REI Co-op Skyward 4 Review

The REI Skyward 4 is a tent that sits in a class of its own, with an entry-level price point, quality materials, and a spacious 4-person interior capable of fitting a full-size family. The built-in vestibule is large enough to be useful in a storm and can double as an awning if you bring your own poles. Between the open ceiling, the back window, and the fully open front door, hot days with a little wind will be just fine. Putting on the small rainfly can be a bit of a struggle, but once on, the coverage is adequate for a light shower or two. The poles system is a little odd, having the top poles disconnected from the side poles, but this tent still only took us 6:44 minutes to pitch.

Performance Comparison

Space and Comfort

Coming in at 60 square feet of floor space and an additional 19.5 square feet of vestibule space, the Skyward 4 is a top contender for space among the 4-person tents in our lineup. REI skimped a little on pockets, with only four options and all at the front of the tent, but in their defense, they are nicely sized and easy to access. Our only other complaint is the single-door option — not ideal for late-night bathroom breaks and needy dogs.

The built-in vestibule is large enough to put a chair and a few dogs in, making it a very useful addition. It also has built-in grommets to use as an awning if you supply your own poles and guylines. Overall, the vestibule is a great addition to this tent that helped push the Skyward 4 into the winner's circle.

Space and comfort are also about height. Changing, morning jumping jacks, and headstand competitions are all real options with the Skyward 4. And thanks to the more traditional style shape, the tent is tall in all four corners. On the flip side, four additional hooks were added to the tent, but they feel more like an afterthought, and the quality is a little odd for a trusted tent brand like REI.

Weather Resistance

The Skyward 4 gets two dings in the weather resistance category due to the vertical walls and a rainfly that feels more like a little hat. The two together give us a slight pause should the weather forecast include heavy rain and strong winds. Thankfully, the single-wall doors and window have zippered protection, and the included guylines and stakes are strong enough to manage. On the flip side, this tent breathes well, has a nice mix of shade and mesh, and the awning option makes it a solid choice for hot, uncovered camping at festivals, beaches, and Nevada desserts.

The lock and key style attachments found on many tent rain flies are strong and simple but a true pain to use. And their angle on the Skyward 4 is an additional frustration point. We found that putting the fly on diagonally and being sure to use the velcro AFTER the fly is fully on seems to make things a little easier.

A tent with broadsides like the Skyward needs to be guylined and staked every time, and thankfully, the four extra stakes and guylines held well in all of our wind tests. And if a pole decides to snap, the included pole sleeve will get you through the rest of your trip.

Ease of Use

When you deal with a single-wall tent, things tend to be pretty smooth. This tent was pitched easily with two people and was very intuitive. The main cross poles are in three pieces, with a primary and two side poles that make one. An interesting design that we don't tend to see, but again very intuitive.

The tent does hold air when rolling up to pack away, and, untypical of REI, the storage bag is a snug fit. Be sure not to slack on your roll with this one, or you will find some frustration smashing it into the old-school sleeve-style bag. The good news is that the bag is super thick, so if you do need to shove some leftovers into it, you won't risk ripping anything.

Family Friendliness

 Bring everyone. The Skyward 4 can handle it. While not as luxurious as some of our 6-person options, a twin and two single mattresses still fit with room to spare. The vestibule allows for extra covered space for gear, and the pockets are big enough for everyone to fit their headlamp, phone, and a few extras.

Privacy is key for families, and thanks to the sides being fabric and not mesh and the door and window having closed options, you can be extremely private — a key feature when you're camping next to many other people. This, paired with the height, allows for stress-free changing and avoids any neighbor awkwardness.

Quality

With a 150D polyester floor, 75D polyester sides and rainfly, and stout aluminum poles, this tent can handle some use. The bag, stakes, and guylines are also on the better end of the quality spectrum. A nice bonus is the addition of a small fabric reflector on each of the four guylines.

However, the Skyward does have some quality concerns worth talking about. First, the five hangers that are sewn onto thin fabric feel very cheap and a bit out of place. The rainfly is also a bit uncharacteristic of REI, with its cheap attachments and velcro connections. Finally, the fabric — while thick — isn't very breathable and traps air, a bummer both in hot weather and when rolling up the tent.

Should You Buy the REI Co-op Skyward 4?

The Skyward 4 is a perfect entry-level tent for those looking to maximize size and comfort on a smaller budget. It's big in footprint and still compact and light in the car, and it sets up easily and has a good balance of openness and privacy. If you can get past a few little quirks, this tent is truly a high value.

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