The North Face Ve25 - New Vs Old - Which One Is The Best 4 Season Tent
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- čas přidán 24. 07. 2024
- BASE CAMPING TENTS - THE NORTH FACE VE 25 TENT - OLD Vs NEW - In this video I compare two versions of this classic 4 season 3 person expedition tent. Is the new one better than the old. The differences explained and a clear winner. ATB Tom
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Lovely to see these tents, Tom. I always wanted one of these when I was younger but was never in a position to own one. You’re very quickly becoming the leader in tent comparisons. Hopefully you begin getting the recognition you deserve for the quality of your work. These films don’t just appear, I can only imagine the amount of prep, research, setup and post editing it takes to produce something to this standard. As always, excellent!!
Thank you very much Phil for your comments and continued support for my channel. Getting a bit faster with the filming and editing... Another one coming up soon with my current and some of my previous tent collection... ATB Tom
Another great video, thanks. Good to see the differences in the the 2 tents highlighted. I really love my VE25, it has withstood some serious weather and has proven perfect and comfortable for 3 even on extended trips in the alps and Canada. Looking forward to seeing your tent collection.
Hi John, thank you for your comments and for borrowing your tent for this review. At least I did own it for many years and it has stood the test of time very well. I appreciate your input and experience using this tent.. ATB Tom
Very informative video Tom - thank you. Looking for a used 4-season tent for winter bivvys and this has definitely pointed me in the direction of the VE25.
Hi Rod thank you for watching and commenting.... Yes I have had VE25 tents for years and they are a bit special inside.. Great to be able to sleep across or length ways depending on what the terrain dictates. Pockets and storage absolutely fab too... I am sure you will source one no probs... ATB Tom
Thank you for your pro review, Tom I actually bought the north face VE25 based on your review, this is the tent I wanted anyways, you just made it easy to decide, thanks man.😀
Hi John, congratulations and I hope that you are really delighted with your new tent. North Face have put a lot of thought into this new upgradenand the tent has many great features... ATB Tom
Got the new VE25 last year, and your comments about guylines, stitching reinforcement, and poles will help me as work out what I can and can't do with this tent. Thank you.
Hi Douglas, thank you for your positive comments. Just be careful if you are pitching in very windy conditions if you are on your own... ATB Tom
A great comparison of TNF VE-25 tent generations. Thank your honest and through review.
Hey thank you for watching and commenting on a number of my videos... I thought this was an interesting topic to made the video..... ATB Tom
Hey Tom. Another really good side by side comparison. I was looking at this tent last week and thought it was a good one. I’m surprised how wide this tent is. It’s certainly a lot wider than most 3-person alpine tents on the market. Keep up the good work. 👍🏼
Thank you Barry, Being so wide helps with the liability but it catches the wind too... ATB Tom
Was going for the Assault 3 but now I may pony up for the VE25. Thanks much.
Hi, thank you for your comments. The Ve25 is a very good tent but a little hard to manage pitching if the winds are very high... ATB Tom
keep the very interesting and informative videos coming Tom
Hey thank you for your positive comments. Another one up soon too. ATB Tom
Great video Tom, really enjoyed it. You must have one heck of a tent collection now 👍🙂
Hey thank you, yes its building up and will be on display on CZcams shortly... ATB Tom
The latest edition here is my third Ve25 tent since I started wild camping. The first one I bought with a climbing friend and we used the tent in Scotland, Ireland and the Pyrenees. It got used in heavy wet snow falls and I am sure 60 - 70mph winds on many occasions on very exposed windy mountain summits. I can't remember ever using it on a campsite... The poles took some damage but were always repaired by The North Face and it stood the test of time. I then purchased the older model that you see here and after a few years I replaced it with a North Face Mountain 35. The Mountain 35 was fantastic but my love for the Ve25 caused me to buy this latest edition after just a few years. Every time I use it I am amazed at the number of features that it has. I hope that you enjoy the video. ATB Tom
TNF will not honor anything anymore unless it's like within three years old.
The rest they blame it on age and the life time warranty will not cover it.
I own an original VE 25 with the light blue fly and an original VE24 I've also acquired two through thrift store finds like your old model and the generation between the two you show.
