The North Face Tadpole 23 Tent

Prob great for shorter people
July 06, 2006

I've used this tent in Rumney NH over July 4th 2006, and in The Gunks in New Paltz NY 3 times and in Yosemite over Thanksgiving 2005 and have not had any real problems. Overall, i like the tent but have a few gripes about it. Read on: Pros: 1) Easy to set up 2) strong construction 3) lightweight 4) glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls 5) fly/footprint only option 6) Tent did very well in HEAVY rain and did not leak. 7) Condensation is nowhere to be found. Cons: 1) Tent could be taller - I'm 6 foot and can only sit up in this if i am against the door and my head still presses against the roof) 2) Tent could be longer - When sleeping 2 peeps and i can't lay across the tent, my head and feet are pushing the material against both ends of tent 3) More like a 1.5 person tent. Great for 1 person. 4) Guy lines are black - not reflective. 5) footprint stake-out-tabs are SLIGHTLY larger than the tent stake-out-tabs, so staking it out means the footprint isn't taut. (this is not a big deal tho) 6) Footprint MAY not be waterproof. I'm pretty sure that it soaked through, but it's possible that it was run off, so i'm not entirely sure. 7) Tent stuff-sack and bag that holds the stakes are WAY too flimsy. I know this was done to save weight but i think this is a bad idea to use such lightweight material for the bag that protects the tent. Somehow I've gotten several holes in the stuff sack however i've treated the tent gingerly, always packing it carefully, keeping it away from any heat source, etc. The ONLY think i can think of is that since the bag that holds the stakes is kinda weak, the stakes must have made the holes by causing stress points in the stuff sack when this is packed.

Excellent Tent in wind !
January 22, 2006

I travel to Mexico in the sea of Cortez. The wind can be extreme at times. This tent can take a severe beating when properly tied out. I measured the wind over a severe 5 day blow , topping out at 87mph at one point ! Out of 4 tents , only my tadpole23 and a friends Talus23 survived. However I would not really call this a 2 man tent. Its a bit too small inside , even when sleeping with my "sweet-heart".............Still an excellent tent for one !

Tip-Top Tub Tent!
December 07, 2006

I've used this tent everywhere. From the alpine zone of the northern Rockies to the river banks of up state NY. One night that would've been a disaster turned into a fitful night of sleep when a rogue storm dumped what seemed like 10' of rain overnight and a proverbial river ran under my tent, giving it a water-bed effect. Thanks to the taped seams and ultra high tub floor I stayed dry all night. Bomber tent, only word of advise is it only fits one person with gear comfortably (bar significant others);)

Quality pays off!
June 23, 2008

The bottom line is: you get what you pay for! My husband and I went off 06.01.08 on our first long hike (33 miles) over two days and needed a camp setup for the night in between...And it poured. Not only could we--as new campers and hikers--set up the tent in a jiffy and without needing to read the directions, but the fabric and construction held up to a terrible thunderstorm lasting over 6 hours! No flapping, no leaking, no worries of seepage or ripping. And it still looked good as new the next day--despite the litter of tree branches and vegetation on the tent. Moreover, the tent helped keep us warm...we hadn't expected the night temperature to drop below 45 degrees!

Perfect one person tent.
April 02, 2006

Easy to set up in tough conditions in Montana, light, performs great in the wind, holds out the rain. I love the bug net sides which lessens the closeness inside on nice nights. Not for two people but the state of the art for one. I use it year round after first thinking it was only a summer tent.

I love this tent
August 06, 2005

I took it up Mt Adams at 8,500 to camp out on a rock ledge before summiting. Since there were three of us, I opted to pitch fly only to save weight, my friends carried the MSR Hubba Hubba - they were so jealous of my tent. Easier to pitch, rommier, and even with just the velcro from the fly to support the pole joints, it was sturdier in the wind. I was really impressed by the structure of this tent; I'd feel comfortable giving this tent a shot for winter camping, too - at a considerable weightsavings over 4-season tents.

Great Tent for Beginners!
January 21, 2011

Tadpole is a really easy tent for beginners. Very easy set up, pretty spacious as long as you aren't too tall. Perfect for one person and a four legged bundle of love. Would recommend it to anyone, very waterproof, love the mesh ceiling, perfect for stargazing while falling asleep. Great product. Buy the footprint to prolong the life of the tent. Love the color name: yam. =)

