The North Face Tadpole 23 Tent

admin November 10, 2007


The North Face Tadpole 23 Tent

Product Description

Price: $238.95
Buy Now
Streamlined with a reduced weight profile that rivals earlier tent designs from The North Face, the Tadpole 23 Tent is a great ultralight design for cycling and fast packing throughout the summer months. A combination of color-coded attachments and Fusion Pitch configuration makes the Tadpole 23 one of the easiest pitching ultralight tents available today. Fusion Pitch also helps enhance the venting between the canopy and fly, improving the high/low air circulation design through panels and a D-door and giving you exceptional comfort on hot nights. Reflective guy line loops and zipper cording help you find your tent in the dark after that starlit evening hike.

Product Reviews

  • flawed design - 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.
  • Excellent Tent in wind ! - 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 !
  • Perfect one person tent. - 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.
  • Tadpole is really a one person tent. Report of condensation. - 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.
  • The best lightweight 2 person 3 season tent available - 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.
  • Top little unit - 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.
  • I love this tent - 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.
  • greeat - 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
  • Legend in its own right - 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 botto

    The North Face Tadpole 23 Tent
    Price: $238.95
    Buy Now

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