The REI Wonderland tent is on sale and worth buying

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When I took up camping a few years ago, choosing a new tent was one of the most daunting tasks. There are an overwhelming number of brands, models, types, sizes, and features, not to mention reviews. The tent is the most critical choice you can make to ensure that every trip is a success. No pressure, right?

I ended up buying a few different tents for different situations, like backpacking and family car camping. But the tent I love the most, and keep choosing to use again and again, is the REI Co-Op Wonderland 4. And right now, along with its sister model Wonderland 6, it’s on rare sale at 50% off for REI members through March 27, making it much more affordable than usual.

A lifetime REI membership is $30, so if you’re not yet a member, you’ll more than offset the one-time cost with tent savings, and enjoy perks like coupons and cash back for literally the rest of your life.

A huge advantage of Wonderland 4 is that I don’t have to crouch. With a maximum height of 75 inches, most people can stand comfortably inside, and the nearly vertical dome walls make it particularly spacious compared to triangle-shaped tents. (I’ve slept here alone and with three kids, and the space has never been less than luxurious.)

The bug net roof allows me to watch the stars from my sleeping bag when I don’t need the rainfly. I love its two massive rounded doors and the clever triangular windows with sealed seams that provide excellent ventilation even when the rainfly is attached. This suit, along with the seam-sealed tub-style floor, kept me totally dry during a recent Florida nighttime deluge that flooded my entire campsite. Wonderland holds up like a champ.

Another advantage of this tent is that it is easy to set up and instructions are sewn into its bag. I can do it myself in about 15 minutes, including the footprint and flysheet, and the color coded poles and tabs mean it’s simple to match which poles go where for quick and easy assembly. simple.

Other handy features include interior storage pockets, a central ceiling light hanging loop, and a carry bag big enough to pack the tent in without swearing.

There’s an optional changing room accessory that’s also 50% off right now – it’s especially handy to have in the rain – as well as a custom footprint that you can fit under the tent to protect the floor and which hooks perfectly into the tent’s color-coded pole system. The changing room works for 4 and 6 person tents.

Here are some promising reviews from other campers who have purchased the Wonderland 4:

“I went on a big trip and used this tent. I was going to be out all day and saw in the middle of the day that my tent site was experiencing 5 hours of high wind warnings, gusting to 50mph. I promised myself that if this tent survived the day I would write a review. When I came back, the tent was still standing like the American 4th of July flag. After sleeping in it all night, enduring the same high winds, I felt like Matt Damon in The Martian when he feared his base would collapse and he would die. The tent held up like a champ and I couldn’t have been happier. Even the locker room accessory survived the attack. Other than that, the tent is just great! Easy to set up, easy to take down, big and roomy enough for my 6’1″ self and (slightly smaller) dad to be totally comfortable. Highly recommend!” — Uh Caleb

“This tent exceeded my expectations. It was very easy to ride, even in the dark the first time. It’s so spacious. Feels very stable. It withstood the rain. I love the side windows. Perfect for stargazing. I can’t say enough about this tent.” —KellyC

“I bought this tent for car camping and it’s great! I took it to Joshua Tree and it was easy to install. I really like how it has two symmetrical faces for multiple entry points. Very roomy for two adults and can fit completely inside. I didn’t need the blanket for the night in the desert and it let in a nice breeze with the beautiful stars. My brother was so impressed he just bought one too. —Jeremy Fricke