Tag: tent

I needed a good-quality, lightweight, tough tent that would be small enough to fit into a dry bag and then into the front hatch of my sea kayak. I wasn’t planning to use it for backpacking, so I felt able to treat myself to a two-person tent even though I was only planning to use it on my own.

I looked at a few different options, but I was already a fan of MSR kit and the Elixir 2 had some great reviews. The price was in the Goldilocks zone and I felt confident choosing it.

I’ve been delighted with it. I must have now used it on about ten different multi-day trips, each of which has involved taking it up and putting it down again every single day.

It’s very easy to work with. I normally lay the separate groundsheet out first and peg the four corners. Next, I lay the inner tent over the groundsheet and add the four corner loops to the existing pegs. Then I put the poles together and, following the colour coding, place them into the corner tabs.

Next, I clip the inner tent onto the poles, add the cross-brace pole across the top, and then it’s simply a case of laying the fly sheet over and pegging out the guy ropes.

I’d say I can put it up from scratch in under five minutes.

If you need to put it up in the rain, just do the groundsheet, then the poles, then the fly sheet — that way the inner stays dry.

In all the times I’ve used it, I’ve only had one pole break. In all honesty, it was probably my own fault — I suspect I didn’t fully engage it before putting it under tension. MSR were ever so good to me: they sent me three spare pole segments by post, free of charge, and included instructions on how to fit them. I’ve still got two spares now; it’s never happened again.

Pros

Lightweight – 2.2 kg (including poles and fly)

Spacious – plenty of room for two people, or one person and a lot of kit

Weatherproof – has handled high winds and rain, completely bomb-proof and dry every time

Tough – well-made; the extra groundsheet means you can pitch on rough ground or beaches without worrying

Excellent customer service – genuinely helpful and responsive

Cons

Packs slightly larger than some ultralight tents, but that’s irrelevant in a kayak

The supplied pegs are light but not very strong — I replaced mine with sturdier ones for the guy ropes

Vestibule space is fine for storage but not ideal for cooking

Overall, I love this tent and I look forward to using it. I never worry about whether it will look after me or not — I have full confidence in it.

If you’d like to see more about it or buy one, here’s my Amazon link.

Here are the MSR Groundhog tent pegs that I added to my tent bag Amazon link.

I note there is an updated version of the Elixir 2, priced a little higher but looks fantastic – here is the link 

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