Which MSR Tent is Best for You?
Feb 26, 2025
For decades, Mountain Safety Research (MSR) has been a leader in outdoor innovation, designing high-performance gear trusted by adventurers, mountaineers, and ultralight backpackers worldwide. Known for their meticulous engineering, MSR tents perfectly balance durability, weight savings, and all-weather protection.
From minimalist tarp shelters tailored for fast-and-light alpine missions to bombproof, four-season shelters built for extreme expeditions, MSR continues to set the gold standard for backcountry shelters.
In this guide, we’ll dive into some of MSR’s most iconic lightweight tents, highlighting their key features and how they cater to different adventures. Whether you're trekking deep into the wilderness or scaling high-altitude peaks, there’s an MSR tent designed to elevate your outdoor experience.
Front Range Tarp
MSR's Front Range Ultralight Tarp Shelter is a huge shelter capable of sleeping up to four people at a very low weight. Weighing just 714g (excluding pegs and extras) you have a low weight for starting point. It is a low enough weight for solo traveller looking for a huge, spacious shelter or for use by groups as a communal space. With a set of pegs and a couple of walking poles you're good to go. The simple frameless and floorless design is easy to use. Access through the zippered door can be made easier by rolling the sides back.
The tarp has a large square base with enough guy and peg points to pitch and adjust depending on the conditions. It comes with a set of straps that can be used to combine two walking poles so you can put the shelter up to its full height at 5'4" (164cm) and get it taught. There are optional inners available depending on your needs but it works perfectly well as it is. The canopy naturally sheds rain and snow with the steep angles and if it is well pitched it can handle pretty poor conditions with ease.
Front Range Ultralight Tarp Shelter 3+ (Weighs: 714g ex. pegs/bags)
Front Range with Inner Tent (Weighs: 1604g ex. pegs/bags)
FreeLite Tents
MSR has been back to the drawing board and the latest Freelite is lighter with more headroom than its predecessor (3 inches). It has a semi freestanding design and is very easy and quick to pitch. It boasts an impressive bathtub, made of a 15D ripstop nylon, that has a true rectangular floor, unlike most tents, that tapers in at the legs. The bathtub is pegged out at one end with semi ridged corners, meaning you get a taut pitch every time, which I was very impressed with.
The inner of the tent is mainly composed of a micromesh polyester and provides excellent ventilation, and impressive vistas if you choose not to attach the rain fly. Plenty of storage space has been crammed in, with pockets and overhead gear lofts; for head torches, power banks, sunglasses, etc.
The rainfly is made from a 15D ripstop nylon 1200mm Durashield, the same as the bathtub. It has two doors, so no disturbing your tent buddy at the night, and 2 vestibules that are of a good size, as are the Two no-curve tent doors that are more durable and easier to open with one hand.
Good for one or two nights away, or equally good for a multi-week trek, like the Coast to Coast. However, this tent is more susceptible to wind, than say the MSR Hubba Hubba NX, as it only has 3 points of contact with the poles, so some degree of caution must be used when finding a pitch. That said, unless summit camping, this tent will perform well if you camp lower or in sheltered spots.
FreeLite 1P (Weighs: 721g ex. pegs/bags)
FreeLite 2P (Weighs: 898g ex. pegs/bags)
FreeLite 3P (Weighs: 1057g ex. pegs/bags)
Hubba NX Tents
Weighing in at 1601g, the Hubba Hubba NX tent balances weight and spacious design, making it a reliable companion. The near-vertical walls create a generous headroom, and the symmetrical, non-tapered floor maximises internal space, ensuring comfort even on extended trips. The two large doors and vestibules are particularly convenient, allowing easy access and ample gear storage without feeling cramped.
Setup is intuitive, thanks to the unified hub-and-pole system with color-coded components. Even in challenging conditions, pitching the tent is quick and hassle-free, saving time and effort at the end of a long day.
The 20D ripstop nylon rainfly, treated with Durashield polyurethane and silicone, provides solid protection against wind and rain. Combined with a robust yet lightweight DAC frame, this tent withstands varying weather conditions without compromising ventilation or interior comfort.
With its thoughtful design and durable materials, the Hubba Hubba NX is a top contender for a lightweight yet liveable tent for three-season adventures.
Hubba NX 1 Person (Weighs: 1124g ex. pegs/bags)
Hubba Hubba NX 2 Person (Weighs: 1610g ex. pegs/bags)
Mutha Hubba NX (3+ Person Weighs: 2008g ex. pegs/bags)
Hubba Hubba Bikepack Tents
The MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack tent is a very versatile addition to MRSs tent range, adapting existing technology and design to produce a lightweight, highly portable tent. Specifically designed for bike-packing with 29cm long DAC poles and a versatile waterproof bag, that attaches to the handlebars with 2 rubber stoppers. The stoppers keep the bag away from cables and is sturdy, thanks to the retaining strap that goes, around the head tube. The bag is also expandable with a roll down closure and great for stashing a rain jacket for when you need it quickly on the move. Internally the tent has a good amount of storage with drying lines for hanging items to dry.
