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Head-to-head · Best Camping Tents for 4

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P vs REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about families wanting maximum comfort — read the strengths below before deciding.

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P
Higher ratedRanked #3 in Best Camping Tents for 4
NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P
5 sources$399.95as of Aug 3

Livability is the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P's calling card. Karuna Eberl of GearJunkie summed it up as a 'huge door, tall ceiling, and ample ventilation' winner. Steep walls give standing room up to 6'3', the front door is massive with multiple slider zippers, and airflow is excellent. Reviewers noted the rainfly lacks full coverage and the tent runs somewhat heavier than competitors, yet they still call it an excellent choice for families and couples car camping. It isn't built for extreme conditions or long-term base camping; it's built to make weekend trips more enjoyable.

Strengths
  • — Steep side walls provide 75-inch peak height allowing full standing room for campers up to 6'3"
  • — Massive front door with three zipper sliders offers flexible access and easy entry/exit
  • — Excellent ventilation with mesh top third and well-designed windows that roll up/down
Watch-outs
  • — Rainfly doesn't provide 100% coverage of the tent fabric
  • — Slightly heavier than comparable tents at 15 lbs 14 oz
$399.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus
Ranked #4 in Best Camping Tents for 4
REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus
4 sources$369as of Apr 25

Comfort and easy setup are what the REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus is built around, which puts it squarely in car camping and luxury backpacking territory. GearLab praised the generous interior space and thoughtful design, with good ventilation and storage, while GearJunkie described the retro-inspired update as more usable than before. Criticism landed on weight and bulk for solo backpacking, plus fly vestibule sagging and inadequate stakes. Couples or groups who prioritize comfort over weight will like it; ultralight backpackers will not.

Strengths
  • — Extremely spacious with lots of headroom for two people
  • — Very straightforward, user-friendly setup/breakdown with single pole design
  • — Well-thought-out interior with numerous pockets and stash spots
Watch-outs
  • — Somewhat heavy/large for solo backpacking
  • — Fly vestibules can sag and are hard to keep taut
  • — Insufficient stakes or guy lines for proper fly tension
$369 · Buy at rei.comFull review →

How they stack up

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P

The NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P leads in livability with its 75-inch peak height and massive front door, offering more standing room than the Half Dome 2 Plus and Mineral King 3. While it's heavier than the Mountain Hardwear tent and lacks full rainfly coverage compared to the Base Camp 6, it provides better ventilation and is ideal for families seeking comfort over portability.

REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus

The REI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus stands out for its exceptional interior space and user-friendly single-pole design, making it superior to the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4P and Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 for comfort-focused campers. Unlike the Base Camp 6, it avoids the issue of bulky construction while still offering more headroom than the OneTigris Stella 4 Season Tent, though it's less suitable for solo backpacking due to weight and size.

Specs side-by-side

SpecNEMO Aurora Highrise 4PREI Co-op Half Dome 2 Plus
Capacity4-person2-person
Floor Area62.5 sq. ft.35.8 sq. ft.
Weight15 lbs, 14 oz6 lbs., 3.6 oz.
Peak Height75 in42 in
DoorsTwo2 doors
VestibulesTwo2
Dimensions—92 x 56 x 44 in
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