REI Co-op Half Dome 4

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

2026 lineup note: Current. The Half Dome 4 is REI's 4-person backpacking/family-crossover tent — the bigger sibling of the famous Half Dome 2 line. Current-looking evidence suggests ~$349 and ~6 lb 13 oz, but REI's Half Dome line has gone through several distinct versions (Half Dome 4, Half Dome 4 Plus, Half Dome 4 HC), and the strongest detailed spec sheets found describe the older 4 Plus. Do NOT conflate the Half Dome 4 with the 4 Plus or the HC — they are different tents. Current 2026 generation specs are partially UNVERIFIED; the 4 Plus figures below are the verified reference.

Version lineage (2023–2026)

• Half Dome 4 Plus (older) — the well-documented version: min 7 lb 1 oz, 58.7 sq ft, 48 in peak, 22.5 sq ft vestibules, 92 × 92 in floor. The family-backpacking benchmark.
• Half Dome 4 (current, 2026) — current REI listing suggests ~$349 and ~6 lb 13 oz; exact spec sheet UNVERIFIED from 2026-09-20 research — re-verify at rei.com.
• Half Dome 4 HC — a separate heavier-duty variant; do not mix its specs with the standard 4.

Overview

The Half Dome 4 is REI's answer to "we're two adults and two kids and we want one tent for backpacking and car camping": a freestanding, two-door, two-vestibule 4-person tent from the most-trusted house brand in US outdoor retail. The Half Dome name carries the line's reputation for easy color-coded pitching and livable floorplans, and REI's member dividend and return policy soften the buying risk. The 4 Plus generation's 58.7 sq ft floor and 48-inch peak made it one of the roomiest true backpacking 4P tents; the current generation appears slightly lighter at ~6 lb 13 oz.

Key Specs

Pricing

• Current evidence: ~$349 (2026-09-20) — UNVERIFIED from REI direct; re-verify at rei.com.
• REI member sales (20% off) historically bring Half Dome tents near ~$280 — UNVERIFIED for the current generation.

In the Box

Tent body, rainfly, pole set, stakes, guylines, stuff sack(s), setup instructions. Footprint compatibility UNVERIFIED — REI sells Half Dome footprints separately for some versions.

Warranty

REI's member-satisfaction return policy plus REI Co-op limited warranty. UNVERIFIED exact terms from 2026-09-20 research — re-verify.

Support & Parts

REI's in-house brand support: replacement poles and parts through REI customer service and stores; the Half Dome line's popularity means parts availability is good.

Community Verdict

The Half Dome 4 is the default recommendation for backpacking families — "two adults, two kids, one tent" comes up constantly, with owners praising the easy pitch, the space, and REI's backing. The weight (~7 lb in the Plus generation) is the universal caveat: fine split four ways or for short carries, heavy for long miles. The version confusion (4 vs 4 Plus vs HC) is a real shopping hazard — owners comparing notes are sometimes describing different tents. No fabricated scores.

Images

• [research workspace] — studio
• UNVERIFIED (2026-09-20, re-confirmed 2026-09-21): Image count stuck at 1 — generation-identity audit failed. Former image 2 showed a "HALF DOME 4 PLUS" branded body (wrong model; removed 2026-09-20 per dossier no-conflation rule). Current-gen Half Dome 4 (~$349 / ~6 lb 13 oz, 2026) official images live only on rei.com, which is unreachable from this network (HTTP 000 on all fetches, incl. 2026-09-21). 2026-09-21 top-up: ~12 more image-search angles (YouTube thumbnails, eBay listings, sale-article galleries incl. Men's Journal 2024, Review Atlas 2026 guide) surfaced only the 4 Plus, Half Dome 2/SL 2, Camp Dome 4, HC variants, or unidentifiable generations; no verified current-gen plain-4 imagery found. Needs a browser-agent pass with REI access.

Research date: 2026-09-20. 4 Plus specs from REI-published data via retailer listings. Current-generation (~$349, ~6 lb 13 oz) figures are UNVERIFIED — re-verify the live spec sheet at rei.com before publishing.

Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality (enrichment — Sept 2026)

The Half Dome line has one of the longest owner records in the business — decade-plus service reports on older generations are routine, and the design prioritizes durability over weight (which is why the tents are heavy). Known long-term themes: zippers and PU coating aging like any tent, poles holding up well, and REI's return policy historically smoothing over early-life defects. The current generation is too new for its own long-term record; the 4 Plus generation's reputation is the proxy — sturdy, heavy, long-lived.

Version history — year by year (enrichment — Sept 2026)

• 2023–2024: Half Dome 4 Plus on sale — 7 lb 1 oz min, 58.7 sq ft, the documented benchmark.
• 2025: Lineup churn — standard Half Dome 4 and HC variant in circulation; spec sheets diverge across listings.
• 2026: Current Half Dome 4 at ~$349 / ~6 lb 13 oz per current-looking evidence — exact specs UNVERIFIED.

Head-to-head vs closest rivals (enrichment — Sept 2026)

• vs REI Co-op Half Dome SL 2+ / Half Dome 2 Plus (/library/gear/tents-shelters/rei-half-dome-sl-2-plus/ — catalog): the 2-person sibling — same DNA, smaller. The 4 is the family play; the 2+ is the backpacking-couple play.
• vs REI Co-op Base Camp 6 (/library/gear/tents-shelters/rei-base-camp-6/): the Base Camp 6 is the car-camping storm fortress (heavier, tougher); the Half Dome 4 is the one you can actually backpack with.
• vs Marmot Limestone 4P (/library/gear/tents-shelters/marmot-limestone-4p/): the Limestone 4P ($479, 10 lb 12.6 oz) is the roomier car-camping upgrade; the Half Dome 4 is the lighter, backpackable alternative.

Care & maintenance (enrichment — Sept 2026)

Taped seams — no seam sealing needed. Standard PU discipline: store loose, dry, dark. With kids in the tent, the floor takes abuse — a footprint is cheap insurance. The 92 × 92 in floor is a lot of fabric to dry; air fully before packing.

Buying traps (enrichment — Sept 2026)

• Version trap: Half Dome 4 vs 4 Plus vs 4 HC are different tents with different weights and floorplans. Verify which one a listing or review describes before comparing notes or prices.
• Current-generation specs (~$349, ~6 lb 13 oz) are UNVERIFIED — don't quote them as REI's published figures.
• At ~7 lb it's a shared-load or short-carry tent, not a solo-carry backpacking tent.

Community Verdict — additional voices (enrichment — Sept 2026)

Sourced voices (Sept 2026): the "two adults + two kids" use case dominates owner reports — the Half Dome 4 is repeatedly the answer in family-backpacking threads, praised for pitch simplicity and surviving real kid use. The weight caveat is universal and good-natured ("heavy, but it goes up easy and the kids can help carry"). Version confusion draws genuine complaints — shoppers report difficulty telling the 4, 4 Plus, and HC apart on the used market. No fabricated scores.

Key Specs gap-fill (enrichment — Sept 2026)

Weights in both units — 4 Plus (verified reference): minimum 7 lb 1 oz = 113 oz = 3,203 g (3.20 kg); packaged 7 lb 10 oz = 122 oz = 3,459 g (3.46 kg). Floor 92 × 92 in = 58.7 sq ft; vestibules 22.5 sq ft total; peak 48 in. Current-generation figures (~6 lb 13 oz = 109 oz = 3,090 g) UNVERIFIED.