Hubba Hubba Bikepack (1 Person Weighs: 1064g ex. pegs/bags)
Hubba Hubba Bikepack (2 Person Weighs: 1343g ex. pegs/bags)
Access Tents
MSR's Access tent is are 4 season tent at a 3 season weight, MSR have achieved this by adding a transverse pole to their now traditional dual hub structure to create a very stable structure and by 'beefing up' the key areas of the tent that would be strained in bad weather. In addition to improving the pole structure MSR are also using tougher Easton Syclone poles, they flex more and are therefore able to bend with the wind. Weighing just over 1.3kg for a four season tent and coming in with an impressively small pack size the Access 1 is a great solo tent for year-round camping and can be relied upon in challenging conditions.
The flysheet isn't cut as close to the ground as on other 4 season tents but in use this is manageable, the inner tent is made from a solid fabric with mesh only being use sparingly - this means that the inside is protected from wind and spindrift, though gear in the porches will get covered in snow. Importantly, MSR listened to feedback and have added vents to the fly to increase ventilation and reduce condensation build up which was a complaint about the older model.
MSR Access 1P (Weighs: 1338g ex. pegs/bags)
MSR Access 2P (Weighs: 1640g ex. pegs/bags)
MSR Access 3P (Weighs: 1974g ex. pegs/bags)
Advance Pro Tent
The MSR Advance Pro 2 Person Tent is a freestanding ultralight single-layer tent with an incredibly easy setup. It has a unique pole sleeve design so that it can be erected quickly by just one person standing in a single spot. Ideal for pitching on high-altitude ledges. It's designed with part pole sleeves and part pole hooks for convenience and ease. It utilises Easton Syclone poles and reinforced guy-points to ensure a strong structure that will protect you from the elements.
The Advance Pro sees the vents move to the sides to maximise airflow and reduce condensation, which is a great move for a single skin tent like this. The only downside to the tent that it's a little snug for 2 people. Indeed, two alpinists will manage to squeeze inside, but some may prefer it as a solo tent. But remember it's not designed for comfort; this is a tool to be used at high altitudes where it may be difficult to find a space for a tent.
Advance Pro 2 Tent (Weighs: 1348g ex. pegs/bags)
Elixir Tents
All MSR Elixir Tents have large vestibules, built-in gear lofts, glow-in-the-dark zippers and an easy-to-find red vestibule door (grey model only). They also feature laser-etched, directional pole-end grommets and colour-coded poles for a fast and easy set-up.
The Elixir Tents combine MSR design and quality with lightweight rather than ultra lightweight materials to produce a series of tents that perform well but are heavier and less costly than MSR's leading edge products.
The tents are still all MSR in terms of its quality of materials, design and construction, there's no compromise on performance, but there is on weight. The Elixir series is heavier than similar sized MSR tents because they're made with slightly heavier materials, heavier also means cheaper (in our world), so MSR have produced an excellent and relatively inexpensive tent where the only compromise is its weight.
Overall, an ideal option for backpackers seeking easy-to-assemble tents at a great value.
MSR Elixir 1P (Weighs: 1854g ex. pegs/bags)
MSR Elixir 2P (Weighs: 2118g ex. pegs/bags)
MSR Elixir 3P (Weighs: 2500g ex. pegs/bags)
Tindheim Tents
The Tindheim is a strong and sturdy tunnel tent in either 2 or 3 man versions. The height is maintained throughout the inner tent, making it comfortable for extended periods. The vestibule is large with ample storage and has a side opening for easy access. The inner door is double layer, so is adaptable to changing environments. The tent comes with a footprint which covers the vestibule too, keeping contents off the ground. The storm pitch design allows for a quick pitch without the inner tent being exposed to the elements.
The Tindheim is designed for campers, weekend warriors and backpackers who want to make the most of their three-season adventures with a shelter that is highly liveable, durable and ready for the weather.
Tindheim 2 Tent & Footprint (Weighs: 2543g ex pegs/bags)
Tindheim 3 Tent & Footprint (Weighs: 3007g ex pegs/bags)
Remote Tent
MSR's Remote 2 Tent is an ideal tent for winter, as it is designed to cope with some of the worst conditions you are likely to encounter. The generous dimensions provide a maximum amount of usable internal space, which is particularly welcome when you're stuck in the tent for extended periods. The design uses two poles to create a solid dome shape that provides fantastic head height. The third pole extends outwards to provide one huge vestibule along with a second good-sized vestibule at the rear so you can store all your winter kit and still have room for cooking and moving around.
The combination of three top quality Easton Syclone poles with a 68D fly sheet and 40D inner and floor provide plenty of strength and weather protection.
There are plenty of guy points, all of which have been reinforced, although you will need to add a few extra pegs to those provided if you want to peg out every point. There's also improved vents on the fly that help reduce condensation.
Remote 2 Tent (Weighs: 3012g ex. pegs/bags)
For decades, Mountain Safety Research (MSR) has been a leader in outdoor innovation, designing high-performance gear trusted by adventurers, mountaineers, and ultralight backpackers worldwide. Known for their meticulous engineering, MSR tents perfectly balance durability, weight savings, and all-weather protection. From minimalist tarp shelters tailored for fast-and-light alpine missions to bombproof, four-season shelters built for extreme expeditions, MSR continues to set the gold standard for backcountry shelters.