How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
MSR FreeLite 2 Tent
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Lighten your pack without sacrificing tent space with the ultralight, semifreestanding MSR FreeLite 2 tent, designed for hikers who make the most of 3-season adventures without being weighed down.
Shop similar products- Updated design is half a pound lighter than the previous version of the FreeLite 2—minimum trail weight is only 2 lbs.
- True rectangular floor (no foot taper) and 39 in. of headroom (3 in. more than before) make the tent spacious and livable for 2 people on ultralight backpacking trips
- Micromesh tent body minimizes condensation, keeps out the bugs and lets in a view of the stars on clear nights
- Waterproof bathtub-style floor protects from the elements
- 2 no-curve tent doors keep you from having to crawl over your tent partner in the middle of the night; door zippers are easy to use with one hand
- Zippers zip closed to a single point so you always know where to open the doors, even in the dark
- DuraShield™-coated rainfly and floor and taped seams keep the elements outside where they belong
- Cutaway rainfly saves weight and features large vestibules for storing any gear you don't want inside
- Easy in-and-out vestibule doors have StayDry™ rain gutters to keep water from dripping onto you and your gear
- Unified hub-and-pole system and symmetrical, semifreestanding design make setup super quick
- Superstrong, lightweight DAC NFL aluminum tent poles stand up to use and the elements
- Interior pockets and overhead gear loft pockets are perfect for headlamps, sunglasses and other quick-access items
- Tech-friendly pockets feature cable ports at the corners for headphone and charging cords
- Reinforced patches, stitching at guy points and locking anodized stake loop grommets boost durability
- Includes tent body, rainfly, poles, stakes, guylines, stuff sack and setup instructions
Imported.
View all MSR Backpacking Tents| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 3-season |
| Sleeping Capacity | 2-person |
| Minimum Trail Weight | 2 pounds |
| Packaged Weight | 2 lbs. 5 oz. |
| Packed Size | 4.5 x 18 inches |
| Floor Dimensions | 84 x 50 inches |
| Floor Area | 29 square feet |
| Vestibule Area | 15 square feet |
| Peak Height | 39 inches |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors |
| Number of Poles | 2 |
| Pole Material | DAC NFL aluminum |
| Pole Diameter | 8.7 millimeters |
| Floor Fabric | 15-denier ripstop nylon with a 1,200 mm Durashield polyurethane (PU) coating |
| Rainfly Fabric | 15-denier ripstop nylon with a 1,200 mm Durashield PU coating |
| Footprint Included | No |
| Ultralight | Yes |
| Design Type | Semifreestanding |
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Eric L.
Amazing tent! Size is perfect
1 month ago
Amazing tent! Size is perfect and weight is dialed! Haven’t used it in stormy weather yet but am highly confident it will make my JMT trip a bit more comfy! Two person is def a one person tent!!
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
SectionHiker
Awesome Upgrade over Previous Model
3 years ago
Love the weight reduction and rectangular floor plan. I measured the inner tent dimensions and both ends are 50" across, so suitable wide 25" sleeping pads. But honestly, this tent is so lightweight I plan to use it as a solo shelter. The updated mesh inner is a joy to use with gear lofts and lots of pockets. They should just sell the inner tent by itself! The door zippers are bi-directional so they can be vented and the new color scheme is calming and blends into the forest quite well for privacy. I wish the cross-pole was connected to the lengthwise one to prevent loss, but I guess you just need to be careful not to lose it.
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
Greg D.
The FreeLite is a great
1 year ago
The FreeLite is a great light two person tent. My wife and I recently used it on a 6 day backpacking trip and we fit comfortably inside. Having the twin vestibules was a huge plus too! The tent easily withstood rain and hail. Yay! The only con is that the rain fly gutter doesn’t work well. After a rain storm, I opened the rain fly and water instantly dropped on me and inside the tent. All in all though, I’d highly recommended this tent for two people who want a light sturdy backpacking tent. Cheers!
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
Jacob O.
Big upgrade from my old tents
2 years ago
The Freelite 2 is pretty fantastic. I've had it out in some pretty nasty weather so far and it's kept me dry the whole time. It pitches tight with no sag and no wrinkles, the door zippers don't snag and the rainfly doesn't drip water directly into the tent when you open it in the rain. The weight is right for two people and there is enough room in the tent for two adults. The square floor makes it easy to pitch and gives a bit of extra room inside. The fly covers the tent incredibly well and it stands up to heavy rain and wind. Overall a great light tent to take into the backcountry.
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
Kirsten O.
No complaints!
1 year ago
So light! So easy to set up! No complaints! It is super spacious for just me, but I can see that there will be enough room for two of us when I bring my husband along next time (but packs will have to go out in the vestibules).
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
LEE R.
Excellent 2 person backpacking tent.
2 years ago
MSR provides another exceptional product with this tent. We bought it intending to start backpacking this year and we just got back from our first trip. Had a heavy downpour and we stayed completely dry as well as our gear in the tent and in the vestibules. It’s big enough for two people as long as you are comfortable getting close, would be plenty big for one and all of your gear. It does how ever fit two 25” wide sleeping pads which is great. Sets up and packs down very easy, incredibly light, and very well made. Highly recommend.
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
Ryan O
Rhode Island
Crazy light
2 months ago
I haven’t taken this out to the woods yet but as soon as I picked it up I was shocked at how light it was. I typically use a hammock while backpacking but my girlfriend will only go with a tent. Used the Kelty Late Start 2p a few times with her. Great tent but not super light. This MSR is my first tent in the more expensive ultra light range and I can’t wait to pack my bag with it. Feels super thin but that’s how it’s so light. If it holds up like the other reviews say then this will be a home run.
Age:35–44
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Yes , I recommend this product
Randy
Love this tent
3 years ago
Got this tent to upgrade from my r.e.i half dome 2. So far have had it out 6 time including a 6 day trip. This tent is seriously awesome. Myself and 2 dogs fit with plenty of room. Great construction and quality. It being so light weight for the size is the best feature. Look forward to years of use.
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
Randy P.
Impressed
1 year ago
This is my first "good" tent, having previously used a cheap Amazon one-person tent, so my reference point is pretty low. That said, the tent packs up quickly, and it is light. With my single use, it set up quickly and easily. Please make sure you keep track of the poles because one is mingled in with the others in the sleeve, but it is not attached so that it will fall out. After set up, the interior is roomy enough for a pad and gear for one person. I would not want to share the tent with anyone unless I was very familiar with them, but it is large enough to pack up the sleep system while staying dry inside the tent if necessary. I would not want to set it up in the rain because you must set up the tent before the fly, and the tent body is about 70% mesh. The pockets inside are unique and placed in the right spots. You can place your phone in one of the top pockets and lay there watching videos just like you were at home. It's excellent, and I enjoyed it on the FIRST and so far only outing.
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
Spencer G.
It's misleading to call this
1 year ago
It's misleading to call this a 2-person tent. It fits two people...provided they have no gear. Which rather defeats the purpose of a two person *backpacking* tent.
Originally posted on a Cascade Designs brand site
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