Our Tent MSR Elxir 2
This tent has been our trusted companion for the last 4 years. It has never crossed our minds to consider another tent since purchasing this one; it has been that good. In fact, we were so impressed that we also bought the 1-person version. In this blog, we will provide you with the specifications as well as a real-world review based on our experience over the last 4 years.
Firstly, let's take a look at the brand MSR, known for their robust tents. However, they were all out of our budget range. Then we came across the Elixir range, which initially left us a bit unsure. However, after our first outing in awful weather with sidewards rain, where we pitched it on a non-ideal slope due to being very tired and wet, we thought it would do. Surprisingly, the tent kept us lovely and warm, and more importantly, dry.
Let's start with what the tent is made from:
Flysheet: 68D Ripstop polyester with PU coating, Inner: Ripstop nylon 40D with Micromesh 20D, Groundsheet: 70D taffeta nylon with PU coating, Poles: 2 x 7000 Series Aluminium
In simple terms, this 3-season tent is built to withstand a lot.
This was proven when Andy was on his summer mountain leader assessment and encountered a storm during the 3-day expedition. On the first night of camping, with 50mph winds and heavy rain, this tent stood strong against all the weather that came at it, while others didn't fare as well.
Now let's look at some key features:
The tent features laser-etched pole ends and color-coded stake loops, along with internal glow-in-the-dark zip pulls. It provides generous storage space, including 2 built-in gear lofts and 2 large vestibules. The 2 StayDry doors are particularly useful in the ever-unpredictable and mainly wet British weather, offering ample space to keep all your wet gear.
This was evident on our first outing with the tent high up in the mountains. As we were putting on our gear in the morning, a frog jumped out of Andy's cap. The color-coded poles also make erecting the tent easy with minimal thought required.
All important but how big is it and how much does it weigh?
Dimensions: Footprint: 279 x 213 x 102cm (LxWxH) Bedroom: 127 x 213 x 102cm (LxWxH)
Pack size: 51 x 17cm
Weight: 2.77kg
Capacity: 2 persons
Structure: Semi-geodesic
For me, the size is plenty big enough for 2 people and all their gear. While the weight might seem a bit heavy, the ability to sit up and have more room is totally worth it. The dome shape provides more stability in wind.
It has an inner pitch first design, like most big brands. Initially, we were sceptical about this considering the wet British weather, but we quickly became efficient at setting up this tent. It usually takes us about 5 minutes to pitch it now.
It's worth mentioning that this tent comes with a footprint. The majority of tents you will look at would require you to purchase it separately, and being in the UK, this is essential.
One last story and a credit MSR
In Rachel's film "Endurance," she used this tent, showcasing it in action. During one particularly stormy night, the pole got slightly bent from the force of the winds. However, it still held up for the duration of her trip. Upon returning home, we reached out to MSR about the pole. Despite having owned the tent for nearly 4 years, they kindly sent us a new pole at no extra charge. We appreciate MSR's exceptional customer service and support.
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