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In our Wenzel Pine Ridge Tent – 5 Person review, we will be looking at the features that make this tent a great choice. This type and size of the tent are ideal for family trips or groups of friends who don’t mind sharing one tent. After researching the model thoroughly, we give it a pretty decent rating. Let’s start by taking a look at some of the pros and cons of this specific model.

Millions of people go camping each year. It is a great activity for a family or group of friends to enjoy together. This means an endless amount of products on the market for campers to choose from. Being prepared and selecting the right gear can be the difference between a fun outing and a complete disaster. A tent is arguably the most important piece of equipment that you need for camping.

Our Rating:

Pros

Large size
Easy set-up
One or two more room configurations
Sturdy construction
High quality materials
Built-in electrical access port
Two doors
Meshed windows and roof
Weather repellant
Very affordable price

Cons

Small rainfly
Zippers are exposed to elements
Zippers get stuck easily
Large packed size and heavy weight

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Key Features

Large Size

Now let’s take a look at some of the features of the Wenzel Pine Ridge 5 Person Tent. The first feature to consider is the large size. The tent can sleep up to five average-sized adults. If this is for a kids backyard campout, then you can squeeze a few more in there. Keep in mind that five adults are the full capacity for the number of people stretched out on the tent floor.

Some campers spend more time in the tent than others and may wish for more room. If that sounds like you, then I would recommend this tent for no more than three people. The model has a decent height that can accommodate moving around. This is thanks to the multi-diameter fiberglass poles, which provide extra head room. The tent can be divided into two sections. This can come in handy for some extra privacy. Whether you are splitting the tent into two sleeping quarters or just need a private place to change, this is a nice feature to have.

Reflective Material

One of the more interesting features is what Wenzel calls their Integrated Tent Light Reflection System. The tent comes with a convenient space to hang a lantern, flashlight or other light source.

There is a highly reflective panel that helps to illuminate the entire area. This is fantastic for staying up to tell stories or play games. It also comes in handy for simply locating items within the tent after sunset. This feature is exclusive to the Wenzel brand.

Convenience Pockets

This Wenzel model features a loft and convenience pocket for storing gear and supplies. This will help you to keep everything neat and organized. There is an E-port for electrical cord access. This is a must for campers who like to enjoy a few modern amenities while roughing it in the great outdoors.

Sky View

The tent is equipped with meshed windows and roof so you can let in some fresh air and natural light. This is also a nice feature that allows you to gaze at the stars as you lay in the tent.

Other features

The easy access “D” style doors offer an inside flap-zippered window. This helps to keep out the elements during bad weather. The “D” style shape allows for easy entries and exits. The tent comes equipped with two doors which are a nice feature if you use it in tandem with the room divider. Two groups can share the one tent, each having a separate room and their own door. This is perfect for two couples using one tent or for having parents on one side and kids on the other.

Shock corded fiberglass poles with fast feet offer stability. They also allow for quick and easy set up. A fly ridge pole provides an awning over the doors and window. This protective awning adds another layer to keep out the elements.

The fly is seam sealed instead of stitched together. This provides excellent water resistance. Stitched seems can often leak in heavy rain or after heavy use of the tent. The fly is also completely removable. The rear window is zippered for easy opening and closing and includes a privacy flap.

Detailed Review

Value - 5/5

The first thing to consider in our Wenzel Pine Ridge Tent 5 Person review is the cost and overall value of the tent. This tent model has an excellent price point for a tent of this size and quality. The cost is cheaper than many other comparable models. When you factor in the number of features the tent offers, the low price makes it a good bargain. The Wenzel tent is an especially good purchase for those on a tight budget.

Build Quality - 4/5

The tent has a solid build with high-quality materials. It is quite sturdy and should last for years even with heavy use in rough weather. The fiberglass frame is light but sturdy.

It should hold together nicely even in heavy winds or rain. Wenzel uses a Weather Armor Polyester construction for the tent. This is one of the best materials available for strength and protection from the weather.

All of the seams in the tent are welded instead of stitched like you typically find on tents in this price range. This adds to the strength of construction and makes water leaks less likely. The floor is a bathtub style bottom that is nearly 4 inches deep.

