MSR FreeLite 2 Tent Evaluation

Execs

Light-weight

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

The FreeLite 2 is exceptionally simple to hold on path when break up with a companion, but it surely’s additionally a terrific possibility for solo hikers since its weight is comparable (if not lighter) to lots of the high one-person tents available on the market. For instance, the Huge Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 weighs in at 38 ounces, and the MSR Hubba Hubba 1 ideas the dimensions at 39 ounces. All three of those shelters are comparable in weight and worth, however the FreeLite 2 has way more inside house.
You would go even lighter by choosing a non-freestanding ultralight shelter or tarp, however these kinds of tents have some downsides which might be dealbreakers for some backpackers – you’ll need to handle inside condensation and they’re a bit extra cumbersome to pitch.

Compact

Saving house is sort of as vital 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 simple to stow away, even within the environment friendly 40-50 liter backpacks we sometimes use.

Roomy For One

The FreeLite 2 is designed as a two-person tent, but it surely really shines as a solo shelter. This tent has a totally rectangular flooring 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 if you happen to’re taller than 6 toes. However the further house – a couple of foot on both sides of your pad – makes this tent really feel surprisingly spacious while you’re flying solo.

Straightforward to Pitch & Snug

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 a terrific stability of weight financial savings, consolation, and ease of use. Not like a totally freestanding tent, you’ll at all times must stake out the corners of a semi-freestanding tent for a correct pitch, however we at all times stake our tent corners anyway.

Cons

Tight for Two

The FreeLite 2 will work high-quality 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 space for storing.

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

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 that to re-tighten your guylines in hostile climate situations. With out a taut pitch, semi-freestanding tents usually tend to blow round within the wind.

Heavier than Some

The FreeLite is an extremely light-weight backpacking tent but it surely’s heavier than a few of 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 nicely value coping with the drawbacks of a non-freestanding tent to scale 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 supply some group for a cellphone, headlamp, and so forth., however they’re fairly minimal. We’d choose 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.

Condensation

The FreeLite is a minimalist tent and its rainfly lacks strutted air flow ports to scale 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, nonetheless, such vents aren’t optimum throughout heavy rainfall.