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Review: North Face Vario 33

In a trick that seems to defy physics, this red-and-gray bomb shelter packs into a bag so tiny it had us compulsively double-checking our campsite for components we’d forgotten to jam in. How? The secret lies in a compression stuff sack and a fabric-trimming hybrid construction that builds a fly into two sides while leaving […]
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Rating:

8/10

WIRED
Symmetrical design means you never pitch the Vario lame or backwards. Proprietary pole clips have great grip.
TIRED
At only 64 inches across, the interior feels pretty cramped for three people.

In a trick that seems to defy physics, this red-and-gray bomb shelter packs into a bag so tiny it had us compulsively double-checking our campsite for components we'd forgotten to jam in. How? The secret lies in a compression stuff sack and a fabric-trimming hybrid construction that builds a fly into two sides while leaving the other two as single walls. This all-in-one style also means the tent can be pitched as one solid piece, sparing you a wet interior when setting up in foul weather. The disadvantage? Despite zippered top vents, the single walls sweated with condensation when the morning heated up in a hurry.