Thanks for the video, I watched it again after using our Wawona 6 a few times. My thoughts: #1.. Respect the dew point. Everyone checks the weather before camping, but also focus on the temps, dew point and humidity % when using this tent. On our last night (thankfully) everything was dry and a comfortable 70F around 8pm, by 10pm all of the bedding felt soaked, as if a cloud pushed right through all that mesh. I've camped a lot in my 5+ decades and I've never had my stuff feel like it was just laying out in the grass as it did inside this Wawona. The walls were soaked inside and out before we ever climbed in. At this size/weight and intended (car) use *all* doors should have a secondary solid zipper door to block mass air movement, the vestibule doors just don't cut it. Humidity/condensation aside.. - It works great with 2 queen size air mattresses, room to spare near the door, far more comfortable (and thermally insulating) than those pad things.. its a massive car camping tent, so why not go the mattress route. - Its fairly easy to put up, but don't site plan with "I think it'll fit over there".. it won't. Pace/measure first. - Its a pain to fold up. Simple as that. - Its a pain to spread out at home for drying, you think its big outside.. try opening/airing it out in the house after a wet night. - Put a tarp under the vestibule area.. the little door mat thing is kinda useless if not staked down because it blows around/wads up, and if its staked down it trips people.. its lose/lose, use a tarp under the whole area. Overall, its layout is pretty awesome, but I'm not at all a fan of the single-wall. It is after all a 6 person tent, there should be someone else around to help drape the fly over this beast, and it'd work wonders for condensation control and keeping settling dew at bay. I like it, but its my first and last single-wall tent of any size. My best advise to everyone not backpacking 10+ miles and camping in the 90F 90% humidity dead of summer.. regardless of tent size or season, is to get a 3+ or 4 season tent with lots of mesh and secondary closure panels - They're built better, more durable, wont fail/leak in any (normal) summer storm. Keeping those cool is all about the wind, check the forecast wind direction and pitch it in a place with some airflow and rotate the tent so that vestibules can be used to capture airflow forcing it through a 4 season tent that'd otherwise be smoking hot. Just my 2 cents after using a North Face Nebula several times per year for 20 years.
Thanks for this review, it's the only one existing on CZcams for this tent. Based on many written reviews as well as this video, I've purchased this tent, the footprint and an exped duo +lw for my wife and I. We have an older Westwind 8 from Cabela's that we've worn out. I also am tired of dealing with a separate fly. It's interesting that so many people have the impression that the mesh doors are a downside of the tent. Our previous tent was so stuffy, in really warm summer days it was close to unbearable. I say the more ventilation, the better. This tent will be a huge upgrade for us. Now we just need to wait for spring! Thanks again for the review.
I’ve had the waking 6 for a few years now. Gotta say, my wife and I got caught in tornado conditions, the wind at our campsite was almost 50 mph. I had it more then adequately tied down of course and it handled the winds beautifully! But as with all tents you MUST secure the tent well. I have special spiral stakes that really held their ground.
Heard some people had some issues setting it up on their first try. No instructions makes it a little tricky. My 16 year old daughter noticed the sleeves and the anchor points match the pole colors. Hope that helps everyone. Took us about 20 minutes on our first try. Pretty easy. We love the tent
Mike is right about all the points with this tent. I took mine camping in Yellowstone. Cannot overstate this enough. This is a hot weather tent. You can offset the cold with a propane heater. But the tent is breezy inside. Also we got rained on and it was water tight. Another thing to remember is this thing is MASSIVE. Setup is easy though. So I would use this as a base camp tent. In retrospect I would buy it again.
Does look awfully breezy. Great for hot weather camping, but if it rains, and is cold, I'd bring a cloth shower curtain for the back door area. You could attach it with clips. Just a thought. Love the color. Nice & cheerful.
Just got my wawona 6 from REI. Also got the way overpriced footprint. Very nice. Set it up in the backyard for a couple of days to see how it held up in some wind and rain we got. Only minor complaint was the rear vestibule popped off the stakes in the wind. Can’t wait to take it out for real.
I appreciated the review! Thanks for taking the time to walk us through this. Going back and forth between this and the REI Kingdom 6. Your set up and walkthrough were very helpful.
I have had the older single wall model for over 5 years now, and have camped in all weather conditions. this tent is a real performer!. first I use nikwax to keep up on the waterproofing annually. I put a tarp under the vestibule, this will eliminate condensation or moisture from the ground entering the tent especially when it gets warm. ( a few complaints about this ) I also adjust stakes and straps so the vestibule skirts just touch the ground, this will eliminate cold drafts a breezes through this tent. we have camped in very cold downpours multiple times and have never gotten wet, as for warmth it is equal to any tent of its size once you tarp the vestibule areas and adjust flaps to ground level. I would buy this single wall tent again. stakes very sturdy to the ground, stable in windy conditions, very solid ridged over sized poles. Keeping up on the waterproofing is key with this tent long term. Nikwax Tent and Gear Solarwash Nikwax Tent and Gear SolarProof Waterproofing Spray
You need a well ventilated tent🏕️.......in cold chilly weather....it's best to me to just get enough warm blanket or sleeping bag to deal with the weather...it is Camping by the way 😌⁉️
Looks good! I have a 3 person tent I only used once. I am going to set it up to see what it's like again. I like the idea of being able to stand up. Thanks Mike!
Nice review Mike, Thanks. I bought this tent along with the footprint a couple weeks ago and I will be camping in it for the first time on Memorial Day weekend. Upon setting it up in my backyard the tent seems to be very well made and is super easy to set up. The single wall design is a bit different but does making set-up and pack-up quicker. The vestibules were the big seller for me as it's going to be nice having the extra shelter, especially when raining. I only wish TNF included actual doors instead of just screen between the vestibules and the "cabin" portion of the tent. I'm hoping it wont be a problem with wind blowing dirt, dust, etc. under the vestibule walls and into the tent as they do not extend fully to the ground.
Hi, I'm curious if you have received your tent yet. The $42 one. I too saw the deal but I am VERY suspicious of the site. The English writing is pretty broken up and poorly written and I worry that these products are knock-offs from China. If you've received your tent and are super happy with it, I may just pick one up myself. I appreciate the feed back!
No delivery. I was gone. They said may take 12 days but I have had things come from China take almost 3 weeks! So - I was hopping OT would still arrive and see how bad a knock off it was. What are the chances he quality is good- fair- excellent?! I should have been more aware- I was greedy ..
