MSR FreeLite 2 Tent Review

If you’re a solo backpacker looking for a comfortable, durable, and spacious ultralight tent, the MSR Freelite 2 is a slam dunk. It lands a spot on our Best Backpacking Tents Guide as an exceptionally lightweight but functional shelter. It works great for single backpackers or minimalist pairs who want a low pack weight with all the essential features. CleverHiker Founder Dave Collins backpacked the 60+ mile Sawtooth Loop and spent more than 14 nights using this tent. Its semi-freestanding style, clever rainfly design, and roomy, fully rectangular floor make it a breeze to set up for almost any summer weather. Finally, well-placed pockets, large doors, and spacious vestibules make it easy to stash gear and enter and exit quickly.

One hangup: the FreeLite 2’s steep side walls make the interior feel a bit cramped, so we don’t recommend it for 2 backpackers unless you don’t mind close quarters. Otherwise, this design is best for one-person adventurers, where space, easy setup, and robust weather protection are the priorities.

Comfort

The FreeLite 2’s fully rectangular floor ensures a spacious and comfy stay, making it an awesome choice for solo adventurers. With an 84-inch length and a peak height of 39 inches, this amount of room easily accommodates both gear and a wide sleeping pad, with plenty of space for one person to stretch out and sit up. The tent’s dual doors and large vestibules boost its livability with stellar ventilation, views, and storage. We especially love the no-curve doors on this tent, with two zippers that meet at the corner – not only is it easy to find door zippers in the dark, but they can be opened and closed with one hand. The pockets are small, so you’ll need to keep bulkier items on the floor or in the vestibules. Otherwise, they work well for hand-held items like phones, chapsticks, and headlamps, and they have tech-friendly openings at the bottom to run cords outside of the pockets instead of bunching them up into the mesh. The high-quality materials and attention to detail make the Freelite 2 a worthwhile investment for single hikers who want a seriously cozy backcountry mini-chalet.

Don’t get us wrong, though: two people definitely fit in the Freelite 2, although the comfort level comes down to preference. Gear Tester Ian Kramer has done multiple weekend backpacking trips sharing this tent with hiking partners, but it is undeniably tight. The 50-inch width of this model makes the interior snug to share and doesn’t accommodate two wide pads well. Combined with the relatively short brow pole and angled side walls, the Freelite 2 has less headroom for two people than competitive models. This tent could be a great fit for minimalists who want to keep their shared backpacking weight low and don’t mind sharing a tighter space – but folks who like more room will likely want a bigger option.

Weight & Packability

The FreeLite 2 is one of the lightest and most packable double-wall tents on the market. Weighing just 2 pounds, 5 ounces, this model goes head-to-head with many top one-person tents when it comes to weight and packed size. The minimalist pockets, semi-freestanding design, and lightweight 15D ripstop nylon material give the tent a streamlined profile that’s low-bulk and easy to carry. MSR includes a stash pocket for the tent poles in the stuff sack, and the body and fly compress down an efficient 18 inches by 5 inches. If you prioritize weight savings and packability, the FreeLite 2 is an excellent choice.

The Freelite 2 is incredibly lightweight, but you can always go lighter by choosing a non-freestanding option. However, non-freestanding tents don’t offer the same convenience. Generally, non-freestanding options are more cumbersome to set up and are less durable and stable overall – bringing us back to the Freelite 2 as an even more appealing option. Its balance of weight and functionality make it a great choice for folks who want to keep weight down without sacrificing ease of setup and durability.

Weather Resistance

Hunker down while this tenacious shelter shrugs off storms with its fully waterproof, seam-taped fly and double-wall design. During testing in severe conditions, CleverHiker Founder Dave Collins weathered a multi-day downpour in the Wallowa Mountains of Oregan. The tent proved reliable, dry, and efficient: its steep dome shape easily shed water, and the bathtub-style floor and taped seams blocked moisture easily. 15D ripstop nylon is durable and reliable in whipping winds and major downpours, so it’s well-suited for unpredictable three-season conditions. MSR uses rainfly “gutters” – small channels on the vestibule doors to direct rain away from entry points – that will help keep your gear and clothes dry. The Freelite 2 doesn’t have built-in ventilation stands, although this tent features lots of interior mesh and a partial rainfly design on one side to keep air moving throughout the night. Lastly, the 8 included needle stakes are solid for staking the tent and securing it when the skies open up.

