I spent considerable time evaluating and deciding on a hard core winter mountaineering tent, and based upon paper research, and seeing the Mountain Hardware Trango 2, I ultimately settled upon the Ambition 35 by The North Face. In retrospect, I have no regrets, but both have their places. The Ambition 35 is a HEAVY tent but it can handle anything short of an avalanche. No tent is light when doing winter mountaineering as you must remember to add the weight of snow pickets, deadmen, shock chord, etc. Both manufacturers have their tents very high on Mount Everest. The Trango 2 is easier and faster to set up and the sideways door is a bit more convenient. TNF Ambition 35 however, convinced me it is a sturdier tent for prolonged tent stays such as when stuck in a white out, stuck in a storm, or used as a forward support base. It is too small for a true "base camp" and too heavy for a "final push to the summit" tent. However, it serves me well for my purposes and I hope to get it to Antarctica. It will handle a lot of snow on the roof. The door lays on the floor when open so you must be careful about that. In addition, the velcro fly attachments can be a challenge with gloved hands in brutal cold. Once the tent is up, and fully staked down, it is incredibly solid. I actually used this tent on a recent Mount Whitney, California winter summit bid, as seen at www.395.com/portal/ see the message board under Operation "Cannibal." In summary, it suited me for my winter mountaineering purposes very well. I also bought and used the footprint and loft. They were well worth it. We used both everytime we set up the tent.

A must have tent, this tent wil take any wheater you can give it. Pleantly of room in the tent for up to three people comfortable and all your bags. It is also great in the summer because you can use the Rain-fly and the foot-print to set-up a light weight summer shelter. I was not sure if I want a tent that wieghted 12 Lbs, I thought that was I lot to backpack but REI had it on sale for $359.00 so I could not pass it up. The 12 pounds is a little heavy but it is sure worth it knowing you have a tent that will withstand anything mothernauture throws at it.

Customer Service

The North Face is awesome with customer care.

Similar Products Used:

All North Face Clothing and Equiment.

i like the tent. it has worked very well for us. i did never break anything on it nor did it fall apart like that crappy kelty tent i used to had. north face makes good stuff and i think you should buy this here tent. tell em hank sent ya.

Customer Service

mountain gear has great customer service and you should buy all your north face stuff here!

Similar Products Used:

Cerro torre jacket, himalayan mitts, mountain tent

I bought the Ambition 35 basically for kayak camping in southeast Alaska. At nearly 12 pounds totaled-up, the tent is not really meant for distance backpacking unless you're load-shareing on a winter ascent with a close party of three. In that case, it may be worth packing. Having said that, it's a wonderfully made tent with much better ventilation than any earlier model tent by North Face (two screened doors on this one). With the vents open and a small propane lantern on low, this tent becomes a commercial clothes dryer - and it does't matter if you're camped under a waterfall. Trust me. It squeezes down into a reasonable size and can stuff easily into either end of a kayak. This tent's really best at general heavy-weather (wet/winter) camping close to shore or near dropoff points. There really is room for three to sleep - or two persons with all gear inside away from the wet snow and rain. This tent can get you through about any kind of weather sceen, comfortably. It can probably take more than you.

Customer Service

Personally, I've never had a problem with my North Face gear (thousands of dollars worth). Friends that have say the companys good to deal with. They've been around a long time.

Tent is overbuilt if anything. A bit on the heavy side for my taste (have been trained in the light-is-right school) ... but is a solid tent with many venting/storage options. This is definitely the tent to take on an extended trip.

Similar Products Used:

NF Mountain Tent