The North Face Stormbreak 2 Review

Name: The North Face Stormbreak 2
Brand: The North Face

This affordable, spacious, durable tent is perfect for anyone just getting into backpacking

Credit: Zach Lovell

Price: $220 List

Manufacturer: The North Face

By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ June 16, 2026

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#8 of 13

Livability - 35% 7.9
Weather Resistance - 25% 7.0
Weight - 15% 5.7
Packed Size - 15% 7.3
Durability - 10% 7.7

List Price: $220

Check REI price (members get est. 10% back!)

Check Backcountry price

Our Verdict

The North Face Stormbreak 2 is a great entry-level tent that outperforms its price point. While it's quite a bit heavier than a premium, lightweight 2-person tent, you can easily divvy up components between you and a friend to make for a very reasonable load. Unlike many lighter tents that save weight by cutting back on space, the Stormbreak 2 offers enough room for two campers to hang out comfortably. The double vestibules keep your gear out of the rain – and muddy gear out of the tent – and with two large doors, we never had to climb over our tentmate to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Considering its affordability, the Stormbreak 2 should be on the shortlist for anyone building out their backpacking kit.

REASONS TO BUY

Incredible value

Impressive amount of interior space

Durable

REASONS TO AVOID

Heavy for a 2-person tent

Relatively bulky

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product The North Face Stormbreak 2	The North Face Stormbreak 3	Kelty Grand Mesa 2	Nemo Aurora 2	REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Awards		Best Value for Beginners
Price	$220 List Check Price at REI	$260 List Check Price at REI	$150 List Check Price at Backcountry	$300 List Check Price at REI	$199 List Check Price at REI
Overall Score	72	70	69	66	60
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Bottom Line	Even if it's a bit heavy, this 2-person tent is comfortable, durable, and easy to set up	This affordable tent is one of the largest we tested, which makes it a comfortable option for anyone just getting into backpacking	A basic backpacking tent that's more like a roomy one-person tent rather than the two-person size advertised	A comfortable, airy option that's well-sized for taller backpackers	A basic backpacking tent that's actually affordable, but the tradeoff is that it's heavy and lacks extras that add to quality of life on the trail
Rating Categories	The North Face Storm...	The North Face Storm...	Kelty Grand Mesa 2	Nemo Aurora 2	REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Livability (35%)	7.9	8.6	6.3	7.8	6.0
Weather Resistance (25%)	7.0	7.1	6.8	6.0	5.5
Weight (15%)	5.7	4.4	7.0	6.2	5.3
Packed Size (15%)	7.3	5.2	8.0	5.9	6.7
Durability (10%)	7.7	7.7	7.8	6.0	7.5
Specifications	The North Face Storm...	The North Face Storm...	Kelty Grand Mesa 2	Nemo Aurora 2	REI Co-op Trailmade 2
Listed Size	2 person	3 person	2 person	2 person	2 person
True Capacity	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people with a moderate amount of gear	Fits two people very comfortably with gear; Very tight for three people with very little gear	Comfortable for one person and gear; Fits two people with a very small amount of gear	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people comfortably with moderate amount of gear	Spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people comfortably with moderate amount of gear
Measured Minimum Trail Weight	5.61 lbs	6.20 lbs	4.31 lbs	4.59 lbs	5.13 lbs
Number of Doors	2	2	1	2	2
Footprint Included?	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Measured Packaged Weight	5.88 lbs	7.10 lbs	4.81 lbs	5.51 lbs	6.25 lbs
Measured Floor Area	30.6 sq ft	39.7 sq ft	30.6 sq ft	32.4 sq ft	31.8 sq ft
Measured Packed Size	20 x 6.5 in	22 x 8 in	16.5 x 7 in	20 x 8 in	18 x 8 in
Measured Peak Height	43 in	46 in	43 in	44 in	40 in
Measured Vestibule Area	9.8 sq ft on each side	10.8 sq ft on each side	6.0 sq feet (one vestibule)	9.2 sq ft on each side	9.4 sq feet on each side
Number of Pockets	4	4	3	4	2
Gear Loft?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of Poles	4	4	2	1	2
Pole Diameter	8.5 mm	8.5 mm	9 mm	8.5 mm	8.5 mm
Pole Material	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Number of Guy Points	4	4	7	4	4
Rain Fly Material	75D polyester, 1200 mm PU coating	75D polyester taffeta	68D Polyester	PU polyester (2000 mm)	75D polyester
Inner Tent Material	40D polyester mesh, 75D polyester taffeta canopy, 75D polyester 1500 mm floor	75D polyester taffeta	68D polyester	30D polyester/ No-See-Um Mesh, 68D PU polyester (1200 mm) floor, proprietary Fly Fabric polyester	75D polyester taffeta, 40D nylon no-see-um mesh

