MSR Tent Tech: 3 Ways to Field Repair a Rip in Your Tent’s Rainfly

Jun 17, 2021

All MSR tents are designed with long-term durability in mind, but anything can happen in the backcountry. Even a small rip in your rainfly can expose your tent to the elements, and a little tear can quickly migrate and become a bigger problem. Repairing it in the field can be your best bet, preferably before it starts to rain. Here are three solutions for tent rainfly repair recommended by MSR engineers and designers who have field-tested tents to their limits. Solution #1: Use duct tape or medical tape While not an elegant remedy, duct tape is a versatile solution to all sorts of problems you might encounter. Medical tape can be a useful temporary fix as well. Remember to remove the duct or medical tape as soon as you return…

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Go the Distance: The MSR Thru-Hiker Shelter System

Apr 2, 2018

One has to be prepared for anything on the PCT: marshy meadows and mosquitos in the Sierra Nevadas, bear encounters in Yosemite, thunderstorms in the Cascade Range, and, apparently, marriage proposals near Mount Adams. At least that’s what Erin Parsons and Mike Porzio experienced during their PCT adventure in 2014. For Erin and Mike, it was a life-changing trip across approximately 1,000 miles in 100 days. For the MSR Shelter team, which was at the time reassessing the lightweight shelter market, it was a chance to learn from Erin and Mike’s experiences to design a shelter that was missing from the industry. “We listened closely to Erin and Mike, and we feel we’ve developed the perfect shelter for thru-hikers and long-distance backpackers,” said Terry Breaux, MSR Shelter Product Manager. The…

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The Access™ Winter Backcountry Tents

Nov 19, 2017

When it comes to winter backcountry camping, MSR’s Access Tents are carving fresh tracks. Lighter than a classic mountaineering tent, but warmer than a backpacking tent, they’re the first to strike a balance between high-quality winter protection and true lightweight performance in livable designs. For backcountry skiers, splitboarders and snowshoers looking to spend comfortable nights in the winter mountains, Access Tents are your golden ticket. Recognizing a unique need “Not everyone who camps in the winter backcountry is a mountaineer,” says Terry Breaux, MSR tent designer. But until now, four-season tent options have been limited to heavy expedition-grade mountaineering tents or cramped bivy-style alpinist designs. This left winter recreationalists, such as skiers, splitboarders and snowshoers, forced to compromise in their shelter selection. “We were seeing skiers using classic mountaineering tents,…

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Staff Picks: Our All-Time Favorite Tents

Apr 15, 2015

MSR has been making tents since 1973 when the MSR Mountain Tent debuted as a rugged mountaineering shelter able to withstand any abuse the alpine inflicted. Though our tents have evolved since then, our design principles have not. As a shelter, a tent is a very personal thing. And many people, from hardcore climbers to weekend warriors, feel a particular attachment to their wilderness home-away-from-home. We asked several employees around the office which tent, old or new, they rely on for everything from kayak tours to extended backpacking trips. Diane Levy, lead of Customer Service, Warranty & Repairs: Superfusion 3 My favorite MSR tent is the Superfusion 3, which was made from 2005-2007. It was the last phase in the evolution of a model that began as the Moss Deltoid. It’s a versatile…

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Backpacking to British Columbia’s Garibaldi Lake

Sep 11, 2014

Photos and story by Riley Leboe I’m lucky enough to travel the world doing what I love. Chasing powder snow as a professional skier has brought me to many amazing places around the globe. Still, I often find it difficult to leave the west coast of British Columbia, where I call home. With the Sea to Sky corridor offering so much in the way of activities, I’ve left much unexplored in my own backyard.

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Gear Overview: Elixir 2 Tent

May 28, 2014

The new Elixir 2 backpacking tent provides the lightweight livability that you have come to love from MSR in a great value. It’s easy to set up and maximizes head and shoulder room. In this video, we give an overview of the new and improved MSR features that make up this tent:

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