The North Face Fusion 2

The North Face Fusion 2 was a close second behind the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 in our test. It’s heavier (2 lb 13 oz trail weight compared to 2 lb 3 oz of the Tiger Wall UL2), $30 more expensive, has smaller vestibules, and an inch less headroom. On the other hand, the Fusion 2 has two pole attachment points at the base of the tent, making it easier to get more room at the base of the tent, though it’s not spacious at the base either (few tents in this weight class are—those looking for a spacious yet still lightweight tent, we recommend the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2). 

An important distinction: the Fusion 2 includes a footprint and the Tiger Wall UL2 does not, and the Fusion 2 ends up being cheaper if you do end up buying a footprint for the Big Agnes model. All in all, the Fusion 2 is very comparable to our winner, and anyone who would be happy with the Big Agnes would be stoked on this TNF model as well—mainly it will come down to a matter of brand preference.

Pros:

The tent packs down well (6” x 19”), and whether testers shoved it in their packs or strapped it to the bottom of their backpacks with compression straps, it wasn’t too bulky. It’s a lightweight and compact purpose-built, 3-season tent with 2-doors—essentially The North Face’s best rendition on a design that every tent manufacturer wants to nail but few do. 

Testers agreed that the Fusion 2 is right on the money in terms of performance. Setup is quick and easy. The pole sections are two colors—orange and gray—to help identify which prongs go where. Also, our favorite aspect of this tent is that it includes a footprint, so while the price is steep, there are no hidden costs down the line. 

Cons:

Like many tents in this lightweight category, the Fusion 2 has a sharp angle at the feet which makes storing anything at the bottom of the tent somewhat inconvenient. This is made more pronounced in the Fusion 2 by the 10” taper from head to foot of the tent. Also, testers noted that the zippers were a bit dainty, as was the nylon floor, which necessitates the use of the footprint if the ground is sharp or uneven (i.e. if you are camping outside of your living room). Superlight tech only gets you so far if the durability is suspect, so more often than not, we’d use a footprint with this model.

Favorite Feature: The mesh tent body. Not only is it perfect for checking out the stars, but the faded gray to yellow looks awesome—it’s a unique take on tent design and makes the Fusion 2 both easy to spot from afar and extra photogenic!”

Key Attribute: Versatility

Bottom Line: Easy setup, classic TNF quality, and a sleek design—in our opinion, this is one of the best 2-person tents The North Face has ever released.

Tester Comments: “Adds virtually no weight to your trip. Well-designed and versatile. Compact, lightweight, easy set-up, what more can you ask for!?”