SUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS | MAPS | VIDEOS | BLOGS | MARKETPLACE | CONTESTS
Full Name:
 City:
Address 1:
 State:
 Zip Code:
Address 2:
 Email: (required)

If I like it and decide to continue, I'll pay just $12.00, and receive a full one-year subscription (9 issues in all), a 73% savings off the newsstand price! If for any reason I decide not to continue, I'll write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing.


Offer valid in US only.
Canadian Subscriptions | International Subscriptions

CLOSE WINDOW

BACKPACKER PHOTOS

Email this page RSS feed
User rating:
-
Digg Delicious Yahoo Facebook Reddit StumbleUpon Google Newsvine Facebook Twitter

Gear Review: REI Hobitat 4 Tent

This four-person tent offers room in all directions, sky view ventilation, and a bone dry fly.
Text and photos by Joe Flowers.
«
  • The newly redesigned dome style REI Hobitat 4 is a three-season car camping castle that deploys quickly and is spacious enough (62 square feet) to keep families from fueding over floor space. It fits 2 parents and 3 small kids (and a mutt) or 4 adults.
  • Everyone will love the quick, color-coded three-pole setup. Just remember to pitch the shorter mesh roof pole first. No criss-crossing here, just two parallel, pre-bent poles (an easy-threading combo of clips and sleeves) and a short cross pole in an H.
  • Dimensions (99" long x 87" wide x 72" tall) work for big guys who like their space, too. Imprisoned by a rainstorm in NC, three campers had plenty of room to play cards while a fourth camper napped happily. The near-vertical walls provide an airy feel.
  • In muggy mosquito territory, the 5 mesh side panels offered a gentle cross breeze, while the mesh roof affords a sky view. Ventilation with the rain fly on is no problem, with 2 inches between the rain fly and the mesh roof to keep condensation in check.
  • The tent proved unflappable in 15-mph wind with minor guying, and remained dry inside. The taffeta rain fly covers half of the tent, protecting the ventilation panels while an awning and zippered doors protect the exposed door and back window.
  • Each corner has a pocket. There's no overhead storage, but six loops dot the ceiling so you can improvise or hang a lantern. The door stuffs into its own pocket at the top of the doorway, but this also proved to be a handy stash for tp.
  • Cool option: The 56-sq. ft. "garage." I stored bikes overnight, even set up a small table for cooking breakfast in foul weather. It was perfect for a staging area, and worked as a stash for most of the camp when a thunderstorm blew in.
  • The Hobitat 4 shows that four people are not a crowd, and the easy setup makes it ideal for families, road trippers, and those who car camp "socially" or need room to spread out. One complaint: The heavy tent stakes are overkill.
  • The Specs:<Br> Price: $270 <Br>Weight: 16 lbs. 9 oz.<Br> 62 square feet <Br>Packed size: 27 by 10 inches <Br>Optional garage: $100; 4 lb. 10 oz. <Br>rei.com
>
»
The newly redesigned dome style REI Hobitat 4 is a three-season car camping castle that deploys quickly and is spacious enough (62 square feet) to keep families from fueding over floor space. It fits 2 parents and 3 small kids (and a mutt) or 4 adults.
Image 1 of 9

The newly redesigned dome style REI Hobitat 4 is a three-season car camping castle that deploys quickly and is spacious enough (62 square feet) to keep families from fueding over floor space. It fits 2 parents and 3 small kids (and a mutt) or 4 adults.

READERS COMMENTS

Page 1

No weights or dimensions? Really?
— Wtf

Image 9 of 9, The Specs:
Price: $270
Weight: 16 lbs. 9 oz.
62 square feet
Packed size: 27 by 10 inches
Optional garage: $100; 4 lb. 10 oz.
rei.com
— Joe Flowers

Dimensions (99" long x 87" wide x 72" tall)
— Orion


POST A COMMENT

Your Name:
Comment:
My Profile Join Now

Most recent threads

Southern
Memorial Day Weekend
Posted On: May 23, 2012
Submitted By: magicmomma
Trailhead Register
This Is Wrong On So Many Levels...
Posted On: May 23, 2012
Submitted By: High_Sierra_Fan
Most viewed Most emailed Top Rated

  1. Make a Tyvek Groundcloth for Your Tent

    Save money (and weight) with this tent-saving DIY trick.

  2. How to Make a Survival Bracelet

    In an emergency, you can use paracord for lashings, tourniquets, shoelaces, ...

  3. Gear Review: 10 under $10

    Ten dirt-cheap items to make your next hike more enjoyable.

  1. Hiking to Grand Canyon's Royal Arch

    Join photographer Elias Butler on this trek to one of the Grand Canyon's hidden ...

  2. How to Make a Survival Bracelet

    In an emergency, you can use paracord for lashings, tourniquets, shoelaces, ...

  3. 2010 Reader Photo Contest

    Your best shots: BACKPACKER readers have been to some spectacular places and ...

TIP 32: Follow the Ranger

Ask park rangers which tent sites are best for privacy, views, and water. Then steer the conversation to where they like to camp.

Special sections - Expert handbooks for key trails, techniques and gear

International Travel
From Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' trek abroad. Powered by:

Navigation Center
Learn how to orient a map, navigate any terrain, and the ins-and-outs of GPS devices.

BACKPACKER's Free Smartphone GPS App
Record and share you adventures with our new, free navigation app. Plus, discover thousands of GPS-enabled hikes in national parks and major cities.

Backpacker Expeditions
Backpacker Expeditions will challenge your outdoor fortitude and indulge your passion for discovery. Powered by:

Follow BackpackerMag on Twitter Follow Backpacker on Facebook
Name:
Address 1:
Address 2:
City:
State:
Zip:
(required) Email:

If I like BACKPACKER, I'll pay just $12.00 and receive a
full one-year subscription (9 issues in all), a 73% savings
off the newsstand price! If for any reason I decide not to continue, I'll write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing.

SUBMIT MY ORDER Offer valid in US only.
Canadian subscriptions | International subscriptions

Pay Now