The Big Agnes Big House 6 is indeed a big house that’s well-crafted, relatively easy to pitch, and simple to pack and unpack, with a decent number of storage pockets and loops. The Shelter Mode option also adds a great deal to its value, since it makes this almost a two-in-one purchase (albeit a purchase of $474.95). However, we weren’t particularly impressed with some of the aesthetic choices for the doors and windows, and the lack of a vestibule was a notable exclusion. All in all, we wish that Big Agnes had put a bit more emphasis on conventional features rather than focusing on making this tent look unique, though the welcome mat is a nice touch.

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Big Agnes is like FUBU for backcountry bums, run by a small team of outdoor enthusiasts intent on producing the absolute best products for sleeping in the great outdoors. Along with their highly popular sleeping bags and pads along with camp furniture and accessories, Big Agnes also offers a line of tents for ultralight backpackers, bikepackers, and even car campers. With respect to the third category, the $474.95 Big House 6 is one of the largest tents in the lineup, and it has a handful of features that boost its versatility. However, there were also a few unique design choices holding it back from being one of the best camping tents on the market.

Comfort

For a company that has “big” not only in their company name but also the name of their tent, we had big expectations for the interior space on the Big House 6. In terms of headroom, the Big House takes the crown with a peak height of 6’9”; only two other tents came close, The North Face Wawona 6 and the NEMO Wagontop 6. The Big House is 8’4” long and 9’10” wide, for a total square footage of 81.9, although Big Agnes and REI list the square footage as 83. This actually positions the Big House 6 at the bottom of our list amongst its 6-person competitors, just behind the 83sqft Marmot Limestone 6P and REI Co-op Kingdom 6. However, the Big House’s pre-bent poles give this tent near-vertical walls that make for a great deal of interior volume, and it feels very roomy inside thanks to its “vaulted ceiling.”

You’ll find doors both at the front and rear, and each has its own design. The front door, which has its own oversized “welcome mat” attached to the tent body, uses two separate zippers to open. Both are located in the bottom-right corner of the door, and one runs along the ground to the bottom-left corner while the other curves around to the top-left; you can hold this door open using the quick-stash door keeper in the inside corner. We felt this “backward L” shaped door was a slightly ambitious design choice that wasn’t quite as user-friendly as many of the quad-zippered doors featured on similarly priced 6-person tents. The rear door is quite a bit simpler, with a dome shape that only requires one dual zipper to run along the top. The door can be rolled up at the bottom with a pair of clips.

Both doors feature mesh windows with a rather unique shape that’s aesthetically pleasing but provide a bit more form than function. There’s also mesh on the side walls that boosts the ventilation but doesn’t provide the most ideal views outside; you’ll also lose any views from these side walls with the rainfly attached.

Ease of Setup

Pitching the Big House 6 is a relatively straightforward affair that should take less than 8 minutes with just a bit of practice. There are only three poles required for setup. The majority of the tent body is supported by two longer poles that are pre-bent in the top corners and crisscross in the middle of the roof, while a single shorter pole, which runs from the top of the front door to the top of the back door, serves to elevate the roof and create an archway for the rainfly. Grommets hold the two main poles at the bottom, and then those poles run through a series of hooks along the bottom and fabric sleeves along the roof. The third pole also feeds through a sleeve along the roof and is held in place by clips at each end. The height of the tent makes it just a bit difficult to drape it over the top, but there are color-coded clips that at least make it easier to orient, as well as velcro loops to keep things in place.

The packaged weight of the Big House 6 is 16 lbs. 7 oz., and it packs away into an impressive travel bag. Measuring 25.5”x17”x10”, the bag unzips on three sides to reveal a highly organized system of pockets, with a large pocket on one side for the tent body and multiple pockets on the other side for the poles, stakes, guylines, and rainfly. Plus, the bag has adjustable backpack straps for easy transport and a side strap to be carried suitcase-style.

Weatherproofing

Both the rainfly and the floor are polyester with a 1500mm waterproof polyurethane coating. The doors and walls are highly capable of repelling water, and the window enclosures on both doors feature storm flaps. While the rainfly covers a great deal of the side walls, it only provides a shallow awning at the front and back door. The minimal slope on the walls of this tent paired with the use of pre-bent poles make it a tad susceptible to winds, so if you’re anticipating any gusts, we recommend you employ the included stakes and guylines.

It is with no small degree of displeasure that we must report that the base tent does not come with a vestibule, a notable exclusion that is one of the Big House’s biggest drawbacks, since there is no space outside the tent to keep your gear protected from the elements. Big Agnes does produce a rather large and versatile vestibule that pairs with this tent, but it will cost an additional $139.95, which is nearly one-third the cost of the tent itself.

Durability

Anyone who has used a Big Agnes product can attest to its impressive build quality. The body of the tent is a combination of breathable and coated polyester as well as nylon mesh, and the polyester floor is rugged enough to handle a reasonable degree of abuse. The tent poles are 14.5mm in diameter and are made of DAC DA17 aluminum. To further extend the life of this tent, you’ll have to dole out another $55 for the Big House 6 footprint, which, combined with the price of the Accessories Vestibule, will bump the total cost to nearly $650.

Other Features

Despite lacking a few features that gave us a bit of pause, the Big House 6 does have a few tricks up its sleeves that up the appeal. For one, the interior is littered with storage options that include four mesh pockets, two detachable corner bin pockets, and two media pockets, along with a series of interior loops for attaching gear lofts and accessories. The tent’s main party piece, however, is its Shelter Mode option. Using only the rainfly and tentpoles combined with either the included webbing harness or the optional footprint, you can deploy a spacious covered shelter that offers a nice reprieve on sunny days where there are limited options for shade. The high awnings make it large enough that you can even ride your bike through it, which the folks at Big Agnes were happy to illustrate in their promotional video.

The Bottom Line

The Big Agnes Big House 6 is indeed a big house that’s well-crafted, relatively easy to pitch, and simple to pack and unpack, with a decent number of storage pockets and loops. The Shelter Mode option also adds a great deal to its value since it makes this almost a two-in-one purchase. However, we weren’t particularly impressed with some of the aesthetic choices for the doors and windows, and the lack of a vestibule was a notable exclusion. All in all, we wish that Big Agnes had put a bit more emphasis on conventional features rather than focusing on making this tent look unique.

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