User Review: The North Face Starfire Extreme

Reviewed November 19, 2003 by Akili

Rating: rated 5 of 5 stars
Design: Freestanding modified geodesic dome
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: 5
Weight: 6 lb 3 oz
Price Paid: $350

The best tent I have ever purchased, and I have gone through quite a few. I keep on upgrading my equipment, and if I don't like it or feel it's not the best out there, I end up selling it. Suffice it to say, I still have my Starfire Extreme after seven years.

Handles snow load easily, and if you pitch it end first into the wind, the wind shears off with no sway. Has never leaked in those years of snowcamping and wet Washington seasons.

Only problems, which I consider minor but just good information to know, is that ventilation is not superior, but adequate. It took a couple trips to finally realize that all points of the fly should be staked out, and then minimal condensation results. Also, not that this is designed for an expedition tent, but don't expect to cook in the tent or spend days in it. Keep the stove in the vestibule where you'll still be protected from the elements. Headroom is more than enough, but skewed to one side (for the wind shedding qualities I mentioned earlier) so you and your partner sit side by side to play cards, chat etc... and not facing one another.

Other than that, I wouldn't buy any North Face product now that they were bought out by Vanity Fair (the bra making company) in 2000 or so, but I wholeheartedly can endorse this tent, quality and performance.

I still check out the market and other than the fact that they now have lighter Easton Poles and more ventilation options on newer tents, I wouldn't trade this tent for anything else out there.

I plan on keeping and using this tent for a while, and see no problems in durability in passing it on to my kids.

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