The best lightweight 2 person 3 season tent available
December 28, 2006

I believe that this is the best lightweight two-person tent on the market. Period. It is more versatile than the single-wall ultra light tents available to date, and is an even better choice than the (very slightly) lighter Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight. Many tent designs come and go. This MATURE tent design has been around for decades, and has been continuously refined over the years. The latest version (spring 2006) is the best version to date. There have been several tweaks to an already near-perfect design. They have "biggered" the vestibule (a lot), tweaked the pole angles to "better" the internal headroom. They’ve changed the poles so they are shorter when folded, yet lighter and stronger than before. They’ve added guy-out points in strategic locations so you’ll be rock solid even in raging winds. The pole attachment system (clips) is a vast improvement over regular sleeves, and even better than the “no-hitch-pitch system” of years past. The stuff sack is now a compression sack, and they’ve color-coordinated the tent and fly straps so they match up. This tent has a kind of attention to detail that is awe-inspiring. Even the optional footprint is well thought out. It is cut to be slightly smaller, and attaches in such a way that it is self-centers itself under the tent. Even my $750 Bibler doesn’t have that feature. To those who say this tent is ‘small’, I say bigger tents are heavier, and this one is the perfect compromise of size and weight. I’ve used this tent (and previous versions of this tent) for decades, and have never wished that it were bigger. Not once. I believe there is not a more space-efficient (therefore weight-efficient) tent design in the world. The tent weighs as little as it does because it is bigger (wider and taller) only at the front where it needs it, and is smaller (narrower and lower) at the back end where your feet are. This saves weight while still providing enough room to sit up straight and sleep comfortably shoulder-to-shoulder. I think it feels bigger inside than many lightweight 2-person tents that actually have more square footage. NOTE: The North Face gives you eleven ground stakes. This is one more stake than is needed to guy out the tent using the ‘original’ (and most important) guy-out points. However, this new version of the tent has THREE additional guy-outs. Usually they’re not necessary, but if you want to use them all, you will need TWO additional ground stakes (not supplied). The North Face said that the tent normally comes with only eleven, but they gladly sent me two more of their lightweight nesting ground stakes. I recommend you do the same.

Great tent for one or a cozy two
April 11, 2012

I have had this tent for years and use it about 6-7 times in spring and summer. It has been to Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Sasquatch Festival. It is easy to set up, comfortable to sleep in and light to travel with. With two people it is a tight fit, but I still recommend it over those bulky cheap dome tents. I have woken up to pouring rain more than a few times and relaxed dry and happy. The rain fly when staked and pulled tight leaves lots of room for gear outside the tent.

great, lightweight, durable
April 18, 2003

I've had my tadpole tent for about 5 years with various spurts of frequent use and a couple of long hauls in storage, and it is still the gem of my collection. It's light enough to take bicycling, and comfortable enough to sleep two at 14,000 ft in the Andes. The tent is still as waterproof as the day I bought it, though I do go over the seams each time I pull it out for the season. Separation between the canopy and flysheet is better than some. Highly recommended!

Defective waterproofing
September 02, 2008

I used my Tadpole once for a 4 day mountain trip. Worked out fine for me. I cleaned and dryed it and stored it with my other tents. Several years later I used it for another trip and found the waterproofing on the fly and stuffsack had deteriorated into a sticky mess. The tent is unusable and The North Face will not do anything about it. No more North Face equipment for me!

Tadpole is really a one person tent. Report of condensation.
November 12, 2006

I spent 12 days backpacing with scouts at Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico. It rained 10 of those days. I did get considerable condensation build up every morning on the underside of the fly and the foot of the inside of the tent. But there were severe downpours every day and every tent had similar problems. To call it a two-person tent is a tad misleading unless you are a new couple and don't mind sleeping quite close to each other with overlapping pads. Note I use the Big Agnes bag and pad. This really is a very comfortable one person tent plus all your gear. Well worth the few extra ounces of weight compared to other one person tents out there.

greeat
June 08, 2006

one of the best tent ive ever used,waterproof and one of a kind design ,.....m from philipines and wen we went climbing in one of the best mountain here wen we arrive at the peak a very bad rain came in to us ,, we cant pitch tent but wen ive tried this tadpole 23 my gosh iwas so amazed wat a tent,, thnks the tnf,,

flawed design
July 12, 2006

I am perplexed by the positive reviews for this tent. Towards the back of the tent, I found that the gap between the fly and the main tent was essentially non-existent and the slightest bit of moisture meant that the fly and the tent were stuck together, acting like a wick for water. I returned my tent to the place I bought it and argued that this was a design flaw. They set it up themselves and agreed- my money was refunded. Not recommended.

Top little unit
April 03, 2006

I'm on my second tadpole, the first was crushed by falling trees! (no injuries) I have used it in the USA, NZ and Australia and it is a stellar performer. Light enough for one, and can fit two *friendly* people. It fits me nicely for solo and I'm 6 ft tall. I've had it in strong winds and it loved it. I've been shacked in it during day long heavy rain and it never leaked or dripped condensation. The free standing design is great if you also include beach camping on your trips, or have trouble getting pegs in the ground. The inner pitches drum tight and gives the tent a lot of strength. The only bit that isn't drum tight is the extra stake out points between the mid pole and rear, these can flap in gusty winds. It's a 3-pole that weights as much as some other 2-poles tents and is an awesome 3 season tent. I'm going to try it for winter camping where big snow loads aren't expected as it has a fairly flat roof. Much loved and highly recommended.

Tadpole is a good 2 man tent!
August 14, 2009

This is a smart little tent and light weight and well designed. Quick to put up, it packs into a small size when heading out. Ingenious, really. The fly does touch the interior toward the foot-end, and some dew can collect there. But it stays dry in the rain. It would be nice if North Face had included some extra pins, as there seems an extra pair could be used on the fly near the foot end.

Legend in its own right
November 29, 2006

I took this to Scotland for a 9 day trek and found the quality exceptional. I have never been in a better tent! I had no condensation problems despite constant changes in weather and I had no leaks through the bottom without the footprint or through the fly. Overall a must have for 1, 2 is pushing it a bit