Big Agnes Flying Diamond 4

My husband and I were looking to get a larger tent for car camping. We've used our old REI Half Dome 2, but wanted space to stretch out and use wider sleeping pads. We tried the REI Camp Dome 4 before purchasing this tent.

Between the two of them, the REI's setup is longer as they make use of tent-pole tunnels instead of clips, and each pole all have two bends in them. The Flying Diamond uses DAC aluminum poles (and lots of clips) — two sets for the main structure that are connected with a middle beam, one that goes over the middle (that you do have to exert some force to curve), and a 3rd that goes in a tunnel for the main door.

Setup is pretty intuitive. The main door has different colors buckles that mate to the fly and footprint. Getting the two different door shapes to their proper tautness was a bit of trial and error, to get the door to be easily opened but not flap (I set it up by myself).

The very peak of the tent is mesh and also the top section of both doors has mesh that can be zipped to cover. There are elastic pockets set at the diagonals. It doesn't come with a gear loft, but has many inner loops ready for a loft or clothesline. There are also two vents just above the tent floor fabric on both sides.

The rain fly provides great coverage, but only two small vents that can't be adjusted easily from inside the tent. It comes with reflective guy lines for the corners and simple shepard-hook style pegs. All zipper pulls are also reflective. We've already purchased y-style pegs as replacements.

The two doors are shaped differently. One can be set to an awning structure (as it has two zippers on either side), so that you can cook under it in inclement weather or allow a breeze in during warm weather. The other door zips down the middle, so can only be used in good weather and if there's no dew. Both of them provide adequate vestibule space for three people's gear.

We've only used it for three nights so far and the weather has been good, so we don't know how well it works to ventilate, in downpours, or heavy wind. However, I was impressed with the adjustability of the rain fly and tent body tautness. Both have adjustable buckles for all 6 stakeout points. The door stake loops don't adjust, so care is needed to place the stakes at the right tension.