REI Wonderland 4 Tent Review

Bottom Line

REI’s Wonderland tent is one of our favorite camping tents for the frontcountry because it feels spacious and luxurious, and it’s super user-friendly. We love that it has giant doors and windows all around for airflow. It also has a near-perfect balance of openness for views and privacy for campground settings. The Wonderland isn’t cheap, but because it’s made with solid materials that will last, we think it’s an awesome value. 

We spent six weeks living in this tent during a cross-country family-of-four road trip to ensure we knew every detail about its performance.

Comfort

The 4P Wonderland has a 75-inch peak height, making it tall enough to stand comfortably, even if you’re 6’3″. Its generous floor dimensions provide plenty of room for a queen-size camping mattress, with space for gear on all sides. The tent’s near-vertical walls maximize usable space all the way to the edges, eliminating the need to stoop. We found the Wonderland 4 to be a great size for two or three adults, or a small family with kids, but a 6-person version is also available for those who need more space.

Durability

The Skyward is an exceptional value considering the good quality of its poles and materials. Closely competing tents are often notably more expensive. You could spend less on a low-quality tent, but tents made with cheap materials may only last for one summer since they’re prone to breaking. In our experience, it’s much better to spend a little more on a longer-lasting tent, like the Skyward, that will be reliable for years to come.

The only part of the tent we felt left a bit to be desired are the zippers. If the tent isn’t set up perfectly square, the door zippers can be a hassle to open and close. Overall, we’d also like to see higher-quality zippers.

Weather Resistance

Any tent of this size and shape will have issues with wind. In the case of the Wonderland 4, wind is mostly a noise issue unless you’re facing 40-50 mph gusts or higher. The tent comes with a total of 18 stakes, which can be a bit of a hassle, but they do help keep the tent securely anchored in inclement weather.

The rainfly offers excellent protection and covers most of the tent, so rain won’t be a concern as long as you use a footprint or ground tarp. The Wonderland also vents surprisingly well, reducing the risk of condensation in cold weather and helping release heat on summer nights.

Ease of Setup

Setting up the Wonderland tent is simple and straightforward, thanks to the color-coding on the poles and pole seats. The triangular hubs on the center poles may take a little getting used to, as they differ from those on a traditional dome tent, but they’re very easy to work with once you get the hang of them.

While setting up the Wonderland is slightly more complicated than pitching a rectangular tent like the REI Skyward, we can still set it up in about ten minutes. Following the instructions sewn into the bag will help you become familiar with the structure, and the process will soon feel intuitive. However, pitching the Wonderland becomes significantly more difficult if there’s more than a light breeze, so having a partner to assist is highly recommended.

Features

Good airflow is essential for keeping your tent fresh, dry, and comfortable, no matter the conditions. The Wonderland excels in this area with a wide-open mesh ceiling and large vents on all sides for excellent breathability. We especially appreciate that the triangular side windows can be opened even with the rainfly on, thanks to its scalloped cut. Even when all doors and windows are zipped during a storm, high mesh ports maintain air circulation. These features make the Wonderland highly adaptable to various locations and weather conditions.

The Wonderland also boasts two large doors, making it incredibly livable for multiple people. You’ll never have to wait to enter or exit, and you can easily access gear from either end. We love that you can unzip the doors for panoramic views from both directions when camping in scenic locations.

Strategically placed mesh pockets provide a tidy solution for stowing the door flaps when unzipped, keeping the fabric securely tucked away. These stash pockets are quicker and more convenient to use than traditional toggles and loops.

Inside, the Wonderland offers large mesh storage pockets that make it easy to organize small items. The pockets are placed both high and low for easy access from the doors or while lying in bed. We found it especially handy to keep essentials like headlamps, phones, and earplugs within arm’s reach at night.

Should You Buy the REI Wonderland 4?

The REI Wonderland is one of the most spacious and practical camping tents on the market. It’s excellent for tall campers and anyone who wants plenty of room to stand, stretch, and move freely in their shelter. We’re big fans of this tent’s open, airy feel and love the big sky views it offers when the fly is off. We recommend the 4P version for couples wanting a luxurious space, and the 6P for groups of 3-4 adults or families with kids. We wouldn’t recommend this tent for those who could be camping in exposed or windy conditions.

What Other Camping Tents Should You Consider?

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 Review: The Aurora Highrise 4 is crafted with high-quality materials and feels more premium than the Wonderland 4. It also provides slightly better livability with its spacious interior and thoughtful design.

The North Face Wawona 6 Review: The Wawona 6 offers more features than the Wonderland 4, including a cavernous vestibule that adds significant space for gear storage or a living area. The price point for the Wawona 6 is comparable to the six-person version of the Wonderland.

Kelty Wireless 6 Review: While not as high-end as the Wonderland, is still a fantastic option and is less than the six-person version of the Wonderland.