My observation the material and craftsmanship lacks on the newer models, although the floor material was thicker the underside fly clips that are glued on with the new model will fail over time, the older models they are sewn in.
Never the less this is one of the most ingeniously designed tents!!
The only tent that may exceed it was the rare Jansport China Everest.
I owned one and it has more poles and is a PITA to set up alone, not as much room sort of like a combination VE25 and Mountain 25 but you can sit at the top of that tent it was damn sturdy.
One was left on Everest China side ( How Jansport gave it's name China Everest) for over a year by the Ultima Thule Everest Expedition in 1984, was found intact encrusted in ice by another expedition and used for shelter.
Hello Tom, thanks for this informative review.
Hi Mark, thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. ATB Tom
Thank you, Tom! Very well done!
Hi Russell thank you for watching and commenting on this and more of my videos. ATB Tom
Still, after 25 year's my absolute favourite tent!! The best just even better 👌👍
Hey Neil, If only the inner was yellow but you can't fault The North Face for that. We had many great days and laughs in our VE25 'S tested to the limit on countless occasions. Great to see The North Face make such an effort with this tent especially with all the detail and adding even more features to an already well featured tent.. ATB and thank you for your comments on a number of my videos. bm
@@TOMHEANEY100 its just great, best times in a tent... ever 👌 absolutely lovethe new version. Detail is brilliant 👍
the older version has a better color for uv protection against sun, also inner tent seems to give a more "chill" feeling inside, warm light makes you feel cosy inside, i like yellow/red tents
Hi Karl, I totally agree and much prefer the yellow inner to the white. A yellow inner and red outer is my favourite combination. ATB and thank you for your comments. Tom
Brilliant , comparison , thank you
Hey thank you for the positive feedback... best wishes Tom
Great video love these tent reviews. Like your red top what makes that?
Hi Chris thank you for your positive reviews, Its a Millet top an older paramount I think. ATB Tom
Thanks Tom. Very good video...!!!. I'd like to do some questions. In your opinión why the foam at the back is so important?. Why is only in one side of the tent?. Do you think it would be better have more foam spacers in other side of the tent?. Thanks Tom, i am learning of you.
Foam at the back I do not understand.... There are foam spacers on both sides of the large panels on the older Ve25. This is to help maintain separation between the fly and the inner.. If I have not answered you correctly let me know and I will try again... ATB Tom
Thanks Tom, a fantastic look at these two ‘fortresses’. Maybe I missed it, but did the weight alter much with the newer version?
Hey thank you Shamus. No you didn't miss it, I missed including it.... the old one weighs 4.85kg and the new one 4.68kg so another win for the recent model. ATB and I really appreciate comments from a fellow content creator on CZcams. Tom
Missing your videos, i hope you are well.
@@chrisedwards3198 Yes all good hope to be out wild camping soon. ATB Tom
This is a comparison of a new model vs very old one. There is 'in between' model, which combines advantages of the old and new one. It has yellow and light gray fly colors, the same 3-point attachments, and also even ligth accumulative buckles on the inside zippers which are visible in the dark. My opinion is that those 'in between' model is the best of them.
Hi Anton, thank you for your comments. You are absolutely right I just have to work with what I can get my hands on. I had the previous model to this old one too... I totally agree that the in between model was probably the best of all. I purchased a Mountain 35 at that point but then went back to the Ve25. The six tent review that I done recently shows the Mountain 35 and this current Ve25 if you are interested. ATB Tom
Hi Tom was thinking of getting one of these as they seem very well priced for what you get. After watching a few videos of it being setup i see the velcro tabs on the fly sheet that there is quite a lot of them, they look like a hassle especially if really cold and it is raining hard. Could i ask if you always use your velcro tabs? does it have to be used for added strength in the whole design or can they be left off for a faster pitch?. Thanks for the awesome review.
Cheers Mike
Hi Mike here we go.... The Velcros are poor to work with in windy or cold conditions. Fiddly and hard to do with gloves so if it's freezing your hands get wasted. I have used them and on one occasion I didn't and the tent was struggling in heavy wind. My friend supported the poles from inside the tent and I got outside and attached the Velcros. They do work quite well and this helped stabilise the tent. The system is primitive and impractical... The Mountain Hardwear Tango's have a slightly better set up and Terra Nova dont bother at all which means the guy lines on their inner first pitching tents are not really effective... ATB Tom
9mm pole is about 40% stiffer (stronger) than 8mm pole, if it is similar tube. I just bought a cheap(ish) 4 season tunnel tent which has four 9.6mm DAC poles. High quality as far as I can see.
