MSR FreeLite 2 Tent Evaluation

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MSR FreeLite 2 Tent Evaluation

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MSR FreeLite 2 Tent Evaluation
The MSR FreeLite 2 is one in all our favourite light-weight backpacking tents for solo adventures. Photograph credit score: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

The MSR FreeLite 2 is among the lightest 2-person double-wall tents in the marketplace. It additionally has a roomy, absolutely rectangular ground, an easy-to-pitch semi-freestanding design, and supplies the wonderful climate safety we’ve come to rely on from MSR through the years. 

However how does the FreeLite 2 stack up towards the opposite high tent contenders? Can it really sleep two individuals comfortably? Will its light-weight supplies maintain up over time? And finally, is it well worth the pretty important funding? 

We put the FreeLite 2 to the take a look at in rugged circumstances to see how properly it performs in comparison with the best-selling tents on this standard class.

Fast Specs

MSR FreeLite 2

Good Steadiness of Weight & Livability for Solo Hikers


Worth:

$450


Weight:

2 lb. 5 oz.


Dimensions (LxWxH):

84 x 50 x 39 in.


Sort:

Semi-freestanding


Flooring Space:

29 sq. ft.


Vestibule Space:

7.5 + 7.5 sq. ft.


Pockets:

3


Packed Measurement:

18 x 4.5 in.

Execs

  • Ultralight
  • Roomy for one
  • Two doorways/vestibules (a perk for solo hikers)
  • Handy pockets
  • Rainfly gutter prevents drippy entry

Although it’s a good match for 2, the FreeLite is spacious for One. – Photograph credit score: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Execs

Light-weight

The FreeLite 2 weighs 2 kilos, 5 ounces, making it one of many lightest 2-person double-wall tents in the marketplace. The closest competing ultralight tents within the semi-freestanding class are the Large Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 and NEMO Hornet OSMO 2  – each of which we additionally like. You’ll discover all three tents on our record of the Finest Backpacking Tents for barely totally different causes.

The FreeLite 2 is exceptionally straightforward to hold on path when cut up with a companion, but it surely’s additionally an awesome choice for solo hikers since its weight is comparable (if not lighter) to most of the high one-person tents in the marketplace. For instance, the Large Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 weighs in at 38 ounces, and the MSR Hubba Hubba 1 suggestions the dimensions at 39 ounces. All three of those shelters are comparable in weight and worth, however the FreeLite 2 has far more inner house.
You could possibly go even lighter by choosing a non-freestanding ultralight shelter or tarp, however these forms of tents have some downsides which might be dealbreakers for some backpackers – you’ll must handle inside condensation and they’re a bit extra cumbersome to pitch.

Compact

Saving house is almost as essential as saving weight while you’re backpacking since a streamlined, non-bulky load is much more snug to hold. With the tent poles stashed in an exterior pocket, the physique and fly of the FreeLite 2 compress down very small. This makes it straightforward to stow away, even within the environment friendly 40-50 liter backpacks we usually use.

Not solely does the FreeLite pack down small but it surely can also match into tight campsites. – Photograph Credit score: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Roomy For One

The FreeLite 2 is designed as a two-person tent, but it surely actually shines as a solo shelter. This tent has a totally rectangular ground that doesn’t taper on the foot, so there’s loads of house to accommodate a large sleeping pad and any gear you wish to stash securely contained in the tent. 

The FreeLite has fairly commonplace dimensions – with an 84-inch size and a peak peak of 39 inches – so it’ll be a comfortable match in the event you’re taller than 6 toes. However the further house – a few foot on both sides of your pad – makes this tent really feel surprisingly spacious while you’re flying solo.

The modest forehead pole on the high creates loads of shoulder and head house for one. – Photograph Credit score: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Simple to Pitch & Comfy

The FreeLite is a semi-freestanding tent, which suggests it depends on a easy pole body and 4 stakes on the corners for construction. Semi-freestanding tents are good as a result of they supply an awesome stability of weight financial savings, consolation, and ease of use. In contrast to a totally freestanding tent, you’ll all the time have to stake out the corners of a semi-freestanding tent for a correct pitch, however we all the time stake our tent corners anyway.

With fast capturing pole ends and durable stakes, this tent is straightforward to pitch. – Photograph Credit score: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Two Doorways & Vestibules

One other helpful characteristic of the FreeLite is its twin doorways and vestibules. Having two doorways is just about important in our e-book when sharing a tight-fitting backpacking tent with a companion, but it surely’s additionally a perk for solo hikers. Most one-person tents solely have one door and vestibule, however with the FreeLite you’ll get one on both sides of the tent for full air flow, views, and storage.

The tent is small however the two aspect doorways are comparatively massive. – Photograph Credit score: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Reliable Climate Safety

The FreeLite has not allow us to down throughout testing in harsh climate circumstances. Even in a torrential multi-day downpour within the Wallowas, we felt assured on this tent because of its absolutely waterproof, seam-taped fly, double-wall design, and steep dome form that sheds water like a champ.