@@chrisferrario1540 wow. I'm sorry that happened. I can't believe that all it takes is open a website in China, direct the traffic from Instagram in USA, and steal money. That really sucks that happened, what sucks even more is, can you imagine how many $45 dollar scams they got away with? Disgusting. Thank you for the heads up, and again, sorry that happened to you.
Buyer Be Ware! I bought the Wawona 6 in June 2021. For my application I did not want to have to deal with a separate rain fly setting up the tent in the wind while camping next to my airplane and others. North Face has returned to having a SEPARATE RAIN FLY without changing the model name from Wawona 6! The new rain fly does not have a vestibule over the back door. The tent comes with no instructions for set up and there are none available online. The main tent is easy enough to set up but the rain fly/vestibule is very confusing. When I called for instructions I was referred to this video from you Watch Mike Hike. Northface has no written or online instructions available. The tent fly has returned and is completely different. Customer service kept telling me it is "the same tent" but it clearly is not. The new main tent has a mesh roof. It cannot be set up to keep the rain out without the separate rain fly. You may find this as an advantage but the tent is clearly different AND SHOULD HAVE A NEW MODEL NAME TO MAKE THIS CLEAR TO THE BUYER! The small area outside of the main tent to place shoes in the vestibule is gone as well. With no coverage of the back door from the rain fly I am concerned with how this area will hold up to the rain.
It looks prepared for hot weather which is great. But with hot weather also comes sudden rain and all the windows close from the outside? Do you think is too much hassle?
Wow. Looks like the perfect Florida car camping tent. I just bought a Core 6 person dome tent on amazon. I’ve used it 3 times so far and have no complaints except I’d really like the vestibule. This seems much more well ventilated than the Core tent (which has a separate rain fly) plus I like the idea of being able to set it up in the rain and keep the inside dry (no way do you get that with a tent that has a rain fly. I read this was discontinued. Is there a newer version? By the way, as far as winter camping goes, my Core tent was way too ventilated for 50 degree weather. If you’re going to camp in 20-30 degree weather, you’ll need warmer clothing and the appropriate sleeping bag. Or a winter tent. I’m more concerned about ventilation in warm weather and this looks perfect.
The Wawona 6 has not been discontinued as of today. Its still available on the TNF website along with many other places. It did replace the Kajiu 6 a few years ago. It has been a really good tent. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for your thorough review! I am looking for a tent from NF as they are offering 50% off to healthcare workers. It would be for 3-4 people including an 8 yr old. This thing looks massive. What concerns me is not having anything but mesh on the inner tent door. Also, since it doesn’t have a rain flap, it seems it would possible collect on top where the vestibule connects to the tent? If there are any other camping products you would recommend from NF, let me know! I want to take advantage of this discount. Thanks!
Hey Amy, Thanks for watching. If you are using the tent for four people it give you room to move around and have some gear in there with you. If its too much room for you it does come in a 4 person model. The vestibule on the 4 person is configured differently and there is not an area that would collect water even though I have not had a problem with it on the 6 person. I would not want to recommend any specific tent since I don't know you and your personal preferences, how you like to use your equipment or the environment you plan on using it. Sorry I could not be more specific but for me, a lot of considerations go into gear purchases. I have enjoyed to tent though.
Hey Amy! My girlfriend is a health care worker and we went to use the 50% off code for a tent and sleeping bag and the code sadly cant be used for tents or sleeping bags :-(
That's what we did! My wife is a healthcare worker and we ordered directly from NF for the discount and couldn't be happier with this tent. It's just the two of us and our dog with enough room for our gear and room to breathe.
@@justinchapman3238 That's wild, I just tried ordering a tent with my healthcare worker discount and they told me I wasn't allowed to use it for tents, sleeping bags, and duffle bags. Super lame because that's all the things I would us the discount for.
Jason Lockwood only one night in it so far. Condensed a lot in the vestibule but not in sleeping area so I'm okay with that. Bone dry on floor. I got the footprint though. For me the functionality and layout is a dream.
so just back now from a weekend of wind and rain. Tent held up great. bone dry inside and because of the top vents, very little condensation problems. The large vestibule is a GAME CHANGER for staying dry, and keeping your tent clean. The footprint is a MUST. Got a ton of compliments on it from other, wetter campers. Its a beauty to look at. Was between this and the REI kingdom as well! I would love to be able to do a side by side.
Nice review, Mike. I have an older Trailhead 6 by NF that I've had for over 10 years. Not quite as 'airy' as the Wawona so it is truly a 3 season tent. I have been caught in a severe storm while on a hunting trip in the Cascade Mountains. The wind was blowing over 70 mph at the height of the storm and literally broke one of the aluminum poles right at about the same height as the tie downs for this new tent. Perhaps an explanation as to their location?
Anyone have issues with the poles slightly bending? Is there a place you can buy/replace the poles? I will say I was impressed the tent stood up in 50 mph winds and rain. Only minor bending in one of the poles.
I just bought this tent from rei for 20 bucks brand new without the poles. They recommended tent pole technologies for the replacement poles. I need the specs on the poles though.
Great review. 3 questions. Can you use the tent without the vestibules to provide more air flow? Any feedback on how it holds up in the rain with the single wall design? How is it in different seasons?
Brian, Thanks for watching. You can not use it without the rainfly for airflow because its attached but you can open the vestibule doors and windows and get plenty of airflow. It holds up like it should in the rain. Keeps you dry. Being single wall does not make it any less waterproof. Its more like you took the tent body away and are just using the rain fly on part of the tent. Spring, summer and fall its great. Have not used it in the winter.
I have had this tent since it came out and it has been in the rain many times if fact torrential rain for 3 days on the Island of Hawaii. We also had 60 MPH winds and the tent held up great. PS I did have a wind block tarp on the wind side, but even so, it was blowing a Holley.
We just got back from a 3 day camping trip and with one night of torrential rains. In fact, almost all night, so much water came flooding underneath the tent that the floor felt like a waterbed with our gear bobbing around. It was nuts. The tent held up very well, with no leaks along the seams and window seals, although we did discover 2 small holes in the floor near the middle of the floor that allowed some water to pool. This was most likely caused by our dog's toenails *and not a defect*. Given the amount of water rushing under the tent, we were surprised at how little water came through. When we got home we noticed small holes in the footprint we placed under the tent--the same footprint Mike used in the review. after we fix the holes in the floor, we're going to make sure to put down a mat to keep his nails from poking more holes. If I had to nitpick, I'd say the floor and the footprint could have been a little thicker - but it's a small nitpick.
