The MSR Freelite 1 is an ultralight double-wall, single-person tent that weighs 1 lb 10 oz. It packs up small and is easy to set making it a terrific possibility for automotive tenting or backpacking. The inside tent is well-ventilated, that includes a spacious rectangular ground plan that accommodates broad sleeping pads with additional room to spare.
- Kind: Double-wall tent
- Capability: 1 Particular person
- Vestibules/Doorways: 1, facet
- Minimal Tent Weight: 1 b 10 oz / 737g (precise weight is 1 lb 10.2 oz)
- Construction: Semi-freestanding, two poles
- Inside Dimensions: 87 in x 33 in x 39 in
- Seam-taped: Sure
- Supplies: 15 D ripstop nylon rainfly and ground, 1200mm PU coating
RELATED: MSR Freelite 2 Tent Overview
Semi-freestanding design
The Freelite 1 is a semi-freestanding tent, that means that a part of the ground have to be staked out whereas the opposite half is absolutely supported by the pole set. Such a construction helps scale back the load of a tent by eliminating pole sections, whereas nonetheless making the tent simple to arrange. Whereas it’s not as simple to pitch on a wood platform or choose up and transfer round intact like a totally freestanding tent, the truth that the tent physique hangs underneath the pole set makes it simple for one particular person to arrange, even in windy climate.
The Freelite 1 makes use of a hubbed DAC aluminum pole set with a brief crossbar, leading to near-vertical sidewalls and a barely widened peak. Whereas the second pole makes the tent way more snug, it’s fairly simple to lose, because it’s not hooked up to the principle pole set, since that will improve the load of the tent.
Throughout setup, rainfly drapes over the tent poles, and there are velcro strips on its underside you can safe to the poles in windy climate to cut back flapping. The tent additionally comes with a number of very small webbing loops round its perimeter, which you should utilize to man out the perimeters and ends of the tent for elevated airflow. These webbing loops are very small, so take into account threading them earlier than you set off on a visit should you plan on mountain climbing in a windy locale.
The fly corners have lineloc tensioners, which make it simple to rigidity the fly. For the reason that Freelite 1 comes with string-based guyouts relatively than webbing-based ones, it consists of Needle tent stakes that function a hook on the finish. I like these stakes and use them with a lot of my different shelters. Sadly, MSR has stopped promoting them or together with them with its newer Hubba Hubba line of tents; nonetheless, replacements can be found from Paria Outside.
Supplies and weight
MSR retains the Freelite’s weight low through the use of skinny, high-tenacity materials: a 15D ripstop nylon fly with silicone and PU coating, and a 15D ground with a PU coating. The fly and ground have a fairly low waterproof score of 1200mm (known as the hydrostatic head), so I’d advise towards utilizing this tent in heavy rain as a result of water might bead up on the within and drip on you. Nevertheless, the Freelite is completely suited to journeys in clear climate whenever you’ve checked the climate forecast beforehand and your largest concern is a passing bathe or morning dew. The newer MSR Hubba Hubba LT 1, though heavier, boasts a hydrostatic head of 1800 mm, making it significantly extra waterproof.Â
Inside house and livability
The MSR Freelite 1 is kind of spacious, boasting a very rectangular floorplan (87 in x 33 in) that has grow to be a signature function of MSR’s backpacking tent line, together with the MSR Hubba Hubba LT 1 and Hubba Hubba LT 2. The near-vertical sidewalls and minimal inward slope offer you usable quantity, not only a tall peak.
The only facet door is generously sized and simple to enter/exit with out gymnastics. Zippers are clean and don’t snag due to considerate rainfly overlap and zipper garages. The vestibule affords sufficient protection for a big pack and muddy path runners. Inside, there are 4 mesh pockets: two within the corners on the head finish of the inside tent, that are excessive sufficient to retailer valuables like a telephone or glasses with out worry of them being crushed at evening. There are additionally two gear loft pockets within the ceiling the place you possibly can stow a headlamp and different small objects.
Who it’s for
- Backpackers prioritizing low weight however wanting a semi-freestanding, double-wall shelter
- Campers who don’t need the effort of inner condensation
- Solo customers who worth an actual vestibule and a cushty sit-up peak
Not perfect for
- Constant heavy rain
- Those that want two doorways or additional vestibule house
Suggestion
The MSR Freelite 1 is a thoughtfully executed ultralight solo tent that doesn’t pressure you to compromise on ease of setup or primary consolation. It’s mild, packs small, pitches shortly, and handles average three-season climate. Deal with the materials with care, thoughts your pitch, and it’ll reward you with a dependable, snug shelter that disappears in your pack and feels larger than it appears whenever you’re inside. For solo backpackers in search of a double-wall ultralight with out the quirks of trekking-pole shelters, it’s a stable choose.
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Disclosure: MSR donated a tent for overview.
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