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 September 5, 2004 by Jim Owens

Rating:
Design: three season, three pole, A-type
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: easy for one person.
Weight: ~4 lbs.
Price Paid: ~$200

The Tadpole 23 is the ideal lightweight backpacking tent for those who live in climates where both screening and a rainfly are a necessity in any weekend or week-long pursuit. It has a mono-entrance large front door, with extremely roomy vestibule -- sufficient to hold two packs, boots, etc. (it can also double as a doghouse if you have another way to cover your packs!) It sets up in few minutes and when fully staked and guyed feels completely bomb-proof.

The ceiling is low and can feel restricting if you have to do much more than sleep in there. It's not a tent for playing cards in as the evening rolls on. The bright color and open feel of the meshy interior keep things feeling dry and airy. Probably not best to use this in the winter -- too much ventilation. You can also set up the rainfly with the optional footprint for a much roomier bivy shelter.

I highly recommend this tent to anyone who is looking for a lightweight, fully-featured, well-constructed sleeping shelter. If you go solo in this thing you will feel like a king, and its weight wouldn't prohibit it from falling into the one-person category.