Remember the fact that the FreeLite is an ultralight shelter made for three-season circumstances and all the time do your greatest to pitch it on excessive floor in moderately sheltered websites. Should you try this, you’ll be proud of its efficiency.

This tent didn’t allow us to down in moist climate when it mattered probably the most. – Photograph Credit score: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Rainfly Gutters

The FreeLite’s vestibule doorways have small channels to direct rain away from entry factors. This helps stop water from dripping onto you and your gear when getting into and exiting the tent. Small particulars like this actually matter within the backcountry when it’s crucial to maintain your camp garments and sleeping bag dry.

Good Worth

The FreeLite 2 presently retails for $450, which is aggressive with the equally outfitted NEMO Hornet 2 and Large Agnes Tiger Wall UL2. Should you’ll put it to good use, a high-quality tent just like the FreeLite is properly well worth the funding because it’ll final for years of journey.

The Freelite is priced competitively when in comparison with comparable tents in its class. – Photograph Credit score: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Cons

Tight for Two

The FreeLite 2 will work tremendous for 2 individuals who don’t thoughts getting up shut and private, however we like extra space in our 2-person tents. Many hikers even bump as much as a light-weight three-person tent for the additional sleeping pad and kit cupboard space.

Tents with longer forehead poles throughout the highest really feel extra spacious for 2 hikers sitting aspect by aspect because the sidewalls are extra vertical, much less slanted, and maximize house on the head and shoulders. The FreeLite has a comparatively brief forehead pole, which is why we prefer it higher for solo use. Should you largely plan to sleep two individuals in your tent and also you’re on the lookout for a bit extra headroom, the Tiger Wall UL2 is an effective choice, as is the very spacious NEMO Hornet OSMO 3.

There’s loads of room for one plus a ton of substances however two individuals side-by-side is a good match. – Photograph Credit score: Heather Eldridge (CleverHiker.com)

Pitch Wants Consideration

Semi-freestanding fashions just like the FreeLite 2 perform greatest with a taut pitch. As a result of nylon tent materials stretch out a bit when chilly and moist, you’ll wish to ensure to re-tighten your guylines in opposed climate circumstances. With out a taut pitch, semi-freestanding tents usually tend to blow round within the wind.

Like different comparable tents, the FreeLite can sag and look sloppy with snow, ice, and Rain. – Photograph Credit score: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Heavier than Some

The FreeLite is an extremely light-weight backpacking tent but it surely’s heavier than among the main non-freestanding shelters. An excellent streamlined tent just like the Zpacks Duplex weighs solely 18.5 ounces (not together with trekking poles and stakes). For some hikers, it’s properly value coping with the drawbacks of a non-freestanding tent to cut back pack weight by over a pound. Nevertheless, the FreeLite is an effective stability for many who prize comfort and weight financial savings equally.

Storage Pockets Missing

The pockets within the FreeLite are pretty primary, which is fairly typical for ultralight tents. There are triangular pockets on the head and a small gear loft on the high of the tent. They’re satisfactory, and provide some group for a telephone, headlamp, and so forth., however they’re fairly minimal. We’d want a big high pocket just like the one on the Tiger Wall to stuff extra clothes or gear and stick with it off of the ground. Although we want the FreeLite had barely higher pockets, we are able to’t knock it an excessive amount of since these issues would all add weight to the design.

With only a few small pockets, we want there was extra storage on this tent. – Photograph Credit score: Dave Collins (CleverHiker.com)

Condensation

The FreeLite is a minimalist tent and its rainfly lacks strutted air flow ports to cut back weight. Not having built-in vents restricts the tent’s condensation management capabilities. The rainfly doorways unzip from the highest and backside which helps flow into air, nevertheless, such vents aren’t optimum throughout heavy rainfall.

The MSR FreeLite 2 is a stable light-weight one-person choice. – PHOTO CREDIT: Heather Eldridge (CLEVERHIKER.COM)

Backside Line

The MSR FreeLite 2 is a wonderful selection for anybody trying to scale back their pack weight with out sacrificing the conveniences and climate safety of a semi-freestanding double-wall tent.

We actually like this mannequin to be used on solo adventures, and it’s one in all our favourite 1-person tent selections. The FreeLite’s specs are aggressive with among the hottest 1-person tent choices, but it surely has much more room for sleeping and kit storage. 

We really feel that the FreeLite 2 shall be a bit cosy for a lot of mountain climbing pairs because of the steep slant of its sidewalls. That stated, in the event you’re okay with extra restricted headroom, the absolutely rectangular ground house of the FreeLite supplies sufficient room for 2 to lie down and sleep comfortably.

The FreeLite ticks a whole lot of containers for us: It’s versatile sufficient for every kind of journeys and provides an awesome combo of consolation, weight, ease of use, and reliable climate safety. Total, we view this as a high-quality choice. If it’s the best match for the kind of backpacking shelter you’re on the lookout for, we predict you’ll find it irresistible.

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