Dispersed camping, vehicle-supported overnights and campground stays—whatever your flavor of adventure, our member-favorite REI Co-op Base Camp 4 tent offers a robust shelter in any weather.
Key Details
Sleeping Capacity
4-person
Packaged Weight
17 lbs. 5.6 oz.
Number of Doors
2 doors
Best Use
Camping
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Features
Rugged materials and proven architecture are designed to be highly stable while maximizing interior livability in this full-featured tent
Dead-end pole sleeves and color-coding on poles and sleeves simplify setup, so it's easy to know which one goes where
Compatible with the Base Camp Vehicle Connector (item #227903; not included), which shields you from the sun or drizzle as you move between your vehicle and tent
Nonfluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) helps moisture bead up on the surface of the canopy and rainfly fabric
Wide-mouth door orientation gives all sleepers equal access to the 2 doors—no need to crawl over a tent mate to get in and out
Large doors have solid fabric for privacy and mesh for ventilation; inner doors hang out of the way and can tuck into roof pockets
4 roof vents plus a low side vent improve ventilation, helping control condensation; zippered access allows you to adjust the vents from inside the tent
Large, pole-supported vestibule and a smaller stake-out vestibule provide covered storage front and rear; stake-out loops are large enough to accommodate skis or splitboards
Updated straight-zip vestibule doors offer greater ease and versatility
Multiple pockets and hang loops help organize gear and essentials inside the tent
Reflective trims and detailing help you see your tent at night
Includes a heavy-duty storage sack with shoulder sling, stakes, guylines and tighteners, as well as a pole-repair tube, a pole bag and a stake bag
Solution-dyed mesh reduces both water and energy used in manufacturing
Compatible with REI Co-op Base Camp 4 footprint (item #227901; not included)
REI Co-op brand is certified to The Climate Label; we actively fund efforts to reduce carbon emissions across our business and support climate projects around the world
From feedback to field testing, all of our gear is dialed-in by REI Co-op members. Their adventures informed every stitch and detail—making for better, longer-lasting gear.
Reviews
(191)191 reviews with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars
117 out of 141 (83%) reviewers recommend this product
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Average Customer Ratings
Setup
Very Easy SetupDifficult Setup
Most Helpful Favorable Review
5 Reviews 5 reviews with an average rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Tent!
Scott R
5 years ago
I utilized the reviews on the REI site quite a bit before purchasing my new REI Base Camp 4 Tent so I want to make sure that I give back to the community who helped me make this great purchase.
Net/Net this tent is EXELLENT all the way around!
I had not bought a new tent in probably a decade utilizing for years a Eureka 2-man backpack tent so when I was planning a two week car camping trip out to the SD and CO to take in about 6 National Parks and many state parks it was due time to buy a new and more comfortable tent since weight and size were less the issue. That said, even though this tent is heavier of course than a 2-man backpack tent its not that heavy overall and for the durability that it provides - its really great.
My complements to the REI design team for taking into account everything that those car tent camping would want in a "Base Camp" styled tent: Double door access, High clearance, Easy set up, Quality seams/sewing, Durable zippers, Large vestibule, Many pockets, Excellent rain fly with proper pitch.....just to name a few.
The color coding of the poles is very nice and while not key after you've set it up a few times it is really nice as you don't have to think about it. Set-up took about 15 minutes the first time and then I got it down to about 10 each time thereafter even though speed wasn't really an issue for me, however if it was raining it would be which is why I stated times. A really easy tent to set up with pole pockets/sleeves that are durable and tent poles while really long seem quite durable.
Let's talk about the Rain Fly and how excellent it is! It rained a good amount on my trip - just about every night with some windy and heavy rain conditions up in the mountains. I chose good level ground using my own version of a Footprint (a heavy tarp that is almost identical to the size of the tent), and between the heavy Footprint under my tent and the Rain Fly which is REALLY well build in terms of material and pitch I did not get wet once! Literally, no water in the tent at all with plenty of rain/wet on the fly. Each morning when the sun came out it was dry in a matter of a few hours - I was of course rally pleased with this feature.
