REI Hobitat 4

Summary

This large (base camp / car camping) tent has lots of headroom and is a very stable and comfortable 3-season tent.

I have the original version - "improvements" have been made.

This is not a tent you would want to carry farther than the distance from your car to your base camp. For what it is, it packs reasonably small and light for a tent it's size - but it is luggable. not packable. Like most "4-person" tents, three full-sized people could spend a week in here comfortably - and if forced to, six could sleep without laying on each other, but there would not be room for gear.

The footprint (sold separately) and fly clip into the corner straps using color coded webbing. This tent uses 4 very long aluminum poles that cross at angles forming a square at the top. This makes it very stable, even in a stiff wind (which you wouldn't expect from such a big boxy tent) - and I rarely use the guys lines. While  it is not difficult for two, the construction makes it challenging for one person to set up.

The upper corners and entire top of the tent are mesh, and the fly just covers them. so there is plenty of ventilation. I have used it in four seasons, and can say this is a good three season tent. There are tabs for a gear loft in the center, and pockets in the corners. The head room is phenomenal. I really like to stand up getting dressed, and can do so even at the sides (not just at the peak).

After about 3 years of fairly constant use (about 75 or 80 nights), it is holding up very well. This is my first modern tent with aluminum poles (not counting tents from my mis-spent youth), and, while I liked their light weight, I was concerned about them get bent. This has not happened.

In the version I have, the square section of the fly between the poles at the top of the tent can sag in a rain storm and collect water. This is the greatest defect in the design. The fiberglass pole that holds the "brow" out above the door broke, as hollow glass poles are wont to do. And one of the grommets it sits in came out and had to be replaced.

If you're looking for a tall tent for car camping / family camping / base camp, this is good choice.

My Hobitat has been OK, but it's not the easiest thing it put up. The deceptive thing about these reviews is the Hobitat was completely redesigned last year, so several of these reviews are for the old 4 pole model, not the new 2 pole model. Trailspace should mention that.

very easy to set up / it takes up a small ground space for so much usable room on the inside

NOT FOR USE IN COLD WEATHER!!!

the vent/rainfly setup is very drafty - get a warmer tent for when lows dip down to the 30s and below

perfect size for just me, my air mattress and a lawn chair and a few miscellaneous items

because it is well vented, it does not cook as soon as the sun hits it in the early morning

either make this your summer tent or buy a warmer tent - if you camp in lousianna or florida -> this is for you

Overall my REI Hobitat 4 Man tent review is a good one. After reading other reviews, I decided to put the tent to the test myself.

Most 4 man tents only fit 2 people comfortably, but I was impressed with the floor space of the Hobitat. It can easily sleep 3 people with no problem, but 4 people is pushing it.

All corners of the tent were usable, and even had little pockets to put supplies in.

This is a great tent for around $250, however I wasn't impressed with the fly. It didn't seem to cover the back of the tent enough. Also, I wish the windows had ties on them.

In the end, I am happy with my purchase of this tent. The ease of set up and breakdown was excellent.

I've spent a total of seven nights using this tent. Ventilation is good and usable space in the tent is essentially 100% as the walls are vertical and there is a tremendous amount of headroom. On my third day of camping thunderstorms started passing over at about 2 in the afternoon and did not let up till about 9 the next morning.

The tent stayed entirely dry except for two tiny pin holes located in opposite corners near the very bottom of the tent. Total amount of leakage was maybe a teaspoon or so at each site. REI has an excellent return policy but I applied a spot of seam sealer to each hole the next day and the "problem" was solved.

Overall I am extremely satisfied with this tent and look forward to getting many more years of use out of it.

This is my first "larger" size tent and I've really come to appreciate it. In the past I've used 3-4 person sized backpacking tents but now that the kids are getting older and we're doing more car camping, this tent really works.

I'm 6'3" and love the standing room. With its vertical design you get plenty of space to handle 3-4 people yet when packed, it doesn't take up a lot of room in the car (as compared to other family sized tents). The aluminum pole design holds up well to the CO afternoon thunderstorms and the big windows and doors provide excellent ventilation.

My dad, two brothers, and I took this 4-man tent to Alaska last year for two weeks and it's coming along again this year. We played cards in it for a couple hours each night and it easily held 4-chairs and a small table. It has plenty of headroom and sets up easily and quickly, looks great too. The cool night wind slipped through the mesh corner panels so it didn't get warm at all but there was no condensation in the morning either. It held off the rain too. Best car camping tent I've ever seen.