How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
MSRÂ Carbon Reflex 2 Tent
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The MSR Carbon Reflex 2 tent offers backpackers double-wall protection, 3-season livability and maximum interior space for minimal weight.
Shop similar products- Enjoy the light weight of a tarp with the protection and easy setup of a tent
- Simple, nonfreestanding design features a weight-saving, zipper-free vestibule
- For an extra lightweight setup in mild weather, leave tent body behind and use the rainfly and footprint (sold separately) with the poles and stakes
Imported.
View all MSR Backpacking Tents| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 3-season |
| Sleeping Capacity | 2-person |
| Minimum Trail Weight | 1 lb. 13 oz. |
| Fly / Footprint Pitch Weight | 1 lb. 7 oz. |
| Packaged Weight | 2 lbs. 3 oz. |
| Packed Size | 5 x 17 inches |
| Floor Dimensions | 84 x 50 inches |
| Floor Area | 29 square feet |
| Vestibule Area | 14 square feet |
| Peak Height | 34 inches |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors |
| Number of Poles | 2 |
| Pole Material | ION carbon fiber |
| Pole Diameter | Unavailable |
| Canopy Fabric | 10-denier nylon micromesh |
| Floor Fabric | 15-denier ripstop nylon |
| Rainfly Fabric | 7-denier ripstop nylon |
| Footprint Included | No |
| Ultralight | Yes |
| Design Type | Nonfreestanding |
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Protondeca123
Little Rock, AR, United States
My First Choice for Backpacking
7 years ago
I've had this tent for 4 years now and it just performs better with time. It's takes some time to really get to know this tent. I do have the foot print with it. I have taken it the past three years on a Winter Backpacking trip we do on the Ouachita Trail. We spend 3 -5 days on the trail and in the snow, wind, rain or whatever Mother Nature has thrown at us, this tent has kept me 100% dry. I've read some of the other reviews and yeah, setting up a tent in a driving rain storm sucks. But that's not the tent's fault. The fly on my tent isn't sticky. But I store my tent at home in a temperature controlled environment and it doesn't get hot or stay folded together for an entire year. I use it for camping in the summer as well. I'm 6'3' and it is great as a solo tent. I can put my backpack in the vestibule and have plenty of room to stretch out. Sure if you don't have all of the guy lines staked out properly it's going to sag. It's not free standing so you have to have a good camp site for it. First stake out the floor and footprint. Then clip on the carbon poles. Latch each of the velcro tabs on the fly to the poles and stake out all the guy lines. The fly goes completely to the ground at all points so there is NO rain splash into the tent! It's awesome! The ONLY downside I feel is that it's not free standing. But I knew that when I bought it.
Yes , I recommend this product
PDXphotog
Portland, OR
Might be right for some: definitely not for us
9 years ago
We recently decided to "upgrade" from our shaped-tarp-and-net-tent setup to a closer-to-freestanding tent. Our particular tarp combination hasn't proved to be very wind-worthy and we were looking for something to better withstand windy, stormy conditions. This tent, while ultralight as advertised, just didn't cut it for us. We put it through the wringer on a weekend trip: we knew rain was forecasted and went out on purpose to test some of our new gear. We tried to wait out the rain but finally needed a warm shelter and dry layers, so we set up the tent for the first time in a downpour. We did a makeshift rainfly-footprint setup, then wiped down the footprint and set up the tent under the shelter of the fly. This worked: sort of. However, by morning everything was sagging and puddling and whenever an especially big raindrop hit the fly, we got a shower. The only way we got a taught pitch was by using our trekking poles to pull up on the guyout lines. This made things much better, but we still had the problem of spray-through. Also condensation, as the tent has no real venting system besides the vestibule doors, which are a real hassle for many reasons. Most of all because the tent lacks enough headroom to sit up, and certainly lacks enough room to reach all the way out under the fly to attach the last little set of hooks. At least, not without brushing against the rainfly the whole time and getting our sleeping clothes damp. We tried to eat in the tent (luckily no problem bears in our neck of the woods!) but found it nearly impossible because we couldn't even sit up in a sort of hunched over position. For an emergency shelter in a desert environment with little chance of rain, this could be a decent tent for a single person or a very small couple. For us, in the rainy Pacific Northwest, it raised the spectre of hypothermia.
No, I do not recommend this product
protondecay123
Arkansas
Awesome, lightweight Tent.
7 years ago
This tent has kept me dry in the pouring rain, snow, winter and summer. In Arkansas we have relatively mild winters, so a three season tent really works year round. It’s not free standing but after putting it up and taking it down a few times it’s easy to remember the sequence. The fly is great and fully covers the bathtub type bottom so no driving precipitation enters the nest as long as you have properly staked things out. I’ve used mine for 5 years now and it’s the best tent I’ve owned.