Those North Face tents look nice. But after hauling a sled for 8-10 hours and when you are getting tired and weather is possibly getting worse and daylight is running out you need an easy to pitch tent. That is why most arctic expeditions use tunnel tents
Hey great comments thank you.. Definitely two draw backs to these tents... Pole diameter and pitching when it's wet or windy or snowing. Speed of pitching also an issue. This is one of the reasons I changed to outer first pitching tents.. Not so bad if you have a team of people erecting the tent , but I have had many bent poles with these type tents putting them up and taking them down... ATVB Tom
@@TOMHEANEY100 Yes that outer first (or both simultaneously) with clips makes a big difference. Perhaps it is a bit slower than tunnel but very reliable way to pitch tent, even with mittens. I've done some winter trips with Hilleberg Saivo and it was very good tent indeed - except vestibule which is a bit small after you have got used to GT vestibule.
Opening of inner tent in Saivo is low or narrow for two when cooking in vestibule. You can do it but your head will be close or it touches the tent occasionally
I have had a few ve25's I always felt the vestibules were just way to small for winter camping and a pitch in winter with the inside together with the fly is a blessing in a storm
@@dojocho1894 Yes definitely pitching both inner and outer tents together is better. Geodesic tents have some special properties but also some practical drawbacks.
IMO four pole tunnel tent is strong enough, it has large and small vestibule and is easy to pitch even in harsh conditions.
I use mine packed as a long roll. Then poles are folded in the middle, ready for fast pitching. Pole segments are taped together.
I also have my snow pegs attached. They have a simple line connection so I can choose if I use them as snow anchors or like usual tent pegs pushed in hard snow.
Yep, incredible. Do you know any tent better than these?
Hi Marty, yes all my Hilleberg's.... Despite all the expedition use these tents are hard to handle in high winds.. Fine on a trip where 5 sherpas are helping to set it up or dig into snow to protect it from the wind... They look insanely good and are super featured but I bent poles on all of mine on many occasions... Attention to detail is fantastic with pockets and hanging loops everywhere but inner first not for me and the velcro tabs to attach the poles to the fly are ridiculous. The people who design the tents have never spend a single night struggling to put it up in harsh weather.. BUT a decent base camp expedition tent for what it is designed for.... ATB Tom
Nice look Tom. Would love to exchange my trango 3 for the ve25. Wonder if you can buy the foam spacers as an aftermarket? I have looked.
Hi Dave, there would not be much in it regarding a Trango Vs a Ve25 IMO, I think the Trango 3 has 10mm poles whereas the Ve25 has 9mm. The Trango also has a 70d fly which has advantages too... ATB Tom
@@TOMHEANEY100 Thanks Tom.
Hi Tom,
With all these tent reviews the question is if you could only have 1 tent which would it be? 🤔💭
Hi Lee, in my next video I am going to discuss and show my collection of current tents and some that I have previously owned and borrowed back... Here I will pick a favourite... ATB Tom
Hi there..great video..thank u.I need your experience please.I put my ve 25 bought before 14 years and used 8 times.Recently found that the rainfly sheet from the inner side was sticky and ready to crack and I am afraid molded because of humidity in the basement that I put it.Washing with nikwax techwash can save the tent and what else can I use to restore it?
Hi ΠΑΝΑΓΙΩΤΗΣ ΧΩΡΑΪΤΗΣ, thank you for watching and commenting. I am sorry but I honestly don't know. I just don't have experience of this happening but I am aware that not does.. Its one of the problems of PU coatings and taped seems. I am not sure that North Face will cover under warranty either but they may offer a replacement at a reduced cost. I do hope that you get some sort of reasonable solution... ATB Tom
Thanks a lot for your answer.....I wish the best
hi tom! need your help with information about the old VE-25. how many sections in each of the five arcs? unfortunately, I have everything in arcs, so I would be very grateful if you could help me with information. then I can set up my tent. thank you!
