msr top picks
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MSR
If you go out in all seasons and all weathers, choose an all-season or 4-season tent. If you only go out when you don’t expect snow, a 3-season tent will be fine. Make sure the tent is tough enough to handle all conditions you’ll be exposing it to, has enough space for you and your gear and offers the comfort you want.
What kind of camper are you?
TENTS BUYING GUIDE
Matt Jones, LFTO gear expert, explains why your tent needs to be up to the task of providing reliable, comfortable shelter in the UK’s hills and mountains, and what to look out for.
01
MSR Elixir 2
£380 £323
Designed for everyone, from outdoor experts or those new to wild-camping, the Elixir is spacious, easy-to-set up and ultra-durable.
The latest version of MSR's legendary Hubba Hubba backpacking tent is lightweight and airy, but still spacious enough for two people to easily stretch out inside.
MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2
£560 £476
MSR Tindheim 3 Tunnel Tent
£540 £324
The Tindheim is the perfect place to wait out any bad weather, delivering MSR’s renowned high-performance and durability in a cavernous tunnel form.
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Double wall tent constructions give you an inner canopy to sleep inside, plus a waterproof outer layer to keep the weather out. They’re drier and generally provide better ventilation. Single skin designs have a single layer of waterproof fabric. This means that they can be very light, but on the flip side, they can also suffer more from condensation.
Double or single wall construction?
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Tents with 100% silicone-coated outer fabrics are typically stronger than those with polyurethane-coated ones. Check the tear strength of the fabrics: the higher the better. For poles, most backpacking tents use aluminium, which offers an excellent balance of high strength and durability, plus low weight. Cheaper tents might use fibreglass poles, while some ultra-light tents employ carbon fibre poles, both of which can be more delicate than aluminium.
Materials matter
02
EXPLORE new gear
Whether you’re packing for the lightest backpacking adventure or seeking a little extra comfort, space and security for your camp, MSR’s highly versatile range of tents have you covered. Their close-knit team are obsessed with designing the most reliable, high-performance gear possible, using their knowledge of engineering and science to find better solutions to the challenges of the mountains.
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Tents range from one-person designs to huge base camp tents with multiple bedrooms. We’ve focused on one- or two-person options, as they’re best for mountain use, though smaller two-person tents can be good for offering more comfort and space for single users.
How many people?
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3
TUNNEL The best space-to-weight ratio,
often with the maximum useable space.
Great for backpacking.
DOME/GEODESIC: True domes have all poles crossing at the centre peak, while geodesic poles have multiple crossing points. Both are good, strong all-rounders. They’re also great for mountains, but can be heavier and less spacious than tunnel models.
RIDGE: The classic pointed tent design. If pitched with trekking poles, they can be very light and perfect for backpackers who prefer a more minimalist feel.
Know your tent shapes
03
Check the floor space is at least as long as your body but remember you need to sit up too. Measure your height when sitting, then compare this to the maximum internal height of the tent. Also, if you’re going to be carrying your tent on your back, check that it packs down small enough to fit in your rucksack.
Make sure of the fit
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6
BACK TO TOP
7
Comfort is an essential part of choosing the right tent. Do you want a space of your own, or do you prefer to share your shelter for company and warmth? Do you want a porch for storing gear or would you rather have everything inside? Do you prefer one or two doors (having two doors is a big advantage if there are two of you in the tent)? Consider these factors before making your choice to find the perfect match for your requirements.
Personal preference
07
7
Comfort is an essential part of choosing the right tent. Do you want a space of your own, or do you prefer to share your shelter for company and warmth? Do you want a porch for storing gear or would you rather have everything inside? Do you prefer one or two doors (having two doors is a big advantage if there are two of you in the tent)? Consider these factors before making your choice to find the perfect match for your requirements.
Personal preference
07
6
Check the floor space is at least as long as your body but remember you need to sit up too. Measure your height when sitting, then compare this to the maximum internal height of the tent. Also, if you’re going to be carrying your tent on your back, check that it packs down small enough to fit in your rucksack.
Make sure of the fit
06
5
Tents range from one-person designs to huge base camp tents with multiple bedrooms. We’ve focused on one- or two-person options, as they’re best for mountain use, though smaller two-person tents can be good for offering more comfort and space for single users.
How many people?
05
4
Double wall tent constructions give you an inner canopy to sleep inside, plus a waterproof outer layer to keep the weather out. They’re drier and generally provide better ventilation. Single skin designs have a single layer of waterproof fabric. This means that they can be very light, but on the flip side, they can also suffer more from condensation.
Double or single wall construction?
04
3
TUNNEL The best space-to-weight ratio,
often with the maximum useable space.
Great for backpacking.
DOME/GEODESIC: True domes have all poles crossing at the centre peak, while geodesic poles have multiple crossing points. Both are good, strong all-rounders. They’re also great for mountains, but can be heavier and less spacious than tunnel models.
RIDGE: The classic pointed tent design. If pitched with trekking poles, they can be very light and perfect for backpackers who prefer a more minimalist feel.
Know your tent shapes
03
2
Tents with 100% silicone-coated outer fabrics are typically stronger than those with polyurethane-coated ones. Check the tear strength of the fabrics: the higher the better. For poles, most backpacking tents use aluminium, which offers an excellent balance of high strength and durability, plus low weight. Cheaper tents might use fibreglass poles, while some ultra-light tents employ carbon fibre poles, both of which can be more delicate than aluminium.
Materials matter
02