From a room perspective, I'm 6' 1" and was able to nearly stand up getting in/out which worked fine for me and I knew in advance I would not have total head clearance. I'm not in and out of the tent all day so for throwing on a pair of shorts/shirt in the morning it worked just great. I would though not say that this is a 4-man tent if you want to be comfortable. I used my inflatable mattress which took up a lot of room but was well worth it (filled it up from the cigarette lighter in my Jeep) so keep that in mind. I guess 4-men if sleeping as sardines, but for comfort/gear I would say this is a really nice 2-man tent. My dog was not with me on this trip and had he been the Vestibule area is ample area that would do great for a dog who might not want the confines of the tent itself however there was plenty of room in there for a large lab.
All in all, a GREAT tent, a GREAT value and I would highly recommend this purchase - you'll really like it as I do and get many, many nights out of it!
5 Reviews 5 reviews with an average rating of 2.0 out of 5 stars
Door Zippers Leave Much to be Desired
travelingjack
2 years ago
Except for the 4 door zippers (2 zippers per door), we really liked the REI Basecamp 4p tent. It’s roomy, easy to set up and take down, and withstands strong winds and rain. The vestibule is terrific for when it’s raining or just to conceal camping gear out of sight. The first door zipper slider failed after about 10 nights, the second after about 30, and the third after about 50 nights. With only one of the 4 door zippers working, REI did provide a refund for the tent. We were informed by REI that tent zippers are a “consumable” item and 50 nights should be considered typical for this tent’s zippers. Zippers were more durable in my previous experience with a variety of tents. While we liked the Basecamp tent a lot, we believe the door zippers just aren’t adequate or durable enough.
My husband and I have used the REI Kingdom 4 for over a decade for car camping and we love this Base Camp 4 even more. Our first night with ha ~25 mph wind, but once we got in the tent it did a fantastic job quieting and blocking the wind so we couldn’t really tell. I think the rainfly material was sturdy but light enough (feels “satin-like”) so that it didn’t make a lot of noise like we’ve experienced with other rainflies.
Putting together the tent requires a bit of paying attention to the 3 different colors of the ends of the poles and into the right colored sleeves. One of the poles (the grey ends) actually go into the rain fly to create a larger vestibule. The larger vestibule was quite nice, particularly since my husband is tall and a tad easier for him to get in and out. The tent stands a tad shorter than my height (5’4) which was fine since we don’t do much standing inside the tent and prefer it not to be too tall to better stand against wind.
Nice amount of pockets in the tent and the extra flaps on the entryways and on the sides to let air in.
Age:35–44
Weight:100–125 lbs.
Height:5'4"
Yes , I recommend this product
Setup
Very Easy SetupDifficult Setup
Helpful?
Jason
Received free product
Texas
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid tent for multi-night car camping
1 year ago
What we've got here is the REI Base Camp 4 tent. It's a pretty roomy, but also pretty heavy duty, tent for an extended stay. This thing seems like it will handle just about any weather that gets thrown at it, with plenty of thoughtful little additions to improve performance and quality of life for those in the tent. Definitely a solid contended for an extended car camping trip, but I definitely wouldn't want to have to carry it very far.
The floor area of the tent is a little bigger than every other 4-person tent I've used -- so will sleep 4 very comfortably. I'd bet you could sleep 5 in it if you stack people in it like most tents use for their size calculations. There's definitely space for a queen sized air mattress, with enough space for other campers or even a small table and a chair or two. Quite the roomy tent.
This tent has doors on both sides, and the rainfly has one "big" vestibule for the main entry, and a smaller one for the side not planned to be used as much. The shape and size of the main vestibule is great for protecting anything you don't want in the tent itself. And the overall shape makes rolling up the door no problem for the elements and to let in some extra breeze. Definitely seems like how this tent interacts with its rainfly was well thought out.
Each corner of the rainfly has a velco pop-up vent which is good for a little more airflow and ventilation. Additionally, inside the tent there are small triangle screen windows/vents to bring in more fresh air. The top half of each door also unzips to a large screen "window" allowing even more ventilation through the tent.
All the pockets and loops to hang gear! There are pockets all over the inside of this tent, equipping it even more for a longer, but stationary, camping trip. Very little space was wasted on the the non-door sides of the tent. There are loop in any of the spots you may want to hang a light or maybe some clothes to dry.
Tent set up was a bit of the pain the first time, but I suppose that the price to pay for a tent this sturdy. The poles are color coded with the tent, which is a nice touch.
However, one odd design choice is how the two main tent poles only slots into the straps on the corner of the tent on one side. On the other side, the poles just sort of sat in a long/deep pocket. This made both tear down more cumbersome than it should be and mating the tent to its specific footprint painful. I think utilizing the rivets that the poles can slot into on all four sides may have been a better choice, especially considering the footprint.
Even with all ventilation on the tent, it still got toasty in the mid-day sun. Which isn't that big of a deal, because that's not when we use a tent... but does have me a bit concerned when I use it in a warmer part of the year.
Two other considerations. One: the bag the tent comes in could be a bit bigger. Nothing ever folds up as nice or small as it does from the factory, and I definitely had to a bit of forcing. Two: two of the small top corner windows/vents in the tent seems to have a bit of a manufacturing quality issues, and the screen is folded/bunched up.
But, all in all, it's a solid tent with some thoughtful touches. Of all the 4-person tents I have, this will likely be the tent of choice for any multi-night car camping trips where having extra space will improve the experience.
Age:35–44
Yes , I recommend this product
Setup
Very Easy SetupDifficult Setup
Helpful?
Seattle Ribes
Received free product
Joshua Tree, CA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome tent, very roomy
1 year ago
This is an overall great tent, it is heavy because it is sturdy. I enjoyed camping in this, unlike my other tents, it was actually fun to hang out inside as the ceiling is high. Two adults and two kids would fit in here. You can fit 3-4 people the short way, but probably not someone over 5'8''. The long way, I think 3 people would be most comfortable. If you are 2 people where one tosses and turns a lot, this would be great as there is so much floor space.
The tent poles are color-coded to match their pockets which was very cool and made it a lot easier to put together. As someone that camps in hotter places I liked that the tent still has privacy even with the rain fly taken off. The multiple vents were great for getting air flow going. The air flow is not great with the rain fly on, but it stands up to rain, which is preferred. This tent is technically freestanding, but I would not camp in it in windy conditions without staking it down.
I had a few things that I would like changed in the future. One is that the tent poles must slide into the pocket in a certain orientation; the round end must go in first. For ease of setup in windy or low light conditions, I would prefer that both ends of the poles were the same. The other is that the door is not that easy to zip one-handed, not a big deal but a nice feature. Lastly, the tent poles seem sturdy but I wonder about the elastic cord inside of them holding up over time. A very well-made tent though, with nice reinforced fabric and generous pole quantity, so these things would not deter me from using it.
Age:35–44
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'4"
Yes , I recommend this product
Setup
Very Easy SetupDifficult Setup
Helpful?
JessA
Received free product
Arizona
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Car Camping Tent
1 year ago
Wow, I really love this tent. I've been camping since I was a kid and have hand many kinds of tents and as far as car camping tents go, this is a great one. The designers of this tent really thought about all the little things you need, especially when camping with a family. The tent has many features, my favorite among them is the many pockets that line the wall of the tent, giving you a place to put car keys, glasses, flashlights, and anything else that wanders into the tent with you. We especially like the two ventilation zippers, so often tents have ventilation, but it is only around the top of the tent and not lower where you may want it on a warm night.