Our Analysis and Test Results

We've logged months with the Stormbreak 2, and we all agreed that this is an excellent “budget” tent. While there are a few tradeoffs, it's half the price (or more) of other high-end shelters we tested.

the north face stormbreak 2 - the north face stormbreak 2 outperforms its modest price, especially... — The North Face Stormbreak 2 outperforms its modest price, especially in terms of comfort. Credit: Zach Lovell

Livability

The North Face Stormbreak 2 is a very comfortable tent, especially compared to the other 2-person models we tested. With an impressive peak height of 43 inches, a 6-foot-tall adult can easily sit up. The interior space is generous and can easily fit two people plus some gear. There are plenty of pockets for headlamps or extra clothing.

the north face stormbreak 2 - this is a true 2-person tent. it comfortably sleeps two adults, and... — This is a true 2-person tent. It comfortably sleeps two adults, and even offers some extra room for clothing or gear. Credit: Zach Lovell

The vestibules stake out at two points rather than one, which makes for a larger vestibule, and we loved being able to roll up the fly door on pleasant days. The majority of the tent body is mesh, encouraging airflow, and the tent doors are also generously sized, which makes it easier to crawl in and out.

While you can pull back the vestibule on most other tents, this is the only one that can roll up while still offering some protection from the sides. When it's nice weather, you can remove it altogether for maximum airflow.

Weather Resistance

The polyester taffeta rainfly is treated with a DWR finish that held up well throughout our extended test. Water beaded and easily ran off the fly, though during heavier storms, we noticed a slight amount of moisture seeped through the stitching in the middle of the fly.

As long as you seal the seams, the rainfly offers plenty of protection. Credit: Zach Lovell

While the top portion of the tent body of other models is entirely mesh, the Stormbreak 2 features a polyester canopy. Even though this prohibits stargazing, it keeps water from dripping on your head if it sneaks through the fly.

the north face stormbreak 2 - the canopy of the stormbreak 2 is a somewhat unique addition that... — The canopy of the Stormbreak 2 is a somewhat unique addition that offers some backup if the rainfly (not pictured) leaks. Credit: Zach Lovell

Weight

This tent is on the heavier side, especially compared to the lightweight, 2-person tents we tested. Weighing 5.9 pounds with everything included, you could strip a few ounces by leaving things like the storage sack and stakes at home. However, it's much more reasonable to simply divide the weight between yourself and a partner. By separating the tent body from the rainfly and poles, you can distribute the weight and bulk more evenly so that no one carries more than 3 pounds.

Packed Size

We measured the packed dimensions as 20" long and 6.5" in diameter, which is similar to a yoga foam roller. Even though the thicker materials make the Stormbreak 2 a bit heavier than the competition, it's surprisingly packable compared to some directly comparable tents.

the north face stormbreak 2 - this is certainly not a lightweight tent, but it packs up better... — This is certainly not a lightweight tent, but it packs up better than other similarly heavy models. Credit: Zach Lovell

Durability

Even though the heavy-duty polyester makes the Stormbreak 2 relatively heavy, it does make it durable. The 75-denier polyester taffeta used for the tent floor, canopy, and rainfly is several times thicker than the material on some of the featherweight tents we tested. This particular tent has held up quite well through several seasons, even after setting up camps on especially abrasive granite slabs and in cactus-strewn deserts. Even though you need to be careful of the mesh of the inner tent body while you're setting it up, once the rainfly is on, you can rest easy.

the north face opted to use heavier-denier fabrics and relatively...

The North Face opted to use heavier-denier fabrics and relatively thicker-diameter poles, which makes for a durable, long-lasting tent.

Should You Buy The North Face Stormbreak 2?

Getting into backpacking can be quite expensive, but choosing an affordable tent like The North Face Stormbreak 2 will leave you with some money left over for the rest of the gear you need. Aside from price, this is a comfy tent to live in and is more durable than tents that cost twice as much.

What Other Backpacking Tents Should You Consider?

Even though it's slightly more expensive, we highly recommend stepping up to the The North Face Stormbreak 3, which offers nearly 10 square feet more than the already spacious Stormbreak 2. If you don't want to carry a tent that big, it's worth checking out the very similar REI Co-op Half Dome 2, which is slightly larger yet lighter than the Stormbreak 2.

—Zach Lovell