what pole goes where. Setup is easier with the Universal Wawona 3. First, this shelter has pole sleeves wide enough to drop in the rods, requiring far less dexterity than threading them does. And broad fabric sleeves replace traditional small grommets at each tent corner for simplified attachment.
The sleeves include reflective material that glows under a headlamp to make them easy to spot, and the poles are all the same length so that they can pair with any of the tent sleeves. (No more matching color-coded pole tips.) A built-in footprint means you won’t have to wrestle with your ground cloth.
Beck says the design is intended to make setup easier for everybody. “If you have a visual impairment, you don’t have to find colors to match up. The poles are all the same length, and that’s easier for everybody, not just for people who are blind.”
Dog leash attachment point
No need to locate a tree or pack a tie-out stake to prevent Fido from wandering too far. The Universal Wawona includes a leash attachment point at the back of the tent to secure your service dog or adventure pup. Your four-legged tentmate can explore the lengths of his leash while you prep dinner.
Built-in rainfly
Rainflies can be difficult to pin in place, especially if it’s windy. The North Face made rainy days easier with a built-in, roll-back fly. Easy-to-grip fasteners like large buckles, hook-and-loop closures and a broad strap at the back of the tent make it easy to secure the fabric.
“I feel like this tent was designed to be put up with mittens because that’s the level of dexterity we’re going for,” says Beck.
Sunny day? The fly can double as a shade. It’s made with light-blocking material to help keep the tent cool on hot days.
Considerations
With features like a durable ground cloth, attached rainfly and robust hardware, the Universal Wawona 3 is understandably heavy, with a packed weight of almost 14 pounds. Given that, it’s not a great pick for people who want a shelter that can double as a backpacking tent.
Campers should also be aware that if one or more of your tentmates is bringing a cot, you won’t be able to max out its internal space: The shelter is perfect for two cot campers (and a small dog) or up to three ground sleepers.
Bottom Line
The Universal Wawona 3 from The North Face champions 3-season adventure accessibility for many campers, thanks to purposeful design choices that make setup, takedown and tent-living a lot smoother.