Setting Up Your Tent in the Wind
Tricks for completing one of the hardest camp tasks—especially when you’re solo.
Which MSR Tent Stake is Right for You?
Home is where you stake it. But choosing the right stake for the job makes all the difference. Learn which in the MSR line up is best for you.
Gear Overview: Tent Accessories
Whether you’ve picked up a new MSR tent recently or are thinking about purchasing one, MSR tent accessories are easy ways to enhance your outdoor living experience. From add-on bits to simple-to-use field repair solutions, these accessories are designed to improve the function and livability of any tent. In this article, we explain the line of MSR tent accessories to help you determine which are right for you. Tent Stakes If you need to secure your tent in any environment or situation check out our line of stakes, each designed for different situations. To really get those stakes securely in the ground, don’t forget a Stake Hammer (bonus: it has a bottle opener too!) Tent Footprint To protect your tent from rough ground and lengthen its life, using a footprint…
The Ultimate Guide to MSR Tents
Whether you’re climbing the biggest peaks on earth or planning a campout with the family, MSR has the perfect tent for you. Each MSR tent is built on a foundation of lasting performance and targeted design, delivering just what you need for any adventure. But with so many specialized tents to choose from, finding the right one can seem daunting. In reality, finding the right tent is pretty straightforward when you have the right information and a basic understanding of what makes each tent tick. Thus, we present to you the Ultimate Tent Guide as a beacon to light your way through it all. Below you’ll find all of our tent offerings laid out by category. This is your first step in locating the right tent for your needs. Once…
More than Bikepacking: How to Help Foster Environmental Sustainability
My introduction to bikepacking was unintentional, which is perhaps why it never felt like my two-wheeled adventures needed to focus on me. My first forays didn’t involve much more than a backpack filled with fishing gear and a tent, riding my 90’s era mountain bike down dirt roads toward reservoirs in Truckee and creeks in Davis, California, intent on fishing for the weekend. As an undergraduate in Bozeman, Montana, my lack of a driver’s license left me peddling up Hyalite Reservoir Road, touring skis strapped to my backpack as I rode that same bike from my dorm to a weekend basecamp. These days, I still avoid putting together routes based on their distance or elevation gain, choosing instead to find purpose in escaping from my normal routine at a slower…
Designing MSR Tents—What We Stand For
These design philosophies guide the engineering of our high-performance tents.
Newsletter Archives
The MSR newsletter was written by our founder, Larry Penberthy.
Hubba Hubba vs. FreeLite: Which Backpacking Tent is Right for You?
All MSR tents are engineered and built to stringent standards of quality and performance. With decades of tent design under our belts, we can say with confidence that you can’t go wrong with any MSR tent. But with several backpacking tents on offer, how can you tell which is right for you? Whether you’re choosing your first backpacking tent or your tenth, the trick is knowing what you need in a tent. Answering a few simple questions can help narrow down the specs and features you should look for. If you’re here you know you want a tent for backpacking, so let’s break down the Hubba Hubba™ 2 and the FreeLite™ 2, two of our most popular backpacking tents. We’ll cover the similarities, then get into what sets these shelters…
Cutting Backpacking Food Weight on a Long-Distance Hike
Although it rarely receives it, your backpacking food weight deserves at least as much consideration as the weight of your gear.
How to Choose the Best Backpacking Tent
When backpacking, all your gear is important, but one could argue that your backpacking tent is the most critical. We won’t claim that outright because we know each piece plays a significant role in allowing you to confidently explore the backcountry. Finding that unique combination of gear that is perfectly tuned to our specific adventures is what it’s all about. That said, in the unpredictable—and often unforgiving—backcountry, the value of a good shelter can’t be overstated. Whether you are looking to upgrade your current backpacking tent or picking up your first, it’s a big decision. There’s a lot of factors, features and technology that go into each tent. Below we break down the critical aspects of backpacking shelters and contextualize them to help you make an informed decision. We also…