Yes , I recommend this product
Fluvio
Tacoma, WA
Lightweight design creates some compromises
8 years ago
I use a Hilleberg Jannu for 4-season, alpine use and have been using the MSR Hubba 1-person tent for over a decade for summer use. I purchased the Carbon Reflex 2 to replace the Hubba with the intent of using it solo. It is too small for two men over 6' tall. In fact, even my girlfriend and I find it to be too small. Not much headroom or interior square footage for packs and other gear. I like the lightweight design, but I'm very careful when pitching as it seems a bit fragile. I would not use this tent if snow is in the forecast and for heavy rain, be sure to use extra stakes and line to guy-out the fly at all available locations. As another reviewer said, the fly material is like Saran Wrap in that it clings to itself. It's a bit annoying, particularly when pitching in the rain. Overall, I like the size and weight for solo use and will use it primarily for light and fast 3-season trips. I would look for something else for two-person, extended trips where durability and shoulder season weather is expected.
Yes , I recommend this product
keith
Maryland
Poor custumer service
7 years ago
Having owned this tent since the 2 cnd generation I have dealt with customer service twice on pole breakage issues. First time I finally got a replacement long pole replaced after multiple attempts. So, pole breaks again and this is a minimal usage tent. Was promised new pole, waited a month and nothing. Called MSR and they had nothing on file so what a waste of time. I will not do business with MSR again. There are better tents for the money and you will not have to worry about a pole snapping every time you set up.
No, I do not recommend this product
peachbrand
Oregon, United States
Hate the fly
9 years ago
Super excited to get this tent this spring in the 2016 updated lighter version. It was a little bit of a bummer not to have it freestanding, but I figured that wouldn't be the a big deal for me. Yes it is SUPER light and super packable. The set up is very easy for the tent itself. Had ample head room for me and interior space. The rain fly, however I had too many problems with it. When I took it out to practice at home to set it up, the fly stuck to itself like Saran Wrap. It took a lot of determination and patience to get it completely unstuck, as some areas would re-stick when I was working on another area. Once I could get it all unstuck, it went on ok and stopped clinging to itself. I let it air out for several hours before I packed it up. I took it for an overnight recently and the fly did the same thing! Very annoying and when I emailed MSR twice about the issue, if there was something I could do to alleviate it, I never got a reply. Also, when I was using it in the great outdoors, the fly door was challenging to undo from inside the tent....I had to lean out on all fours and put my hands in the dirt to unhook the lowest hook beause it was hard to reach. THe hooks and Velcro pieces gave the fly seam several gaps, which made me uneasy thinking about using it in the rain in the future. THe piece over the fly seam made the height a bit lower when you pulled the side back. For the amount I paid for it, I would have preferred a better design. MSR seems to have a great reputation, but if REI is going to stop carrying this tent, that means something is up. I'm going to return it because of the frustrations and it makes me sad because i like the tent body and the weight/packability so much. If they fix the fly, it could be a great tent!
No, I do not recommend this product
Drizzle0711
Harrisonburg, VA
Great Tent with One Exception
7 years ago
This is a great, lightweight tent. I have used it on solo backpacking trips as well as on 2 person trips with someone I don't mind getting snug with. The tent is easy to set up, and has two vestibules which I like. The one drawback is the rain fly. It is not much more than durable plastic wrap. It sticks to itself and must be handled gently as it feels like it is going to tear if handled too rough. Tough to get in and out of without dipping low.
Yes , I recommend this product
mountain goat
Santa Cruz, CA, United States
Best tent, all my friends are jealous
8 years ago
The light weight of this tent is amazing. I have used this tent in the Sierras in warm temps, as well as in (unexpected) snow. It does not have a problem with condensation as long as you stake it down tightly like you are supposed to. It is very easy to set up. When I woke up and it had unexpectedly started snowing, it was so great that I could take it down in a few easy steps and just shove the wet rainfly in a pocket of my backpack and not worry about it. I took my tent down and packed it much faster than my friend who had the REI Dash 2 tent (also ultralight but not as light as the Carbon Reflex). This tent is also very roomy. I have been able to fit two extra long and extra wide sleeping pads in it. I am 5'6" and I can still fit my backpack at my feet if I want to bring it inside, and with my fiance also in the tent. Not a lot of room to sit up but I haven't found this to be an issue since that's not what the tent is for. There are also two pockets inside for storing things which is awesome. One thing that can be a problem with this tent is the poles. I read reviews of the silver connectors coming unglued and sliding into the carbon tube pole, thus leaving you without a way to connect the poles. This did happen to me. I contacted MSR and they readily offered to replace my poles, no problem. However, this could still happen in the future. Thus I carry a thin piece of somewhat sturdy wire that i can shove down the pole piece and push the connector out in case this ever happens again (the wire is what I used to solve the problem before my poles were replaced). It's not ideal, but there are so many benefits to this tent such as sturdiness yet incredible light weight of the tent materials that I am willing to overlook the pole issue and just bring the wire with me just in case. I love this tent and all my friends so far have been jealous of it when we go backpacking.
Yes , I recommend this product