REI Half Dome leads 2026 camping tent picks
NBC Select’s 2026 tent guide highlights models for car camping, backpacking, bad weather and budget buyers.
By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter
3 min read
NBC Select named the REI Co-op Half Dome 3-Person Tent with Footprint its top overall camping tent for 2026, citing its mix of usable space, durability and manageable packed weight. For shoppers comparing shelters, the guide separates tents by how they are likely to be used, including car camping, backpacking, poor weather and lower-cost trips.
According to NBC Select, its recommendations come from outdoor brands including REI Co-op, The North Face, Coleman, Big Agnes and Nemo. The NBC Select writer said the picks draw on years of outdoor gear coverage, including research and testing across many tents.
Top overall and value picks
NBC Select’s overall pick, the REI Co-op Half Dome 3-Person Tent with Footprint, is listed at $399 at REI. The guide says the three-person model weighs 7.16 pounds packed, has 43.7 square feet of floor space, measures 90 by 70 inches on the floor, reaches a 44-inch peak height and includes two doors plus 18.8 square feet of vestibule area.
The guide says the REI tent is roomy enough for three campers and uses materials sturdy enough for car-camping conditions. NBC Select does not recommend it for long-distance backpacking, but says it can work for shorter, flatter hikes if the load is divided among campers.
For value, NBC Select selected The North Face Stormbreak 3 Tent, listed at $260 at Amazon, REI and Backcountry. The guide lists its packed weight at 6.63 pounds, with 39.72 square feet of floor area, an 88-by-65-inch floor, a 46-inch peak height, two doors and 21.6 square feet of vestibule space.
Car-camping options
NBC Select’s car-camping pick is The North Face Wawona 6 Tent, listed at $585 at Amazon, REI and Backcountry. The six-person tent weighs 19.4 pounds packed and has 86.11 square feet of floor area, a 120-by-96-inch floor, a 76-inch peak height and a 44.7-square-foot vestibule, according to the guide.
NBC Select says the Wawona 6 is meant for larger groups and can hold sleeping gear and other equipment, with enough height for many campers to stand. The guide identifies its vestibule as a major feature for storing backpacks, a cooler, a table or a bike, though it says setup takes longer with one person than with two.
For a lower-cost car-camping choice, NBC Select recommends the Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full Fly Weather Vestibule. The guide lists it at $132.99 on Amazon, down from $189.99, and also shows it at $190 at REI; its specs include a 13.15-pound packed weight, 56 square feet of floor space, a 55.2-inch peak height, one door and 28 square feet of vestibule area.
Bad weather and backpacking
NBC Select’s bad-weather car-camping pick is the REI Co-op Base Camp Tent 6, listed at $569 at REI. The guide says it weighs 20.72 pounds packed, offers 84 square feet of floor area, has a 74-inch peak height and includes two doors and 44 square feet of vestibule space.
The guide says the Base Camp 6 uses durable materials and adds a separate pole structure to reinforce the rainfly for wind and weather resistance. NBC Select also notes that REI sells a Base Camp Vehicle Connector that can link the tent area to a vehicle for moving gear from a trunk under cover.
For backpacking, NBC Select identifies the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Backpacking Tent as its pick. NBC Select discloses that it independently decides what to cover and recommend, and says it may earn a commission when readers buy through its links.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.