It is made of a strong polyethylene material. Not all tents in this price range even have a floor. This keeps campers from having to sleep directly on the ground. The style of the floor should prevent even the heaviest of rains and muddy terrain from leaking into the tent.

The build quality is excellent for the price point, but it is not perfect. There are a couple of issues that users seem to have frequently. You must be a bit careful when unzipping the doors. The zippers have a tendency to get stuck in the bottom.

They can then be a bit difficult to fish out when you need to close up the door. The zippers are also not protected from the elements by a flap. This may lead to small leaking in the worse weather conditions. This is a minor weakness in an otherwise tightly sealed tent.

Setup - 4.5/5

When it comes to setup, there is not much to complain about with the Wenzel tent. It only takes a few minutes to put it up. You simply slide the rods into place and attach them towards the top with a grommet.

You then stake the tent into place with the pegs that go through guides at the four corners. The entire process from unpacking to finish should take no more than 8-10 minutes. This can easily be done by one camper. This leaves you plenty of time to enjoy the fun parts of camping with very little work involved.

Features - 4.5/5

A number of features offered by this model are fantastic for a tent with this price. The built-in E-port, welded seams, gear loft, bathtub bottom and other features make this tent a great value. One of the best features is the Integrated Tent Light Reflection System.

Since this is a proprietary technology that is unique to the brand, it really sets the tent apart from the competition. If you are the type of camper that enjoys staying up all night to play cards, tell ghost stories or anything else, this is an invaluable feature.

If you only use the tent while sleeping, it may come in handy for you as well, if you should happen to get stuck in poor weather for an extended period.

Portability - 2.5/5

The tent is packed neatly into an included carrying case. Once packed, it is under 30 inches long. The weight comes in at just under 12 pounds. The portability should be fine for most people who would need a five-person tent.

If you are backpacking, traveling light or doing a lot of lone hiking, then it may be too large and heavy for your needs. This tent is clearly intended for a group or family though, so it should be fine for its intended market.

Interior Space - 3.5/5

This is a good-sized tent for three to five people. It easily fits five adults for sleeping purposes. There is ample room for entering, exiting and moving around.

It is not tall enough to stand in, however, so if that is something you need, look elsewhere. If you plan to spend a significant amount of time awake in the tent, or anticipate cold or rainy weather, then it works better for only three campers.

Overall Score:

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How Does It Compare To Others?

The Wenzel Pine Ridge 5 Person Tent is a solid choice, but not the only option available. Let’s take a look at some comparable tents of similar sizes to see how the Wenzel stacks up.

Coleman Montana 6

Right off the bat, the Coleman tent is pricier than the Wenzel. It does offer a bit more space at 12’x 7′ compared to the 10’x 8′ for the Wenzel. It shares similar features such as an awning over the entrance and welded seams.

It is made with Coleman’s patented WeatherTec™ System and should keep you nice and dry. This model is comparable to the Wenzel in nearly every way, but the value for cost goes to the Wenzel. I would only choose the Coleman if you must have that extra bit of space.

NTK Cherokee GT 5 to 6 Person Camping Dome Tent

This dome tent retails for around the same price as the Wenzel. It is also similar in floor size at just under 10’x 10′. It features a full-coverage rainfly that offers more coverage than the Wenzel model.

The metal parts are made of double-gold plated steel, which is a much better material than the Wenzel. This should prevent rust even in the worst of conditions and after years of use.

I believe the Wenzel beats it out just barely due to the slightly lower cost and the unique lighting technology.

CORE 6 Person Instant Cabin Tent

This tent is a true six-person shelter with tons of room. Most adults can easily stand inside this tent. The build quality is top notch with only the best of materials used. It features a gear loft similar to the Wenzel, but with much more storage space.

If you need a ton of room, this may be the best choice for you. It does come at a higher cost, however. The floor size is 11′ x 9′. This may not seem like a huge difference, but the cabin tent has much more headroom.

Should you buy?

After completing our Wenzel Pine Ridge Tent 5 Person review, I can easily recommend this tent. The number of features, sturdy build, quality of materials and fair price make it an excellent choice.

The tent is easy to put up and can withstand harsh weather as well as much more expensive options. The Wenzel Pine Ridge Tent would be perfect for new or experienced campers. It should last you for a lifetime of use.