Review of Big Agnes Big House Tents
If you’re the kind of outdoor adventurer who loves to
bring his family along on camping trips, and you’ve got quite a brood of
kids to take into the wild, you’ve probably decided to invest in a tent with
a greater capacity than the conventional two or three-person models.
Even if you camp alone, perhaps you’d like an alternative to your
regular backpack tent for those days when you’re camping with friends in
more pleasant conditions and would like a far roomier shelter for changing
clothes or keeping your equipment.
In either of these situations, you may consider the purchase of one
of the tents from Big Agnes, a product that is appropriately named the Big
House 6. In spite of being held
up by only three tent poles, this tent is impressively sized, easily capable
of providing enough space for 6 normal-sized adults within its incredible 90
square foot frame and 75-inch head height.
In spite of being so enormous, the Big House 6 is surprisingly simple
to set up, requiring only ten minutes for one person to construct while the
other inhabitants prepare food or explore the immediate surroundings.
The tent poles are color coded, as is the rain fly, so assembling the
tent is a relative breeze.
The Big House truly lives up to its name, but is also
packed with loads of appreciated features, such as mesh bags that line the
tent interior so that various objects are well within reach, particularly
when it gets dark, and mesh screens on the two doors to allow for excellent
ventilation while keeping flying critters out of the tent proper.
It also has a large vestibule for storage purposes, to keep certain
essentials dry when it's raining.
The seams are also factory sealed for further protection against
water, particularly if it accumulates on the ground.
The rain fly can be rolled back without being detached for those days
when weather protection isn’t so important and the inhabitants would rather
allow more air to circulate within the tent.
Weighing in at just less than 14 pounds, this is a tent more suited
to carrying in a car to a camp site, but if the adventuring party is large
enough to warrant taking a Big House along on a hike, then its excellent
utility more than offsets the burden of having to lug this admittedly heavy
package around.
The Big House does have a few drawbacks that do not
have to do with its size, but may be slight hiccups in the tent’s design.
The first is the welcome mat which, while a delightful touch, is not
detachable from the main tent and simply gathers dirt and debris after a
while, which makes it an unnecessary hassle.
The Big House also does not appear to come with enough stakes and guy
lines to keep it secured, so you may have to spend a few extra dollars on
additional equipment. Lastly,
the vestibule, while great during inclement weather, isn’t quite as
appreciated during calmer, warmer periods, as it tends to act as a giant bug
catcher.
Overall, the Big House is a fine choice for a larger tent whose many advantages outweigh its mostly minor drawbacks. You can buy it online here.
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