MSR  FreeLite 3 Tent

After 2 years I am very happy with the FreeLite 3. I had been disappointed with the design of the FreeLite 2 (the sidewalls don't hang vertically, feels claustraphobic), but the FreeLight 3 not only has a wider footprint, but also the cross bar is designed better so that the walls hang vertical and make it seem even larger. Admittedly I have only used it with myself and my wife, but we appreciate the extra room to change and store more gear. The design of the rainfly does stay off the ground a bit, which allows better ventilation. I have noticed some internal condensation when we used it to camp during colder weather or during rain, but nothing to be worried about. Overall, very happy with the low weight, large usable space, and so far durability has not been an issue (just be careful with the zippers).

we bought this tent a few weeks ago and i must admit that the design of this product is brilliant. also the incredible 1.6kg for 3 persons sounds like magic! BUT: we tested it on some sunny days and this tent is actually the first tent i ever had where it ""rains"" inside even without rain outside :D simply because of the condensation/morning dew. the rainfly DOES touch the innermesh! i can't image what happens when it rains! we spent about 1 hour on ideal conditions (even floor, grass) on the camping trying to build up the tent again and again to avoid this problem - no way. and yes: we tried any possible way to thight the cords / everything. other people tried to help us, but we finally all agreed that either the middle top bar should be longer or the main frame should be symetric. this looks like a serious construction error.

The freelite 3 is the perfect size for my wife and I plus gear. As the other review mentioned, don't expect to fit much under the vestibule, but it works great for shoes and I cooked in it during a rain storm. During the rain the tent preformed fairly well with only some water mist penetrating the rain fly and into the interior during heavy downpours. I half expected this, once I realized how airy and cool the tent remained when the temps were in the 90s and humid. I would say this tent has a good mix of keeping the rain out without getting too hot. Knowing severe storm was approaching we utilized all the guy lines which kept the tent secure. During storms the freelight kept water out even when the campsite turned into a lake. I would also like to point out how easy this tent is to setup, I can do it my self in 7 minutes. Also, since this is a lightweight tent I suggest to purchase the footprint to protect the bottom. Overall i really like this tent, while not excelling in one category, it performs well in multiple respects.

ive used this on 3 60km hiking trips since i bought this tent and i love it! it sets up in no time at all. tons of room inside for 2 and all your kit

I am just back from a tour in the alps where the FreeLite 3 housed two of my kids and myself on a three day hike. The best feat is clearly the weight and how easy and quickly it is setup. The tent doesn't use too much space, which is good and bad. Good insofar as it can be pitched almost anywhere, the bad being that there is almost no space left to store the backpacks in the vestibule or tent if three are sleeping in the tent. The vestibule can hold your shoes and maybe a tiny pack (the garbage bag) or the water sack, but no more. I was very glad that my backpack is fully water proof and I could leave it outside. Consider taking a tarp along to keep your gear dry, if three should be sleeping in the tent. Otherwise for two this tent would be a great option. The tent is a three season tent, and I have to say that for tours where it can get really cold, you should make sure the rest of the gear can handle the low temperatures. The FreeLite is not much of a help in keeping you warm. It shelters well from wind and rain, but I never would dare taking it along on a tour where I should expect heavy storms and/or snow in remote areas, or where it could become necessary to stay in-tent for longer periods. I know the difference as I also own a 3 person 4-season tent, where increased stability, more indoor space and warmth comes for the price of three times the weight of FreeLite 3. The tent did really well in a drizzling rain and held us dry. During another trial in heavier rain, I had to make sure that the tent was well taut, otherwise the mesh is not much of a hindrance to water coming in. The floor is cut pretty low, so you have to make sure that there is nothing pushing it even lower. Condensation was a bit of an issue once, with three, during rain in cold weather there is hardly anything you can do. It wasn't like raining inside, but only that the mesh (and the sleeping bags) got a few drops off in the morning when we started to move about and get ready to tackle the next day. So to sum up I totally would buy this tent again, I consider it being an optimal choice for three season backpacking tours for two in combination with appropriately chosen rest of outdoor gear, mainly good mattresses and sleeping bags as well as backpacks that could potentially be left outside. Oh and don't forget to get the footprint.

Got this tent open and set it up in the living room. Quality and design are A+ first class EXCEPT....the rainfly has NO provision for clipping it to the frame on one end. When I called and talked to a MSR rep I was told no provision was made to save weight. Its literally about 1/4 of a ounce they chose to not include. So when its all staked out the rain fly rides up almost 12"" above the ground so anything on that end of the tent will get wet. This tent will sadly get returned unused...

Used this for a 6 day trip in the west coast trail. Pros: light, good quality, good looking, kept me dry in 6 days of rain. Cons: no ventilation (condensation was a problem), the tent sags inwards due to the fewer poles; needs to be well pegged down. Bottom line: the hubba may be a better overall product if the extra 500g or so of weight doesn't matter to you. But if weight is #1, you won't be disappointed

I really like this tent and so do my friends and family who have used it. I haven't used it in any storms, but it did keep me dry through three nights of rain on the Rogue River Trail. It sets up quickly and is very light for a 3 person tent. Of course, I've only fit two people with gear into it. I really like the easy to use stuff sack.

FLY DOES NOT STAY TIGHT ENOUGH. LIMITED HEAD SPACE AND FLY TOUCHES SCREEN SO THEN WATER DRIPS IN TENT. WRECKED MY DOWN SLEEPING BAG