Spacious Budget Tent: Mountainsmith Morrison EVO 2 Review

Bottom Line

The Mountainsmith Morrison EVO 2 is a great revamp of its predecessor, the Morrison 2. It is an optimal choice for those interested in bigtime interior livability and storage capacity. This tent offers up the biggest amount of interior square footage of any tent in the Budget Tents Category. 

With a colossal 36 sq ft. interior, it easily fits two full-size air mats and gear if need be. It has so much ample room that our gear analyst never once touched the sides while sleeping or moving around inside of the shelter.

Storage isn’t an issue either with a whopping eleven total pockets including a gear loft (with pockets), door stow pockets (with dual access), another set of sidewall pockets, and also hanging hook support. There shouldn’t be anything cluttering your tent floor with all of these options.  

Further, the Morrison EVO 2 is constructed of thick 68-denier/185 taffeta polyester in the fly and inner walls and a 68-denier/190 taffeta denier in the floor. As with many tents made from this material, it comes with a high weight. The Morrison EVO 2 is no exception, having the highest weight in this category at 6.93 pounds. It’s not an option for backpackers, but certainly a no-brainer for car camping enthusiasts who prefer comfort and durability. For a full comparison of the Morrison EVO 2 to our other favorites, head to our complete guide to the best budget tents.

Comfort

Within the Budget Tents category, the Morrison EVO 2 is quite literally unsurpassed in regards to its spacious interior and unparalleled storage capacity. It was one of the few tents we tested that had extra space at the head and foot, as well as almost 3 inches between two full sized air mats. This tent, without a doubt, would fit 2 people comfortably with space and storage to spare. When sitting in the center of the tent on our air mat, we had nearly 8-9 inches of extra headroom and almost two feet of shoulder space before contact with any walls. Saying that this 2-person tent is spacious is an understatement. 

Entering and exiting the tent requires a minimal amount of crouching due to the massive doors which are 47 inches wide and 36 inches tall with dual-access zippers. When fully opened, it’s very easy to loosely shove the door into the stow pocket instead of having to roll it up. When deployed, the vestibules are also pretty big at 19 sq ft. total, effortlessly accommodating packs, muddy boots, and any wet gear you want to keep stored outside. 

Condensation and overheating should not be a problem thanks to the high and low ventilation system. Two upper strutted vents on the fly help with aeration, along with a uniquely cut inner fabric pattern that has a lower strip of mesh that extends from each side to the bathtub floor area. This is very useful for camping in hotter areas that lack shade and for preventing condensation when it’s wet outside. Whether you want to use it as a palatial one person shelter or a roomy two person tent, the Mountainsmith Morrison EVO 2 will undoubtedly fulfill your camping needs.

Weather Resistance

Along with a great comfort rating, the Morrison EVO 2 boasts robust waterproofing material and corresponding features. The fly is constructed of 68-denier and 185 taffeta Polyester with a 2000mm rated Polyurethane coating while the tent is made of a 68-denier, 185 taffeta breathable polyester. Lastly, the floor consists of a 68-denier 195 taffeta polyester with a 5000mm rated polyurethane coating. It also comes with taped floor seams for extra waterproofing. When this tent is fully staked out, zipped up, and pulled taut, water would have a difficult time finding a way inside.

The tension system of the Morrison EVO 2 comes fully equipped with two pre-attached guy lines on the side panels of the fly, which are fully extendable with added line locks. Adding to this hearty setup is a set of strong 7000-series aluminum alloy X-poles and a ridgepole, plus high quality 7075 aluminum V-style stakes with reinforced top impact areas. These came in handy in the dry, often rockier soil we encountered while camping near Reyes Peak in the upper altitudes of the Los Padres National Forest. Overall, the Mountainsmith Morrison EVO is fully capable of handling bad weather and tougher, more challenging terrain.

Durability

Built to endure many seasons of rugged camping, the Morrison EVO 2 has tough fabrics to handle the elements, but also withstand the general wear and tear that comes with regular use. The 68D/190t polyester floor is more than apt to deter sharp rocks and pointy sticks from puncturing through, especially if you’re using the included footprint. 

