REI Co-op Westward 6 Tent Review
The new REI Co-op Westward 6 ($549) is a highly livable, comfort-first tent built for extended family trips and basecamping. Its massive vestibule and tall, roomy interior make it feel more like a two-room shelter than a standard tent, and the quality materials provide solid performance in mild-to-moderate conditions. Ventilation is a minor drawback—especially in the Utah and California heat where we tested it—and our early sample raised some durability questions, but we think the Westward gives category leaders like The North Face Wawona a real run for their money.
Space & Livability
Storage
Weather Protection
Durability & Quality
Ease of Use
Sustainability
Floor dimensions
80.8 sq. ft.
Vestibule Area
35.1 sq. ft.
Peak height
77 in.
Weight
19 lb. 10 oz.
Packed Size
27.6 x 12.4 x 9.1 in.
Capacities
4P, 6P
Number of Pockets
9
Pros
Cons
REI Co-op Westward 6
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Camping Tents.
The REI Co-op Westward 6 is a tent you could easily live out of for long-term camping stints. The rectangular floor measures 120 by 97 inches (80.8 sq. ft.), which puts it firmly in the upper echelon of roomy shelters—just a touch behind standouts like the Zempire Aerospeed 6 Air (86.7 sq ft). In practice, that translates to a very usable footprint: you can fit four 25-inch-wide REI Co-op Westward Dreamer mats inside and still have room for duffel bags and other small pieces of gear. The cabin-like, near-vertical walls and 77-inch peak height also go a long way in making that space feel even more voluminous. At 5 feet 10 inches, I could stand fully upright in the center, and while my head brushed the ceiling near the edges, it never felt restrictive. All of this makes the REI Co-op Westward 6 a comfortable abode for a family of four.
And that’s even before mentioning its crown jewel—the massive vestibule, which functions almost like a second room. It’s big enough for camp furniture and even a bike. Or, if you’re trying to maximize sleeping space, it also works great as a large covered storage area. When it comes to entering and exiting the tent, it features a larger front door that I could walk through with minimal ducking and a smaller rear door that, while requiring more of a hunch, is still easy to use. The rear door is a nice bonus—it’s far more accessible than the tight opening you have to crawl through on The North Face’s Wawona 6.
I’ve spent a lot of time camping in The North Face’s popular Wawona 6, and it was immediately clear that the new Westward 6 shares a number of traits. Nowhere is that more apparent than in its massive front vestibule. At 35.1 square feet, it’s genuinely spacious, and I’ve stored camp chairs, a cooler, a small table, extra gear, and even a mountain bike inside. In other words, it feels more like a covered front porch you can actually live in than the smaller, traditional vestibules found on camping tents like the Kelty Wireless 6 and Aerospeed 6, which can only fit a few duffel bags.
The only mudroom that’s more capacious is, well, the Wawona 6’s, which boasts an even larger 44.7-square-foot footprint. Its design also differs slightly, using dual side entrances that require more crouching, while the Westward 6 opts for a single, taller front entrance that I found slightly easier to use. Its vestibule door can also convert into an awning with a couple of poles, adding even more versatility to the space.
In addition to its foyer, the REI Co-op Westward 6 features nine total pockets: three mesh pockets inside near the front door (including one that doubles as a door stow pocket), four solid internal pockets above the back door, and two exterior mesh pockets near the base of the front door. The pockets are all similarly sized, and they easily swallowed small essentials like my phone, wallet, and headlamp, while still accommodating bulkier items like a book, stuff sack, or camp shoes.
My main gripe is that the internal pockets are all positioned fairly high. I couldn’t reach them while lying in my sleeping bag, which meant sitting up or getting out entirely to grab anything. The Wawona 6 and even the more budget-friendly Wireless 6 include lower pockets that are easier to access from a sleeping position. Rounding things out, the Westward 6 includes several interior hang loops for lights, cords, or a clothesline, a zippered port next to the front door to route a power cord through, and a central ceiling loop for a lantern. Altogether, it’s one of the more comprehensive storage layouts I’ve seen in a camping tent.
The Westward 6 held up well across a range of conditions, though it’s clearly designed with fair-to-moderate weather in mind rather than outright storm performance. I tested it in gusty conditions up to 15 mph in Southern Utah, and overall, it performed confidently. The aluminum poles feel sturdy and high-quality—noticeably more reassuring than the fiberglass poles on budget camping tents like the Wireless 6—and the structure never felt at risk of collapsing or ripping out its stakes. That said, the tall, cabin-style shape with near-vertical walls isn’t as inherently stable as a lower-profile dome, and I did notice the rainfly flapping in the wind. The large vestibule can also act a bit like a parachute in stronger or direct head-on gusts, especially if you’re pitched on softer ground where stakes don’t hold as well.
To combat moisture, it features a hybrid double-wall design—in addition to fully protecting the front, the Westward 6’s rainfly covers the upper mesh portion of the sides and back of the tent body, while the exposed lower fabric panels are treated with PU for added water resistance. I didn’t get full rain during testing, but I did camp through heavy dew and freezing overnight temps at Malibu Creek State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains, which left the tent coated in a thick layer of frost. Despite that, the interior stayed completely dry, and water beaded on the exterior without seeping in once it melted.
If I have one qualm with its weather protection, it’s the lack of ventilation. With the rainfly attached, airflow is limited to the front and rear doors, whereas on the Wawona 6, you can roll back the fly on the sides to expose the mesh top of the tent body for added breathability. On warmer days—like when I camped in the 80s at San Clemente State Beach—the interior quickly turned into a sauna. It’s a relatively small drawback in an otherwise highly livable design, but one worth considering if you often camp in warm climates.