@@saascends We ended up using a spare tarp on the inside and we fixed the holes in both the floor and the footprint. So far we haven't noticed any other holes in the floor or links, though we haven't camped through rain that bad since! I've seen a couple videos where people bring along those puzzle piece style floor mats that you find in the gym or kid's play areas. Not great for backpacking, but excellent for protection if you have room to bring them along!
Thanks for the video,after 2 year how do you like your tent?rain,condensation(single wall)and quality,because at my local store they are in sale,thanks
Hey Julus65, I have no complaints on the tent but I have not used it as much as I would have liked. It has withstood everything I have thrown at it and I would buy it again if I had to do it all over again. Thanks for watching.
Hey, fantastic review thank you for sharing! I am very close to getting this tent. In your experience has the gap between the tent and the ground created in problems in terms of cold air or sand coming in?
Hey Joshua, thanks for walking Watch Mike Hike. I can't say that I have had much if the way of sand getting in because i don't really camp in sandy areas. If it gets windy out in the desert, I would count on having some sand get in the tent but not really any more than a tent that has mesh anywhere on it.The large mesh areas do have some coverage from the vestibules so it would depend on how fine the sand is and how strong the wind is blowing. As far as the cold. You will feel the cool air come in through the mesh but again its no more than any tent that has mesh you can't close off. I hope this helps and thanks again for watching. Mike
Ok, respectfully....so 3am...in comes a pop up storm .... you have to jump up get dressed and run outside in the rain to close the windows...? Am I seeing this right? Thanks Jason.
Well to be fair, If its 3 am, I'm going to run out of the tent to close the windows without getting dressed. Just let it blow in the breeze. But to answer your question, yes you have to be outside of the tent to zip up the side windows. I didn't designs the tent, I'm just showing it. This tent was redesigned since making this video. It is no longer a single wall design so I can't say how the new one works or if it has windows.
@@watchmikehike5568 got it... yeah...not AT you...but just wondering... seemed odd and not likely for The North Face... but...as you said. Now redesigned...so maybe a little deeper thought on the new version...! Thank you much for the reply...and the laugh....!
Ordered a Wawona 6 yesterday but the footprint isn't available anywhere. I'm thinking of ordering some tyvek to use as a footprint but the widest I can find is 10' and I don't know if this will be wide enough. Do you know the dimensions of the footprint? I tried asking TNF but they don't have a clue.
@@iamrelient3011 Thanks. I ended up returning this tent for a couple of reasons. No available footprint when I needed one, it took too long to put up, and didn't seem sturdy enough to stand up to my kids. Ended up getting a 10x10 Kodiak with an included footprint for not much more.
The screen door sucks you get too much draft through vestibule.The door should be made of nylon with a window.I bought an REI Kingdom 6 which is pretty nice but the frame structure is wimpy and the rainfly really sags in the rain from lack of support.
Looking at TNF Wawona 6 (single wall) and TNF Kaiju 6 (double wall). It’s going to be my first tent purchase for my family of 4 so I’m looking for an opinion between those two. The pros and cons? Camping summers in Wisconsin.
Hey Thomas, I really like the Wawona because I don't have to try and throw the giant rain fly over a tent that is taller than I am. The tent stays dry if you have to set up in the rain. It has good ventilation with the windows and vents and is easy to set up. I had a Kaiju 6 before the Wawona and the rain fly was a bear to throw over the tent. It is easier with two people but still less than fun. I also had a pole bend on me the first time I set it up. I ended up sending it back and waited for the Wawona to come out. The Wawona is what replaced the Kaiju in the North Face line up for. Hope that helps Happy Trails and thank you for watching.
@@watchmikehike5568 I just got a Wawona 6 about a week ago and I too bent a main gold colored pole on initial setup. I think the one sleeve slid down as I was erecting it and the pole bowed out a little much on the other side. Very very slight bend but made me a little sick to my stomach after spending that much on a tent! Now I'm worried about it happening again. Oh well, north face charges a very nominal fee to fix poles if it is still bothering me come the fall
@@itr0863 Gazelle was our other choice, but ended up going with the Wawona because of the 50% off for healthcare workers they just had. Gazelle is a great choice!
Should the longer black pole be on the inside, under the yellow front pole? Or should it be on the outside, put on after the yellow poles? This video and most photos I see have the yellow poles put up first, but the NF website shows the black pole under the yellow pole.
Hey Zelemont, Thanks for watching Watch Mike Hike. I don't know that it really matters if the black pole is on the inside or outside of the yellow poles when it's all said and done. I have the black on the outside because of the order that I put the tent up. The yellow poles give the main part of the tent it's structure so those went up first and the black vestibule poles went on next. Hope that answers your question.
I have found it easy to get it back in the bag. After dropping the tent to the ground, fold into quarters towards the middle. When it all meets up to the width of the folded poles, place poles and stakes at the end and roll it up. Pick up the roll and set it in the bag with room to spare and no struggle.
I’m actually at the Bechtel Scout Reserve in West Virginia using the tent for another week of scout camp. Still like it and have not found anything I would replace it with.
Hey Mike. Have you had this tent in heavy rain yet? Wondering how the open screens do with splashing from the ground up. And how it does with condensation?
It would depend on how winter are we taking about. If we are talking about a snow load,heavy winds and bitter cold than I would not recommend this for the winter. If you are in mild conditions without snow and wind and don't mind the cold breeze blowing through the tent with both ends being all mesh then you could make it work. I would not consider this to be a winter worthy tent in general tent terms. Mike
How many people are you looking to sleep and in what area of the world are we looking at? What kind of Winter conditions are talking about? Camp grounds low on the east coast or mountains of Colorado? Just need an idea of what conditions will be. Thank you for watching.
WATCH MIKE HIKE thanks for replying. I’m in the northeast US, would spend time in upstate NY and New England campgrounds. It’s cold wet and snowy up here. I saw the cabela alanak but not sure that’s good for handling winter snow loads. North face 2m dome is nice but too expensive at $5,000. What are some good options for sleeping 6 comfortably with room in snowy/wet conditions?
