North Face Tents for Camping: Stormbreak or Wawona?

The The North Face Tents Wawona 6 is a six-person camping tent. Only the listing title is available for this model, and it describes the tent as water repellent, spacious and easy to set up, with an attached vestibule area. A vestibule is a covered space outside the sleeping area, great for muddy boots, backpacks and a camp chair out of the rain.

The listing does not specify weight, floor area, number of doors, pole material or season rating, so we cannot compare it to the Stormbreak models on those numbers. What the six-person rating does tell you is that this is a car-camping tent: you drive to a campsite, carry it a short distance and set it up for the weekend. Following the size-up rule, it is comfortable for a family of four or five with room for gear, and six people will fit best on slim sleeping pads.

This suits a family that camps at established campgrounds. It gives way to the Wawona 4 for smaller families who want a smaller footprint, and to the Wawona 8 for big groups. Since only the title is available, check the full product page for the floor size before buying. If you are comparing mid-size shelters, our four-person tent guide explains what to look for in a family tent.

The The North Face Tents Stormbreak 2 is the brand’s classic two-person tent, designed for easy setup. It has two large doors, one on each side, so neither person climbs over the other at night, and mesh stuff pockets that hold the doors open without rolling them up. Twin-zip vestibules store gear outside the sleeping area.

Construction details are clear in the listing. The canopy, rainfly and floor are 75D polyester taffeta, with 40D mesh; the D, or denier, measures fabric thickness, with higher numbers generally tougher. The canopy and floor are fully seam-taped to help keep rain out, and the tent has a non-PFC durable water repellent (DWR) finish, a coating that makes water bead off, without a flame-retardant coating. High-low ventilation openings move air through the tent to reduce condensation. It is freestanding, meaning it stands up with its poles before you stake it. Total weight is 5 lbs 14.2 oz, trail weight is 5 lbs 5 oz and fastpack weight (the rainfly, poles and footprint only) is 3 lbs 14.1 oz, with a floor area of 30.56 square feet. The footprint, a protective groundsheet, is sold separately.

This is the pick for two people who want one tent for both backpacking and car camping. One point to note: the specifications rate it 2 season, while the brand description talks about 3-season and 4-season tents in general, so treat it as a warm-weather tent. For a couple with a dog or lots of gear, the Stormbreak 3 gives more room.

The The North Face Tents Wawona 4 is a four-person camping tent. As with the Wawona 6, only the listing title is available, and it describes the tent as water repellent, spacious and easy to set up, with an attached vestibule area.

The listing does not give weight, dimensions, door count or season rating. Based on its four-person rating, it is a good size for two adults and one or two children, or two adults who want lots of room for an air mattress and bags. Like the rest of the Wawona family, it is aimed at drive-in campgrounds rather than long hikes.

Choose the Wawona 4 over the Wawona 6 if your campsites have small tent pads or you want a tent that fits in a smaller car trunk. If you plan to carry your tent on a trail, the Stormbreak 3 is the lighter three-person alternative with confirmed specs.

The The North Face Tents Stormbreak 1 is the classic one-person tent in the line, and the lightest here. Its total weight is 3 lbs 7 oz, trail weight is 3 lbs 1.4 oz and fastpack weight is 2 lbs 4.6 oz, with 18.13 square feet of floor. It has one large door held open by a mesh stuff pocket and a spacious vestibule for your pack and boots.

It shares the Stormbreak materials: 75D polyester taffeta canopy, rainfly and floor, 40D mesh, a fully seam-taped canopy and floor, a non-PFC DWR finish and high-low ventilation. It is freestanding, rated 2 season, and the footprint is sold separately. The brand description mentions ripstop nylon, but the feature list says 100 percent polyester, so rely on the specific fabric list.

This is ideal for a solo hiker, a teenager heading to scout camp or anyone who wants their own space on a group trip. For more ultralight shelter options, see our guide to lightweight backpacking tents. Two people should not try to share it; the Stormbreak 2 is the step up.

The THE NORTH FACE Wawona 8 Tent is the largest in this list, an eight-person camping tent. Only its title is available, and it describes the tent as water repellent, spacious and easy to set up, with an attached vestibule area.

The listing does not specify weight, floor area, room dividers or season rating. An eight-person tent works best for large families, group trips or a base camp where people spend time inside on rainy afternoons. Check that your campground’s tent pads can fit a large footprint before you go.

Pick this for groups of six or more. For a family of four, the Wawona 6 is easier to pitch and pack.

The The North Face Tents Stormbreak 3 is the three-person version, with 39.72 square feet of floor, two doors, mesh stuff pockets and twin-zip vestibules. It weighs 6 lbs 10 oz in total, 5 lbs 15 oz on the trail and 4 lbs 5 oz in fastpack mode.

It uses the same 75D polyester taffeta and 40D mesh, fully seam-taped construction, non-PFC DWR finish and high-low ventilation, with ample headroom. It is freestanding and rated 2 season, and the footprint is sold separately.

This is the best Stormbreak for two adults who like space, a parent and child, or a couple with a dog. Three adults will fit, but snugly; for three or more adults at a drive-in site, the Wawona 4 is roomier. Our portable camp sink guide is a handy next read for setting up a comfortable site.