REI Co-op  Westward 6 Tent

I recently picked up the REI Co-op Westward 6 tent and had the chance to put it through its paces on a four-day camping trip in breezy conditions and it did not disappoint. The first thing that stood out is how spacious this tent is. There’s plenty of room to spread out, making it a great option for families or anyone who just doesn’t enjoy playing gear Tetris at bedtime. From a design standpoint, it’s clear a lot of thought went into the details. The storage pockets are well-placed, and the tent comes with ample stakes and guylines, which really came in handy when the wind picked up. Paired with the aluminum poles, the structure felt solid and dependable the entire trip. Setup was refreshingly simple thanks to color-coded poles and attachment points. No guessing, no frustration, just a quick and smooth process. One of my favorite features is the large screen roof and oversized windows. It makes airflow excellent, but more importantly, it turns the tent into a perfect spot for stargazing before drifting off to sleep. That alone elevates the whole camping experience. And a small but appreciated bonus. I was surprised how well the color blends beautifully into natural surroundings, especially among aspens, which made the whole campsite feel even more dialed into the environment. Bottom line: This is a well-built, thoughtfully designed tent that handles wind well, sets up easily, and makes camping more comfortable and enjoyable. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a roomy, durable shelter with a lot of features that make life in camp easy.

Brought this along to a weekend trip to Half Moon Bay, CA. Temperatures were about high 50s to low 70s (13C-20C) those days. Although we pitched it right on the sand directly in the sun, ambient temps inside never felt unbearable even with the rain-fly attached. Rain-fly doubles as a small awning for the rear door, and a full stand-uppable vestibule for the front that has about 2/3rds the square feet as the interior. Door of the vestibule has two zips and there are two doors for the interior of the tent Basically sets up like any other tent you have had before with two cross poles going from corner to corner. As mentioned previously, the rain-fly doubles as a rear awning and vestibule which are held up by their own poles (one for the awning, two for the vestibule). Does also come with tie downs for wind, but even with the strong-ish cross wind on the beach the tent was holding quite sturdy with just the stakes it came with (steel stakes, not aluminum). All in all very impressed with this tent! I have only ever owned personal sized tents before this with the largest being a 5 person and well all know those estimates are for people sleeping like they are in a package of hotdogs. Although I was extremely comfortable with just two people, I would imagine the advertised six would have no real issues with space in this thing. The only caveats I had with it was that the interior pockets were too high if you are lying down. I usually like keeping my phone, wallet, keys, and important stuff in those pockets so they are within reach when I lie down or wake up. With the way they are set up at the moment I have to get up and leave the comfort of my sleeping bag to obtain anything in the morning. Also, the storage bag, while I appreciate its water resistant texture, collects sand easily and becomes hard to clean. Cannot wait for more adventures with this thing!

The REI Co-op Westward 6 Tent is a good small group or family camping 3 season tent. Like most tents, when it says sleeps 6, it is a cozy 6. The floor dimensions of 8'x10' means that there is room to move from the middle of the tent to the door without having to crawl over someone else (see photo). The 78" headroom in the middle means you can do it standing up. With storm closure screens on both ends and a large mesh inside ceiling, there is good ventilation, even on the 90 degree day I set it up (see photo). The rain fly looks to come down the sides far enough for protection of the mesh ceiling, except maybe in extreme wind storms. The vestibule is spacious with 6' of depth, enough room for a fair amount of gear and dirty shoes. The inside storage pockets to the sides of the vestibule entrance are helpful, as is the hanging strap in the center of the ceiling. I appreciate how the floor material comes well up the sides to the seams for better ground water protection. The set up instructions on the inside of the storage bag were clear. Initial setup (first time) only took about 20 minutes alone to be weather ready. I expect that with a little practice this could easily be 5 minutes or less with two people. There are only 4 sets of poles used, all with elastic interior cords to keep them together. The stakes provided seem sturdy and long enough for a tent this size. There were a few things I found less than ideal, but none are deal breakers. The three pole sets are marked with a different color to make them easily identifiable (1 set of 2 for the tent and 2 for the fly), except the instructions called for one of the rain fly sets to be marked brown, it was just aluminum colored. The vestibule does not come fully to the ground, which could allow rain to blow under (see photo). A ground cover that extended upward could keep things dry. The vestibule also does not overlap the front of the tent completely, again allowing for potential water intrusion (see photo). I will say, the rain fly tie down system is interesting. It does seem to work for light to moderate wind, but I would add a few more stakes to my set and tie each individually to its own stake for better wind resistance. Overall, for a family or small group car camping tent, the REI Co-op Westward 6 tent will get the job done with comfort.

I love the vestibule pole lift idea for easy entry, especially on chill camp days (no wind/rain). I also like the open stuff sack - no need to stuff into a small dinner plate sized hole. Packing up is way easier with an opening as large as two 1980’s over the shoulder camcorders. Just plop and synch the cord and go home. The color, detailed with pockets, size for ample vertical posturing, and the pass through electrical cord (or blood tube for vampires) makes this tent just as amazing as those I’ve seen for $40-60 bucks more. Nice work REI.