I have not looked at wall style tents for some time but I looked at the Cabela's Alanak that you mentioned. It looks like it would be a good option with several size options to fit your needs. I also found the Cabela's Instinct Alaskan Guide 8 person if you want a dome style tent. I have always liked the BIG AGNES Flying Diamond tent for larger group winter trips. It comes in 4, 6 and 8 person models. I'm sure there some other options our there but the selection will be more limited with large winter tents. I hope this helps and you find the tent you are looking for. Happy Trails. Mike
I recently purchased this tent and will be taking it on our first trip over the weekend. I'm curious, why is there that strap across the bottom of the vestibule for the small black pole? What purpose does that serve? Is it to roll the entry way up and put over the top of the door?
Hey Sarah, Thanks for watching. The strap is there to keep the shape of the bent poles that forms the vestibule. The pole will attach in the grommets at each end of that strap. The vestibule has no floor so there is nothing there to keep the pole from straitening out so that is what the strap does. The strap should have a little tension on it from the pole when it’s set up. I hope that makes sense.
My wife and I used ours 3 times. We are avid campers and know how to do things. Our tent let so much moisture up thru the floor it was unusable. North Face took the tent back, and acknowledged some of the serious design flaws that the tent has. It is being discontinued, and we were given credit for the tent and footprint as the tent can't live up to the standards of walmart ones. Shame. We LOVED the layout.
I guess it would depend on how we are defining “Winter”. Are we talking about mild east coast weather at lower elevation or Colorado at elevation with a snow load? For me, I would use it in mild winter conditions that we have on the east coast but I would prefer something with more protection in the mountains and I would not use it if accumulation of snow was expected. Could you use it? Yes but it would not be my recommendation.
I am considering this tent for motorcycle camping so I'm trying to get a handle on the actual sleeping dimensions (L x w) and the vestibule dimensions (L x W x H) separately. I need them separately so see if the motorcycle will fit in the vestibule. Thanks
I have a measurement drawing for the tent that I can email you if you want to send my your email address. I will not let me attach the image in the comment section.
Hi Mike, Would it be possible to get the measurement of the front vestibule floor area? We have just purchased this tent and are wanting to purchase an outdoor rug for the area. Thanks in advance
Mike, I'd like to know the vestibule dimensions also so that I can get an appropriate sized footprint tarp (or maybe just a smaller one for the vestibule area so that my kid can play there if it's raining, etc).
Be ware!!! I just bought the Wawona 6. (Mune 2021)They have returned to having a rain fly without changing the model name. There is no vestibule over the back door. I bought this tent because I did not want to have to deal with a separate rain fly.
I, along with many other owners that have commented, have had this tent in long and heavy rains and have stayed bone dry. I really enjoy the tent. Thanks for watching.
•Dissatisfied that the doors are not made of Kevlar.. ••where is the dead-bolt!?? (Not safe without lock and key doors!!!) ••• whats with the huge windows!!??? (Mesh??) •••••• do they offer a plexiglass window kit?? (Is it free?) (Do They pay ME to put the window in!!!) They should!!!?? ••••• I can't believe they still call them, "GUY--LINES!!!" (This phrase is obviously the patriarchy try to keep woymn subservient) ***Down with Men!!
Thanks for the video, I watched it again after using our Wawona 6 a few times. My thoughts:
#1.. Respect the dew point. Everyone checks the weather before camping, but also focus on the temps, dew point and humidity % when using this tent.
On our last night (thankfully) everything was dry and a comfortable 70F around 8pm, by 10pm all of the bedding felt soaked, as if a cloud pushed right through all that mesh.
I've camped a lot in my 5+ decades and I've never had my stuff feel like it was just laying out in the grass as it did inside this Wawona. The walls were soaked inside and out before we ever climbed in.
At this size/weight and intended (car) use *all* doors should have a secondary solid zipper door to block mass air movement, the vestibule doors just don't cut it.
Humidity/condensation aside..
- It works great with 2 queen size air mattresses, room to spare near the door, far more comfortable (and thermally insulating) than those pad things.. its a massive car camping tent, so why not go the mattress route.
- Its fairly easy to put up, but don't site plan with "I think it'll fit over there".. it won't. Pace/measure first.
- Its a pain to fold up. Simple as that.
- Its a pain to spread out at home for drying, you think its big outside.. try opening/airing it out in the house after a wet night.
- Put a tarp under the vestibule area.. the little door mat thing is kinda useless if not staked down because it blows around/wads up, and if its staked down it trips people.. its lose/lose, use a tarp under the whole area.
Overall, its layout is pretty awesome, but I'm not at all a fan of the single-wall. It is after all a 6 person tent, there should be someone else around to help drape the fly over this beast, and it'd work wonders for condensation control and keeping settling dew at bay.
I like it, but its my first and last single-wall tent of any size.
My best advise to everyone not backpacking 10+ miles and camping in the 90F 90% humidity dead of summer.. regardless of tent size or season, is to get a 3+ or 4 season tent with lots of mesh and secondary closure panels - They're built better, more durable, wont fail/leak in any (normal) summer storm. Keeping those cool is all about the wind, check the forecast wind direction and pitch it in a place with some airflow and rotate the tent so that vestibules can be used to capture airflow forcing it through a 4 season tent that'd otherwise be smoking hot. Just my 2 cents after using a North Face Nebula several times per year for 20 years.
Thanks for this review, it's the only one existing on CZcams for this tent. Based on many written reviews as well as this video, I've purchased this tent, the footprint and an exped duo +lw for my wife and I. We have an older Westwind 8 from Cabela's that we've worn out. I also am tired of dealing with a separate fly. It's interesting that so many people have the impression that the mesh doors are a downside of the tent. Our previous tent was so stuffy, in really warm summer days it was close to unbearable. I say the more ventilation, the better. This tent will be a huge upgrade for us. Now we just need to wait for spring! Thanks again for the review.
I’ve had the waking 6 for a few years now. Gotta say, my wife and I got caught in tornado conditions, the wind at our campsite was almost 50 mph. I had it more then adequately tied down of course and it handled the winds beautifully! But as with all tents you MUST secure the tent well. I have special spiral stakes that really held their ground.
Heard some people had some issues setting it up on their first try. No instructions makes it a little tricky. My 16 year old daughter noticed the sleeves and the anchor points match the pole colors. Hope that helps everyone. Took us about 20 minutes on our first try. Pretty easy. We love the tent
Thanks. That's all I needed to know.