The rainfly on the Freelite only extends halfway down at the head. This reduces weight but creates a small single-wall area that can be less effective against heavy rain and lead to minor condensation issues. While the rainfly doors unzip from the top and bottom to aid airflow, they don’t function as well as vents when it’s raining. The nylon does tend to droop in wet and cold temperatures (below 35°F), so on chilly nights in the alpine or desert, you may need to re-tension the tent to keep the material taut throughout the night.

Ease of Setup

One of the biggest advantages of a semi-freestanding tent like the FreeLite 2 is how fast and easy it is to set up. In less than 2 minutes, a solo backpacker can be lounging inside and out of the elements. Its simple Y-shaped pole frame, unified hub-and-pole system, and four corner stakes expertly balance weight savings and user-friendliness. The design makes it nearly impossible to make a mistake during setup, so you can spend more time cooking, relaxing, and getting ready for bed instead of messing with your gear. You may need to be a bit more focused while staking out the corners for maximum stability compared to a fully freestanding tent, but the design doesn’t really impact setup time. Whether you’re a lifelong backpacker or this is your first trip, the Freelite 2 is as speedy and intuitive to set up as it gets.

The only gripe we have with the Freelite 2 regarding setup is an issue with all semi-freestanding tents, not just this one: it requires a taut pitch to perform in weather. Since the tent’s nylon fabric sags when the weather is cold or wet, you’ll need to get a nice, tight pitch the first go. Still, you may need to re-tighten guylines occasionally. However, this is a minor complaint – the Freelite 2 is virtually foolproof, fast, and fun to set up, even during pouring rain or after a long day of hiking.

Durability

The FreeLite 2 is built with strong materials that thrive in rough landscapes and fierce weather alike. MSR uses 15D ripstop nylon for both the rainfly and the floor. Its thickness is in the Goldilocks zone when it comes to tents: 20D is stronger but heavier, and 10D and 12D aren’t as long-lasting. This fabric is well suited for rocky and rugged campsites and makes the tent durable enough for seasons of rough use. 

The tent features strong, lightweight aluminum poles flexible enough to handle high winds without breaking. High-quality components like heavy-duty zippers, reinforced patches, anodized metal grommets, and double-stitched guy points reduce wear and tear, making this a reliable choice for extensive backcountry adventures. The footprint is sold separately but could be good to pick up if you want to extend the lifetime of your tent floor. 

Though built tough, the FreeLite 2’s 15D ripstop nylon is not indestructible, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for rocks, branches, and other pokey objects that could puncture, rip, or damage the tent. Additionally, while the aluminum poles are strong, they are not immune to damage due to severe bending or impacts. The tent’s reinforced features and high-quality components reduce our concerns, but the overall durability might still fall short compared to heavier-duty models. However, the FreeLite 2’s performance is excellent for typical backpacking use and will last for many seasons of regular use..

What Other Backpacking Tents Should You Consider?

Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Review: The Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 is a semi-freestanding tent similar to the MSR FreeLite 2 with a comparable price point, features, and easy setup. It’s slightly heavier and a bit less durable, though it’s longer, has more headroom, and offers a ton of pockets for added comfort.

NEMO Hornet OSMO 3 Review: This tent shares the semi-freestanding design and easy pitch of the FreeLite 2, and it’s about the same for durability. The Hornet 3 is a bit more expensive and heavier, but it offers much more space since it’s a 3-person tent, and has better storage and excellent features for even more comfort.

Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Review: If you don’t like the semi-freestanding design of the FreeLite 2, consider switching to a non-freestanding option like the Lunar Duo. It’s a more affordable tent with way more headroom for two people. On the flip side, it’s less durable, a bit heavier, and more challenging to pitch.