Tadpole 2

Sierra Trading is a good outdoor equipment store that sells last years models etc. I found The North Face Tadpole SL2 that is $300, looks to be excellent. Yes, 2 person is my minimum, allows me to keep my sleeping bag away from condensation when that happens, keep pack and shoes inside + your wet coat when it’s pouring. I suggest you start at federal or state campground with hiking that give you a “home base” to come back to. Go for a couple nights, you will quickly learn what makes sense for you, plus it’s not likely to ruin it so bad you give up. Get a warmer sleeping bag than you expect is my other beginning advice.

For about 15 years this North Face Tadpole has been my main tent for backpacking. It’s insanely stable and dry in a storm, it’s perfect for a one- or two-nighter with my son, and it has a lot of sentimental value to me. (I’ve repaired the pole and re-sealed the tent since this photo was taken) For trips with my son or for bad weather trips, it will remain my go-to tent until it falls apart. But it’s also pretty heavy, at ~5+ lbs. I’m looking for a tent that would make for a good, lightweight option for when I want to cover some ground solo, something I can toss in a small pack with a lightweight setup for summer backpacking when I’m trying to keep mileage up and weight down. Is there anything that fits the bill for: -under $250 (not opposed to a used tent) -semi-freestanding -large 1p or small 2p -under 3lbs -not reliant on trekking poles (I don’t often use them) -good weather resistance is a plus but not a requirement

I have an MSR Hubba Hubba Bike pack that’s is inner first pitching. Before that I had a North Face tadpole, again inner first pitch. And before that another TNF Tadpole. Right back to about 1993. I have hundreds of night camping on trails and the number of times it’s rained heavily when pitching is tiny. A bit of mild drizzle isn’t an issue as you can put them up in a coupe of minutes. Poles ready, fly ready, inner out, poles in, fly over top is a couple of minutes. Then peg it out. Ok I might sometimes pitch a bit earlier or later dependant on the weather. Sometimes I’m at a campsite and can pitch under shelter or nearby tree and then move it as both were free standing. I then pack inner/outer separately the next day if it’s raining and dry fly when I get a chance.

I backpacked with a Tadpole for many years. I mostly really loved the tent. It was super stable and sturdy. I swapped it out for an MSR Hubba Hubba over 10 years ago. Modern tents are lighter but a lot more expensive. I thought the Hubba Hubba wouldn't last....yet it has. The tent material is going strong. The lighter weight poles have taken a beating in some very strong winds. It is still super functional if only a little differently shaped than when I first bought it. I think the weight savings of most quality modern tents is a huge upgrade...if your pockets are deep enough. Gear comes with some pretty big sticker shock these days. It may not be light, but some days I miss the old army surplus stores that were once a staple for backpacking. That is until I heft my current much much much lighter pack.

My Durston is light and roomy. I started in the 60s. Paring it down isn't easy and sometimes means saying goodbye to old gear friends. I like my Featherstone Granite II, for a self-standing. My first of my own was a Eureka Timberline, the old Boy Scouts tent. NOT light. Somewhat claustrophobic. Much depends on how big you are. I used a Northface Tadpole for a while too.

6. Big old REI that is awesome and roomy, Moss Triton beauty bomber of a tent, Durston x-mid 2, old reliable Kelty X frame, Featherstone Granite 2P- lotsa mesh, OneTigris Backwoods Bungalow 1st version. Gone are: Gave my NF Tadpole to my son in law. Great tent but too small. Old Eureka Timberline passed away after a long life. A dome melted by a careless friend. A stolen Kelty Cricket tadpole design.