The North Face Talus 3 Tent

The North Face Talus 3 Tent is a three-person, three-season tent that will give you a comfortable backcountry experience in the spring, summer and autumn. Enjoy the large mesh windows and canopy on summer nights and then use the fly to protect from rain or light snow in the wetter/cooler seasons. Also included are a groundsheet, guy-lines and stakes, all in a stuff sack.
 
Lightweight for its capacity, it packs down to roughly six pounds with everything included. The freestanding tent construction provides ample space and a sturdy framework that will stand up to high winds and rainstorms. The aluminum DAC featherlight NSL poles are collapsible and when strung together, form an “H”. The pole clips help reduce weight and condensation buildup more than traditional pole sleeves, while still holding the fabric taut. It is easily set up with just one person, yet there is room for three inside.

 

 

One poll forms an “H” and together with clips hold the tent upright. Large mesh windows allow ample airflow when fly is removed.

 
As The North Face evolves the Talus series, it grows a little, with room for one more camper.  This justifies the need for a second door and full size vestibule instead of a gear locker. Still designed with maximum space and organization at its forefront, the mesh gear loft hangs below the canopy and there are pockets on the wall below the window. While beefing up the size they managed to keep the weight relatively low. Still too heavy? Consider the “fastpack” option and use only the groundsheet and fly with the poles. This will save on weight but sacrifice protection from blowing sand and bugs/critters.
 
Once rolled up, each door can be secured open by these ties.

 
Two doors can certainly improve the livability for two or more campers. The Talus 3 is extremely comfortable with space for everyone to sit without touching the walls.  The colours allow the interior to feel bright and spacious and can keep mood swings low on extended down days. Depending on your method of cooking, the vestibules are large enough and may be used to prepare food safely, if stuck inside due to bad weather.
 
The gear loft hangs below the canopy and is about half the size of the ceiling. This is great for airing out gear or setting a headlamp for light.

Featherlight poles from DEC are from their “NSL” (New sleeve) series and are anodized. This increases durability and resistance to corrosion. Poles are joined at the intersections of the ‘H’ shape with hubs for a stable construction.

Features:

- Build in gear loft & mesh pockets
- Water resistant, seam sealed floor & breathable fly
- Ground sheet, stakes & guy-lines included
- 2 Doors / 2 Vestibules
- DAC featherlight NSL poles
- High-low ventilation for maximum breathability

Materials:

Fly: 75 D polyester, 1200 PU coating
Canopy: 68 D ripstop polyester
Floor: Bathtub, 70 D nylon, 3000 PU coating
Poles: 1 DAC Featherlite NSL aluminum pole @ 9mm (2 Hubs)

Verdict:

I would recommend this tent for car camping and 2-3 day treks with a friend, or two. For long duration trips and traverses it may not be as ideal since the packability and weight are not as minimal as they could be. Improvements such as a double door/vestibule were incorporated while still keeping weight down which means better usability without the weight penalty. Its physical construction is sound and will standup to high winds, rainfall and various temperatures. It’s also easy to stay organized with the many storage options (pockets, loft & vestibules). The North Face Talus 3 Tent not only looks great but since it’s from The North Face you know it’s quality is backed by a lifetime guarantee.

SPECS:

Price: $249.00 CAD / $199 USD
Size: 3 Person
Dimensions: 226cm x 160cm / 89” x 63”
Packaged Size: 20cm x 58cm / 8” x 23”
Season: 3 Season
Height: 114cm / 45”
Minimum Weight: 2.46kg / 5lbs 6.7oz
Packaged Weight: 2.75kg / 6lbs 1oz
Fastback Weight: 1.72kg / 3lbs 12.6oz
Floor Area: 3.62 m² / 38.94 ft²
Coluor: Castor Grey / Arrowwood Yellow
Warranty: Lifetime

PROS:

- Freestanding construction with high-low ventilation.
- Ample space with lots of pockets/gear loft to keep organized.
- Easy to setup with just one person.
- Pole clips are better than pole sleeves
- Construction is great for stability and reliability in a rainstorm or wind event.
- Lightweight for its size and capacity.
- Lots of mesh windows increase ventilation and decrease condensation.

CONS:

- Sizing is always an issue for people 6ft and up. Depending on the fit of your sleeping bag you may find your sleeping bag touching the tent wall.
 

Rating: 8.5/10

Interior Space     2/2
Design                 2/2
Features              2/2
Weight                1/2
Quality/Price       1.5/2

This is only our opinion. Do you disagree? Did we miss something? Are we totally out to lunch? Join the discussion in the forums here, and let us know what you think. People like/dislike gear for different reasons so chime in and we'll get a well-rounded evaluation.

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