New Big Agnes Tensleep Station 6 Tent Review

This Big Agnes Tensleep Station 6 Tent review is about the new version of the very reliable 3-season tent with a full-coverage fly, lots of protected space, and some nice features.

Key features & benefits

What kind of tent is this

This Tensleep Station 6 is a new version of the famous tent from this renown brand. Both versions are on the market and you will easily know the difference – the new is in this green color which you see in the pictures here. There are no differences in size, just to know; they are exactly the same.

The tent is an extended dome type, so you have the main dome part which is freestanding, see the picture below, but the extension is not, so it must be staked down to be fully functional. See how the main dome looks without the fly and without the extension.

As you realize, you have 3 poles in the main dome part and there are 3 intersections, so this is what makes the structure very strong. The more intersections the better.

The tent is a double-layer type. There is a lot of mesh in the inner tent and the fly is full coverage. So you have full protection from elements. This is a very reliable 3-season tent.

What is in the name

You might want to know, this is something from the US history, about the tensions between sheepherders from southern Wyoming passing into Colorado, which ended up the Tensleep Murders or the Spring Creek Raid. Big Agnes brand uses the names of historic places for their items.

Who is it for

Space-wise, the tent’s declared capacity is 6 people. But the total floor area is 90 ft² (8.4 m²) which gives 15 ft² (1.4 m²) per person. So this is the capacity determined by the backpacking principle. You can certainly put 6 sleeping bags on the floor, see below what they suggest:

As you see the tent is very wide, almost three meters, and this allows you to put some stuff on the sides. There are two vestibules though only one is large enough to store your stuff or to do some cooking. But in any case, I would not use this tent for more than 4 people. Note that the proportions in this picture are not accurate, but this is from the manufacturer, so this can be confusing – it looks so elongated while in the reality the two main inner dimensions are almost the same, i.e., 292 cm and 310 cm.

Seasons-wise, I have already said, this is a tent for 3-season use and it will protect you in any weather conditions.

The weight is 18 lb (8.16 kg), though they also give the trail weight which is 16 lb 9 oz (7.51 kg), but this is a bit too heavy to carry on the trail. So it is best suited at places with motorized access or where you do not have to carry it yourself. The packed size is such that you can transport it on a motorbike as well.

Overview of features

The fabric

The inner tent is a durable polyester with mesh panels for air circulation. There are enough of such mesh areas to work against condensation build-up.

The floor is polyester coated with waterproof polyurethane so this is a very reliable and durable structure with a bathtub design, all done properly for a full protection.

The same material is the fly and the waterproof rating for both is 1500 mm. This may not look too much but this is more than enough for any 3-season use. With all seams taped and with the full fly coverage you are completely protected in this tent.

You have seen in the picture above that the poles are kept in place with sleeves on the top of the inner tent, and with press connectors in other areas. The sleeves have a great role in the stability of the tent when you do not have a hub element. A tent becomes freestanding as soon as you pass the poles through such sleeves and fix them in the grommets. Some people dislike sleeves, but in the present case they are not long, so passing the poles through them is easy.

Note that the fly can be rolled up when it is not raining and you can have increased visibility and ventilation in such a setup, see the picture below. There is one vent on the fly, I would love to see more. You have Velcro tabs that connect the fly to the pole structure for extra stability.

The poles

The poles are lightweight aluminum and you have them 4. The 4th pole is used for the vestibule and it goes over the fly, through the external sleeve. This is a clever system which allows for several nice configurations with the main vestibule, you can see it in pictures.

The inner area

The doors are big and positioned on the two opposite sides. When you are inside you realize this is a rather tall stricture with 75 inches (191 cm) peak height. It is surprising how many storage elements you have here; those include 4 interior storage pockets, 2 cargo pockets, 2 media pockets, and also gear loft loops.

The vestibules

The tent is with 2 vestibules, the rear one is quite small. The real gem here is the main front vestibule with its 38.5 square feet of the covered space. I would say this is the best part of this tent.

Can you believe that you have two mesh windows on the vestibule? This is a great feature for extra ventilation because the fly is only with one top vent. The main front flap on the vestibule can be used in several ways and you can create a pleasant awning, see the pictures.

Other features

Note that the tent comes with 19 lightweight aluminum hook stakes in the package. The bag is a briefcase-style, with shoulder straps and organizational pockets.

Please see more in this short video by Big Agnes. They are showing both versions, the previous orange and this new green, there are no functional differences:

Specifications

• Type: semi-freestanding 3-season tent.
• Capacity: 6 people.
• Best use: camping.
• Packed weight: 18 lb (8.16 kg).
• Trail weight: 16 lb 9 oz (7.51 kg).
• Total dimensions: 221 x 115 in (561 x 292 cm).
• Floor area: 90 ft² (8.4 m²).
• Area per person: 15 ft² (1.4 m²).
• Vestibules area: 38.5 ft² + 10 ft² (3.6 + 0.9 m²).
• Peak height: 75 in (191 cm).
• Packed size: 27 x 15 x 5 in (68 x 38 x 12 cm).
• Poles: 4, press-fit aluminum.
• Doors: 2.
• Warranty: limited lifetime.

Big Agnes Tensleep Station 6 vs Marmot Limestone 6

It is always useful to compare such a tent with some other tents built in the same style, so here I give it side by side with the Marmot Limestone 6. When you see their basic features side by side, you can better realize their meaning and make an informed choice.

As you see, the Tensleep Station 6 is a bit heavier but it offers more protected area. Please follow the links in the table to see more:

Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons

Please see how I rate this tent:

Big Agnes Tensleep Station 6-Person Camping Tent

8.3

Area per person

8.2/10

Weight

7.4/10

Packed size

6.7/10

Protection

9.4/10

Ease of use

9.0/10

Features

8.9/10

Pros

• Very reliable.
• Full coverage fly.
• Great vestibule configurations.
• Many storage pockets.
• Quality manufacturing & materials.

Cons

• Expensive
• Too small for the declared capacity.

Buy at REI

Buy on Amazon

If you need something different for family camping, just look around. This whole site is only about large camping tents and I am sure you will find something suitable for you. You might want to check also this new 2018 redesigned Marmot Halo 6 tent built in the same style.

If you need something for 5 people, please check this Mountainsmith Conifer 5 Plus Tent, a lightweight and reliable tent.

Thank you for reading. Please use the comment box below if you have any comment or question. Have a nice day.