The North Face Men's Conness GTX

Advantages: very comfortable, all day 3-4 season boot, all terrain, fully laden
Disadvantages: initial outlay is large but they will last for years. no half sizes

...for several days on the trot. They are suitable for most terrains and although not a mountaineers boot they are suitable for scrambling over rocks. They are classed as a 3 to 4 season boot which indicates they are suitable for all seasons except real bad winter conditions. The winters we get here now are fine but heavy, prolonged freezing cold conditions would require a more specialised boot as would climbing or scrambling in icy surroundings. These boots are also very suitable for use when carrying a fully laden multi-day backpack. The Berghaus GR20 GTX boots are available in either women’s or men’s; women’s sizes range from a 36 to a 42, men’s range from 39 to a 48. Increments are in full sizes only; they don’t do half sizes but the fittings are quite wide. A pair of size 36 weighs around 700g and a size 42 weighs around 850g so they aren... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Lightweight, robust, colour coded poles, reflective guy ropes
Disadvantages: It's not true 4-season, small cooking area, lack of headroom

...I bought a Tadpole 23 three years ago and use it for wild-country back-packing, rock-climbing and winter mountaineering. It is an ultra-lightweight tent that weighs less than 2kg, designed for two people, in three-season conditions (However, I have used it for winter mountaineering in the UK, which it is fine for if you have a good sleeping bag and air mattress). It does all the standard tent stuff - like keeping the wind and rain off you and your kit whilst allowing you to cook and sleep, but is much more sophisicated than a standard tent. When you first see it up, it looks a bit flimsy, but it is actually very resistant to the wind and The North Face have made every effort to reduce its weight as much as possible without compromising on the strength. It is easy to put up on your own (even in the dark when you're tired) due... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great wind resistance and great ultralight fly and footprint only pitching
Disadvantages: seamtape on the fly peeled/crumbled and inside of the fly became sticky

...I bought my Tadpole 23 in 2005. I've been camping for more than ten years and owned and used many tents, including the 1999 Tadpole model. For me this tent is emblematic of the decline of The North Face's quality. I used it only one time and one time alone last year. When I inspected it before an upcoming trip I found the inside of the tentfly extremely sticky and the seamtape started to crumble and peel. This didn't happen to the other two tents in my closet. I put it away clean, dry and folded neatly and I can't think of a plausible explanation for it other than that the materials were hi-tech but of inferior quality. I also had problems with two other North Face products i had bought along with this tent: the Patrol Pack Duo and the Venture Hyvent Jacket.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful