About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the tent, which I purchased with my own money in February of 2020.

My take

I love The North Face Stormbreak 2 Tent because it is lightweight and easy to set up. Specifically, the top half of the tent is vented, allowing that great summer night breeze to sneak in.

About the gear

• Product Model: 2020 Stormbreak 2 Tent
• Size: 2 people

About me

• Height: 5’11”
• Weight: 180lbs
• Experience: 15+ years of camping/backpacking

Test conditions

• When I bought the tent: February 2020
• Days tested: 45 days
• Number of occupants: 2 people
• Pack: 2019 Osprey Kestrel 38
• Sleeping pad: 2019 Kelty Cosmic 20F
• Sleeping bag: 2018 Therm-a-rest Z-Lite
• Total pack weight: 35lbs
• Used for: Car camping, tent camping, backpacking, thru-hiking, overlander
• Where I’ve used it: Backpacking
• Seasons I’ve used it in: Spring, summer, fall

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was planning a four-day backpacking trip to hike to Barr Camp along Barr Trail (Colorado Springs, Colorado). I needed something that had room, was lightweight, and would perform across three seasons since I planned to use it all year.

Why I chose this gear

My favorite feature that had me sold on The North Face Stormbreak 2 Tent was the upper mesh portion, which allowed for ventilation. This turned out to be crucial in Moab, Utah, during the fall months. I had considered purchasing the MSR Elixir 2 Person Tent but decided to go with the Stormbreak 2.

What I love about it

• Ease of setup: The first time I set this tent up, I didn't even use the instruction manual. All the poles were run outside the tent, making it very simple. It took me a total of 10 minutes to set up.
• Breakdown speed: Breakdown takes only around 10 minutes. It is slightly faster than the setup. Repacking is easy due to the rectangular tent shape.
• Weight: The tent is generally lightweight at 5lbs 5oz. The heaviest parts are the poles, but they did not impact my experiences with the tent whatsoever. I still love it.
• Performance in rain: Performance in the rain is great. The rainfly completely covers the entire tent and lets no water inside.
• Performance in wind: One night in Moab, the high wind let in some dust, but it was negligible when compared to other tents with the same size, construction, design, and materials.
• Performance in heat: The Stormbreak 2 tent performed excellently in the heat due to the vented canopy on the tent.
• Performance in desert areas with no trees: This tent performed well in the desert due to the vented canopy on the tent, as mentioned above. During the day, I do not hang out in the tent. At night, the vented canopy kept the tent tremendously cool. However, the wind did bring in some desert sand.
• Performance in wooded areas with lots of trees: This tent’s ideal conditions are in the forest due to the vented canopy, breathable fabric that lets air in the tent, and excellent waterproofing rain fly. I would recommend using this tent in wooded areas.
• Special features: Full mesh canopy is amazing. Not only does it allow for a perfect view of the stars on a clear night, but it feels like I’m not sleeping in a tent at all.
• Stability: Overall, I think the stability was good. The narrow rectangular shape makes the tent stable for its lightweight design.
• Durability: I have not experienced any durability issues, even with the thin mesh upper canopy. However, a sharp stick could easily puncture the mesh.
• Packability: The tent is excellent for fitting in a medium-to-large backpack. I pack it in the second from the bottom position in my pack. The only thing I pack lower is my sleeping bag. The tent takes up very little space, and I can push it to one side and place a sleeping pad and Jetboil on the other side.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Performance in snow: I have not tested this tent in snowy conditions. Sadly, I think it would be too cold due to the vented canopy and the lighter-weight materials used in this tent’s construction.
• Performance when camping with a partner or group: The Stormbreak 2 is very small for a two-person tent. Occupants are very close inside the tent.

Favorite moment with this gear

My favorite moment with this tent was camping on the banks of the Colorado River in Moab, Utah. I could see the stars at night and feel the cool breeze through the tent.

Value for the money vs. other options

There are more expensive, lightweight two-person tents, but The North Face Stormbreak 2 Tent performed top tier. This tent weighs in at 5lbs 5oz. For comparison, the other tent I considered buying was the MSR Elixir 2 Person Tent, but that was over $120 more and weighed 5 lbs (only 5 oz lighter than the Stormbreak 2). I would have spent money on the lighter MSR Elixir tent if I had been on a longer backpacking trip when I originally purchased it due to the heavier poles.

Final verdict

The North Face Stormbreak 2 Tent is a mid-level entry tent at a very affordable price. I would purchase this tent again.