All components have unmatched durability, from the smooth gliding zippers to the quality 7075 V-stakes and the reflective guy lines and line locks that are pre-assembled and ready to use. Our gear analyst clearly scrutinized every piece of gear for optimal performance and longevity. Unlike many tents, the Mountainsmith Morrison EVO 2 stands out with its meticulous attention to detail, leaving no aspect overlooked. This exceptional design is a key reason why it remains a top choice for a durable and reliable shelter.

Portability

The sheer weight of this tent almost guarantees that no backpacker would consider it, even if splitting the weight with a partner. Many thicker polyester fabrics also tend to become heavier over time with use and this particular tent is already pretty substantial at 6.9 pounds. This tent is better off being carried short distances and used for frontcountry car camping. There are plenty of other options in this Budget Tents Category that would be better for backpacking.  

Though, as a freestanding tent, it can easily be relocated short distances when emptied and unstaked. The fly, inner tent, and footprint can all fasten together for a unified structure that is easy to move. This is also the case when the tent is in minimalist mode because the footprint has grommets for the pole tips. When the rainfly is clipped to the footprint and secured to the poles, with the velcro straps underneath, the entire tent structure becomes self-supporting. For a large and heavy tent, it is very versatile and has many different configurations.

Ease of Use

Overall the Morrison EVO 2 is very easy to use as a dome style tent. However,we could do without the sleeve for the ridgepole and the large amount of pole clips. In total, there are 16 clips that need to be attached to the X-poles.

Also, when we tried assembling this tent at our campsite for the first time, we accidentally arranged the poles in the wrong order. You’re supposed to first thread the two main poles through the gap underneath the ridge pole sleeve, which we originally didn’t do, requiring us to unclip everything and start over. On top of that, the ridge pole is difficult to insert when the whole tent is taut, so the order in which you put everything together is important.

Another thing to note is that one half of the vestibule is always meant to be staked out, while the other side can be stuffed into the door stow pockets. With this tent model, you don’t have the ability to fully tie back either vestibule unless you completely remove the fly. Other than that, everything else about the Morrison EVO 2 felt very intuitive and worth the effort for the unmatched comfort and great features.

Should You Buy the Mountainsmith Morrison EVO 2?

If you’re someone who prioritizes comfort and durability above all else and is not concerned with weight, then look no further than the Morrison EVO 2. It weighs 6.9 pounds and is constructed with a thick 68D polyester material that’s fully prepared for wet weather. It’s got the largest interior of the lineup at 36 square feet. with a ton of features like an included footprint, two extra reflective guy line pull-outs, taped seams, and high quality 7075 aluminum V-stakes. 

The unrivaled amount of interior storage pockets includes a removable loft as well as hanging hook support. The Morrison EVO 2 also features oversized dual doors and 19 sq ft. of vestibule space for convenient outdoor storage. If you’re not planning on backpacking and just looking for an incredibly spacious car camping tent with plenty of room and storage for two people, then this is your tent. Likewise, if you’re someone that’s aiming for a more lightweight, backpacking-style tent, the Morrison EVO probably isn’t going to be your first choice.   

What Other Budget Tents Should You Consider?

Coleman Peak 1 Review: Slightly lighter but requiring a bit more of a budget is the Coleman Peak 1. Weighing about 6 pounds yet much more compact than the Morrison EVO 2, the Peak 1 is a low profile, 2-person tent with a built in stargazing panel. Constructed of a similar 68D polyester material and taped seams, the Peak 1 is also a great dome-style car camping shelter.  

Marmot Tungsten 2 Review: The Tungsten 2 weighs in at 6.2 pounds and is constructed of 100% polyester taffeta floor and fly, with taped-seams for added waterproofing. It has a smaller floor area than the Morrison EVO 2 because of its tapered floor and overall smaller dimensions, but also has a ridgepole with no sleeve. This is also the only tent in this lineup with a light diffuser pocket for ambient nighttime illumination.

Tarptent Stratospire 2 Review: If you’re more in the market for an advanced  ultralight backpacking tent, check out the Stratospire 2. The Tarptent Stratospire 2 is a non-freestanding tent that weighs in at just 2.7 pounds and features a unique hexagonal shape for wind deterrence and stability, strutted floor vents for ventilation and condensation management, superb silicone coated ripstop nylon fabrics, and many other great attributes that a seasoned backpacker would appreciate.