Additionally they really thought of everything with the fly, while we typically leave the fly off when camping (weather permitting), I love the extra storage space you get in front and the the back of portion of the fly between the tent and the outer wall of the fly. The fly design make so much sense with the entrance zippers on the side, it significantly helped break the wind, the first time we set this tent up was in wind with 15 mph gusts and it did great.
My only complaints is that the tent is heavy, among all my tents it is the heaviest and generally I prefer a lighter tent, but the weight shouldn't be much of an issue if you are car camping.
It took about 10 minutes for two people to set up the tent, and about the same amount of time to pack up.
Height:5'1"
Yes , I recommend this product
Setup
Very Easy SetupDifficult Setup
Helpful?
Bill
Albuquerque, NM
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Goes Anywhere
4 years ago
When I say I love camping that means I’ll camp 3 out of 4 weeks from April through October. Usually above 8500’; late snow to summer hail storms. At Red River, NM this July, monsoon season, it rained 12 out of 14 days - dry and snug. Twice last year north of Santa Fe hail then rain. No problem. For set up a 7’x9’ heavy duty tarp for ground cover under - inside a 6’x8’ blue tarp floor liner, 84”x40” heavy-duty cot with 3.5” self-inflating insulated pad same size 84”x40”. I use an overhead 16’x24’ tarp tied between trees for weather protection and shade. 150 days in 2019. COVID year 2020 June 15th through October 15 - 120 days in this tent.
Age:65–74
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Yes , I recommend this product
Setup
Very Easy SetupDifficult Setup
Helpful?
sungirl0073
Seattle, WA
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
Decent tent for car camping
2 years ago
So far I've just set up in the yard. The poles are pre-bent so I wonder if some just didn't realize this thinking they bent them. I bought this for car camping with my two pups. Things I love would be the two small window/vents on the sides at ground level as they give my pups the ability to see out before I put on the rainfly. I also love the extra large front vestibule with the extra support. nice for when you want to sit in your tent with the door open keeping you protected. One thing I did notice is that there is no way to tie back or secure the door when open. Hope they visit this. The tent itself is durable, but the poles do feel a bit un-sturdy. They would come undone while pulling out to break down. Overall, I think it will work well so decided to keep.
Age:45–54
Weight:100–125 lbs.
Height:5'3"
Yes , I recommend this product
Setup
Very Easy SetupDifficult Setup
Helpful?
Scott R
Chicago
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Tent!
5 years ago
I utilized the reviews on the REI site quite a bit before purchasing my new REI Base Camp 4 Tent so I want to make sure that I give back to the community who helped me make this great purchase.
Net/Net this tent is EXELLENT all the way around!
I had not bought a new tent in probably a decade utilizing for years a Eureka 2-man backpack tent so when I was planning a two week car camping trip out to the SD and CO to take in about 6 National Parks and many state parks it was due time to buy a new and more comfortable tent since weight and size were less the issue. That said, even though this tent is heavier of course than a 2-man backpack tent its not that heavy overall and for the durability that it provides - its really great.
My complements to the REI design team for taking into account everything that those car tent camping would want in a "Base Camp" styled tent: Double door access, High clearance, Easy set up, Quality seams/sewing, Durable zippers, Large vestibule, Many pockets, Excellent rain fly with proper pitch.....just to name a few.
The color coding of the poles is very nice and while not key after you've set it up a few times it is really nice as you don't have to think about it. Set-up took about 15 minutes the first time and then I got it down to about 10 each time thereafter even though speed wasn't really an issue for me, however if it was raining it would be which is why I stated times. A really easy tent to set up with pole pockets/sleeves that are durable and tent poles while really long seem quite durable.
