The North Face Triarch 2 backpacking tent does an excellent job of balancing weight and usable space. Its unique pole architecture opens a ton of elbow room and does so at a trail weight of 3 pounds, 4 ounces. An included footprint adds additional value.
Built to comfortably house up to 2 backpackers, the tent has a 27.8 square foot interior. There is a large door on each side of the tent and you also get 26.6 square feet of sheltered external vestibule storage space. As a unique way to maximize space, the tent’s stuff sack converts to an overhead gear loft. It even has light-diffusing fabric that enables you to transform a headlamp into an ambient interior light (headlamp not included).
Freestanding structure is provided by lightweight, aluminum DAC Featherlite NSL poles. DAC aluminum stakes are also included and instructions printed directly on the stake bag help make pitching the tent easy.
The body of the tent is constructed of 20D nylon with a PU coating and 15D nylon mesh, a combination that offers a nice mix of protection, durability, and breathability. The rainfly is also constructed of a PU-coated 20D nylon and the floor is a durable 30D nylon ripstop. All seams are tape-sealed to add additional protection. The included custom-fit footprint adds durability by protecting the floor of the tent from mud, ground water, and sharp objects like rocks, exposed roots and pine needles. It also enables you to leave the tent body behind (when conditions allow) and use just the poles, footprint, and fly to pitch the tent as a more minimalist shelter.
