The Tadpole 23 Era Begins

I’m now a proud owner of a Tadpole 23 camping tent from The North Face. But before I get into that, I’m glad to say it’s not the only reason I’m pumped.

Another is that I’m now in the Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC), about to enjoy a rare, long weekend of water, wakeboarding, and wifi. Yet another is that Karla Mercado, a good friend and author of Balancing Tenderfoot, was invited to join WellWire as a weekly contributor. Very well-deserved. Last but not least, my girlfriend has finally come back from her two-week trip to the East Coast and is now with me in CWC. It was shortly after her return last night that she gave me one of the best gifts I’ve ever received: a Tadpole 23 outdoor tent from The North Face, my favorite outdoor brand.

She bought the unused, 60% off camping tent at New York’s TNF outlet and even got a free Petzl headlamp along with the purchase. Though the Tadpole tent features an old design and has its critics, the 2-man, 3-season lightweight tent is durable, an incredible bargain (even without the discount), and has served many mountaineers well over the years, proving time and again why it is one of TNF’s most enduring tent models. The features and specs are below, taken directly from TNF’s website. Those who need more than the details The North Face chooses to provide can check out the tent reviews.

Tadpole 23 Outdoor Tent Features:

• Light and user-friendly as ever, but with improved ventilation
• DAC Press-Fit™ poles
• Lightweight, easy-to-use clip pitch system
• Comprehensive color-coded pitch system includes, poles, canopy and fly
• Fully taped bathtub floor and full-zip doors
• Convenient overhead pockets stow headlamps and fragile items
• Full mesh canopy for comfort and ventilation
• Abundant gear loops
• Fly-only pitching

Specifications of the TNF Camping Tent:

• Capacity 2
• Fabric canopy: 70D 190T nylon ripstop
• Fabric floor: 70D 190T nylon taffeta with 5000 mm PU coating
• Fabric fly: 75D 190T polyester ripstop with 1500 mm PU coating
• Floor Area 26 ft² (2.4 m²)
• Poles number: 3 diameter: 9.0 mm
• Stuffed Size 23″ x 6″ (58 cm x 15 cm)
• Vestibule Area 9.1 ft² (0.85 m²)
• Trail weight: 4 lbs 10 oz (2.1 kg)
• Total weight: 5 lbs 7 oz (2.37 kg)

Pretty much what you’d expect from The North Face, eh?

But if you think the Tadpole 23 outdoor tent is great, check out the card that came with it:

Thanks for the adventure. Now let's go make more.

Quote sound familiar? That’s because it’s from the movie Up, revised a bit to better suit the present. It’s also a show of support from an impossibly cool girlfriend who wants me not just to continue chasing after adventure, but to take her along for the ride. With my brand new lightweight tent from The North Face, the least I can do is gladly oblige.

In addition to the camping tent, she also gave me a Victorinox travel bag that can carry my laptop, Nikon D70 camera, and two Nikkor lenses, allowing me to pursue writing and photography even during my travels. It’s only a matter of time, then, before this blog is filled with new posts and photos.

Yep, my Tadpole 23 isn’t the only reason I’m pumped.

I’m now a proud owner of a Tadpole 23 camping tent from The North Face. But before I get into that, I’m glad to say that’s not the only reason I’m pumped.Another is that I’m now in the Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC), about to enjoy a rare, long weekend of water, wakeboarding, and wifi. Yet another is that Karla Mercado, a good friend and author of Balancing Tenderfoot, was invited to join WellWire as a weekly contributor. Very well-deserved. Last but not least, my girlfriend has finally come back from her two-week trip to the East Coast and is now with me in CWC. It was shortly after her return last night that she gave me one of the best gifts I’ve ever received: a Tadpole 23 outdoor tent by The North Face, my favorite outdoor brand.