Wenzel Nova Sport 6- by 5-Foot Two-Person Dome Tent

by Wenzel

Product Features

• Square-shaped, dome-style tent for two sleepers; measures 6 by 5 feet
• Lightweight enough for hiking and traveling
• Half-moon door; 3/4-ventilated top with mini fly cover
• Shock-corded fiberglass poles; lightweight steel stakes for stability and strength
• Nylon floors have taped floor seams; tent is backed by 10-year warranty

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Nicely lightweight and easy to set up and breakdown, the sporty Wenzel Nova dome-style tent is a great choice for a weekend car camping outing. It features a single room that measures 6 by 5 feet, and a 38-inch maximum height. It has a half-circle door with a mesh window covering half of it (and an interior zippered closure) as well as a three-quarter vented dome with no-see-um mesh. The interior is quite spare, with only a small gear pocket in one corner near the door.

Set up was easy, for the most part, and we erected the tent (with its two shock-corded fiberglass poles) in under five minutes. The one impediment to an even faster assembly was the heavy-duty nylon corner pockets that secure the poles, which included a polyester-reinforced interior flap that's not seamed at the top of the entry. Thus, we had a tougher time than we should have trying to make correct purchase with the pocket, continually hitting the space between the nylon pocket and the interior poly pocket.

But we could forgive this slight design flaw for such a nicely light and easily backpacked tent. However, it should be noted that this tent isn't suited to an all-out assault by rain, with just a small rain cover (instead of a full fly) to protect the dome's three-quarter-ventilated square, which is quickly attached using integrated plastic hooks. That said, the water-resistant polyester exterior (polyester utilizing Wenzel's Weather Armor coating) will shed drizzle and light rain (tested under our extended sprinkler test in our backyard) and keep you warm and protected inside. It also features a heavy-duty nylon floor with taped seams.

If you're an occasional camper who sticks with fair-weather weekends, the Wenzel Nova is a fine, affordable choice for camping duos. --Agen G.N. Schmitz

What's in the Box?
Tent, mini rain fly, metal stakes (with bag), two fiberglass shock-corded poles (with bag), stuff sack, printed instructions; backed by 10-year warranty

Amazon.com Tent Guide
Selecting a Tent
Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Expect the Worst
In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.

Three- and Four-Season Tents
For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.

For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.

Domes and Tunnels
Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.

Size Matters
Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.

Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.

Product Description

The Nova Sport Dome is 30 square feet, and easily sleeps 2 people. Lightweight enough for hiking and traveling anywhere you go. It is also the perfect backyard tent for family fun before the camping trip. Whether you use it in your backyard or on your next camping trip, the size and weight make it easy and fun to use. 6' x 5' x 40" provides a wedge shaped dome for easy access.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 21.5 x 4.5 x 4.5 inches ; 3.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000AO3J8Q
• Item model number: 36274
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,816 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Value!!!, October 2, 2006

By 

Ricardo Placencia "Ricky" (Irvine, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wenzel Nova Sport 6- by 5-Foot Two-Person Dome Tent (Sports)

This guy is awesome. I got it for a church camping trip. My wife and I decided to go at the last moment, so 3 days before I was looking for a cheap tent online, and stumbled on this guy. Its a very small tent, and I dont recomend it for anyone taller than 5'8. (I am 5'8 and my wife is 4'11) I had just enough room to stretch. The package also says it fits a third person, and it does, but I wouldnt recomend it.

Setting up was simple. It took me 10 minutes to put it all together, and thats because we were late and setting up in the dark. Taking it apart was just as easy.

The only drawbacks are the zippers. They get caught on the fabric very easily. And since it is so small, you can feel the condensation on the walls, and if you bump your head on the wall, its going to rain in your tent. (Im exagerating it's not that bad)

The most awesome part was storage. It fits anywhere. the pouch where it goes in is about a foot and 4 inches.

In my opinion, this tent was awesome. It did it's job (provide shelter from the 30 degree weather outside); It didnt rip, And it was only 20 bucks!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fair-weather Tent......., January 19, 2007

By 

Tina Chi "T" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wenzel Nova Sport 6- by 5-Foot Two-Person Dome Tent (Sports)

It's a fabulous sunny-weather tent, realtively cozy for two persons of average size and weight....but when it rains it POURS. It LEAKS through every cross-hatched weave of thread it's made of. You'll scream like I screamed, curse like the sailor you will be whilst drifting about, angrily wondering why you decided to let your desire to save a little dough has literally drowned you in sorrow.....and it wasn't even a heavy rain. Alas.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect small tent!, August 2, 2006

By 

Leigh Fredricks (El Cajon, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wenzel Nova Sport 6- by 5-Foot Two-Person Dome Tent (Sports)

I bought two of these tents for my kids. We camp in the desert (southern California) in a toy hauler. The kids needed their own space, and a place to put their gear.

This is perfect for that. It comes with a rain tarp, and if you don't use it, you have perfect star viewing at night. I'm 5'5 and slept in it with my 7 year old son very comfortably, with all our gear.

No, it's not for the serious backpacker/camper. Not really for an adult couple either. But perfect for younger camping on the beach, desert, backyard...heck yeah!