Big Agnes Bunk House 4 Review

Why not make your car camping trip luxurious? For a backpacker like me, squeezing into a small space was just part of the deal when it came to camping. But growing your family can also mean growing your expectations for what adventure looks like. Spreading out and taking space is necessary for us these days, and the Big Agnes Bunk House 4 makes it easy. 

Midwest camping can range from extreme heat to unpredictable storms to freezing cold — or sometimes all three in quick succession. Having gear that can withstand the test and provide a space for everyone to safely shelter and stay entertained is an essential part of family camping, and the Bunk House delivers.

We decided to check out a HipCamp on a local farm to test out the Bunk House. We set up on a private campsite by a creek, and weathered some high winds and mild rains over the course of the weekend while the Bunk House stood tall.

In short: The Big Agnes Bunk House 4 ($600) is a spacious family car-camping tent. It can be set up in two modes, standard and “Fast-Fly” (which is fly-only). The vestibule area is patio-sized, and you can stand fully upright inside the tent. While it would be a squeeze to sleep four people inside this shelter, for three (and a dog), there was ample space, and everyone was comfortable. This is a luxury car camping companion.

Compare the Big Agnes Bunk House 4 to other tents on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Camping Tents.

Big Agnes Bunk House 4 Review

Ample Room in an Adventurous Package

With large vestibules and a tall pitch, the Bunk House allows campers to spread out into their surroundings. That’s a key feature for a family like mine, consisting of two adults, a toddler, and a large-breed dog.

The double-zip front vestibule rolls up to create almost a second room. It’s a perfect staging area for shoes, gear, and wiping paws. A second door and vestibule provide another large footprint space for covering gear without having to sleep on it.

The interior allowed my 6’2” partner to stand fully in the middle (if just so), something he’d yet to experience in a tent since childhood. At 5’8”, I stood comfortably throughout, making it easy to change clothes and blow up sleeping pads out of the rain.

When the rain picked up, the space was wide enough for the baby to crawl back and forth inside the tent and vestibule, keeping him cozy without feeling cooped up — something our other tents would not have allowed.

As spacious as it felt to us, the space would be pretty tight for four people. We found that only three sleeping pads could reasonably fit in the floor space. That left some room in between to allow for getting out without crawling over others. If four people were crammed in here, they’d have to be very good friends.

Pockets & Transport

A small but key feature is the ample pocket space inside. Multiple pockets provide space for storing packed bags without them hanging over your head (as in our backpacking tents). I could organize items like contact cases, Kindle, headlamp, and baby wipes to be accessible and easy to find.

With a large space comes a large package, but the smartly designed tent bag can be carried in backpack or duffle mode. That makes it easy to carry even for walk-in camping sites. At 15 pounds, it’s a heavy tent. But that’s fairly standard for car camping tents of this size.

Fast Setup for Two

The magnetic poles and classic Big Agnes color-coated corners made for a fast setup for two people. The fly is side-specific and requires paying attention to those colored poles (if you tend to ignore instructions like me). A lone setup may take practice, but it is probably doable with patience.

Setting up in fly-mode is a little trickier, but once up, this tent gives substantial coverage. As we tried to put the fly on the poles, it acted as a sail in the wind and blew over often. Once erected, it similarly required stakes to hold its shape.

It is important to note that the footprint, which is sold separately, is required for fly-only mode to function properly.

The setup is slower than a traditional canopy. However, the two-in-one option offers cost savings. For city dwellers like myself, it’s also an important space-saving option for gear storage.

Durable Shelter in a Storm

The full ceiling-to-floor walls provide exemplary rain coverage, shielding us from the unpredictable Midwest storms and offering protection from sideways rain and wind chill. The wind picked up on our second night, allowing us to test the hold of the stakes. Nothing flew away, and we emerged from the storm fully intact.

For a three-season tent, I think the double-walled panel could help you extend the third season into the fall and early spring. As both a parent and a naturalist, knowing the 2025 version has been reconfigured to be PFAS-free is an underrated benefit.

The downside of the fly mode feature is the limited ventilation. We found the dew buildup under the fly took some time to dry out before the tent could be packed away.

Big Agnes Bunk House 4: The Bottom Line

As storms become more unpredictable and extreme, having a tent that can withstand the rain and wind is paramount. I would trust the Bunk House in one of our Midwest out-of-nowhere rainstorms.

While it’s not a necessity, the fly-mode feature is a “nice-to-have” that could offer space savings by eliminating the need for another expensive piece of gear. Besides, the vestibule space and ability to stand up inside add a lot of value, in my opinion.

This is a great tent for families who car camp or anyone who enjoys some extra tent space at the campsite. The Bunkn House itself is on the larger side, which may not be ideal if storage space is at a premium, and it’s probably overbuilt for individuals or couples. At 15 pounds, it is not for anyone who prefers ultralight gear. But for car camping with groups of three to four, it’s a great (big) shelter.

The Big Agnes Bunk House 4 packs a lot of coverage into a grab-and-go car camping tent.