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Camping Tents · Comparison

The The North Face Wawona 6 meets
the Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule

Four first-place rankings across eight expert guides, and a front porch that fits a row of camp chairs. We tested it head-to-head against the Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule across 6 key dimensions.

By Ryan V. · November 3, 2026

The North Face Wawona 6 tent in orange and tan, three-quarter view with the rainfly on and the large front vestibule closed, on a white background
The North Face Wawona 6 with its front vestibule door pulled forward on poles as an awning, showing the covered entry to the main tent
The North Face Wawona 6 inner tent with the rainfly off, showing the mesh upper walls, pole structure and grey bathtub floor
Inside The North Face Wawona 6, showing the tall near-vertical walls, overhead mesh storage pocket, arched rear window and roomy grey floor
BEST

The North Face Wawona 6

“Four first-place rankings across eight expert guides, and a front porch that fits a row of camp chairs”

$585MSRP
Our Score
83.3 / 100
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Coleman Skydome 4-Person tent in Evergreen with the full rainfly on and the front vestibule door rolled open, three-quarter view on a white background
Coleman Skydome 4-Person tent with the full-fly vestibule zipped shut and guylines staked out, three-quarter view on a white background
Coleman Skydome 4-Person tent pitched at a wooded campsite, looking through the open full-fly vestibule and door at two sleeping bags on a queen airbed inside
Coleman Skydome 4-Person tent in Evergreen pitched in a grassy hillside meadow with the rainfly door rolled back
VALUE

Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule

“The budget tent most of our sources recommend, quick to pitch and a fraction of the price of premium family tents”

$189.99MSRP
Our Score
61.4 / 100
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01

Head-to-Head Breakdown

Space
30% of score +
The North Face
95
Coleman
58
The North Face Wawona 6

The roomiest all-rounder in our research. Treeline Review and NBC Select list about 86 sq ft of floor and a 76-inch peak, and Outdoor Life rated space and headroom Great. CleverHiker and Switchback Travel both single out the massive front vestibule, and Better Trail says its usefulness "knows no bounds."

Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule

Coleman lists an 8 by 7 foot floor (56 sq ft) and a 4.6-foot center height, so four people fit but nobody stands up. Better Trail liked the vestibule and gear loft at this price. It is the smallest tent in this group apart from the Marmot Tungsten.

Weather
25% of score +
The North Face
78
Coleman
55
The North Face Wawona 6

OutdoorGearLab's sprinkler and wind tests found it great in wind and rain, and Treeline Review kept it standing in sustained Columbia River Gorge gusts. Points come off because the fly doesn't cover the back of the tent, which Treeline Review and Switchback Travel both flag.

Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule

Better Trail warns that its fiberglass poles and cheaper materials won't hold up as well in rowdy weather, and Switchback Travel says the fiberglass poles aren't very durable. OutdoorGearLab found the bigger Skydome XL 8 reasonably weatherproof. It works for sheltered campgrounds in fair weather.

Setup
15% of score +
The North Face
58
Coleman
85
The North Face Wawona 6

The weakest part of the Wawona. CleverHiker calls it slower than average to pitch, Switchback Travel calls it time-consuming, NBC Select says it takes a bit of time, and OutdoorGearLab found the updated detached fly unintuitive. Outdoor Life still rated setup Good.

Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule

One of the quickest pitches here. CleverHiker credits the integrated pole design with simplifying setup, and Switchback Travel found the Skydome quick to put up.

Build
15% of score +
The North Face
88
Coleman
48
The North Face Wawona 6

Outdoor Life praises its build quality, and CleverHiker notes strong poles and plenty of guy-out points. Treeline Review lists durability and stability among its strengths after extended use.

Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule

The weakest construction in this group. CleverHiker calls the plastic fly clips flimsy, Better Trail points to fiberglass poles and cheap materials, and Switchback Travel doubts the poles' durability. Everything works, but it won't survive as many seasons as the premium tents.

Airflow
5% of score +
The North Face
88
Coleman
62
The North Face Wawona 6

Outdoor Life rated ventilation Great. The large mesh panels move a lot of air, which Better Trail found drafty in chilly temperatures, so it suits summer better than late fall.

Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule

Coleman builds in roof vents and a mesh back wall to move air under the full fly. No reviewer praised or criticized its airflow, which puts it in the middle of this group.

