BWCA Car camping tent... rei kingdom, what ya think? Boundary Waters Gear Forum
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01/25/2017 11:45AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Looking for a new tent for car camping . It will only be used in camping situations when the truck is close. Public campgrounds, etc. anybody have any experience with the kingdom 6 ? Pros and cons of this model would be much appreciated. Any other suggestions for a 6 person tent ?
 
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01/25/2017 12:28PM  


Purchased last Aug. at REI Garrage Sale (tiny burn hole inside side wall), used one time so far. A KingDome 8 is also available.
It will replace my BA BigHouse 4!
2 rooms, zipper divider, vestibule can be used on either end (fly goes on both ways), beefy frame, HD zippers, stout materials thru-out, lots of velcro frame wraps on the fly, comes with a backpack storage/transport bag that easily fits all parts.
I set it up and take it down alone, about 10 minutes while enjoying a beer. Lots of guy line anchors for stability in wind but can be put up with just the ends staked like any tunnel tent.
I paid $165 for it and there were several at the sale including 8's. It will see much more use!

butthead
 
jeepgirl
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01/25/2017 12:43PM  
We have this tent. Love it. Big garage. We have the 6 for just 2 people. We use a double high queen air mattress and there is plenty of room for another person. Its easy to set up. I can almost do it alone. I don't see any negatives. We had the Big Agnes Big House but I like the Kingdom better because its rectangular and it just seems larger than the Big House.

 
Grandma L
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01/25/2017 02:43PM  
The family has one and loves it! Good air circulation with the "flaps" up.
 
01/25/2017 05:04PM  
Good enough for you guys, good enough for me!!
 
01/28/2017 09:51AM  
Car camping tents are good but now think about airplane tents, one you can take in your luggage and camp at your destination. One that is big enough but still packs small and light.

My wife and I have taken our Mountainsmith Genessee to BWCA and to the Florida Keys. It's big enough to fit a queen size airbed and has vestibules to set our packs in at night or in rain.
 
01/28/2017 10:14AM  
For what it's worth, I've never packed it for flying. But packed it is 24x14x8 inches at 20+ pounds.



butthead
 
ObiWenonahKenobi
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01/29/2017 11:00PM  
I racked up $525 in REI dividends for 2016.
I plan to use it toward purchasing this tent.
 
deanalika
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01/30/2017 10:37AM  
My 25 cents on this.... We looked at this one and decided not to get it, due to the lack of bomb proofness. We looked more @ rei and ended up getting the Base Camp 6. Bout the same cost and size as the Kingdom but man is it built sound. We love it and have been through 50 mph wind storms, all day down pours, and hot hot days and still works perfect. The hoop design while nice seemed to flex to much esp with heavy winds and rain. Take a gander and see what ya think.

Cheers,

Alika

 
BlueSkiesWI
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01/30/2017 11:31AM  
This is the tent that the NPS-Wrangell St Elias trail crew all used. So I guess it's NPS approved for what that's worth! I didn't hear anybody say anything bad about it!
 
01/30/2017 12:26PM  
I also racked up a lot of dividend this past year. The Kingdom has been the family camping tent of my dreams for many years now, hopefully come this March it'll be mine! The precious.....

I'll be getting a K8, so I can fit a pair of queen air mattresses inside should I want.
 
BigCurrent
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01/31/2017 10:05AM  
I second (or third) what everyone else is saying. Great car camping tent. I prefer this to the Base Camp. It seems much bigger when inside due to the walls being more vertical. I bought the gear garage extension so it now has 2 large vestibules.

The included backpack is nice, but it packs down much smaller if you use smaller stuff sacks and pack the poles and stakes separately.
 
01/31/2017 11:55AM  
Looks real nice! Reminds me of when my 3 girls were young. We had an REI dome 6, and they loved it. Gave it away to a colleague a couple years ago as he has a young family. Kinda miss those days...
 
jwb747
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01/31/2017 12:37PM  
We have been using the Kingdom 8 (with garage) for several years now and love it. No issues with room, wind, rain, etc. It's the go to tent even (usually) when it's just the wife and I. Last year with dividends, I purchased the Kingdom sleep system. WOW!! It will make want to camp more. The K8 was an upgrade from the BA Bighouse 6. These days Cara and I use the K8 and our three teenage boys use the Bighouse 6.

After much thought at purchase, I really appreciate the size of the K8 vs. the K6.
 
06/19/2017 06:29PM  
Gave my Kingdom 6 its first real test. We returned from a long weekend on the Gunflint. It rained every night and every day. Never had a drop of water in the tent.
 
06/20/2017 06:02AM  
And in spite of the online review detractors, it is very good in windy situations. Open treeless gravel pit hill, just guy it out properly and nary a wiggle.


butthead
 
06/20/2017 09:40AM  


Kingdom 8 with garage. Gonna get a bunch of use in the next couple months!
 
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