Backpacking can provide solitude and a perfect time to rejuvenate your soul. Undoubtedly, with the right equipment, like the MSR FreeLite tent, you can focus on the things that matter like epic vistas, babbling brooks, and sipping camp coffee as the sun rises.
4 Reasons to Love the MSR FreeLite Tent
- Built to handle day-in-day-out abuse
- Large dual doors
- Easton Cyclone tent poles
- Burrito stuff sack
Available At:
– Amazon
– REI
– Backcountry
Who is the MSR FreeLite Tent for?
- Someone who appreciates pro-quality gear
- Backpackers looking for a lighter double-wall tent
- Car Campers who have limited space in their vehicle
- Bikepackers who want a little extra room
MSR FreeLite Tent Review
Enter MSR’s FreeLite 2-person ultralight backpacking tent. This double-wall, semi-freestanding tent (needs stakes in addition to poles to stand up), is built to handle the day-in-day-out abuse of professional guides. For example, the little details like the lightweight aluminum eyelets that secure the tent poles that make this tent durable. Also, the reflective guy lines are useful at night, so you don’t trip over them. In addition, the Easton Syclone tent poles resist breaking in high winds. They look like carbon fiber, but according to MSR, they’re aerospace composite materials. Moreover, the durable 15D nylon ripstop rainfly, and it only weighs 3 pounds and takes up just over 13-liters in your backpack.
Creature Comforts
Besides the durability and lightweight features of the MSR FreeLite tent, what are the creature comforts of the tent? Let me tell you. First, the large dual doors are a must when camping with two people. Obviously, who wants to climb over their partner to get out of the tent? Not me!
Secondly, the MSR FreeLite offers 29 square feet of floor space inside the tent. That means there is plenty of room for you, your partner, and even your dog!
Additionally, there are webbing loops to hang gear and a handy pocket by your head to store your essentials. Also, the two large vestibules outside each door offer up a total of 17.5 square feet of space for your backpack or other items you don’t need in your tent.
Lastly, the MSR FreeLite tent uses a ton of mesh, which is fantastic to view the Milky Way on clear nights.
Burrito Stuff Sack
The burrito stuff sack is ingenious. For example, it can easily be used to strap to your handlebars for a bike-packing trip. Also, you can easily stuff your tent in there without folding and rolling it up. Another nice feature is the individual stuff sacks for the tent, poles, and stakes. That way, you can easily divvy up the MSR Freelite between you and your partner to lighten up your load.
Dislikes
I’m 6’2,” and the only complaint is the head height is a bit low at 36 inches compared to other tents in the same category with 39 or 40 inches of head height.
Common Questions
Question: How heavy is an ultralight tent?
Answer: Ultralight tents typically range between 2 – 3 pounds with their fully packed weight which includes, poles, stakes, rainfly, and stuff sacks.
Question: How long do ultralight tents last?
Answer: If you take care of your gear, an ultralight tent can last for many years. It also depends on how much you use your tent. For example, if you are on a thru-hike, it may only last one year because you’ve used it every night for a couple of months.
Specs
- Capacity: 2-people
- Seasons: 3
- Packed Weight: 3.88 pounds (1,760 g)
- Packed Size: 5.5 x 19.5 inches (7.59 cubic liters)
- Peak Height: 39 inches (99 cm)
- Floor Area: 29.0 sq ft (2.7 sq m)
- Floor Dimensions: 84 x 50 in (213.36 x 127 cm)
- Vestibule Area: 17.5 square feet (8.75 + 8.75) 0.81 sq m + 0.81 sq m
- MSRP: $489.95
- Cost per gram: $0.26
Construction & Materials
- Type: Semi-freestanding (requires stakes and tent poles to stay up)
- Tent Poles: Easton Syclone aerospace composite poles
- Door Quantity: 2
- Vestibule Quantity: 2
- Canopy Fabric: 10D polyester micro-mesh
- Fly Fabric: 15D ripstop nylon 1200mm Xtreme Shield™ polyurethane & silicone
- Floor Fabric: 15D ripstop nylon 1200mm Xtreme Shield™ polyurethane & DWR
Bottom Line
What does all of this mean for you? Simple, the MSR FreeLite tent is going to last you a long time with proper care. It’s also going to allow you to use a smaller, lighter backpack, which makes hiking much more enjoyable. Therefore, if you appreciate quality, check out this lightweight backpacking tent.
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