It comes with instructions though 🤣
Mike is right about all the points with this tent. I took mine camping in Yellowstone. Cannot overstate this enough. This is a hot weather tent. You can offset the cold with a propane heater. But the tent is breezy inside. Also we got rained on and it was water tight. Another thing to remember is this thing is MASSIVE. Setup is easy though. So I would use this as a base camp tent. In retrospect I would buy it again.
Well done! And well explained! And no loud annoying backround music! Awesome! Thank you!
Hi Mike! LOVE the size and features of this tent BUT can you tell us how YOU LIKE THE TENT NOW IN 2022: pluses and/or minuses please......
Does look awfully breezy. Great for hot weather camping, but if it rains, and is cold, I'd bring a cloth shower curtain for the back door area. You could attach it with clips. Just a thought.
Love the color. Nice & cheerful.
Just got my wawona 6 from REI. Also got the way overpriced footprint. Very nice. Set it up in the backyard for a couple of days to see how it held up in some wind and rain we got. Only minor complaint was the rear vestibule popped off the stakes in the wind. Can’t wait to take it out for real.
I appreciated the review! Thanks for taking the time to walk us through this. Going back and forth between this and the REI Kingdom 6. Your set up and walkthrough were very helpful.
I have had the older single wall model for over 5 years now, and have camped in all weather conditions. this tent is a real performer!. first I use nikwax to keep up on the waterproofing annually. I put a tarp under the vestibule, this will eliminate condensation or moisture from the ground entering the tent especially when it gets warm. ( a few complaints about this ) I also adjust stakes and straps so the vestibule skirts just touch the ground, this will eliminate cold drafts a breezes through this tent. we have camped in very cold downpours multiple times and have never gotten wet, as for warmth it is equal to any tent of its size once you tarp the vestibule areas and adjust flaps to ground level. I would buy this single wall tent again. stakes very sturdy to the ground, stable in windy conditions, very solid ridged over sized poles. Keeping up on the waterproofing is key with this tent long term.
Nikwax Tent and Gear Solarwash
Nikwax Tent and Gear SolarProof Waterproofing Spray
Thank you for the thorough review. Much appreciated as I look to upgrade to a 6 person.
You need a well ventilated tent🏕️.......in cold chilly weather....it's best to me to just get enough warm blanket or sleeping bag to deal with the weather...it is Camping by the way 😌⁉️
Looks good! I have a 3 person tent I only used once. I am going to set it up to see what it's like again. I like the idea of being able to stand up. Thanks Mike!
Nice review Mike, Thanks. I bought this tent along with the footprint a couple weeks ago and I will be camping in it for the first time on Memorial Day weekend. Upon setting it up in my backyard the tent seems to be very well made and is super easy to set up. The single wall design is a bit different but does making set-up and pack-up quicker. The vestibules were the big seller for me as it's going to be nice having the extra shelter, especially when raining. I only wish TNF included actual doors instead of just screen between the vestibules and the "cabin" portion of the tent. I'm hoping it wont be a problem with wind blowing dirt, dust, etc. under the vestibule walls and into the tent as they do not extend fully to the ground.
@katoom1971 has this been an issue for you?
King of the getting it done in one take!!!! Awesome vid!!
I have the Kaiju 6 and was excited to see the updates they made this year. Thanks for the video!
How has this tent performed for you since the video was posted?
Thanks for the review! Saw this on the EMS site and it only had 2 pictures.
Just bought on a North Face closeout flash sale for $42! Super appreciate the review!
Hi, I'm curious if you have received your tent yet. The $42 one. I too saw the deal but I am VERY suspicious of the site. The English writing is pretty broken up and poorly written and I worry that these products are knock-offs from China. If you've received your tent and are super happy with it, I may just pick one up myself. I appreciate the feed back!
jaycejay got scammed! I have to call my bank!
No delivery. I was gone. They said may take 12 days but I have had things come from China take almost 3 weeks! So - I was hopping OT would still arrive and see how bad a knock off it was. What are the chances he quality is good- fair- excellent?! I should have been more aware- I was greedy ..
@@chrisferrario1540 wow. I'm sorry that happened. I can't believe that all it takes is open a website in China, direct the traffic from Instagram in USA, and steal money. That really sucks that happened, what sucks even more is, can you imagine how many $45 dollar scams they got away with? Disgusting. Thank you for the heads up, and again, sorry that happened to you.
THANKS. Good thing I put it up for the first time at home...no instructions?? Went to your video. All good!
Greetings from Scotland. Thanks for the review Mike.
Buyer Be Ware! I bought the Wawona 6 in June 2021. For my application I did not want to have to deal with a separate rain fly setting up the tent in the wind while camping next to my airplane and others. North Face has returned to having a SEPARATE RAIN FLY without changing the model name from Wawona 6! The new rain fly does not have a vestibule over the back door. The tent comes with no instructions for set up and there are none available online. The main tent is easy enough to set up but the rain fly/vestibule is very confusing. When I called for instructions I was referred to this video from you Watch Mike Hike. Northface has no written or online instructions available. The tent fly has returned and is completely different. Customer service kept telling me it is "the same tent" but it clearly is not. The new main tent has a mesh roof. It cannot be set up to keep the rain out without the separate rain fly. You may find this as an advantage but the tent is clearly different AND SHOULD HAVE A NEW MODEL NAME TO MAKE THIS CLEAR TO THE BUYER! The small area outside of the main tent to place shoes in the vestibule is gone as well. With no coverage of the back door from the rain fly I am concerned with how this area will hold up to the rain.
Yeah I’m kinda pissed! Same exact situation.
Great video we are definitely going to get this tent!
I am curious how it fared in the Rain? It seems to be a single walled tent and I wonder how well they actually hold up to rain!
It would help to know how tall you are when talking about being able to stand up in the vestibule.
I know, right?
I don't care if it rains inside, the vestibules alone make this worth it.
Excellent review thank you
I really like the tent .. unfortunately it is not sold in Indonesia
It looks prepared for hot weather which is great. But with hot weather also comes sudden rain and all the windows close from the outside? Do you think is too much hassle?
Thanks for the video - very useful! Is it possible to set it up without the vestibule in cases of a small footprint (e.g. small tent platform)?
Hey bud super late on my part, but would you recommend the footprint or is a large tarp just as suitable?
