TNF Assault 2 Futurelight...more waterproof? Or other alpine tent recs

I’m in the PNW so the lack of being fully waterproof with the normal assault 2 definitely won’t cut it, but otherwise it’s exactly what I’m looking for in a tent. Anybody have experience with the Futurelight version and how waterproof it is?

Or any other recommendations? I’ve got a solid base camp tent already and so am looking for something that I can take with me up the volcanoes in the PNW that’s at least somewhat livable for two people, waterproof, packs decently small, and is under 5 lbs-ish. Will mostly get winter or early spring use. Cost isn’t much of a factor but cheaper is always better.

I like the Rab Latok summit, the new Mountain Hardware AC-2 (basically the direkt with heavier fabric and better venting), the el dorado, the Assault 2 (if the Futurelight is actually waterproof) and toying with the idea of an UL shelter like the ZPacks duplex or Tarptent stratosphere Li.

Thanks in advance!

We use (and love) the Rab Latok 2 - very livable (as far as such things go) even wit a 6'4" partner.

Interested in this thread too. The futurelight fabric sounds good. According to the North Face anyway. 

 How does your Latok do in a light rain or warm snow? I know its not a "rain" tent but how quickly does the fabric wet through?

Norm Larson wrote: Interested in this thread too. The futurelight fabric sounds good. According to the North Face anyway.

 How does your Latok do in a light rain or warm snow? I know its not a "rain" tent but how quickly does the fabric wet through?

It hasn't been an issue with warm snow, but we've never had it out in a serious prolonged downpour of rain. I feel like it will do as well as any single wall tent in that, though. Perfect in the snow: relatively light, roomy and bombproof in high winds.

Any single-wall tent in rain will eventually get you wet, especially if you're touching the sides. The TNF Assault with FL is damn fine though!

I haven't used this tent in the rain yet but just used it in a couple high humidity nights and was absolutely amazed at how well it breathed.  I'm also curious how well it will do in a proper down pour.

Assault 2 is 6oz lighter than rab latok 2, but 6" shorter and 10"(!) narrower. Something to consider if there are two of you and you're spending any amount of time in the tent. With my partner, that additional width makes a big difference. If you're solo or both 5'6", you probably don't care.

Awesome, thanks so much everybody!

Anybody with any experience using UL shelters in the alpine? Mostly wondering about wind/storm worthiness

a super light tarp can go a long way, but that's mostly for alpinism where you're not really worried about rain. I like a 6x8' or so. I had my dad sew me up one from ultralight sil-nylon and it weighs nothing. I used it as a bivy tarp on the Moonflower, Fitz Roy, etc. It can be wrapped around you as a bivy sac, used as a wind shelter and keep of spindrift/snow. Mine has at least 20 little loops sewn in to tie off. Plenty of brands make them, but I bought the material off of ebay for next to nothing.

clint helander wrote: a super light tarp can go a long way, but that's mostly for alpinism where you're not really worried about rain. I like a 6x8' or so. I had my dad sew me up one from ultralight sil-nylon and it weighs nothing. I used it as a bivy tarp on the Moonflower, Fitz Roy, etc. It can be wrapped around you as a bivy sac, used as a wind shelter and keep of spindrift/snow. Mine has at least 20 little loops sewn in to tie off. Plenty of brands make them, but I bought the material off of ebay for next to nothing.

+1 on making your! Easier than you'd think.

Re: tents I've had great experience using a RAB latok 3 with 2-3 people. It's got a bathtub floor which helps loads with dryness in some moisture. But I'm 6'2 and like the extra space....the TNF FL is dope but feels short for me/can't speak to durability/performance I just crawled in at OR...)

Anyone test this thing yet?

Perhaps not directly related, but I bought the latest Futurelight bivy and while the website description says it's Futurelight fabric and the stuff sack said Futurelight on it the hangtags (which identify it as the FL bivy) still say Drywall 3.0 fabric, which is what they used in the old bivy and the old tents.

So I guess I'm skeptical as to whether this is truly new fabric in their shelters or just a relabel. I sent the bivy back for other reasons, no big deal to me. Just wanted to throw this out there.

Anyone buy one of these tents yet or have experience with the futurelight fabric? About to pull the trigger on an assault futurelight

So far so good!  More to follow.

Half cup of water. Dinner plate with paper towels supporting underneath.  This was a highly scientific controlled rigorous study.

One day later.

Paper towels underneath still dry.

Initial setup.

Be very careful that the carbon tent poles are going into the corner pockets and slowly bend into position with the least possible resistance.

Weights are impressive.  Let's wait for The North Face to publish production weights.

Kristian Woyna

Kristian Woyna wrote: So far so good!  More to follow.

Half cup of water. Dinner plate with paper towels supporting underneath.  This was a highly scientific controlled rigorous study.

One day later.

Paper towels underneath still dry.

Initial setup.

Be very careful that the carbon tent poles are going into the corner pockets and slowly bend into position with the least possible resistance.

Weights are impressive.  Let's wait for The North Face to disclose production weights.

Kristian Woyna

Is this a new version of the Assault 2? What's up with that tiny door? I just bought this one which looks a bit different: https://www.backcountrygear.com/assault-3-futurelight.html

I'm glad to see the futurelight fabric is fairly waterproof!

I got the 2 person version just before lockdown so haven’t had a chance use it yet, thus no review yet.My door looks like the 3 person model in the link. Much deeper opening. My poles are not carbon fiber but aluminum. Each pole was 3/4” too long to get the tent set up so had to trim them and it’s still way tight. Looking forward to trying it out soon .

Norm Larson wrote:Each pole was 3/4” too long to get the tent set up so had to trim them and it’s still way tight. 

Well that doesn't seem quite right...

According to Outdoorgearlab the TNF Assault 2 Futurelight isn't too waterproof:
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/4-season-tent/the-north-face-assault-2-futurelight

Matt G wrote:

Is this a new version of the Assault 2? What's up with that tiny door? I just bought this one which looks a bit different: https://www.backcountrygear.com/assault-3-futurelight.html

I'm glad to see the futurelight fabric is fairly waterproof!

https://gearjunkie.com/the-north-face-advanced-mountaineering-kit-review

FUTURELIGHT ASSAULT 2P Ultralight Tent: $1,200
Built with The North Face’s most breathable tent textile, the Advanced Mountain Kit Assault 2 is built for light-and-fast, high-alpine missions.
It uses an internal pitch design, three-layer construction (with 90% recycled fabric on the face and backer layers), and a waterproof-breathable, 20-denier FUTURELIGHT membrane from The North Face. Carbon-fiber poles ensure the Assault 2 is light and strong.

They're pushing pricing to ridiculous levels like Patagonia and Arc'teryx...except they're not Patagonia and Arc'teryx. 

Stefan Jacobsen wrote: According to Outdoorgearlab the TNF Assault 2 Futurelight isn't too waterproof:
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/4-season-tent/the-north-face-assault-2-futurelight

I usually love outdoor gear lab, but I don’t think they changed any of that review from when it was for the non-Futurelight version and just slapped on “FUTURELIGHT” in the title. 

https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/4-season-tent/the-north-face-assault-2

The old review, few changed words, same exact pictures.

And I ended up buying it and it seems really solid! Will be taking it up Baker and Rainier in two weeks, so I’ll report back!