This Big Agnes Tensleep Station 6 review is about an incredibly versatile top-quality tent for family camping and base camp use. Its main vestibule offers a variety of possible variants and configurations.
Key features and benefits
- Numerous variants and configurations.
- Large vestibules areas.
- Freestanding.
- Great design.
- Numerous storage areas and pockets.
- Very reliable tool.
Note, in 2018 they have launched a green version of this tent, but all the features remain the same, and both tents are on the market. About the green tent see more here.
What type is it
The Big Agnes Tensleep Station 6 tent is a freestanding tool so you can pitch it on any terrain. This means it does not have to be staked out but it is advisable to do whenever possible. The tent is a double-layer type so you have an inner tent plus a full-coverage waterproof rain fly. This is typical for a 3-season tent, but there are exceptions of course.
Who is it for
The weight of this tent is 18 lb 1 oz (8.19 kg), so this can be shared among the users and perhaps the tent can be carried and used as a hiking tool. But ideally, I see it as a camping tent at places with a car access, for families and groups of friends.
The packed size is 5 x 15 x 27 inches (12 x 38 x 68 cm), so it can definitely be transported on a motorbike as well, just to know if you are planning some tour of this type with your friends.
The total floor area is 90 sq ft (8.4 m²), quite a room as you realize, so in the case of 6 people, this gives 1.4 m² per person. Surely, this is enough space per person, and this tent indeed provides enough space for the mentioned number of users; you know well that this is not always so with other tents. Bear in mind also its two vestibules which create 4.5 m² of total extra covered space, so you will have space for gear outside the tent. See the floor plan in the picture above.
This is also a nice option for couples who would like to have some queen size camping bed in the camp. In this case, I would recommend this Coleman Queen size bed.
Observe almost 3 meters width in the central area, so you have a lot space for equipment in the inner tent as well.
Overview
This is a really spacious structure with the peak height of 75 inches (191 cm), with two large doors and two asymmetric vestibules, one oversized front vestibule and a much smaller rear vestibule.
The fly is full-size, it goes all the way to the ground, so you have a complete protection from elements, just see the pictures below, but it can be rolled up exposing mesh walls for an increased ventilation. It is with one vent only, but this can be helped with the windows on the main vestibule, you will see them below. You have velcro tabs that connect the fly to pole structure providing perfect stability.
The webbing and buckles are all color coded, and you have sleeves and clips for the poles setup and the inner tent attachment.
Inside the tent you have a series of huge pockets on the walls, and above the head you have gear loft loops (large trapezoid gear loft can be ordered separately here). Included with the tent are 19 lightweight aluminum hook stakes as well as reflective guy lines and tensioners that are attached to fly.
All this comes stored in a briefcase-style carry bag with shoulder straps and organizational pockets.
The main vestibule
The main vestibule is the best part of this tent. It is oversized, 38.5 sq ft (3.6 m²), big enough for a lot of gear and for several chairs, and it allows for numerous variants which you can see in the images. You will notice that this main vestibule has two mesh windows which are there for extra ventilation and comfort. It allows also for the awning style setup with the help of a pair of poles. See what you can do with it:
Materials
Poles are durable but lightweight aluminum with press fit connectors and you have them four in the package. All are color coded for an easy setup. Three poles are used for the main tent construction, and the fourth is used separately for the main vestibule and you can see it in pictures.
The inner tent is a breathable polyester rip-stop and polyester mesh, so you have very good materials here. The floor is a waterproof polyester with a polyurethane coating, and the fly is a heavy-duty polyester ripstop with polyurethane coating.
Waterproofness rating
The rating for the fly and the floor is the same, 1500 mm, so this is quite typical, good enough. You can compare it with some other tents, like this Kelty Cabin 6 where the rating is 1800 mm. All seams are fully taped with a waterproof, solvent-free polyurethane tape; see here about the meaning of this terminology.
Pros & Cons
Here is my summary:
| Good & Cool | Less good |
|
|
The price
The $390 price at the moment of writing the text is not the best feature of this tent, but I am convinced it is worth the investment.
What users think
This tent has received really great reviews in various sites. On Amazon, the number of reviews is still very limited (no doubt the mentioned price plays a roll here), but it has scored a perfect result, 5.0/5. This is rarely seen. Below is my own rating:
My rating breakdown of the Big Agnes Tensleep Station tent 6 person 3 season
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Area per person - 8.7/108.7/10
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Surface/weight ratio - 8.6/108.6/10
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Packed size - 7.2/107.2/10
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Reliability - 9.3/109.3/10
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Ease of use & features - 9.2/109.2/10
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Price - 8/108/10
Specifications
- Best use: camping.
- Type: free-standing, 3-season.
- Capacity: 6 people.
- Trail weight: 16 lb 14 oz (7.65 kg).
- Packed weight: 18 lb 1 oz (8.19 kg).
- Floor area: 90 sq ft (8.4 m²).
- Vestibules area: 38.5 sq ft (3.6 m²) + 10 sq ft (0.9 m²).
- Packed size: 5 x 15 x 27 in (12 x 38 x 68 cm).
- Peak height: 75 in (191 cm).
- Footprint weight: 1 lb 7 oz (652 g) – not included, you can order it here.
- Doors: 2.
- Poles: 4.
- Included carry bag with shoulder straps.
Big Agnes Tensleep Station Tent vs Kelty Camp Cabin 6
| Kelty Camp Cabin 6 |
Big Agnes Tensleep Station |
|
| Weight, kg | 8.45 | 8.19 |
| Floor area, m² | 7.9 | 8.4 |
| Surface per person, m² | 1.32 | 1.4 |
| Price per person, $* | 44 | 65 |
| Weight per person, kg | 1.41 | 1.36 |
| Peak height, in (cm) | 81.1 (206) | 75 (191) |
| Vestibules area, m² | no | 4.5 |
| Doors | 1 | 2 |
*This is at the moment of writing the text; please follow the links for updates.
The prices at the moment of writing this text are, respectively, $217, 390. So the difference is big, but the same is with respect to features. The vestibules which you have here, and the full-coverage fly offer a lot of useful space and various variants; this is missing in the Kelty’s Camp Cabin tent. I love the Kelty’s tent but must say it is not a close match for this extraordinary Big Agness product.
Summary
To conclude this Big Agnes Tensleep Station 6 review by saying that I am totally impressed with this tent. It is rare to see such a versatile tool of this type. The designers of the tent have done a great job here, and the result is an incredibly functional top-quality tent. I can warmly recommend it to anybody. Expensive? Yes, most certainly so, but this is a quality tool, worth the money.
Thank you for reading. If you need something smaller, please visit my page with tents, you will find many great tools there. Need something smaller from the same brand? Check this Big Agnes Big House 6 Deluxe Tent of the same size and Big Agnes Blacktail 3 with footprint, but above all check this Tensleep Station 4 tent form the same series.
In the case of questions and comments please use the comment box below.
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