{"id":201811,"date":"2026-04-14T09:19:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T16:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=201811"},"modified":"2026-04-14T12:26:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T19:26:02","slug":"first-look-the-north-face-universal-wawona-3-tent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/first-look-the-north-face-universal-wawona-3-tent","title":{"rendered":"First Look: The North Face Universal Wawona 3 Tent"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\">\n<p>A new tent is going to&nbsp;help&nbsp;more campers get outside.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;<br>Part of a new collection from <a href=\"\/b\/the-north-face\">The North Face<\/a>, the <a href=\"\/product\/C01457\/the-north-face-universal-wawona-3-tent\">Universal Wawona 3 Tent<\/a> incorporates universal design principles into a camp shelter that works for a wider range of outdoor enthusiasts, regardless of age or&nbsp;physical&nbsp;ability. The collection, available this month, also includes a&nbsp;<a href=\"\/product\/C01512\/the-north-face-universal-one-bag-sleeping-bag\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sleeping bag<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"\/product\/C01525\/the-north-face-u-camp-daypack-20-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">daypack<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"\/product\/C01924\/the-north-face-universal-design-traction-mules\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">camp slip-ons<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe saw a lot of issues with&nbsp;the current tent setups&nbsp;[on the market], and we wanted to alleviate [them],\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vasu_sojitra\/\">Vasu&nbsp;Sojitra<\/a>, a disability access strategist and professional skier for The North Face who provided feedback&nbsp;to the brand during&nbsp;the&nbsp;collection\u2019s&nbsp;design process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;Universal Wawona 3&nbsp;cuts&nbsp;back on some&nbsp;common&nbsp;challenges&nbsp;campers experience, like cramped quarters, too-small tent doors&nbsp;and&nbsp;a high entryway threshold that can cause tripping.&nbsp;The&nbsp;new shelter\u2019s intentional improvements\u2014like ample space for mobility devices or gear and&nbsp;a minimal entryway stepover to make rolling or&nbsp;walking in&nbsp;easy\u2014help all campers spend time outside with more ease.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think one of the coolest things about this line is that The North Face&nbsp;brought these products to the disabled community,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mo.in.mountains\">Mo Beck<\/a>, a professional climber for The North Face who also contributed input during the design process. \u201cThey flew to Adaptive Climbers Fest three years in a row, had them set up and got feedback from people with a range of disabilities.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on to learn more about the Universal&nbsp;Wawona and the features that make camping a little easier for everyone \u2014from an integrated, roll-back rainfly to a leash attachment for securing four-legged campmates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Who is the Universal Wawona 3 for?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/C01457_122425_51559_a9e3ee.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200\" alt=\"Picture of the Universal Wawona 3 vestibule with a wheelchair inside\" class=\"wp-image-201834\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Universal&nbsp;Wawona is designed to make 3-season car camping easier for a wide range of adventurers. Features like a low-threshold entry&nbsp;that&nbsp;accommodates&nbsp;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.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think it&#8217;s a perfect tent for someone who is mostly car camping, which,&nbsp;when you think about it, is the most accessible style of camping,\u201d says Beck.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>Pros<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Large, reflective pole sleeves are easy to thread&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Roomy vestibule provides storage for&nbsp;large items&nbsp;like&nbsp;adaptive equipment&nbsp;or strollers&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Interior&nbsp;has&nbsp;enough&nbsp;space and height&nbsp;for two cots&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Built-in rainfly&nbsp;sets&nbsp;up easily, even in windy conditions&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3>Cons<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>At&nbsp;nearly 14&nbsp;pounds, this tent&nbsp;can&#8217;t&nbsp;double as a backpacking shelter&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A single door can make entry\/exit harder for multiple campers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Best<\/strong> for\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Small car-camping groups&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Campers&nbsp;who&nbsp;want&nbsp;a shelter large enough for two cots&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Those who need storage space for&nbsp;adaptive equipment, a&nbsp;stroller&nbsp;or other gear&nbsp;<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anyone who wants a tent that&#8217;s easy to setup and tear down<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Notable Features\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Large vestibule and low-profile entry<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Among&nbsp;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&nbsp;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&nbsp;gear&nbsp;off the dirt while&nbsp;you\u2019re&nbsp;relaxing inside.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFolks with medical equipment can leave it outside if they want to,&nbsp;whether it&#8217;s a walker, a&nbsp;wheelchair&nbsp;or a stroller,\u201d says&nbsp;Sojitra.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plus, a low threshold makes rolling or stepping inside the tent easy, even during after-dark pee breaks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/C01457_122425_41274_sm-edited.