MSR  FreeLite 1 Tent

I searched ultralight tents for months before pulling the plug and ordering this one. Mistake. I have a two person MSR Hubba Hubba (the older one was much better constructed than the newer model), and was looking for a lightweight, single person tent for bikepacking. I'm an experienced backpacker, and since I like my Hubba Hubba well enough, I though this FreeLite would be of the same quality craftsmanship, just with lighter weight materials and a better price than other ultralights. Wrong. The FreeLite failed in every way. Here are the reasons why: First off, the zipper to the fly broke the very first time I tried to use it. I had to use the Velcro tabs to keep it semi-closed during a very cold night. Second, as soon as the tent was set up with the fly, I crawled inside to read and within 1/2 hour, noticed condensation accumulating on the inside of the fly - on the flap that was partially Velcroed shut. I thought that was strange, since it wasn't yet that cold out - the sun had just set - the flap wasn't exactly closed all the way, and the ventilation inside the tent seemed really good. I didn't pay much attention to it, and simply folded the flap back and secured it open with the little toggle tie. I wasn't expecting rain or snow, so I thought I'd just not be as warm inside as I would have been with the fly fully closed. I expected the moisture to freeze as the night got colder, which meant there would be no drips. Wrong again. After spending a miserable, cold night with the open flap on the fly, I awoke to ice from condensation and dew on the inside and the outside of the tent, respectively. To be clear, it was just a cold night - not a rain or ice storm (thank goodness!). There was NO precipitation. Since the sun was now hitting the tent, I figured I would just go back to sleep in the warmth of the morning sun while the tent dried out. Wrong again. I was awakened a short time later to drip, drip, drip......inside the tent all over my very expensive down sleeping bag. AAARRRGGGHHH. The ice had frozen, melted, and was now dripping into the tent from overhead, through the tent's mesh. I sat up to get out of the tent, but the highest point inside the tent is at it's midpoint, not above my head when I sat up. I knocked my beaning off my head from hitting the inside of the tent roof, which soaked my hair from the wet mesh, and I had to struggle into an awkward position to get out of the tent door, which I could not do fast enough. The door's design is such that you have to pull your legs up to your chest while sitting up in order to get them outside, or you have to bear crawl headfirst out of the tent - something I didn't want to do on the dewey ground, and I'm only 5'8". Who designed this thing????? The only good things I have to say about the tent are that I like the true rectangular floor design, it only weighs 2 pounds, and set up was easy for a semi-free-standing tent. Just beware that the rectangular floor does not equate to head and shoulder space at the "narrower" foot area of the tent. Maybe my complaints would be considered compromises that one has to make when needing an ultralight, single person tent, but I will gladly pack my 4 pound, two person, Hubba Hubba next time. I know it withstands rain, snow and ice without leaks, and it's design is way more comfortable with plenty of head and shoulder room and well placed doors and vestibules. I'm returning the Freelite tent to REI.

It’s small, but I was expecting that. I wanted light, and that’s what I got. Intuitive set up. I’ve only used it 5 nights in the Wyoming Range. No rain during that trip at all, so if it leaks I wouldn’t know. Winds were light and variable, so it wasn’t a test of ruggedness. Seems well made, and it’s gonna be my go to for backcountry hunting. I like the straight zips, no guiding zippers around curves. I had to buy 4 extra UL stakes to properly guy out the fly. I’m 5’5”, and this tent would probably be a bit small for any man over 6’2” tall. Also, I can’t imagine not using a footprint under an UL tent. This kinda gear is not cheap, and if you want it to last, cough up the dough for the footprint. With the fp, and the stakes I added, it still weighs in at about 2lbs, 8oz.

I just took the tent out this weekend for a backpacking trip in the white mountains. It was raining all weekend but not a drop of water got in the tent, completely waterproof. The tent is super light and east to set up quick. The inside space was definitely adequate, I'm 6' and 200 lbs. My long, 25" wide sea to summit inflatable air mattress fit well with a bit of extra room and it has several pockets for my phone, headlamp, lighting and things like that. I upgraded from the elixer-1 (which is also a great tent, never leaks) that I've been using for the past 4 years for weight purposes. I'm really happy with the tent.

I love MSR. I have the HUBBA HUBBA NX 2 and that tent is amazing. The set up is easy. I have been caught in storms and it has never failed me. I was so excited to get the 2022 freelite 1 this year. I didn’t like the set up at home and I was very wary about taking it on a three week backpacking trip through the Scottish highlands. But I thought, it’s MSR. It can’t fail me. Well guess what. It failed miserably. First of all the top is so much skinnier that when you open the door all the water pours in the tub. I did use a footprint and still ended up with water in the tent during a downpour. In my hubba hubba I was caught in storms with the tent standing in 2 inches of water and still didn’t get wet. The footprints are now universal which completely sucks. It didn’t come with all the stakes so I think I was sold one that was returned incomplete, or I am assuming. It’s just a bad design.

Excellent tent. Never forked out so much for such a lightweight. So, knowing claims made by others about their tents I set it up just before it poured inches of rain the next few days. And the inside stayed home dry. We risk our lives on so called brand names that no longer deliver. Been caught out a couple of times before. MSR you delivered. I now feel safer hiking in sub zero conditions at high altitudes, knowing I've got this lightweight gem in my kit.

This is the first tent I took backpacking and it worked great. Very light weight in my pack. I was a little intimidated by the set up but after doing it at home it was a breeze at camp. Kept me very warm on a breezy below 40 night. Recommend for a solo hiker like me!

Great tent, light and strong! The one who bring you to the end of the world with joy!

Excellent tent. Very light weight, easy to set up, and holds up well in the rain.

So far so good - will be looking toward durability in the next year or so.

I just bought this today, but as there were no other reviews at the time I thought it was worth posting my first impressions after setting it up in my yard. I hope to update this review in a few months. This review is for the 2022 revision, 1 person tent. Any tent seems to be a trade off in weight, durability, size and price. If you’re buying this tent weight should be important to you, otherwise get something more durable and bigger. But if you’re planning on backpacking with this read on. The tent as shipped (excluding only the exterior tag on the bag) is 31.9oz. I’m 5’11” and there’s plenty of head room for me to sit-up and lie down inside. Given the rectangular shape of the tent there is likely enough room for me to put a medium size pack near my feet. There are a couple of stash pockets on the interior which are also nice. The dark green color seems great from my perspective (may help keep the tent a little darker at night, and blend into the woods well). A few minor things that I wish were different: * I’d rather MSR include the mini ground hog stakes, instead of their needle stakes. The weight change would only be about 1 gram per stake, but I think the ground hogs will hold better * I wish MSR would include an emergency tent pole repair/patch sleeve with the tent. I've no idea how likely this is to be needed, however it'd add piece of mind, would cost them next to nothing, and some of their competitors that use the same poles include it * I wish the top of the tent (i.e. where your head is when you’re sitting up) is a little wider. When the mesh door is closed it’s bordering on making me feel claustrophobic * It’s weird MSR doesn’t include one of their baked-into-the-tent guy lines on the side of the tent opposite to where the door is. You’d always want this part staked out, both to keep the fabric taut and as an extra undercover area where you can stash your gear * I don’t believe there is an option to pitch this tent fly first. If it’s raining when you set it up you’ll end up with some water in your tent Overall I’m happy with this tent so far, and picked it instead of its competition (after way too much research) because of it’s relatively light weight and roomy footprint.