MSR Habitude 6 Tent Evaluation

Backside Line

The MSR Habitude 6 is a spacious household or group tent crafted from high-quality supplies, providing a powerful peak top of 6’4” – tall campers, rejoice! With 83 sq. toes of ground house, it comfortably accommodates a household of 4 and may sleep six should you don’t thoughts a comfortable setup. Identified for its sturdy gear, MSR has designed the Habitude 6 to face up to the weather effectively, boasting glorious waterproofing. Nevertheless, given its peak top, it’s finest to pitch this tent in a sheltered spot if excessive winds are anticipated.

That mentioned, there are just a few downsides. The one-door design is limiting as a second door would cut back the effort of stepping over sleeping campers at night time. Air flow can be a problem if the rainfly isn’t totally guyed out since condensation might construct up, however securing the fly tightly helps alleviate this. Lastly, we want to see extra stakes included – further ones are wanted to totally make the most of the extra guylines supplied with the tent.

This tent’s worth level locations it within the premium class, however given all its benefits, we consider it nonetheless gives nice worth for these in search of a high-quality tent filled with options.

We examined the MSR Habitude 6 over two months of late fall tenting within the mountains and foothills of Colorado with our household of 4. Regardless of the season, we lucked out with largely dry climate, although we did expertise some fairly intense wind at instances—good for placing the tent’s stability to the check. With two youngsters in tow, we bought to see how effectively the Habitude 6 dealt with actual household tenting life, from gear group to late-night toilet runs.

Excited about studying extra in-depth evaluations of a few of our favourite tents? Take a look at our gear information to the Greatest Tenting Tents of 2024.

Consolation

The Habitude 6 delivers excellent spaciousness and luxury, that includes a beneficiant 6’4” peak top and a big door for straightforward entry and exit, even accommodating these with mobility challenges. We discovered it supplied ample house for our household of 4, with further room for gear and even an array of youngsters’ toys. Truthfully, who wants 14 monster vans? Fortuitously, the dome-style design and taut pole construction maximize usable house, which allowed usto stroll round and alter garments comfortably with no need to crouch close to the partitions.

The Habitude additionally incorporates a modest entrance vestibule, offering further storage for gear, a sheltered cooking house in dangerous climate, or, in our case, room for much more toys.

With out the rainfly, the tent has loads of mesh for air flow, letting in contemporary air whereas permitting scorching, stagnant air to flee. When the fly is on, it’s important to man it out totally and open the kickstand vent to keep up correct airflow; in any other case, condensation can construct up in a single day.

Sturdiness

The saying goes, “you get what you pay for,” and the Habitude 6 is a main instance. Though this tent comes at a premium worth, it’s backed by sturdy, high-quality supplies you can anticipate to final by means of many tenting seasons. The 7000-series aluminum poles are constructed not just for longevity but additionally for higher stability in windy situations.

The rainfly, cover, and ground are all constructed from 68D polyester—ripstop for the rainfly and taffeta for the cover and ground. “D” stands for denier, indicating cloth thickness, and on this case, these supplies are exceptionally sturdy. Although the technical specs might not resonate with everybody, the standard is clear. From the physique cloth and mesh to the rainfly and zippers, each part feels strong. With sufficient time spent in tents, you begin recognizing the standard by really feel, and this one passes that check simply. The zippers function easily each time. Even after quite a few solo and household tenting journeys—and with little youngsters who’re famously arduous on tents—the Habitude 6 has held up with out a hitch, making it a reliable selection for frequent use.

Climate Resistance

MSR is well-known within the out of doors business for its glorious tent weatherproofing, and the Habitude is not any exception. The strong rainfly performs admirably, holding up effectively by means of each torrential downpours and regular showers. The bath-style ground has additionally proven spectacular resistance to water intrusion. Nevertheless, as with all tents, it’s finest to make use of a footprint or floor tarp; sadly, a footprint isn’t included with the tent and should be bought individually. General, you’ll be able to depend on this tent to maintain you dry in most situations.

There’s, nonetheless, some room for enchancment. The rainfly’s design leaves components of the sidewalls uncovered, which may change into a problem in robust, sideways rain. Although we haven’t skilled any leaks, extended publicity to heavy rain may result in potential seepage. Moreover, resulting from its tall peak top, the Habitude might battle in excessive winds. If extreme climate is predicted, it’s finest to pitch this tent in a sheltered location.

Ease of Setup

Giant tents just like the Habitude 6 are sometimes recognized for classy setups as a result of quantity of fabric they require and the necessity for sturdy development to face up to the weather, particularly in windy situations.

Fortuitously, the Habitude 6 is refreshingly simple to pitch for its dimension. Shade-coded nook toggles permit for simple pole attachment, taking the guesswork out of the setup. We had been capable of pitch the Habitude solo; although, as with most massive tents, an additional set of arms accelerates the method.

The tent makes use of three pole units for the interior construction: a protracted pole set for the primary dome and two shorter pole units for both sides wall. The tent physique attaches to those poles with plastic hooks, which we favor over the typically finicky pole sleeves discovered on older or cheaper designs. The hooks make setup a lot faster and hassle-free, contributing to a clean setup expertise total.

Options

The Habitude 6 contains all of the options you’d anticipate from a $600 tent. The colour-coded poles and toggles make setup a breeze, and as soon as it’s pitched, you’ll discover a powerful 11 inside storage pockets to stow further gear. Moreover, quite a few gear loops inside are perfect for hanging gadgets like headlamps or moist gear to dry in a single day. The tent additionally has a single kickstand vent on the rear of the rainfly to assist with air flow, although a second vent on the entrance can be a welcome addition.

A singular characteristic is the built-in “porch gentle” above the entry door, which is useful for coming into and exiting the tent with no need a headlamp. When the rainfly is deployed, you’ll be able to retailer further gear within the modest entrance vestibule. Though we recognize the added gear storage, the vestibule feels small for a tent of this dimension. Additionally, the tent has just one door and due to this fact just one rainfly entrance; a second door would improve accessibility.

Ought to You Purchase the MSR Habitude 6 Tent?

The MSR Habitude 6 is a wonderful selection for households or teams looking for a well-made tent that may stand up to the weather. The quite a few inside storage pockets are particularly useful for households with youngsters who typically deliver alongside small toys, knick-knacks, and different treasures. This tent additionally works effectively as a basecamp possibility, the place further gear may be essential for prolonged day hikes, climbing journeys, or fishing excursions.

Despite the fact that the worth level is usually a disadvantage, the Habitude is a worthwhile funding for frequent campers. It is probably not the most suitable choice for many who solely camp a few times a 12 months, however for avid campers who want a sturdy, long-lasting tent, the MSR Habitude 6 could possibly be precisely what you’re in search of.

What Different Tenting Tents Ought to You Think about?

For extra choices, please see our full information to the finest tenting tents.

The North Face Wawona 6:  When you’re in search of a big basecamp-style tent, the Wawona 6 is unquestionably price contemplating. It prices $100 lower than the Habitude 6, gives a barely bigger inside footprint, and boasts a completely huge entrance vestibule. Though it’s manufactured from equally high-quality supplies, it has a barely decrease peak top and a extra advanced setup course of.

Kelty Wi-fi 6:  When you’re in search of a spacious 6-person tent with out a $500+ price ticket, the Kelty Wi-fi 6 may be an awesome match. At simply $280, it’s a well-made price range possibility with a barely bigger inside and decrease peak top than some pricier fashions, providing a beneficiant quantity of room total. You’ll miss out on some options, nevertheless it’s a strong selection for the worth.