North Face Gift Dilemma (VE-25)

“My Mother got wind of my desire to get a winter tent. She didn't give me anything on my birthday and gave me one combined Birthday and XMas gift: A 2001 North Face VE-25 from Campmor: A 3 person winter/mountaineering tent which has two small vestibules (11 and 6 sq feet). Its a wonderful and generous gift (I got her a nice CD player for her XMAS present), but its heavy! The listed pack weight is 12lb 1oz.

Generally, I don't like exchanging gifts and I don't know how much the postage would cost... but this is a lot of money (499 is what my Campmor catalogue says and for that I could get a low end Hilleberg, or come close to one of the Bibler's I've been drooling over).

Anyway Gear Mavens: What are the pros and cons of the VE-25? What tent should I get instead? What else does Campmor have that I should consider getting in the exchange (not necessarily a tent)? I'm thinking of the Moutainsmith backpacks and winter gear.”

“Well, whoever you really are, I understand your plight, although I am not lucky enough to be in that particular predicament.

I think you should get the tent you really want. I bet that's what mom would want you to do, also.

WRT the specific pros, cons, and alternatives, sorry but I can't help. Have not had the luxury of considering equipment in that price range.”

“Exchange it for cash if you can and save for that Bibler.”

“what GS said.”

“Who are you and what have you done with pedxing?”

“I looked pretty hard at 4 season tents, including the VE-25. Looks like a bomb-proof tent, but the weight was the killer to me. After a lot of searching I ended up w a Bibler I tent. It will take it's maiden trip later this week to Lassen, so no experience yet.”

“is it violin or spock?”

“I'm wondering the same thing. Didn't Ped get the password? Did he change it? Who knows?”

“Spock's mother doesn't love him that much. ;-)

Actually, I think it is one of the "regulars" who just forgot to sign back in with his/her real id.

Could be Violin, sure...or maybe, could it be......RADAGAST!!!??????

hee hee”

“Rad it has to be Spock because violin couldn't have resisted the temptation of posting a link to the campmor page or directly posting a picture of the tent! LOL”

“LOL @ spam!”

“OK it was me... I logged back in and didn't realize that the screen was welcoming back Pedxinq.

(I used the number the Viol man gave me to change the password to Pedxinq and make it the same as Pedxing's... oh what a tangled web we knit when we mess around with all this sugar...)”

“LOL, ped, I had forgotten that was a torll name that was turned over to its rightful owner.

But...so, your mom loves you that much???”

“Take it to any store that has TNF tents and return it. REI, EMS or any other will take it back without a receipt.”

“LOL Ped, I figured it was something like that.”

“yeah, but make sure your mom didn't steal it...because she could get into some real trouble. AAAHAHAHAHA, i kill me!”

“Get the cash back and buy an Integral Designs MK XL. Basically the same tent as a Bib Eldo for less $$$. I've heard nothing but good things about TNF tents, but do you really need the Taj Mahal? Congrats on a cool gift and a cool Mom.”

“My Dad got me a tent for Christmas. He knows nothing about backpacking or tents so he had me pick it out. Parents are cool like that. They don't care what they got you, they care about you being happy. If you're too worried about it, ask her. I'll bet you she says take it back and get the one you want. Of course, then she'll want to see it...”

“Did you get the Eclipse?”

“12 pounds isn't so heavy if you make your mom carry it.

BTW, the 2000 Model is nearly 2 pounds lighter and $100 cheaper than the 2001 Model.(for Spam)

I've read very good reviews of this tent. It is large enough for you and both your sons but unless you'll be attempting Everest anytime soon, it's probably overkill. Campmor is really easy on mail order returns.

I think just sticking it in the gear closet and not using it or using it and not being happy with it would be more disrespectful of your mother than leveling with her or returning it on the sly.”

“Thanks for the input. I certainly won't keep it and not use it. I just want to think seriously about using it. Still, I would use the tent for 2 and 3 person trips and 6 pounds per person seems like too much. Probably I will exchange it or get a refund and put it towards a different tent. If I do, I won't tell my mother unless she asks how the tent is.

Violin: I think the web page is mistaken. Other sources, including my Campmor catalogue, have the 2000 tent at 12' 1'' just like the 2001.”

“LOL, and carrying cast iron cookware isn't unreasonable either while your carrying that VE-25!

The Integral Designs MK XL is a nice tent too although likely to be small for three people.”

“I am trying to think of 2-3 people I would want in a tent with me...”

“Pick me! Pick me!


LOL....”

“There are four people I've shared my tent that I'd be really glad to tent with again. Two of them are my sons which is why I want a three person.
I'm off to to Cali in the morning (and taking my sons... they are wonderful guys... they make me so proud).”

“Ped,

I've used this tent a few times. One of my buddies owns it. He was new to backpacking and a salesman at the North Face store got hold of him and sold him on it. In my opinion, it's too much tent for backpacking. It's a GREAT 4-season and mountaineering tent, though.

We took it on our climbs of Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier...

and were really glad we had such a sturdy, reliable shelter. The pic was taken the morning after our night at Camp Muir where we had sustained 40-50 mph winds and all we had to do was secure our guy lines once or twice, while others had their tents collapse, or in one case blow off the mountain.

It IS a heavy tent, but if you need a lot of space under rugged conditions, it's great. The two doors and vestibules came in really handy. I'd recommend keeping it if you plan to winter camp or venture up Mt. Washington sometime.”

“Give her a big kiss-she probably just wanted to give you something real nice---aand she did,but she would not care if you switched it around a bit--she probably gives ya something nice every year.

Great pic kleetn!”

“You could have opened a box on Christmas morning filled with bed sheets and bath towels.

I think that your Mom just wanted you to have something exciting under your tree. I don't think she would care if you exchanged it for a different tent.”

“It sounds like it would be an awesome tent for a group of people as long as the load is spread amongst everyone.

I just read an article on the Stephenson Warmlite 2R. Stephenson claims it can stand up to winds of 150mph once it's set up.”

“So Pedxing, what have you decided about the tent?”