Wow. Looks like the perfect Florida car camping tent. I just bought a Core 6 person dome tent on amazon. I’ve used it 3 times so far and have no complaints except I’d really like the vestibule. This seems much more well ventilated than the Core tent (which has a separate rain fly) plus I like the idea of being able to set it up in the rain and keep the inside dry (no way do you get that with a tent that has a rain fly. I read this was discontinued. Is there a newer version? By the way, as far as winter camping goes, my Core tent was way too ventilated for 50 degree weather. If you’re going to camp in 20-30 degree weather, you’ll need warmer clothing and the appropriate sleeping bag. Or a winter tent. I’m more concerned about ventilation in warm weather and this looks perfect.
The Wawona 6 has not been discontinued as of today. Its still available on the TNF website along with many other places. It did replace the Kajiu 6 a few years ago. It has been a really good tent. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for your thorough review! I am looking for a tent from NF as they are offering 50% off to healthcare workers. It would be for 3-4 people including an 8 yr old. This thing looks massive. What concerns me is not having anything but mesh on the inner tent door. Also, since it doesn’t have a rain flap, it seems it would possible collect on top where the vestibule connects to the tent? If there are any other camping products you would recommend from NF, let me know! I want to take advantage of this discount. Thanks!
Shhhhhh, me too.
Hey Amy, Thanks for watching. If you are using the tent for four people it give you room to move around and have some gear in there with you. If its too much room for you it does come in a 4 person model. The vestibule on the 4 person is configured differently and there is not an area that would collect water even though I have not had a problem with it on the 6 person. I would not want to recommend any specific tent since I don't know you and your personal preferences, how you like to use your equipment or the environment you plan on using it. Sorry I could not be more specific but for me, a lot of considerations go into gear purchases. I have enjoyed to tent though.
Hey Amy! My girlfriend is a health care worker and we went to use the 50% off code for a tent and sleeping bag and the code sadly cant be used for tents or sleeping bags :-(
That's what we did! My wife is a healthcare worker and we ordered directly from NF for the discount and couldn't be happier with this tent. It's just the two of us and our dog with enough room for our gear and room to breathe.
@@justinchapman3238 That's wild, I just tried ordering a tent with my healthcare worker discount and they told me I wasn't allowed to use it for tents, sleeping bags, and duffle bags. Super lame because that's all the things I would us the discount for.
nice review. how has it done in the rain? i'm looking into this tent, but never had one without a rainfly before.
I would not bother. It would be awful in the rain.
Thanks for the good review!!
I loved my Cabelas 6 person Alaskan
Guide dome tent. I do believe hard to erect equates to hard to blow down.
bought this tent yesterday...stoked - little scared about the single wall deal though...
Jason Lockwood only one night in it so far. Condensed a lot in the vestibule but not in sleeping area so I'm okay with that. Bone dry on floor. I got the footprint though. For me the functionality and layout is a dream.
so just back now from a weekend of wind and rain. Tent held up great. bone dry inside and because of the top vents, very little condensation problems. The large vestibule is a GAME CHANGER for staying dry, and keeping your tent clean. The footprint is a MUST. Got a ton of compliments on it from other, wetter campers. Its a beauty to look at. Was between this and the REI kingdom as well! I would love to be able to do a side by side.
Nice review, Mike. I have an older Trailhead 6 by NF that I've had for over 10 years. Not quite as 'airy' as the Wawona so it is truly a 3 season tent. I have been caught in a severe storm while on a hunting trip in the Cascade Mountains. The wind was blowing over 70 mph at the height of the storm and literally broke one of the aluminum poles right at about the same height as the tie downs for this new tent. Perhaps an explanation as to their location?
No rain fly is a deal breaker for me.
That’s a nice tent
Anyone have issues with the poles slightly bending? Is there a place you can buy/replace the poles? I will say I was impressed the tent stood up in 50 mph winds and rain. Only minor bending in one of the poles.
I just bought this tent from rei for 20 bucks brand new without the poles. They recommended tent pole technologies for the replacement poles. I need the specs on the poles though.
Great review. 3 questions. Can you use the tent without the vestibules to provide more air flow? Any feedback on how it holds up in the rain with the single wall design? How is it in different seasons?
Brian, Thanks for watching. You can not use it without the rainfly for airflow because its attached but you can open the vestibule doors and windows and get plenty of airflow. It holds up like it should in the rain. Keeps you dry. Being single wall does not make it any less waterproof. Its more like you took the tent body away and are just using the rain fly on part of the tent. Spring, summer and fall its great. Have not used it in the winter.
I have had this tent since it came out and it has been in the rain many times if fact torrential rain for 3 days on the Island of Hawaii. We also had 60 MPH winds and the tent held up great. PS I did have a wind block tarp on the wind side, but even so, it was blowing a Holley.
We just got back from a 3 day camping trip and with one night of torrential rains. In fact, almost all night, so much water came flooding underneath the tent that the floor felt like a waterbed with our gear bobbing around. It was nuts. The tent held up very well, with no leaks along the seams and window seals, although we did discover 2 small holes in the floor near the middle of the floor that allowed some water to pool. This was most likely caused by our dog's toenails *and not a defect*. Given the amount of water rushing under the tent, we were surprised at how little water came through. When we got home we noticed small holes in the footprint we placed under the tent--the same footprint Mike used in the review. after we fix the holes in the floor, we're going to make sure to put down a mat to keep his nails from poking more holes.
If I had to nitpick, I'd say the floor and the footprint could have been a little thicker - but it's a small nitpick.
@@justinchapman3238 thanks for the heads up, I think we will get a Matt for inside to protect from our dogs nails.
@@saascends We ended up using a spare tarp on the inside and we fixed the holes in both the floor and the footprint. So far we haven't noticed any other holes in the floor or links, though we haven't camped through rain that bad since!
I've seen a couple videos where people bring along those puzzle piece style floor mats that you find in the gym or kid's play areas. Not great for backpacking, but excellent for protection if you have room to bring them along!
Thanks for the video,after 2 year how do you like your tent?rain,condensation(single wall)and quality,because at my local store they are in sale,thanks
Hey Julus65, I have no complaints on the tent but I have not used it as much as I would have liked. It has withstood everything I have thrown at it and I would buy it again if I had to do it all over again. Thanks for watching.
Hey, fantastic review thank you for sharing! I am very close to getting this tent. In your experience has the gap between the tent and the ground created in problems in terms of cold air or sand coming in?
Hey Joshua, thanks for walking Watch Mike Hike. I can't say that I have had much if the way of sand getting in because i don't really camp in sandy areas. If it gets windy out in the desert, I would count on having some sand get in the tent but not really any more than a tent that has mesh anywhere on it.The large mesh areas do have some coverage from the vestibules so it would depend on how fine the sand is and how strong the wind is blowing. As far as the cold. You will feel the cool air come in through the mesh but again its no more than any tent that has mesh you can't close off. I hope this helps and thanks again for watching.
Mike
Ok, respectfully....so 3am...in comes a pop up storm .... you have to jump up get dressed and run outside in the rain to close the windows...? Am I seeing this right? Thanks Jason.
Well to be fair, If its 3 am, I'm going to run out of the tent to close the windows without getting dressed. Just let it blow in the breeze.
But to answer your question, yes you have to be outside of the tent to zip up the side windows. I didn't designs the tent, I'm just showing it. This tent was redesigned since making this video. It is no longer a single wall design so I can't say how the new one works or if it has windows.
@@watchmikehike5568 got it... yeah...not AT you...but just wondering... seemed odd and not likely for The North Face... but...as you said. Now redesigned...so maybe a little deeper thought on the new version...! Thank you much for the reply...and the laugh....!
Nice review ! How tall are you ? 6’6” can stand inside straight up ?
Thanks. Great review.
Ordered a Wawona 6 yesterday but the footprint isn't available anywhere. I'm thinking of ordering some tyvek to use as a footprint but the widest I can find is 10' and I don't know if this will be wide enough. Do you know the dimensions of the footprint? I tried asking TNF but they don't have a clue.
The length of the footprint is 101 inches. The rear of the footprint is 119 inches wide. The front of the footprint is 101 inches.
@@iamrelient3011 Thanks. I ended up returning this tent for a couple of reasons. No available footprint when I needed one, it took too long to put up, and didn't seem sturdy enough to stand up to my kids. Ended up getting a 10x10 Kodiak with an included footprint for not much more.
Thank you sir, good video
Great video, thanks! If you don't mind me asking.. how tall are you?
Hey Andres, Thank you for watching. I am 5 ft 9 inches. Hope that helps.
The screen door sucks you get too much draft through vestibule.The door should be made of nylon with a window.I bought an REI Kingdom 6 which is pretty nice but the frame structure is wimpy and the rainfly really sags in the rain from lack of support.
Looking at TNF Wawona 6 (single wall) and TNF Kaiju 6 (double wall). It’s going to be my first tent purchase for my family of 4 so I’m looking for an opinion between those two. The pros and cons? Camping summers in Wisconsin.
Hey Thomas, I really like the Wawona because I don't have to try and throw the giant rain fly over a tent that is taller than I am. The tent stays dry if you have to set up in the rain. It has good ventilation with the windows and vents and is easy to set up.
I had a Kaiju 6 before the Wawona and the rain fly was a bear to throw over the tent. It is easier with two people but still less than fun. I also had a pole bend on me the first time I set it up. I ended up sending it back and waited for the Wawona to come out.
The Wawona is what replaced the Kaiju in the North Face line up for. Hope that helps
Happy Trails and thank you for watching.
Thank you so much! I greatly appreciate the input!@@watchmikehike5568
@@watchmikehike5568 I just got a Wawona 6 about a week ago and I too bent a main gold colored pole on initial setup. I think the one sleeve slid down as I was erecting it and the pole bowed out a little much on the other side. Very very slight bend but made me a little sick to my stomach after spending that much on a tent! Now I'm worried about it happening again. Oh well, north face charges a very nominal fee to fix poles if it is still bothering me come the fall
Get a gazelle tent. I sold this one and got a gazelle t4
@@itr0863 Gazelle was our other choice, but ended up going with the Wawona because of the 50% off for healthcare workers they just had. Gazelle is a great choice!
Also curious, what is the actual area it takes up? Am I reading it correctly that it's basically 10x18?
The inside space on the tent body, inside the mesh, is about 8.5x10. Yes, the
entire tent is about 10x18
Thanks Mike!
Should the longer black pole be on the inside, under the yellow front pole? Or should it be on the outside, put on after the yellow poles? This video and most photos I see have the yellow poles put up first, but the NF website shows the black pole under the yellow pole.
Hey Zelemont, Thanks for watching Watch Mike Hike. I don't know that it really matters if the black pole is on the inside or outside of the yellow poles when it's all said and done. I have the black on the outside because of the order that I put the tent up. The yellow poles give the main part of the tent it's structure so those went up first and the black vestibule poles went on next. Hope that answers your question.
Nice vidéo... This is the first review for this product.
With all the mesh materials, I do not think that the condensation might be a problem.
Have you taken this out camping yet? If so, how did it hold up to the weather conditions you were in?
I have had it out but the conditions were favorable so I have not put it to a torture test yet.
I have taken mine out camping. Rained. Not torrential. Stayed bone dry.
great review
Has anyone tried to use tent poles on the back vestibule?
I Like it dude
Give me the best price for camping tent
Getting it back in the bag. nightmare or does it fit with out a ton of work?
I have found it easy to get it back in the bag. After dropping the tent to the ground, fold into quarters towards the middle. When it all meets up to the width of the folded poles, place poles and stakes at the end and roll it up. Pick up the roll and set it in the bag with room to spare and no struggle.
I got same tent but it’s completely different lol
you probably got the new 2022 version. Just curious, what's the difference?
@@PWCDN no rear vestibule, just a door.
My girlfriend and I are looking at purchasing this tent! I am wondering how its holding up after a year of use! @WATCHMIKEHIKE
So far so good. I have had it almost a year but I have only used it a hand full of times. I don't foresee any problem areas so far.
Hey Mike! Any updates from this tent? thinking of buying it for the family. Thoughts after use?
I’m actually at the Bechtel Scout Reserve in West Virginia using the tent for another week of scout camp. Still like it and have not found anything I would replace it with.
I would consider purchasing the Marmot Orbit series instead if you want a double wall to prevent condensation.
Hey Mike. Have you had this tent in heavy rain yet? Wondering how the open screens do with splashing from the ground up. And how it does with condensation?
I have not had it in really heavy rain but it handled typical rain as it should. No splashing up in the screen and condensation was not a problem.
