There's something about The North Face tents that always piques my interest. Perhaps it’s the innovative design of the Summit Series 2 Metre Dome Tent or the brand’s commitment to creating functional shelters. Whatever the reason, I was eager to test the Homestead Domey 3-Person Tent, which promised to be a perfect outdoor haven.
Indeed, after spending some quality time with the Homestead Domey 3, I can confirm it’s one of the best tents I’ve tried recently. It might be a bit too big for a backpacking tent, but it’s certainly one of the best festival tents if you like headspace, plenty of airflow, and a ton of organisation options when attending outdoor gigs.
How good is The North Face Homestead Domey 3-Person Tent, and should it be your big outdoor purchase this year? Let’s find out.
The North Face Homestead Domey 3-Person Tent review
Price and availability
The North Face Homestead Domey 3-Person Tent is available to buy now directly from The North Face UK for a recommended retail price of £315 (approx. $395/ AU$608). I couldn’t find the shelter on TNF’s American or Australian sites, although I doubt it would be exclusive in the UK.
Similar tents are available, like the ultra-popular Strombreak 3-Person Tent (retailer link), which is slightly cheaper than the Homestead Domey 3-Person Tent. It misses out on some of the features I like the most about the Domey, but it’s a darn good shelter nonetheless.
Specifications
- Trail weight: 3.2 kg
- Floor area: 4.6 m²
- Peak height: 125cm
- Stuffsack size: 68cm x 19cm x 28cm
- Doors: three
- Capacity: 3 people
- Main material: 75D Polyester with PU coating
- Waterproof: yes
- Seasons: three
Design and features
The Homestead Domey 3-Person Tent is primarily made from 75D Polyester with various levels of PU coating. The floor has 1,500 mm of coating, and the fly has 1,200 mm of coating to ensure durability and weather protection. The canopy is a different story: that’s made with 75D breathable polyester taffeta and has a water-resistant finish. The internal doors are made of 40D polyester mesh.
Like The North Face Trail Lite 2-Person Tent, the Homestead Domey 3-Person Tent is designed with comfort in mind. Its main draw is its spaciousness. With a floor area of 4.6 m², it can comfortably accommodate three people. The 125 cm headroom allows for comfortable sitting and then some. I really can’t emphasise enough how generous the Domey is.
Better still, you get three doors/windows and a skylight, the latter of which can be covered with the canopy if you expect rain to fall or want to keep the sun out. Each entrance has a separate 75D Polyester external and internal mesh closure, allowing you to customise the airflow in the tent like a pro.
The North Face didn’t skimp on organization space, either. Multiple pockets are located around the lower perimeter, and a drying line runs all the way around the top of the tent (inside). The company also included a removable gadget storage/pouch so that you can keep everything off the ground.
Performance and comfort
The Noth Face Homestead Domey 3-Person Tent is incredibly easy to set up and down. You have three colour-coded poles and six pegs only – child's play. You peg the sheet down, insert the poles, and then adjust the pegs so the tent sits well on the ground. It took the two of us around five minutes to set up the tent, which is nothing, really.
We last used the shelter in the beautiful Brecon Beacons in Wales, and if you know anything about the area, you might be aware that it rains a lot. As such, we opted for the canopy to be secured on top of the tent, which is also colour-coded, so it took like three seconds to apply.
You can also fasten and clip the canopy to the tent, which reduces the chance of water seeping in and the flapping in the wind.
The Homestead Domey is a waterproof tent, even without the optional ground sheet/footprint. We didn’t have the footprint, which provided an excellent opportunity (?) for us to test the level of waterproofing of the integrated ground sheet and the canopy/fly sheet during a night-long rain.
The shelter performed well, and apart from the condensation around the edge of the skylight – maybe some mesh panelling would work here to reduce this effect – there was no water inside the tent by the time we woke up in the morning.
The ground was dry, and I could remove the external moisture using a microfibre cloth in the morning (I always have a microfibre cloth with me when I camp, and you should, too).
I can imagine you will eventually have to re-waterproof the tent, but there are plenty of products for doing so. Just make sure you clean the tent first before you spray the shelter to avoid dirt getting trapped in the new waterproof layer (which compromises the tent's watertightness).
Thanks to the dome shape of the outdoor enclosure, it can withstand heavy winds if needed. I appreciate that teardrop-shaped tents are better for this purpose, but they only work if the direction of the rain stays constant. The Domey’s solid pole structure and shape provide the perfect mix for maximum windproofing, at least, in my opinion.
Verdict
The North Face Homestead Domey 3-Person Tent is the perfect portable shelter for three people. It’s exceptionally easy to set up and down and has more room than most 4-person tents I tried. Internal organisation is on point, and from what I can tell, the durability isn’t too shabby either.
It’s certainly one of the best festival shelters for couples and smaller groups who would like to avoid feeling like sardines when inside the tent. Thanks to the three doors, mesh windows, and skylight (i.e. ventilation), you might even get away with not showering for a day or two without driving everyone else in the tent crazy.
Do yourself a favour and invest in this tent – your future self will thank you for it.
Also consider
If you're looking for a blackout option, check out Decathlon's own Quechua brand. The Quechua Camping Tent 2 Seconds Easy - 2-Person - Fresh&Black impresses with its simplicity and functionality. Featuring an innovative pop-up design and blackout fabric, it offers easy setup and weatherproofing. While not as robust as traditional tents, it's perfect for casual camping and festivals, offering comfort and convenience. Read Ruth's full Quechua Camping Tent 2 Seconds Easy - 2-Person - Fresh&Black review.
Another 3-person alternative is the Sea to Summit Ikos TR 3, which offers spacious comfort and ease of use, making it ideal for beginner backpackers and car campers. Its innovative design features an inverted pole for extra headroom and breathability, while its sturdy construction and weatherproofing ensure a comfortable camping experience. Read Sian's full Sea to Summit Ikos TR 3 review.