Let's talk about the Rain Fly and how excellent it is! It rained a good amount on my trip - just about every night with some windy and heavy rain conditions up in the mountains. I chose good level ground using my own version of a Footprint (a heavy tarp that is almost identical to the size of the tent), and between the heavy Footprint under my tent and the Rain Fly which is REALLY well build in terms of material and pitch I did not get wet once! Literally, no water in the tent at all with plenty of rain/wet on the fly. Each morning when the sun came out it was dry in a matter of a few hours - I was of course rally pleased with this feature.
From a room perspective, I'm 6' 1" and was able to nearly stand up getting in/out which worked fine for me and I knew in advance I would not have total head clearance. I'm not in and out of the tent all day so for throwing on a pair of shorts/shirt in the morning it worked just great. I would though not say that this is a 4-man tent if you want to be comfortable. I used my inflatable mattress which took up a lot of room but was well worth it (filled it up from the cigarette lighter in my Jeep) so keep that in mind. I guess 4-men if sleeping as sardines, but for comfort/gear I would say this is a really nice 2-man tent. My dog was not with me on this trip and had he been the Vestibule area is ample area that would do great for a dog who might not want the confines of the tent itself however there was plenty of room in there for a large lab.
All in all, a GREAT tent, a GREAT value and I would highly recommend this purchase - you'll really like it as I do and get many, many nights out of it!
Yes , I recommend this product
Helpful?
GBrio
Received free product
Orange County
Rated 3.0 out of 5 stars
Quick and Easy Set Up
1 year ago
This is the perfect small tent to pack for a quick weekend getaway. It doesn’t take up much room in the car and everything is packaged in a carry bag. The bag has the instructions sewn into the bag therefore not risking losing the instructions. Set up took fifteen minutes to get everything together. And was self explanatory. The rods were easy to thread and took two people to thread through. The tent is spacious for 3 adults comfortably and will hold four but with little room to move. The tent keeps the heat in nicely and will deflect the wind. It has several windows to open for fresh air. Overall I would highly recommend this tent.
Weight:100–125 lbs.
Height:5'0"
Yes , I recommend this product
Setup
Very Easy SetupDifficult Setup
Helpful?
Cyndi
Arizona
Rated 3.0 out of 5 stars
Could be perfect, but...
4 years ago
Lots of room, but hard to set up. Poles bend too easy which put pressure on the zipper and damages it. If they change that one design flaw and use the hook system instead of the poles going through the slots, it would be a perfect tent.
Age:55–64
Weight:100–125 lbs.
Height:5'2"
Yes , I recommend this product
Setup
Very Easy SetupDifficult Setup
Helpful?
Frigate
Florida
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
Weatherproof
3 years ago
Very Weatherproof Tent. Great Ventilation options - I think we have over 50 nights in this tent over the last 2 years and have never had a condensation issue, even in foggy mornings or in a passing cloud at 5000ft in NC.
Tent bag - throw away and use a roll top dry bag 45-55L. Much easer to pack up.
Contrary to a couple reviews I find the fly is substantially durable. We aren't afraid of weather when we camp and has held up to multiple cold fronts in NC and FL while blowing 20-30mph. We have hardly needed to use the guy lines when pitched properly and symmetrically. A cris-cross interior guyline and proper use of exterior guylines, this tent has hardly budged in stormy weather.
Poles - all of our poles have a slight bend from normal use. Nothing that hinders the performance of the tent. Sometimes the poles do catch while sliding through the sleeves, but nothing to fuss over. Erecting the main poles is a little easier with a friend albeit.
Vestibule is very nice to have, as well as the half mesh doors when ventilated. It would be nice however if the vestibule had a little bit more footprint to it for gear storage, "basecamping tent" screams bring all your gear.
Shown below is with a double wide sleeping pad in the middle for size ref. Perfect for 2 people car camping for extended periods.
Would love for the next model to have less of a hi vis color scheme (but hey basecamp, great for visibility when afar) and more vestibule space. Will be purchasing the 6 in the future for more standing height. 5 stars if more guylines and stakes were provided with purchase and if tension didn't allow the zippers to stick at bottom corners.
