The North Face Phoenix 2 Tent: 2-Person 3-Season

When I first saw this tent in TNF's 2012 tent catalog, I thought that it seemed awfully familiar. After buying one and setting it up I realized why: The TNF Phoenix 2 looks remarkably a lot like a tent that Sierra Designs made a few years ago called the Baku 2. The only real difference is the entry zipper, which zips straight out, whereas it zips to the side on the Baku's vestibules. The North Face Phoenix is a half pound lighter, due to a lighter canopy fabric and floor, but I don't think that this is necessarily an advantage. Both tents have woefully poor venting for single wall tents, but the thing that bothered me the most about the Phoenix is the lack of a bathtub floor. If there is any amount of water on the ground, while you are setting it up, the inside of the tent is going to get wet. If, by chance, anyone connected with TNF's R&D department happens to read this review may I suggest that you add a bathtub floor and larger vents on the top of the tent that are closeable from the inside. Another thing that I experienced with the SD Baku 2 is that the lack of "solid" doors allowed dust to blow through the tent when being used in a desert environment. I would suspect that the similar design of the Phoenix 2 will have the same problem. I would add water resistant sil-nylon doors that could be zipped off and left at home if not needed. I am sure that adding better venting, a bathtub floor, and solid panels over the doors will add a little weight, but I think that even if the tent is a pound heavier it would still be a very light two person tent and certainly more functional.

This is a very good tent with one minor thing that could be slightly improved in my opinion. On the plus side, it is very light, easy to assemble, and seems to do fine in the rain (have not used in heavy, prolonged rain as one reviewer seems to have done and given a lower rating). With all of the flaps down, I've had it in pretty heavy winds and it feels very stable. The cross rod gives you a little more space when sitting up, and makes it feel fairly spacious for a 2 person tent.

There is some condensation buildup, but it has been fairly minor even in heavier humidity. The two side vestibules can be folded out of the way to give it a little more cross-ventilation to help prevent this if there is a breeze, but the hooks that hold back the flaps could have been placed better to keep the flaps fully out of the way and allow for a little more airflow, so this is the one design element I would change.

Overall, a great 2 person tent.

There is much to recommend about the Phoenix 2. It is lightweight, compact and the ideal shape and size for two. In mild conditions or light rain, it does a fine job of keeping you dry. However, in pounding rain or rain driven by a heavy wind, the waterproofing is not up to the job. I recently completed a six-day hike down the West Coast Trail on Vancouver island. It's a rainforest, and rain it did - non stop for 20 hours. We were soon aware of a fine mist coming through the fabric and by morning, we, and all our gear, was soaked through. In those conditions, it needs to be tarped.

This tents was by FAR the easiest thing to put up. There are three poles. Just 1-2-3. We stayed warm in low 30-Degree temps, and didn't have any issues with Moab moondust coming in the tent with 20mph winds. This thing packs down tiny, smaller than a camp-chair. Zippers and zipper pulls are BRIGHT green, so easy to see in the middle of the night. There is a door on either side of the tent so no crawling over someone or their belongings. Only down side I saw was the lack of windows if its a warm clear night. But other than that, it was a great tent.