The REI Co-op Skyward 4 Tent is tall and pleasant with its steep walls, two windows and a large vestibule, and supported with quality aluminum poles.
Key features & benefits
- Dome type tent.
- Aluminum poles.
- One door.
- One vestibule.
- 2 Windows.
- Tall tent.
What this REI Co-op Skyward 4 Tent is about
This is a tent from their new series of two tents that also includes a 6-person version. It can be described as a dome style tent because it is supported by two X-crossed poles.
But the poles are pre-bent and the sides walls are very steep as you see in the picture below that shows the tent without the fly. So you have a shape that is close to a cabin tent.
Note also that it is very tall for its overall size, so it is with lots of head space and pleasant, the peak height is 78 inches (198 cm). From the picture above you realize that its vestibule is a part of its canopy and not created by the fly.
Below you can see how the tent looks when the vestibule is in place, and with the fly on. So the fly is a partial-coverage type and it protects only the top of the canopy where there is a lot of mesh.
They describe it as freestanding but this is not so, the vestibule must be staked down properly to be functional. The tent has only one but large D-shaped door shown in the picture below. It has a mesh section in the upper part.
On the rear side there is a double-layer window with mesh and a zippered panel, you can see it here:
Materials
The poles: There are two of them for the dome plus one short pole above the door, and this is aluminum. On the canopy you have clips for attachment, and long sleeves on the top.
The fabric: The floor is a strong 150D coated polyester and it is bathtub style. The fly is moderately durable 75D coated polyester. They do not provide waterproof rating, as usual for REI. The mesh is nylon.
Ventilation
You have seen two mesh windows on the opposite side, and the ceiling is almost all mesh. This all looks good, but there are no floor vents, pity.
Other features
- Multiple pockets, high and low, for convenient storage.
- Gear loops for attaching lights.
- A heavy-duty carry bag is included.
- Separate stuff sacks for poles and stakes,.
- 10 Stakes.
- 4 Reflective guy lines with tighteners.
- A pole-repair sleeve.
- Footprint available, sold separately.
Who is it for
Regarding the best use & climate, they describe it as a 3-season tent and I would say this is indeed so. But note that the tent is very tall and the partial coverage fly is such that I would avoid very windy places.
Regarding the size, you have an inner area of 60.3 ft² (5.6 m²), so for 4 people this is not much. But the vestibule adds 19.5 ft² (1.8 m²) of the covered space to store you gear. So my overall rating for this is very good.
Regarding the weight, the tent is on the heavy side with its 13 lb 11 oz (6.2 kg). They give the trail weight as well, but this is irrelevant for such a tent which is designed for car camping. The packed size (L x D) 27.5 x 9.8 inches (70 x 25 cm) can be described as good.
Regarding the price, you will see it in the link below. It is a bit steep but this is a quality tent.
Specifications
- Official capacity: 4 people.
- Weight: 13 lb 11 oz (6.2 kg).
- Floor dimensions (L x W): 100 x 87 in (254 x 221 cm).
- Floor area: 60.3 ft² (5.6 m²).
- Vestibule area: 19.5 ft² (1.8 m²).
- Packed size (L x D): 27.5 x 9.8 in (70 x 25 cm).
- Peak height: 78 in (198 cm).
Final thoughts & rating
In summary, this REI Co-op Skyward 4 Tent looks really great with its steep walls and its unique vestibule which is a part of the canopy and not created by the fly, and it adds a useful protected space for gear.
The inner area is a bit small for 4 users but you can place 4 sleeping pads inside. You have quality aluminum poles. I have included it in my list of best 4 person tent for car camping.
Below you can see how I rate it against my usual rating criteria so that you can easily compare it with other items of this type:
REI Co-op Skyward 4 Tent
Pros
- Aluminum poles.
- Very tall.
- Large vestibule.
Cons
- Expensive.
- No floor vents.
BEST PLACEs TO BUY
For more options, please check under the category Tents for 4 People. You might want to compare it with their REI Base Camp 4 Tent which has the same floor area but a much larger vestibule space.
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