The Westward 6 feels every bit like a premium, comfort-focused tent—with a slight caveat. Right out of the box, everything impressed. The aluminum poles, zippers, grommets, and included stakes all feel notably more robust than what you get with cheaper setups, and the 150-denier polyester floor, along with the 75-denier polyester canopy and rainfly, are among the thickest fabrics I’ve seen on any shelter. Across several nights of camping, including rocky and twig-littered ground in the Southern California mountains and the Southern Utah desert, the floor showed no signs of wear, punctures, or stress. During a couple of those nights, I even placed a camp chair inside without worrying about damaging the floor.
My one concern is the 40-denier mesh. After a few nights, I started noticing some stress marks, including areas where it looked stretched or slightly bunched. Nothing has ripped yet, but it doesn’t inspire quite the same long-term confidence as the rest of the build. It’s worth noting this could be specific to my early sample, especially since it hasn’t come up in other user reviews on the REI product page, but it’s still something to keep in mind. Compared to the The North Face Wawona 6, which uses similarly thick materials but didn’t show the same wear, the Westward 6 falls just slightly behind. Still, taken as a whole, it’s a well-built, durable tent that should hold up to regular use.
There’s a bit of a learning curve with the REI Co-op Westward 6, especially the first time you set it up. The tent body itself is straightforward—color-coded poles match the corresponding sleeves, and once you get those in place and staked down, the structure comes together quickly. The rainfly is where things get a little less intuitive. It’s off-center, which can be confusing if you’re not familiar with this style of tent. That said, REI does a nice job including clear setup instructions printed right on the carry sack, which helped smooth things out.
Once you’ve clipped the rainfly in place and inserted the vestibule pole, the rest of the process is fairly simple: stake everything down, secure the fly to the tent body, attach the rear brow pole, and add guylines if needed. Setting it up solo in the dark at Malibu Creek, I had it fully pitched in about 20 minutes. With two people, the process is noticeably easier—especially when wrangling the large rainfly—and setup dropped closer to the 15-minute mark.
Packing it away is where the Westward 6 really shines. The duffel-style stuff sack has a wide opening that makes it easy to squeeze everything inside without fussing over precise folds or tight rolls, and a compression strap over the top helps keep everything cinched down—resulting in a more compact package than the otherwise similarly designed Wawona 6 stuff sack. That ease of packing proved especially valuable on my cold morning at Malibu Creek. Even with numb, frozen fingers, I had no trouble getting everything stowed. The bag also includes grab handles on both ends, making it easier to haul out of a packed car or storage space. So while the overall setup is a bit more involved, packing it away is one of the simplest processes out there.
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PFAS-Free DWR
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Repair Services
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Resale and/or Recycling Services
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The North Face Wawona 6 ($585): The Blueprint
Easily the closest competitor in design, price, and features to the Westward is the TNF Wawona 6. In terms of space, the Westward 6 offers 5.1 square feet more in the tent’s interior, while the Wawona 6 counters with a 9.6-square-foot larger vestibule. Around back, the Westward 6 features a larger, more usable door for easier in-and-out access. In hot summer conditions, however, the Wawona 6 gets the edge in breathability, with a rainfly that rolls back to expose the mesh body. We also appreciate the low-to-the-ground pockets on the Wawona 6. Still, the Westward 6 will save you $36, making it the better value if you’re set on this style of tent. For more, read our review of the TNF Wawona 6.
REI Co-op Base Camp 6 ($569): For When a Storm Rolls In
If you’re looking for a sturdy yet roomy home base, the REI Co-op Base Camp 6 is up to the task. With a full-coverage rainfly and a domed structure reminiscent of mountaineering tents, it does a better job of shrugging off gusts and heavy rain. In hot conditions, multiple vents—including on the roof and near the floor—provide decent breathability, especially compared to the Westward 6, which relies solely on airflow through its doors. But the Base Camp 6 sacrifices some in space and livability: The Westward 6’s near-vertical walls and 3-inch taller peak height contribute to a more livable interior, not to mention its standout front vestibule. So if you mostly camp in mild summer conditions, the Westward 6 is the more enjoyable choice. As a bonus, you’ll also save $20. For a deeper dive, see our REI Base Camp 6 review.
Spacious, comfortable, and built for extended or gear-heavy trips, the REI Co-op Westward 6 feels more like a two-room basecamp than a traditional tent. It’s not the breeziest or simplest to set up, but for families or campers who prioritize livability, it delivers big.
Space & Livability
Storage
Weather Protection
Durability & Quality
Ease of Use
Sustainability
The North Face Wawona combines near-vertical walls, a massive vestibule, and premium materials for one of the most spacious and livable car camping tents out there. It’s big, burly, and built to last, though its tall profile and heft weight make setup best with two people.
Space & Livability
Storage
Weather Protection
Durability & Quality
Ease of Use
Sustainability
A functional standout among camping tents, the Base Camp offers top-tier weather protection and durability. A tedious setup and a tricky front door zipper take it down a notch, but the Base Camp’s feature-rich build excels for most three-season adventures.
Space & Livability
Storage
Weather Protection
Durability & Quality
Ease of Use
Sustainability
Is the Westward 6 for You?
The REI Co-op Westward 6 makes the most sense for campers who want a premium, spacious tent they can genuinely live in for extended trips. Between the large interior and that massive vestibule, it often feels like you’re getting two rooms in one, and the thoughtfully designed stuff sack makes packing it away far easier than most tents in this category. It’s less appealing if you’re after something quick, simple, or just need a shelter for the occasional overnight—it’s a lot of tent for that. But for longer stays, family camping, or anyone looking to upgrade their camp setup into something more comfortable and livable, it’s an easy recommendation.
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