You think you could use this for winter the gf and i want a big tent for all year camping
It would depend on how winter are we taking about. If we are talking about a snow load,heavy winds and bitter cold than I would not recommend this for the winter. If you are in mild conditions without snow and wind and don't mind the cold breeze blowing through the tent with both ends being all mesh then you could make it work. I would not consider this to be a winter worthy tent in general tent terms.
Mike
WATCH MIKE HIKE what would you recommend for winter?
How many people are you looking to sleep and in what area of the world are we looking at? What kind of Winter conditions are talking about? Camp grounds low on the east coast or mountains of Colorado? Just need an idea of what conditions will be. Thank you for watching.
WATCH MIKE HIKE thanks for replying. I’m in the northeast US, would spend time in upstate NY and New England campgrounds. It’s cold wet and snowy up here.
I saw the cabela alanak but not sure that’s good for handling winter snow loads.
North face 2m dome is nice but too expensive at $5,000.
What are some good options for sleeping 6 comfortably with room in snowy/wet conditions?
I have not looked at wall style tents for some time but I looked at the Cabela's Alanak that you mentioned. It looks like it would be a good option with several size options to fit your needs. I also found the Cabela's Instinct Alaskan Guide 8 person if you want a dome style tent. I have always liked the BIG AGNES Flying Diamond tent for larger group winter trips. It comes in 4, 6 and 8 person models. I'm sure there some other options our there but the selection will be more limited with large winter tents. I hope this helps and you find the tent you are looking for.
Happy Trails.
Mike
I recently purchased this tent and will be taking it on our first trip over the weekend. I'm curious, why is there that strap across the bottom of the vestibule for the small black pole? What purpose does that serve? Is it to roll the entry way up and put over the top of the door?
The strap helps keep the vestibule stable when everything is set up. The pole ends connect to the strap at the bottom and steak down.
Hey Sarah,
Thanks for watching. The strap is there to keep the shape of the bent poles that forms the vestibule. The pole will attach in the grommets at each end of that strap. The vestibule has no floor so there is nothing there to keep the pole from straitening out so that is what the strap does. The strap should have a little tension on it from the pole when it’s set up. I hope that makes sense.
So now that you've had it for some time, what do you think? Have you had it in a down pour?
My wife and I used ours 3 times. We are avid campers and know how to do things. Our tent let so much moisture up thru the floor it was unusable. North Face took the tent back, and acknowledged some of the serious design flaws that the tent has. It is being discontinued, and we were given credit for the tent and footprint as the tent can't live up to the standards of walmart ones. Shame. We LOVED the layout.
Gazeroni, Were you using a footprint and still had a moisture problem? Thanks for the input!
What about winter camping? It is just mesh doors on the inside of the tent?
I guess it would depend on how we are defining “Winter”. Are we talking about mild east coast weather at lower elevation or Colorado at elevation with a snow load? For me, I would use it in mild winter conditions that we have on the east coast but I would prefer something with more protection in the mountains and I would not use it if accumulation of snow was expected. Could you use it? Yes but it would not be my recommendation.
No way Jose. This is a hot weather tent only.
Is the vestibule large enough to store 2 bikes and still walk past them?
I have not tried but you should have no problem fitting two bikes in the vestibule.
What size air mattress can you fit in there?
deleriumman we have the Disc-O-Bed bunks as well as a full size air mattress in ours and we still have an isle to walk down the middle.
disappointing that the doors are just screens as opposed to double solid/screen options. This makes this effectively a 2/3 season tent.
THANKS
I am considering this tent for motorcycle camping so I'm trying to get a handle on the actual sleeping dimensions (L x w) and the vestibule dimensions (L x W x H) separately. I need them separately so see if the motorcycle will fit in the vestibule. Thanks
I have a measurement drawing for the tent that I can email you if you want to send my your email address. I will not let me attach the image in the comment section.
Hello Mike, I am also interested in the overall dimensions of the tent. Would you be able to e-mail me the drawing the you have? Thanks.
Hey Chris, just send me an email address I can send it to.
Hi Mike, Would it be possible to get the measurement of the front vestibule floor area? We have just purchased this tent and are wanting to purchase an outdoor rug for the area. Thanks in advance
Mike, I'd like to know the vestibule dimensions also so that I can get an appropriate sized footprint tarp (or maybe just a smaller one for the vestibule area so that my kid can play there if it's raining, etc).
how is it with heavy rain..? waterproof..?
I have not had it in really heavy rain but it handled typical rain as it should. No splashing up in the screen and condensation was not a problem.
Do you have to go outside of the tent to open and close the side windows!?!? It sure looks like it!
yes you have to go out side to open and close the side windows
We have the Kaiju 6, so on this there is no rain fly to pull over it? Ours the rain fly is a pain but did great in rain in a flood zone.
I had the Kaiju 6 also and the rain fly is a huge pain to throw over the tent. The Wawona 6 has an attached rainfly so the setup is much easier.
Be ware!!! I just bought the Wawona 6. (Mune 2021)They have returned to having a rain fly without changing the model name. There is no vestibule over the back door. I bought this tent because I did not want to have to deal with a separate rain fly.
Good job 👍
Summer tent
Nice legs and toes lol
I feel cold
Nice review but do not like the tent. All that mesh you cannot close off. Would have been nice for 2 people with 2 dogs.
Single wall? No thanks. Condensation city.
From what I have read, if you can keep the upper vent open, condensation isn't an issue.
An absolute nightmare in the rain. No joke. This tent will spoil your trip and soak you and your gear. Design fail.
I, along with many other owners that have commented, have had this tent in long and heavy rains and have stayed bone dry. I really enjoy the tent. Thanks for watching.
i think solo grazier is better with price and quality.
•Dissatisfied that the doors are not made of Kevlar..
••where is the dead-bolt!?? (Not safe without lock and key doors!!!)
••• whats with the huge windows!!??? (Mesh??)
•••••• do they offer a plexiglass window kit??
(Is it free?)
(Do They pay ME to put the window in!!!) They should!!!??
••••• I can't believe they still call them, "GUY--LINES!!!"
(This phrase is obviously the patriarchy try to keep woymn subservient)
***Down with Men!!
Northface tent ? just reading the title that thing is going to be over price I bet. (let me continue watching video) I did stopped it at 2:10 mark
I assure you that no one cares if or when you stopped watching. It's not overpriced. It's in line with the tents in the same category.