Walking Equipment and Accessories

The North Face Eco Trail 2 Person Tent | Review

An environmentally conscious shelter that provides a durable and spacious fabric bolthole, without breaking the bank

Why We Chose the North Face Eco Trail 2 Person Tent: headroom, sustainability, durability

This bright and bold 2-person shelter from The North Face has been designed with environmental considerations at its core. Crafted from totally recycled fabrics and sold at a moderately low price point, there’s a lot to admire about what has been achieved here. Not only is it good for your wallet and the planet, but it should also last you for many years, thanks to the durability of its fabrics and the quality of its components.

“The big selling point, as hinted by its name, are the strong environmental credentials.”

As always, when it comes to balancing robustness, price and portability, there’s an inevitable compromise. The robust fabrics used here equate to a relatively heavy 2-person shelter that’s not as portable as some. However, the Eco Trail is still an impressive product from one of the world’s most popular outdoor brands.

Who is the North Face Eco Trail 2 Person Tent for?

The Eco Trail is a good choice for environmentally conscious campers who want a well-thought-out shelter that’s durable enough to last for years. Compared to similar backpacking tents, it’s on the heavier side at 2.82 kg and it doesn’t pack down particularly small either, which makes it more suitable for basecamp than for lugging up hills. However, splitting the weight with a buddy is an option and the spacious vestibules and ample headroom are certainly a boon to any wild camp.

Its moderately low price point and sustainability appeal make it an attractive option to a wide range of consumers, including car campers and festival goers.

Fabrics

The big selling point, as hinted by its name, are the strong environmental credentials of the Eco Trail. The flysheet, canopy and floor fabric are crafted from 100% recycled polyester, a unique benefit for a shelter of this type. Each has a Hydrostatic Head rating of 1,500 mm, which is fine for keeping the rain at bay in normal spring and summer conditions.

The durability of the fabrics is a big plus – 75 Denier ripstop polyester in the fly and floor – although giving the tent a larger weight than many of its competitors – should stand up to the test of time. This is another tick in the green stakes, as the most sustainable pieces of outdoor gear are the ones you already own.

Construction

The Eco Trail makes use of lightweight DAC poles to create an H-shaped skeleton that the inner tent clips onto. This creates a generous amount of headroom and allows for large teardrop doors for straightforward ingress and egress. You also get two vestibules for dumping those wet boots and muddy gear, thus keeping the sacred sanctum of the inner tent clean and tidy. Small vents above each door provide airflow and reduce condensation build up. Internal storage pockets allow you to keep your phone, power bank and GPS unit off the floor, while the gear loft is designed to be used with your headtorch as a reading light.

Tester’s Verdict

James Forrest, Lake District based outdoor gear tester

“I slept in this tent during the Outdoor 100 Test Team weekend in Grasmere in the Lake District and it was utterly palatial. A cleverly-designed, all-in-one, hub-connected pole structure created really steep walls and a high roof (there was loads of clearance above my head even when I was kneeling) and it gave the interior a very roomy and comfy feel to it. You get two doors and two vestibules, which is ideal for camping for two, and the price of £270 is really competitive. It’s heavier than I’d like at 2,822g, but for campsite camping or more ‘luxurious’ wild camps where you don’t have to carry your kit too far, it hits the spot. The eco credentials are good to see too.”