This review dives deep into the North Face Stormbreak 2 tent, examining its performance across various aspects crucial for a comfortable and reliable camping experience. We'll cover setup and takedown ease, exploring the interior space and headroom available for both occupants and gear. The functionality and design of the vestibules and doors will be scrutinized, along with an assessment of the tent's rain protection capabilities. Finally, we'll consider the tent's ventilation, material quality, packed size and weight, and overall value for the price.Our comprehensive analysis will leave no stone unturned, providing you with a detailed picture of the Stormbreak 2's strengths and weaknesses. We'll determine whether this tent lives up to its promises of spaciousness, weather resistance, and ease of use, ultimately helping you decide if it's the right choice for your next camping adventure. From the simple setup to the crucial rain protection, we'll deliver a frank and thorough evaluation to guide your buying decision.
Pros And Cons
- Incredibly affordable for a North Face tent.
- North Face limited lifetime warranty.
- Good waterproofing; lasted 3 hours of heavy rain without leaks.
- Large door openings.
- User-friendly zippers and door pockets; doors open and close quickly.
- High peak height.
- Four poles supporting the inner tent for a spacious feel.
- Fits 6-inch and even higher mattresses.
- Larger than average vestibules.
- Versatile vestibules with five different configurations.
- Annoying vestibule zippers (requires two hands to zip/unzip).
- No rainfly vents.
- Heavier than marketed weight (not suitable for ultralight backpacking).
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Setup and Takedown
Setting up the Stormbreak 2 is straightforward. The process involves connecting poles, attaching clips to the tent body, and then draping the rainfly. It's a relatively intuitive design, though having the correct number of stakes is crucial. The instructions are clear and concise.
Takedown is the reverse process, but I found it took a bit longer to pack everything neatly into the included carry bag. The bag itself seemed slightly undersized for all the components.
Space and Interior Height
The Stormbreak 2 offers ample headroom, even with a sleeping pad. The peak height is approximately 43 inches at the center, extending to about 39 inches at the edges of the square top area. This provides plenty of space to sit up comfortably.
The base area measures approximately 87.5 inches in length and 49.5 inches in width, totaling about 30 square feet. This comfortably fits a large sleeping pad like my Exped MegaMat Duo 10, leaving some room for gear storage. A queen-sized air mattress is too large and bulges the sides.
Vestibules and Ventilation
The tent features two spacious vestibules, each offering versatile configuration options. They can be fully closed, partially open for ventilation, or completely removed. The multiple configurations allow for flexibility depending on weather conditions and personal preference.
The zippers on the vestibules are SBS-branded but proved somewhat difficult to use with one hand, frequently snagging. Using two hands is necessary for a smoother experience.
Doors and Storage
Each door is large (approximately 41 x 29 inches), unzipping almost completely. The included pockets next to the doors are sizable, accommodating both the door fabric and additional gear.
Inside the tent are four large corner pockets (approximately 18 x 9 inches), easily accessible from the outside. Five felt loops offer attachment points for lanterns or fans, though a gear loft would have been a welcome addition.
Rainfly and Weather Protection
The Stormbreak 2 boasts a full-coverage rainfly that extends nearly to the ground, providing excellent rain protection. It performed flawlessly in both light to moderate and heavy rain tests, with no leaks observed.
The rainfly features guy-out points on the sides of the tent, allowing for additional ventilation by pulling the rainfly away from the tent body. Seam taping on the rainfly was thorough.
Mesh, Materials, and Portability
The inner tent is approximately 50% mesh and 50% fabric, offering moderate ventilation. The materials are durable: 68D polyester flooring, 75D polyester rainfly and tent body, aluminum poles, and 40D polyester micromesh. The mesh effectively kept out bugs.
The packed size is 20 x 7 x 6.5 inches (or 17.8 inches if poles are packed separately), weighing approximately 6.3 lbs. This makes it suitable for car camping but less ideal for ultralight backpacking.
Overall Assessment
The North Face Stormbreak 2 is a surprisingly affordable and spacious tent, offering excellent rain protection and versatile vestibule options. The high peak height and large doors are major pluses. However, the troublesome vestibule zippers and lack of rainfly vents are notable drawbacks.
Despite these cons, the Stormbreak 2's combination of space, weather resistance, and affordability makes it a strong contender in its price range. It's a great option for car camping or any situation where weight isn't a primary concern.