Hey folks - I've just updated my tent categories to a new and improved scoring system, thanks to some useful feedback from viewers. Here's what the updated scores looks like: New REI Wonderland 6 Overall Score: 7.14 (out of 10) New category scores: 1. Setup: 2 (out of 10) 2. Living space: 7 (out of 10) 3. Waterproofing: 9 (out of 10) 4. Wind resistance: 7 (out of 10) 5. Ventilation: 9 (out of 10) 6. Build quality: 9 (out of 10) 7. Features: 7.5 (out of 10)
I also have the Wonderland 6, and I want to provide some feedback regarding the setup: I also initially set it up the way you mention - the two doorframe poles, the top pole, and then the middle support poles - and it was REALLY difficult! However, after doing the unthinkable and reading the instructions on the inside of the stuff sack, it was much easier! The instructions say to do it in this order - one of the door frame poles, the top pole, the middle support poles, and then the last door frame pole. While it's still definitely a two-person job, a helper and I are now able to get it up (and down) very quickly and easily. For reference, last time we used it, I think it took me longer to hammer the stakes into the hard ground than to get the tent up!
Hey Mark - thanks for the note. That’s definitely good to know, and the process you described does sound easier. I do think it’s still fair to say that it’s more complex to setup than a lot of other tents of this size. However, if done in the right sequence, I can see it being a lot more manageable than what I did in this video.
Yea I just bought this tent as well, it wasn’t difficult at all, actually quite easy if u follow the instructions in the stuff sack. It very easy to set up in my opinion
For the stakes I read the other day comment on another tent review and they said 10” lag bolts with washers and a cordless drill/impact Will be trying this next season
Great review! Ten very important criteria. I’m glad you included #10. This point may not be important for families that have a lot of packing space, - but it is VERY important for families with limited packing space - Such as large families and those driving small cars. While it may require more packing space than other 6P dome tents, it fits in small cars better than most cabin, umbrella, and instant tents. I subscribed.
Great reviewing and vid work. I was ready to jump until I considered storage spaces, lack of privacy w/o the fly, and lack of shade without the fly. The mud room might work w/ that tho. Maybe.
You keep breaking my heart when you talk about how good the REI base camp is. They discontinued that model and my was destroyed when my house burnt down a month ago. I miss my Basecamp 6 and 8 already. Probably going to end up getting this one at some point. It looks like the ventilation is good which is a necessity for summer camping in Florida. Thanks for the review.
Hey - I’ve got good news for you! I think REI was just temporarily out of stock on the Base Camp. I just checked online and it’s available right now. It also happens to be going for 30% off at the moment!
@@littlecampfires You are correct. I was confusing my self. I had the kingdom 6 and 8. Which has been replaced by the wonderland series of tents. Not sure how I messed that up lol. Thanks for replying
I like your review. I was about to order this when I read the comments on REI site. Loaded with "broke" poles and leaking seams. Several broke poles on first use or setting up in back yard. I think i'll keep looking for a new family tent. Was your review sponsored? (did rei provide the tent free or on loan?)
Hey Ace - I’m not sure actually. I tested with a queen size and a sleeping pad that I believed is just under the size of a double bed, and those both fit. If I had to guess, I think you could fit 2 queen size air mattresses, but that you wouldn’t have much space to spare. For reference see video timestamp 5:29 to see how it looks with a queen size air mattress and the Exped Duo sleeping pad side by side.
I bought this tent to replace an REI hobitat 4 tent that has to be at least 13 years old. I put this together in the backyard just to try it out and found it very easy to put together if you follow the instructions on the inside of the sack. My one concern about this design are the plastic pucks used in the y section of the middle poles. I called REI to see if I can buy spares but they don't offer them for sale. Does anyone have any experience with tents that use this design? How well do these plastic pieces hold up?
Those pucks are why I passed on it. A crossing pole would make for a better design. I went with the Big Agnes bunkhouse 8. I was not really impressed with its design. But it is roomy! Ventilation is an issue.
