REI Co-op Skyward 4 Tent

What We Think

Standing room changes everything in a tent, and the Skyward 4 delivers 78 inches of it, enough for most adults to stand upright while changing clothes or waiting out a rain shower.

Combined with near-vertical cabin walls and 60 square feet of floor space, this is a tent that feels like a room rather than a shelter.

It scored a 7.9 overall, reflecting genuine strengths in livability alongside real limitations in weather protection that buyers should understand before purchasing.

Space & Comfort

This is where the Skyward 4 earns its keep, scoring a 9.0 in Space & Comfort.

The 78-inch peak height is the headline spec, and owners consistently call it out as the tent's defining feature, particularly families with kids who appreciate being able to move around without hunching.

The cabin-style walls maximize usable floor space in a way that dome tents simply cannot match, a distinction we break down in our Dome Tent VS Cabin Tent comparison.

For context on where this tent sits in the broader category, our Best Cabin Tents guide covers the full range of options.

Quality & Durability

The 150-denier polyester floor is a meaningful upgrade over the 75D floors common at this price point, which matters if you're camping on gravel pads or abrasive ground.

Aluminum poles are another quality indicator, providing better longevity and flex recovery than the fiberglass found in budget competitors like the Coleman 4-Person Cabin Tent at $218.

Owners praise the floor durability specifically, and the tent scored an 8.0 in Quality & Durability.

Weather Resistance

Here is the Skyward 4's genuine weakness, and we need to name it plainly: the rainfly is a problem.

It's a small, cap-style design that covers the roof but leaves the upper walls exposed, and a recurring theme in negative reviews is water intrusion during heavy or wind-driven rain.

The 75-denier rainfly fabric itself is adequate, but coverage is the issue.

This is a fair-weather tent, full stop, and it scored a 7.5 in Weather Resistance.

If you camp in genuinely wet climates, the Big Agnes Bunk House 4 at $600 offers full-coverage fly protection and scores an 8.2 overall, though you're paying $226 more for it.

Ease of Use

The 10-minute setup time is reasonable for a cabin tent of this size, though owners consistently flag the pole sleeves as frustrating, particularly when threading poles through tight fabric channels.

It's not a dealbreaker, but it adds friction to what should be a straightforward process.

The tent scored an 8.0 in Ease of Use.

Value for Money

At $374, the Skyward 4 sits in a competitive middle ground, scoring a 7.0 in Value for Money.

The 19.5-square-foot vestibule adds genuine utility for gear storage, and owners appreciate its convertible design.

You're paying REI prices here, which means better materials than budget options but not necessarily better value per dollar.

User Reviews

Owner feedback runs strongly positive at 8.6, with the most common praise centered on standing height and floor durability.

The single door is occasionally mentioned as a minor inconvenience for tent mates, but it rarely rises to the level of a complaint.

Who It's For

The Skyward 4 is built for car campers who prioritize interior comfort over storm-worthiness, particularly families or couples who want to stand up, spread out, and treat the tent as a base rather than just a place to sleep.

If you need more room, REI also makes the Skyward 6.

This is a campground tent, not a backcountry shelter, and it weighs nearly 14 pounds to prove it.

The Bottom Line

The REI Co-op Skyward 4 scored a 7.9 and earns it through exceptional livability, the kind of standing room and floor space that makes a weekend feel less like roughing it.

The undersized rainfly is a real limitation, so plan your trips around the forecast.

For fair-weather car camping with comfort as the priority, this tent delivers.