Hi no worries do you mean poles as in how many sections in each pole ?
@@teebee75 hey thank you once again for your input here... ATB Tom
Late to get this review, but is the v25 comfortable to use in summer months, or would you bake in there?
Yeah its not too bad. Inner only if you know its not going to rain.. Reasonably well ventilated but it is a 4 season tent mainly designed to handle winter conditions and this comes with some compromise.. ATB Tom
Dear Tom,
I have a tricky question for you.
Imagine camping in a forest and waking up with resin dropping from a broken tree branch on to the tent fabric. How do you go about to remove it?
I’ve seen this asked before... I think white sprit would be a good starting point - it’s safe to use when cleaning seam seal off. But I would start by asking the manufacturer just to be safe. ATB and good luck with getting it sorted. Tom
Dear Tom,
The blasten thing happenings to me om an island in the Stockholm archipelago(!) This was a real predicament this because I couldn’t remove it and if packing the tent it would spread to the rest of the fabric. On the internet I saw that Terpentin solves raisin, but where to get it? Head over heal’s and running around like a headless chicken I thought that my Hilleberg Staika was destroyed. This until I met an old lady that said to me; young man use butter! -?????, butter? Yes she said.....-when I was young my mother Lear first me that butter solves raisin. -ok, I thought, but how to get rid of the raisin-butter mix? Use washing up liquid and the water.
Let me tell you and all our friends out there.....it works!
Raisin is solved with butter. Butter with washing up liquid then rinse with water! No stains and good as new. Please use this tip freely and generously.
Stay safe, stay cool, see you out there........
Do you think this new tent can be used in the desert in 112f degree weather, if I leave the rainfly off?
Hi, yes but that's a hard one. Ventilation is good and the doors are large with decent amounts of mesh... Thank you for commenting now on a couple of my videos. Tom
How well does the older model ventilate in use? Different weather, warm, cold?
Kind regards.
Hi Jacques.. Ventilation is not as good in the older model as it has no vents at the top or Ventilation hoods front or rear... The fact that the fly does not come right down to the ground though definitely helps. I have never has any issues though but then it's windy here in Northern Ireland... ATB Tom
@@TOMHEANEY100 Thank you Tom. Do you happen to know someone who did mods to the tent to ventilate better, especially at the top, to get better circulation of air through the tent?
Kind regards.
@@monzarace Hi sorry I don't.. If ventilation is such an issue then consider a 3 season tent.. Compromise s must be made.. if you need protection from 4 season conditions then you seal in some of the conditions inside the tent too... The new model has more than adequate ventilation IMO with the vents an the top and the higher cut if the fly.. Tom
@@TOMHEANEY100 Thanks. I need the 4 season model. So, today I just happened to find and buy a brand NOS model VE 25, 8 years old, for a fair price, and it seems to be the one from right before the yellow/white model, so carries a lot of updates compared to the lighter yellow earlier model and backwards: Triple guy line points instead of single ones, double vents on the front doors, lots and lots of pockets inside, more pockets in the roof, glow in the dark zip pulls all over, all outside straps can be loosened and tightened, two windows - one front and one rear, double roof vents adjustable, snow skirt not only in one end but both ends, many more hooks inside to hang stuff or install lines between.
Of course the tent works well, but also due to being 8 years old, the two windows immediately fell apart and the two big black foam pads had turned to dust.
Not the quickest tent to raise, but works well and inner tent is nice and doesn't flap or sag. And no huge TNF logos, just a small name plate on the front and two small prints on inner tent, one each end.
I set it up immediately ;)
So, can replacements still be had for foam pads, or do I have to invent something similar? And what is the best way to insert new windows, what material, or should I just try to get som tent fabric and close off the two windows?
And should I recoat with silicone for tents asap on both sides of the outer fly? Or on more parts?
Finally: is the foot print sheet the same for all models? It seems okay cheap to buy.
Any comment is most wellcome.
