REASONS TO BUY
Incredible value
Impressive amount of interior space
Easy and quick to set up
Durable
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy for a 2-person tent
Relatively bulky
The North Face Stormbreak 2 Review
This affordable, spacious, durable tent is perfect for anyone just getting into backpacking
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ June 16, 2026
RELATED: The Best Backpacking Tents of 2026
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare The North Face Stormbreak 2 versus top competing products:
| Awards | |
|---|---|
| Price | $220 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score  |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Bottom Line | This affordable, spacious, durable tent is perfect for anyone just getting into backpacking |
| Pros | Incredible value, impressive amount of interior space, easy and quick to set up, durable |
| Cons | Heavy for a 2-person tent, relatively bulky |
| Rating Categories | The North Face Storm... |
| Livability (35%) | |
| Weather Resistance (25%) | |
| Weight (15%) | |
| Packed Size (15%) | |
| Durability (10%) | |
| Specifications | The North Face Storm... |
| Listed Size | 2 person |
| True Capacity | Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people with a moderate amount of gear |
| Measured Minimum Trail Weight | 5.61 lbs |
| Measured Packaged Weight | 5.88 lbs |
| Number of Doors | 2 |
| Measured Floor Area | 30.6 sq ft |
| Measured Packed Size | 20 x 6.5 in |
| Measured Peak Height | 43 in |
| Measured Vestibule Area | 9.8 sq ft on each side |
| Number of Pockets | 4 |
| Gear Loft? | No |
| Type | Two door freestanding |
| Number of Guy Points | 4 |
| Number of Poles | 4 |
| Pole Diameter | 8.5 mm |
| Pole Material | Aluminum |
| Rain Fly Material | 75D polyester, 1200 mm PU coating |
| Inner Tent Material | 40D polyester mesh, 75D polyester taffeta canopy, 75D polyester 1500 mm floor |
| Footprint Included? | No |
—Zach Lovell
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