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900\" alt=\"Detail shot of the Universal Wawona 3's low-threshold entryway\" class=\"wp-image-201848\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Easy-to-pitch design<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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&nbsp;tips.)&nbsp;A built-in footprint means you won&#8217;t have to wrestle with your ground cloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beck says the design is intended to make setup easier for everybody. \u201cIf you have&nbsp;a visual&nbsp;impairment, you&nbsp;don&#8217;t&nbsp;have to find colors to match up. The poles are all the same length, and&nbsp;that&#8217;s&nbsp;easier for everybody, not just for people who are blind.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/C01457_122425_51638_sm-edited.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900\" alt=\"Detail photo of the broad fabric sleeve at the corner of the Universal Wawona 3\" class=\"wp-image-201851\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Dog leash attachment point<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>No need to locate a tree or pack a tie-out stake to prevent Fido from wandering too far.&nbsp;The Universal&nbsp;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.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Built-in rainfly<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Rainflies can be difficult to pin in place, especially if&nbsp;it\u2019s&nbsp;windy.&nbsp;The North&nbsp;Face made rainy days easier with a built-in, roll-back fly. Easy-to-grip fasteners like large buckles,&nbsp;hook-and-loop&nbsp;closures&nbsp;and a broad strap at the back of the tent make it easy to secure the fabric.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI feel like this tent was designed to be put up with mittens because that&#8217;s the level of dexterity we&#8217;re going for,\u201d says Beck.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sunny day? The fly can double as a shade.&nbsp;It\u2019s&nbsp;made with light-blocking material to help keep the tent cool on hot days.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/C01457_122425_67127_sm.jpeg?resize=1200%2C1200\" alt=\"Picture of The North Face Universal Wawona 3 Tent with its rainfly on\" class=\"wp-image-201849\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2>Considerations\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>With features like a&nbsp;durable&nbsp;ground cloth, attached rainfly and robust hardware, the Universal Wawona 3 is understandably heavy, with a packed weight of almost 14&nbsp;pounds.&nbsp;Given that,&nbsp;it\u2019s&nbsp;not a great pick for people who want a shelter that can double as a backpacking tent.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Campers should also be aware that if one or more of your tentmates is bringing a cot, you&nbsp;won\u2019t&nbsp;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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>Bottom Line\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/b\/the-north-face\/f\/pl-universal\">Shop The North Face Universal Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new tent is going to&nbsp;help&nbsp;more campers get outside.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;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&nbsp;physical&nbsp;ability. The collection, available this month, also includes a&nbsp;sleeping bag,&nbsp;daypack&nbsp;and&nbsp;camp slip-ons.&nbsp; \u201cWe saw [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14208,"featured_media":201829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[588,2120],"internal-tag":[2011],"class_list":["post-201811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camp","tag-camping","tag-first-look","internal-tag-home-secondary"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/camp\/first-look-the-north-face-universal-wawona-3-tent","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"First Look: The North Face Universal Wawona 3 Tent","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/first-look-the-north-face-universal-wawona-3-tent","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/first-look-the-north-face-universal-wawona-3-tent"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/New-TNF-Image3.png?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/New-TNF-Image3.png?fit=4242%2C1972"},"articleSection":"Camp","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sarah Grothjan"}],"creator":["Sarah Grothjan"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["camping","first look"],"dateCreated":"2026-04-14T16:19:07Z","datePublished":"2026-04-14T16:19:07Z","dateModified":"2026-04-14T19:26:02Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"First Look: The North Face Universal Wawona 3 Tent\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/camp\\\/first-look-the-north-face-universal-wawona-3-tent\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/camp\\\/first-look-the-north-face-universal-wawona-3-tent\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/New-TNF-Image3.png?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/New-TNF-Image3.png?fit=4242%2C1972\"},\"articleSection\":\"Camp\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Sarah Grothjan\"}],\"creator\":[\"Sarah Grothjan\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"camping\",\"first look\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2026-04-14T16:19:07Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-14T16:19:07Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-14T19:26:02Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/New-TNF-Image3.png?fit=4242%2C1972","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14208"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=201811"}],"version-history":[{"count":88,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":201924,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201811\/revisions\/201924"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/201829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=201811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=201811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=201811"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=201811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}