Australian Hiker | MSR FreeLite 2 Ultralight Tent

Packed Weight 1.06kg
Internal dimensions 213cm long X 127cm wide
Internal Height 100cm at its highest
Internal Floor Area 2.7 square metres
Vestibule Area 1.4 square metres

Cost $772.00

MSR FreeLite 2 Ultralight Tent

Shelter

Rating

Rating:	8.5 / 10
Value for Money	1.7 / 2
Comfort	1.8 / 2
Weight	1.7 / 2
Durability	1.7 / 2
Versatility	1.6 / 2

MSR FreeLite 2 Ultralight Tent Review

When I decided it was time for a new 2 person tent for when Gill and I head out bush together and as is my usual mode of operation, I spent many months doing research on line. Early on in the process I found myself leaning towards the MSR FreeLite 2 Ultralight Tent and ultimately this was what we ended up going with.

For us this is our first MSR tent but as a brand I own a number of other MSR products including a large number of tent pegs and accessories. As a producer of tents and tent pegs, MSR is one of the best known brands worldwide. With over the nearly 50 years of operation, MSR has garnered a name for producing high quality equipment, in particular an extensive tent range.

As a generalisation MSR produces all equipment with quality and durability in mind first and foremost. This has meant in the past that MSR gear hasn’t always been the lightest or cheapest but that’s not a claim that they make. Probably the best known, and best selling tent model over the years, has been the MSR Hubba Hubba Tent. While the Huba Hubba is still in production and probably their best known tent, MSR has started to expand the range and is now producing larger family camping tents as well as moving into the lightweight hiking range including with the FreeLite range.

The FreeLite is very obviously an MSR tent having the distinctive maroon base colouring and while the original models of this tent had a whitish coloured fly they have now shifted to a light natural brownish colour which blends in to the environment a bit more. The latest model of this tent also has red coloured poles, a change from the previous models which were black.

The dimensions of this tent, external and internal, at the base is almost identical to the Hubba Hubba but in stripping back the weight on this tent the following has occurred. Firstly, this is a semi free standing tent rather than a full free standing tent which includes a very lightweight aluminium pole set. The tent pole is a single unit joined by shock cord so you never have to worry about loosing bits. The pole segments snap together very easily making it easy to assemble and fit into the three metal eyelets on the base of the tent inner; to at the head of the tent and one at the foot of the tent. Other areas of weight saving occurs with the use of a 15 Denier outer and a 15 Denier inner mesh-polyester which is still robust but balances durability against lighter weight. There’s also reduction in tent height to 100 cm. I’m just over 185 cm and can comfortable sit up inside this tent. In my case being able to kneel in my tent isn’t a consideration and MSR has thought through the dimensions of this tent well; this is definitely a real 2 person tent!

The tent shape is dome shaped when you include the side vestibules which are large enough to store a full sized pack each side. While the external shape is a dome, the internal tent is rectangular in shape with internal dimension of 200 cm x 127 cm at each end which provides plenty of space. Even in a bulky sleeping bag I are at 185 cm, I’m not pressing on the tent ends. The head room is also decent for the average – tallish person.

The internal tent has a mix of fly mesh as well as solid material so if you are using the tent without the fly you have a reasonable degree of privacy. The inner mesh is its black which I haven’t used before and provides a much clearer view out of the tent if you use it without the outer fly. One thing to note is that while many tent manufacturers make their tents with dedicated ‘head’ and ‘foot’ ends with this tent model thats still the case with the foot end only having a single pole as opposed to the head end having the double pole support. All up the full weight of this tent is 1.06 kg which for a two person tent is on the lighter end of the range. For a full two person, double skin tent this is very light weight.

Last but not least this tent comes with a full set of 11 pegs which is a breath of fresh air and while I am a strong believer in having a mixture of pegs to cater for all contingencies, it’s good that you’re not forced to buy extras.

The doors on the MSR FreeLite 2 are the typical ‘D-shape’ that MSR favours. What this means is that it’s very easy to get in and out of the tent. I have always been a fan of the way that MSR does its doors.

Now let’s look at the negatives and really for me there really is only one and that’s price. The MSR FreeLite 2 has a RRP of AUD $772.00 which while not the dearest on the market sits in the upper end of the market. While it’s sometimes available at a better price, this isn’t a cheap tent. However, it is a very well thought out tent design thats lightweight, high quality, durable tent with loads of features. This price is potentially going to rule it out for many hikers but from our perspective we’re strong believers in ‘you get what you pay for’. MSR is responsible for delivering many of the features that the cheap knock-off tents now copy. MSR also uses durable high quality materials that mean long after the cheap tents have died, this one will still be going.

Having now used this tent for a few years we’re very happy and if in the market for a new tent would definitely replace it with the same model. The first time I used this tent I had to put it up in 30+ km per hour winds and while that created some setup challenges for us, the tent coped very well once it was up. It’s stable in harsh conditions, it’s comfortable and you can feel the quality. If I was using this on trails such as Larapinta in the Northern Territory which is very rocky, I’d be inclined to use a groundsheet (that a recommendation I’d make for most tents) but otherwise I’m happy with how it comes in the pack. Speaking of the tent pack MSR have put thought into its design meaning that its easy to pack away.

Normally at this stage I would indicate if this tent is worth purchasing but as we now own one this point is moot. If you’re after a very lightweight, very high quality two person tent that’s durable and compact then the MSR FreeLite is worth the investment. What it’s going to come down to is how often you are likely to use this tent and whether it’s in your budget or not. If all you ever do is camp a couple of days a year, look at cheaper options. If however you do a lot of camping, then this tent should definitely be in the mix.

For us this was a no brainer. Given the number of days we spend in a tent each year this tent won hands down in our research and that’s why it’s now our go-to tent for 2 person hiking and for that matter my tent of choice for my solo adventures.

We Like

High quality materials and construction making for a durable and long lived tent
Semi-freestanding form that makes for easy set up
Spacious interior and large doors
Good sized vestibules
Micromesh canopy for air circulation and moisture control. The black mesh also provides better views out of the tent
Lightweight, durable aluminium poles
Waterproof coated fly and flooring
Relatively lightweight for a two person tent

We Don't Like

This is a high end technical tent and the price reflects this but as the saying goes you get what you pay for!

Best Uses

Three season hiking
Lightweight backpacking
A roomy lightweight tent for 1 person as well as a great two person tent. Particularly useful when hiking with someone and you want some physical separation without going for a larger tent

Buy One

You can purchase the MSR FreeLite 2 Ultralight Tent online or from Amazon Australia

Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!