Thanks for taking the time to make a note of that here. I’m on the fence about this tent. Would actually prefer the TNF Winona but can’t stand the orange, orange, orange. A sigh.
our family of three have this and we all love it we use it with an inflatable king size bd and still have space for chairs lamps, and our gear - eventually when our girl grows we will change this setup but for now it's great. in terms of setting up we don't have as much trouble as you in this review mainly because we install the thinker center pole first, then leave the tent on the ground while we insert all the other poles; then we proceed with installing one of the two door poles, then the middle two parts pole and finally the other door's pole. If you insert them all while the tent is still on the ground, the setup becomes as easy as it gets. We have the mud room but we don't like it so I'll build something better to replace it. Good review - we love our wonderland sans the mud room!!!
Hey Joe - good catch. That was a brain flub on my part. It’s actually 100 square feet. Thanks for the correction, I’ll pin it so other people can see it here.
@@littlecampfires I think the flub was actually in saying "feet" instead of "inches". The actual dimension is 1000 sq inches (100" x 100") which is 69.4 sq ft
That tent is only 83.3 square feet. How do you think that the eureka is 1200 square feet. How bad are you at math? Also if you put all the poles through the sleeves before attempting to stand up the tent, you can have it up in 15 minutes. I put a kingdome 8 up yesterday in 15 minutes. You should really do more research and get your facts straight before reviewing gear.
![DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO - Fused Warriors Trailer [BUDOKAI TENKAICHI Series]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/84p4Lvyfyes/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey folks - I've just updated my tent categories to a new and improved scoring system, thanks to some useful feedback from viewers. Here's what the updated scores looks like:
New REI Wonderland 6 Overall Score: 7.14 (out of 10)
New category scores:
1. Setup: 2 (out of 10)
2. Living space: 7 (out of 10)
3. Waterproofing: 9 (out of 10)
4. Wind resistance: 7 (out of 10)
5. Ventilation: 9 (out of 10)
6. Build quality: 9 (out of 10)
7. Features: 7.5 (out of 10)
I also have the Wonderland 6, and I want to provide some feedback regarding the setup: I also initially set it up the way you mention - the two doorframe poles, the top pole, and then the middle support poles - and it was REALLY difficult! However, after doing the unthinkable and reading the instructions on the inside of the stuff sack, it was much easier!
The instructions say to do it in this order - one of the door frame poles, the top pole, the middle support poles, and then the last door frame pole. While it's still definitely a two-person job, a helper and I are now able to get it up (and down) very quickly and easily. For reference, last time we used it, I think it took me longer to hammer the stakes into the hard ground than to get the tent up!
Hey Mark - thanks for the note. That’s definitely good to know, and the process you described does sound easier.
I do think it’s still fair to say that it’s more complex to setup than a lot of other tents of this size. However, if done in the right sequence, I can see it being a lot more manageable than what I did in this video.
Yea I just bought this tent as well, it wasn’t difficult at all, actually quite easy if u follow the instructions in the stuff sack. It very easy to set up in my opinion
For the stakes I read the other day comment on another tent review and they said 10” lag bolts with washers and a cordless drill/impact
Will be trying this next season
Great review! Ten very important criteria. I’m glad you included #10. This point may not be important for families that have a lot of packing space, - but it is VERY important for families with limited packing space - Such as large families and those driving small cars. While it may require more packing space than other 6P dome tents, it fits in small cars better than most cabin, umbrella, and instant tents. I subscribed.
Thanks! BTW - I think I’ve watched your campsite setup video :)
Great review. Found what I was looking for!
1200 square feet? that’s bigger than my apartment!
Yep, lol
Excellent work, and I appreciate you sharing how you rate each tent.
Thanks - you can credit the rating system to my love of spreadsheets :)
The Doug DeMuro of Camping. Always a fantastic review.
Great reviewing and vid work. I was ready to jump until I considered storage spaces, lack of privacy w/o the fly, and lack of shade without the fly. The mud room might work w/ that tho. Maybe.
You keep breaking my heart when you talk about how good the REI base camp is. They discontinued that model and my was destroyed when my house burnt down a month ago. I miss my Basecamp 6 and 8 already. Probably going to end up getting this one at some point. It looks like the ventilation is good which is a necessity for summer camping in Florida.
Thanks for the review.
