The North Face Mountain 24

My Mountain 24 is now quite old, but until recently, has been a good solid 4-season mountaineering tent.

I bought my Mountain 24 in 1997 and have many years of excellent service (Arctic/Andes/Alps). I spent a Christmas with two other 6'+ climbers at 6000m, and so it has been really tested. On another occasion we spent four days tent-bound due to the arctic weather and all was good. It's great in strong winds.

It's not the lightest tent, but at the time of buying was probably one of the best tents on the market. There are probably lighter tents that have the same performance.

As other reviewers have noted, condensation can be an issue. It's then a choice of opening a zip up for ventilation and letting some cold air in which, with a bit of practise, works ok.

In the last two years the sponge dividers between the tent and the fly have perished and the ground sheet has lost all watertightness, but what would you expect after this much time?

This is a very rigid, HEAVY, WET tent that takes a really big packed down spot of snow.

The vestibule is huge but fills up with snow if you vent the tent. In a warm storm the non-vestibule end gets wet because if the outer door is open for venting the snow comes in on the inner tent and melts through onto your sleeping bag—worse in a rain. In cold still nights you'd think "a river runs though it".

Nice for summer camping with my wife instead of a "family tent" though.

I have been in two winter storms where I was happy to have it though, even with its problems it is quiet in wind, no flapping. Most often used with a sled so the weight is no problem, but I prefer my Bibler El Dorado. Like most two layer tents it can have really bad condensation problems.

1 big tough bomb proof tent. I used it on Mt Field Tasmania in the winter and it saved my life. It can handle anything nature can throw at it, however I had bad condensation problems; It was raining inside my tent.

Great for blizzards. I wouldn't use anything else in extreme conditions, but way too heavy for just normal trekking,

I just bought a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 for everyday normal trekking/ hiking.

Bought this tent for wilderness boarding school when I was 15, pretty much lived in it for nine months. Been using it to camp for the last 15 years.

Somewhere along the line I lost one pole and broke another, but it still sets up and stays up, lasted three days of consistent thunderstorms, pouring rain, and hail last summer before it finally started to leak.

It's quite roomy and comfortable for two adults. I've crammed as many as four, which I don't recommend outside of an emergency, but three is doable if you're all good friends.

I'm ready to trade in for something more lightweight. This thing is a beast to carry, especially since now I only really backpack in the summer, but my next tent will definitely be a North Face. Plus this one is still totally serviceable if I do decide I need to camp in the snow.

I don't think I've ever gotten such good use out of anything in my life.

I've used my North Face Mountain 24 tent several times since purchasing it used.

I was in the Smokys the week before Thanksgiving with overnight temps of 25-30 degrees in the middle of the mountains backpacking and was plenty warm in the tent.  I'm 6'3 and my brother 6'8 shared the tent and fit comfortably.

The vestibules are roomy with enough space for both of our odds and ends.  It's rather easy to set up with little fight and will take about 10 mins for the advanced, 15-20 for beginners. 

Tent was easy to carry in my pack weighing less than 8.5 lbs. Usually I carry a smaller tent in the summer, but wanted to be sure of a warm night during winter camping. 

I recommend this tent for fall/winter/spring backpacking or basecamp for two people but no more.  I haven't tried it out during the summer yet, but imagine that it'll be kind of hot for 60-70 degree nights.

Enjoy!!

Had to give a send-off for my North Face Mountain 24 that has been sold to a new owner. Guy was going to camp in Sequoia and was going to buy the North Face Assault 3 that I bought recently and realized I didn't need. I offered him the Mountain 24 instead and she is off to Sequoia!

This is the most beautiful bombshelter you will ever want to be in, but unless you camp in monsoon season it is definitey not worth the weight.

The vestibule is just enough for two packs in front, two pairs of Sundowners in the back. And although it does not look like it has much ventilation we never had condensation problems.

Excellent tent if you don't care about weight or have a friend who is the "pack mule." Also it is bright yellow in color so bears might think "look at that big pile of honey."

If you don't mind "humpin'" this bombshelter it is awesome.

I have had mine for 2+ years. It has been on Mount Rainier in 70+ mph winds on more than one occasion, and I have never had so much as an inkling of a problem.

The integrated vestibules have enough room in front to cook in and in back to store your boots and gaitors.

I just got tired of haulin' this beast and sold mine in March to get a Bibler Fitzroy.

In snow mixed with rain the Mountain 24 is a very comfortable tent. I have found this tent ideal for long walks +14 days or more. The footprint is very useful to stop stones and and rocks penetrating the tent floor. The forest green colour of the tent seems not to atract insects so much compared with the standard yellow colour.

Although heavy, it is bombproof for winter. Tends to hold water after rain. It has withstood heavy wind and all kinds of precip. Played cards and eaten dinner with 5 people in cold and wind while tent was toasty.

I've owned for 10+ years and only repair it has ever needed is seam sealing the floor.

This tent has proved worthwhile for every backpacking/snowshoeing trip I've encountered. In the winter it handled three feet of snow and strong wind; in the summer I was able to use just the vestibule, foot print, four poles and a few stakes, shaving many pounds off my pack weight.

I love my Mountain 24. Well worth the price. And well worth its weight too.

I've had it for two years now and I have taken it on trips throughout North America during all seasons. I am very impressed; I would definitely buy another one.