Gear Review: The North Face Bastion 4 Tent

[all-purpose]

If you value elbow room over ounces on your winter treks, the Bastion 4 offers 61 square feet of vaulted sanctuary that will let you ride out wild storms in comfort. Credit 17 guy lines and a drum tight pitch for the good stability. “I would feel comfortable in any wind short of a hurricane,” reported one tester after spending several nights above 11,000 feet in Colorado. The color-coded, six-pole set-up is a snap, and a plastic, cantaloupe-size window at the front of the vestibule let testers check the weather without exposing themselves to it.

The interior space was more than adequate for three guys (up to 6’3”) and their gear, and the 54.5-inch maximum height allows for easy movement. With four people and their equipment, the large vestibules (14.8 square feet in front, 7.2 in back) fit all the packs and food, while 14 interior pockets kept extra layers and smaller items organized. After using it, one tester said he was ready to donate his other tent: “For most people who like to winter camp with two or three friends, this is probably the only tent they will ever need.” Ding: After four weeks of hard use in Denali National Park, the seam-sealed, PU-coated floor let some moisture seep in. TNF says it was likely an isolated issue, and the warranty department will replace any tent that leaks. $799; 14 lbs. 2 oz.; thenorthface.com