Hey - I’ve got good news for you! I think REI was just temporarily out of stock on the Base Camp. I just checked online and it’s available right now. It also happens to be going for 30% off at the moment!
@@littlecampfires
You are correct. I was confusing my self. I had the kingdom 6 and 8. Which has been replaced by the wonderland series of tents. Not sure how I messed that up lol.
Thanks for replying
Ah - gotcha. No worries!
Awesome review! We own a kingdom 8, any idea if the wonderlands mod room is backward compatible with the kingdom 8?
That depends what “backward” means. But, REI specifically notes that the mud room it is Not compatible w/ the Kingdom tents.
I like your review. I was about to order this when I read the comments on REI site. Loaded with "broke" poles and leaking seams. Several broke poles on first use or setting up in back yard. I think i'll keep looking for a new family tent. Was your review sponsored? (did rei provide the tent free or on loan?)
Check out vango or outwell tents. You will not be disappointed.
I need a tent that is "EZ" to setup in very windy beach conditions. Gust are frequently 25-50MPH at the PINS.
TNF Winona?
Can 2 queen size air mattresses fit easily with enough space left for other things?
Hey Ace - I’m not sure actually. I tested with a queen size and a sleeping pad that I believed is just under the size of a double bed, and those both fit.
If I had to guess, I think you could fit 2 queen size air mattresses, but that you wouldn’t have much space to spare.
For reference see video timestamp 5:29 to see how it looks with a queen size air mattress and the Exped Duo sleeping pad side by side.
I bought this tent to replace an REI hobitat 4 tent that has to be at least 13 years old. I put this together in the backyard just to try it out and found it very easy to put together if you follow the instructions on the inside of the sack.
My one concern about this design are the plastic pucks used in the y section of the middle poles. I called REI to see if I can buy spares but they don't offer them for sale.
Does anyone have any experience with tents that use this design? How well do these plastic pieces hold up?
Those pucks are why I passed on it. A crossing pole would make for a better design. I went with the Big Agnes bunkhouse 8. I was not really impressed with its design. But it is roomy! Ventilation is an issue.
Thanks for taking the time to make a note of that here. I’m on the fence about this tent. Would actually prefer the TNF Winona but can’t stand the orange, orange, orange. A sigh.
our family of three have this and we all love it we use it with an inflatable king size bd and still have space for chairs lamps, and our gear - eventually when our girl grows we will change this setup but for now it's great. in terms of setting up we don't have as much trouble as you in this review mainly because we install the thinker center pole first, then leave the tent on the ground while we insert all the other poles; then we proceed with installing one of the two door poles, then the middle two parts pole and finally the other door's pole. If you insert them all while the tent is still on the ground, the setup becomes as easy as it gets. We have the mud room but we don't like it so I'll build something better to replace it. Good review - we love our wonderland sans the mud room!!!
1000 square feet doesn't sound right.
Hey Joe - good catch. That was a brain flub on my part. It’s actually 100 square feet. Thanks for the correction, I’ll pin it so other people can see it here.
Word. Good videos btw. No fluff just down and dirty info. Came for the firewood. Stayed for the other stuff.🤙🏾
@@littlecampfires I think the flub was actually in saying "feet" instead of "inches". The actual dimension is 1000 sq inches (100" x 100") which is 69.4 sq ft
Set up is much easier than he explained! Just follow their instructions that come sewn inside the carry bag!
Watch the LaRoseBros review to see two children set up this tent correctly. Lol
Thats not 1200 sq ft. You meant inch
That doesn't look like a 1,000 sq ft @ 2:40
just went up in price to 500.00
Great videos! But I don’t think your square footage is accurate. 1000 sq’ would be 10’x100’
Check your math please. Square feet of floor space is 100sf, not 1000sf.
Den-yeah. Haha.
Good review but you might want to check your math.
That tent is only 83.3 square feet. How do you think that the eureka is 1200 square feet. How bad are you at math? Also if you put all the poles through the sleeves before attempting to stand up the tent, you can have it up in 15 minutes. I put a kingdome 8 up yesterday in 15 minutes. You should really do more research and get your facts straight before reviewing gear.
Yes. Still, roomy, no way it would fit in my living room. lol