Trust
10% of score +
The North Face
90
Coleman
72
The North Face Wawona 6

Every one of the eight publications in our research recommends it, and The North Face backs it with a limited lifetime guarantee on materials and workmanship.

Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule

Coleman has sold family tents for decades, and the Skydome is easy to find in stores and online. Coleman's warranty on tents is 1 year, the shortest in this group. CleverHiker's 3.9 out of 5 rating reflects the lower-cost materials.

02

Strengths & Weaknesses

The North Face Wawona 6

+ Strengths
  • Ranked first by Outdoor Life, CleverHiker, Treeline Review and Better Trail, and OutdoorGearLab's Editors' Choice
  • About 86 sq ft of floor under a 76-inch peak, plus the huge front vestibule CleverHiker and Switchback Travel single out
  • OutdoorGearLab found it great in its wind and rain tests, and it rode out sustained Gorge gusts for Treeline Review
− Weaknesses
  • Slow to pitch: CleverHiker rates setup slower than average, and OutdoorGearLab calls the detached fly unintuitive
  • The rainfly stops short of the back wall, leaving rear mesh exposed (Treeline Review, Switchback Travel)
  • Large mesh panels feel drafty on cold nights, according to Better Trail
Key flaw: Expect a slow first pitch.

Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule

+ Strengths
  • The budget pick at CleverHiker, Better Trail and NBC Select, and Switchback Travel's best budget tent in its 6-person size
  • Integrated, color-coded poles make it quick to pitch, according to CleverHiker
  • Better Trail calls the vestibule and gear loft surprising extras at this price
− Weaknesses
  • Fiberglass poles and cheaper fabrics won't last as long or handle rough weather as well, Better Trail warns
  • CleverHiker found the plastic fly clips flimsy and rated it 3.9 out of 5, the lowest on its list
  • A peak of about 55 inches means adults can't stand up inside
Key flaw: Coleman saved money on the hardware.
03

The Verdict

Our Bottom Line

Outdoor Life, CleverHiker, Treeline Review and Better Trail all rank The North Face Wawona 6 first, and no other tent shows up in all eight guides we analyzed. OutdoorGearLab gave it an Editors' Choice award after a 16-tent test, and NBC Select names it the best tent for car camping. Switchback Travel ranks it a close second to the NEMO Aurora Highrise and credits it with better livability.

BEST
The North Face Wawona 6
The North Face Wawona 6 tent in orange and tan, three-quarter view with the rainfly on and the large front vestibule closed, on a white background

Outdoor Life, CleverHiker, Treeline Review and Better Trail all rank The North Face Wawona 6 first, and no other tent shows up in all eight guides we analyzed. OutdoorGearLab gave it an Editors' Choice award after a 16-tent test, and NBC Select names it the best tent for car camping. Switchback Travel ranks it a close second to the NEMO Aurora Highrise and credits it with better livability.

Best for:
  • Families of four to six who car camp several weekends a year
  • You want to stand up inside and keep camp chairs dry under a covered porch
  • You pitch in rain and gusty wind, not just calm summer nights
  • You have a second adult to help with setup
  • You want one tent that will last for years of trips
Buy on Amazon
VALUE
Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule
Coleman Skydome 4-Person tent in Evergreen with the full rainfly on and the front vestibule door rolled open, three-quarter view on a white background

The Coleman Skydome is the budget tent our sources return to most often. CleverHiker, Better Trail and NBC Select all name the 4-person version as their budget pick. Switchback Travel chose the 6-person Skydome as its best budget camping tent, and OutdoorGearLab scored the bigger XL 8 model 75 out of 100, level with the $550 Snow Peak Alpha Breeze.

Best for:
  • First-time campers trying the hobby before spending more
  • Couples or small families who camp a few summer weekends a year
  • You want a tent one person can pitch quickly at a campground
  • Your budget would rather go to sleeping pads and bags
  • Backyard campouts, scout trips and festival weekends
Buy on Amazon
04

Specifications

Spec The North Face Wawona 6 Coleman Skydome 4-Person Tent with Full-Fly Vestibule
Sleeps 6 people 4 people
Floor Area 86.1 sq ft 56 sq ft
Peak Height 75.6 in 55 in
Packed Weight 19.4 lb 13.7 lb
Doors 2 1
Vestibule Area 65.7 sq ft 28 sq ft
Poles Aluminum (DAC MX) Fiberglass
Warranty Limited lifetime 1 year
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