User Review: The North Face Tadpole 23

The North Face Tadpole 23
Above: The current Tadpole 23, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed March 1, 2007 by Howard

Rating:
Design: three-season, free-standing, modified dome
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy--even in the dark using a headlamp
Weight: approx. 4.4 lbs
Price Paid: $130

I'd rate The North Face Tadpole 23 as four stars. Why not five, when it's light (just over 4 pounds), sturdy, easy to set up (three-poles/free-standing), and compact? The answer: It's just so-so as a two-person tent because of the limited square footage (37 square feet), steep side walls, and headroom limited to one end of the tent. If you're going to share the Tadpole, it had better be with someone you're closely related to or sleeping with...just good friends isn't going to cut it.

But this is GREAT one-man tent and that's how I'd recommend you use it. I've pitched it on the Appalachian Trail, in western Maryland and West Virginia, and in the Rockies, while solo-packing. Rain fly prevents condensation even around dew point conditions; vestibule (7')is roomy, allowing you to stow gear outside (freeing up living space inside); free-standing design means you can pitch this beauty on solid rock if you have to (and I have) and not regret it.