Kind regards,
Jacques
@@monzarace many questions here Jacques.. It will depend on TNF parts stock what repairs they can do.. In the UK they don't always have spare pole sections.. The foam spacers will be hard to replace as TNF don't make them any more.. I had window repair done on mine by North Face but I still had the window fabric and they just stiched as opposed to welding it in.. I would try to make any repairs as close to the original as this will preserve the value.. I would have thought that only the seams would need to be re siliconised.. If its the whole fly then I am not so sure as personally when or before it reaches this stage I would move it on as its a bit of a risk using a tired tent in harsh 4 season conditions. I recently sold my Mountain 25 but made the buyer aware it was a bit tired.. It actually had a polyester fly and taping was still perfect... Lots to consider but repairing tents is not where I have a lot of experience.. ATB Tom
And my old version has all the venting options and pockets.
Yes they always have been very well featured... best wishes Tom
Brilliant job Tom. 2 cracker tents.
Thank you Stuart, ATB Tom
Is this ok in extreme cold 🥶 conditions ?
Hi yes of course provided you have good insulation from your sleeping bag. ATB Tom
What is actually quite funny: we have an even older version that has all the gimmicks from the latest model. They must have been a bit penny wise, pound foolish with this in between version? What do you think about the quality digference between a 2000-ish version and the current one?
Hi Sven, that's a tough call. The quality on the current one is good construction wise and attention to detail is excellent with all the reinforcement of stress points. They have definitely gone round in circles a bit (must depend on who is running the show). I do feel that moving away from the double silicone fly to silicone/pu is a step down to reduce costs. TNF will argue that is because you don't need to seem seal any more but I have never minded seam sealing as I understand exactly why it needs to be done. The fly coated with silicone on both sides is stronger and the taping wont wear off because there is none... I hope you understand what I am trying to get at here..... ATB Tom
Thanks a bunch for your reply! We decided to order a new one. Let's see what it's like! Regards, Sven
@@TOMHEANEY100 New one finally ordered and delivered (availability has been really bad). So far, quite impressed. Many of the features that were not available on the older version you tested were available on ou 2000 version and this latest version seems to be back to that level. Durability: We'll see!
@@svent1514 hey that's exciting getting a new one... I wish you very many happy camping trips. ATB Tom
Could you could include the price
Robert its £700 from the North Face UK. ATB Tom
Just a minute. These are not comparable. I have the VE 25 from 2005 and it has snow valances, plastic window, full pole sleeves, better guy rope arrangement and the straps for pegging out the outer. I think your older version may actually be a light weight version or maybe a Nepalese copy?
Hi Ben, I have owned 3 Ve25s and multiple North face tents over many years. They just keep changing them and in fact the American ones have been different to the European versions until this new one here which kind of standardised the production. The older one hear is still going strong and definitely not a light weight version or copy... best wishes Tom
Hi Tom thanks for clarifying that. Seems strange they went from a well spec’ed tent in 2005 to reduced spec later on. Thanks for looking in to this. My VE25 is still going strong even after a fox ripped it open when I was camping in the Sierra Nevada ( Spain) one down point of the plastic windows us they do perish over time so mine are now replaced with normal tent material. Keep up the good work! 👍🏽
PU Backed Groundsheet with Taped Seams - Prevents water ingress
Hmm
Hi Karl, not sure what you mean from your comment, did I say something I shouldn't have said? ATB Tom
The new model looks like it could take strong winds, how strong I wonder, you should take it up in strong conditions, see how it copes.
Thank you. Have a look at my review on the tent particularly at 7.35 if you want to see in in around 50mph winds... Personally I don't think they are amazing tents in strong winds no matter what anyone else says. I have used 3 different ones and all struggle on exposed windy sites... ATB and thank you for your continued support. Tom
@@TOMHEANEY100 hi there
50 mph winds would damage the tent?, very expensive tent not to handle strong winds, such a shame as mountains have strong winds...
@@TOMHEANEY100 also just to add I think the new model is a fantastic looking tent but not able to handle mountain winds is very very disappointing...
@@ddolly5024 I suppose its more designed as a base camp tent. When used in higher mountain ranges where winds can destroy any tent it is sensible to dig the tent into snow and use it for shelter... ATB Tom
I think they stoped selling them
Yeah they don't make much money from selling tents... Tom
NorthFace....NorthStar 1980....was the best NorthFace produced
Yeah some serious pole structure on it.. awesome... best wishes Tom