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 July 16, 2006 by kerway

Rating:
Design: Blue with yellow pole sleeves
Sleeps: 2
Ease of Setup: Easy for 1, Eye-shut easy for 2
Weight: -5lbs
Price Paid: ~$120 Gander Mtn Grand Opening Sale

I've owned this tent for more than two years. I would say I've seen 25 nights in it. I have only recently started appreciating it for the sub 5lbs weight, fully packed with groundsheet. It is nothing if not light.

Many of my impressions of this tent have already been mentioned, but I'll list the major ones that come to mind: TIGHT for two. My girlfriend and I spend a lot of time in this tent together now. I had been using it alone. Incredibly comfortable, spacious even, for one. Two fit, spooning. All kidding aside, don't sleep in this with anyone but your companion.

The vestibule is large, almost cavernous. At Bonnaroo music festival this year I fit a LG size duffel full of all sorts of gear and two 50L+ backpacks plus shoes and sandals galore. The gear was leaning against the door of the tent and it was heavy, but the vestibule kept it all dry and the tent had no problem supporting the weight.

I've found it to be nearly weatherproof. As people have mentioned, it's great in the rain. I've never felt a drop in some VERY bad storms, but the double wall design doesn't breathe as well as I would like when the fly is really latched on. Reflective pulls on all the zippers is nice. Reflective touches all over the fly are useful as well. Not enough internal pockets (4, 1 large 1 small on each side).

I find the stuffsack to be reasonably well made, but not up to the quality of Marmot and Mountain Hardwear tents I've seen. Without the fly, this tent breathes wonderfully. Lots of screen space with awesome sky views from the "head space" of the tent.

I feel like I got a great deal, and as I look for a new tent this summer, it's with the purpose of getting a tent for the winter. I have no intention of replacing this in the near future. Oh and it's held up well through pretty good care. No holes, no leaks, no scuffs, two bent stakes.