The North Face Eco Trail 3-Person Camping Tent is a reliable outdoor shelter with aluminum poles and a great waterproof rating, for full protection in a 3-season use.
Key features & benefits
- Full-coverage fly.
- 2 Vestibules.
- 2-Hub pole frame.
- Aluminum poles.
- Great waterproof rating.
What is in the name
So here you have a typical dome-style tent with two symmetrical doors. The picture below shows the tent without the fly, so what you see is a fully freestanding structure. This means you can move it and rotate it when the inner tent is attached to the frame. I find this combination of colors very interesting.
But then you attach the full-coverage fly, you have additional vestibules with dual zippers, you have seen it in the top picture above. With vestibules in place, the tent must be staked to be fully functional, so as usual, it cannot be described as a freestanding tent.
The tent is low profile, you have 46 inches (117 cm) peak height. The ridge section makes it different from a simple dome, so the walls where the doors are located are steep and almost straight. This gives lots of shoulder space inside.
Materials
The fabric: The word Eco in the name is about the 100% recycled fabric they used. So the fly is a durable 75D 100% recycled polyester with a 3000 mm PU coating. It is also with a durable water-repellent (DWR) finish.
The canopy is the same denier recycled polyester, and here you have 1500 mm PU coating with the same DWR finish, plus the mesh which you have seen in the picture above. The floor is the same material, but surprisingly, it is with only 1500 mm PU coating and the same DWR finish.
The poles: The poles are quality DAC material, and my understanding is that here too you have a recycled material. They are without chemicals for coloring.
You have a double-hub construction that looks like two Y letters attached to each other. So the frame is freestanding when you attach it to the corner grommets. The tent attaches to the frame through a series of clips on the canopy.
Ventilation
The canopy is all mesh as you have seen above. So even when the fly is on, you have air circulation in the tent because it can enter along the bottom perimeter of the fly. But they have added vents on the vestibules and this is the best you can expect from a tent of this type with a full cover fly.
Who is it for
Capacity-wise, the tent is for three people, and for this you have a floor area of 39 ft² (3.62 m²). But the two vestibules add 10.9 + 10.9 ft² (1 + 1 m²). So the total protected space per person is not bad, you have 20.27 ft² (1.87 m²). The picture below shows the floor plan:
Seasons-wise & climate-wise, the tent is a reliable 3-season shelter, and it offers full protection from the elements. But with so much mesh around you will not feel warm if you camp in a cold environment. On the other hand, the tent is very aerodynamic and low profile and there is no doubt it will perform great in windy places.
Regarding the weight, with its 7 lb 7 oz (3.3 kg), I do not see it as a trail tent. So it is better suited for activities where you would not have to carry it in the pack. But it is indeed backpack-portable. The packed size is reasonable 23.2 x 7.5 x 6.5 inches ( 59 x 19 x 16.5 cm).
Specifications
- Official capacity: 3 people.
- Weight: 7 lb 7 oz (3.3 kg).
- Trail weight: 6 lb 11 oz (3.02 kg).
- Floor dimensions: 89 x 63 in (226 x 160 cm).
- Floor area: 39 ft² (3.62 m²).
- Floor area per person: 13 ft² (1.2 m²).
- Vestibule area: 10.9 + 10.9 ft² (1 + 1 m²).
- Total protected area per person: 20.27 ft² (1.87 m²).
- Stuff sack size: 23.2 x 7.5 x 6.5 in (59 x 19 x 16.5 cm).
- Peak height: 46 in (117 cm).
- Poles: aluminum.
Final thoughts, rating, pros & cons
To summarize this The North Face Eco Trail 3-Person Camping Tent review, I find the 2-hub frame design a particularly great feature here because of the extra inner volume created by this. The full-coverage fly with its impressive waterproof rating is a guarantee that you will stay safe under this shelter, no matter the weather situation.
The price is steep, but this is a quality product as you would expect from this brand. I have included it in my list of best 3 person tents for camping.
Please see how this tent stands against my standard set of rating criteria:
The North Face Eco Trail 3-Person Camping Tent
Pros
- Full protection.
- Quality materials.
- Eco-friendly tent.
Cons
- A bit small for 3 users.
- Expensive.
For more options in this capacity group, please check in the category Tents for 3 people. This NEMO Aurora 3 Person Backpacking Tent is considerably lighter and suitable for the trail.
Thank you for reading. There is a comment box below, so let me know if you have questions or comments. Have a nice day.
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