Tents

Best 3 Person Backpacking Tent

Last updated: August 17, 2022 by Canberk Koksal

In summary, here are my top picks for the best 3-person backpacking tents:

In my opinion, MSR Mutha Hubba NX [most recent 2019 version] takes the first place due to its versatility and well thought out overall design. It maybe isn't the "best" in any department alone (except the design, as it's very pretty), but it's above average in pretty much anything you look for in a tent: Volume, weight, durability, comfort and compactness.
In second place there's Nemo Dagger 3P because of its ridiculously easy set up and lighter weight. It's just shy of being the winner - and to be honest, in warmer temperatures, I'd even recommend it over Mutha Hubba NX.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 is very similar to Dagger 3P (and actually even lighter!), but the geometry isn’t as convenient, and its special construction requires a bit of "special treatment".
Marmot Limelight 3P is a bit too heavy compared to the others but it EXCELS in bad weather. It's built like a castle.
Lastly, Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 3 is a great option for beginners. Although it’s the heaviest, it’s also the LARGEST tent in this list!

Now let's take a closer look at each and every one of them.

MSR Mutha Hubba NX

Weight: 4 lbs 13 oz
Floor Area & Center Height: 39 ft2 & 44 in
Packed Size: 21 in (length) x 7 in (diameter)
What I liked: Great weather resistance, proven durability, very good inner volume, incredibly versatile, easy to set up after learning once, small packed size
What I didn't: Neither the footprint or the Fast & Light body is included, asymmetric vestibules take one time of trial & error to get used to

As some of you may know, MSR Papa Hubba (the 4-person version of the Hubba Hubba series) has won my roundup for best 4-person tents as well, and this is the 3 person model of that tent. The size and weight are adjusted to fit one less person inside.

Like Papa Hubba, you’ll notice that also MSR Mutha Hubba NX isn’t as lightweight as Big Agnes Copper Spur or Nemo Dagger, in fact it’s almost 1 lb heavier.

However, in my opinion, in most cases it’s worth the increased durability and weather resistance. The inside of the tent still feels roomy thanks to the cross pole design.

If you’re worried about the weight and you want to go even more minimalist, Mutha Hubba can be set up only with the footprint (sold separately), poles and rainfly. If this sounds a bit too minimalist you can check out the Fast & Light Bodies by MSR. The tub style floor offers more protection from rain and dirt compared to just the footprint and the entire setup weighs only 3 lbs 10 oz!

MSR Mutha Hubba interestingly has a very small amount of mesh on the main tent body. This can be positive or a negative depending on your perspective. This is also probably the reason for the extra lbs this tent has over Big Agnes Copper Spur.

Without the rainfly.

Less mesh paneling means a warmer and more durable tent overall. This may be a problem if you frequently camp in warmer areas but it also creates more privacy and heat retention in colder climates. This also means that you can camp without the rainfly without being completely exposed to the whole campground.

One main advantage Mutha Hubba has over Big Agnes Copper Spur and Nemo Dagger is the durability. MSR uses the Xtreme Shield Waterproof Coating on the raincover of the Hubba Hubba series.

Check its assembly instruction manual [PDF] here.

This technology claims to be three times more durable than the classic coatings. The seam tape frequently is one of the first parts of a tent to degrade and MSR has put extra attention and added precision stitched seams.

Also, a good alternative to this tent is MSR Elixir 3, which I reviewed in detail here.

Also with the design of this tent, they took the time to make it work in bad weather. The cross poles create stability even with strong winds. As someone who has had poles snap under high winds, I really appreciate the easton cyclone poles that MSR boasts as “indestructible”.

One thing to note is to set up Mutha Hubba so that the rainfly doesn’t touch the tent body. If this isn’t done properly it’ll cause condensation in colder temperatures and you might wake up with a wet sleeping bag! This was one of the most voiced customer complaints and MSR responded with a video describing how to make use of all the features on the tent:

Another downside (although not a big deal) to this tent is that unlike most tents the seam aren't sealed but they have precision stitching. MSR claims this increases the longevity of the rainfly as the seals usually peel of after a few years.

However, if you are going to use Mutha Hubba under a lot of rain you might consider sealing the seams yourself. Check out this sealant from GearAid that is also recommended by MSR.

In short, to me, MSR Mutha Hubba NX is the best overall tent for 90% of us.

12 Reviews

MSR Mutha Hubba NX 3-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent...

Ultralight: minimum weight is 2.07 kg (4 lb. 9...
Maximum space: head and elbow room throughout...
Livable: two large stay Dry doors door with...
Easy setup & packing: unified hub-and-pole system...
Min. Weight: 3 lbs 9 oz/1.54 K

Nemo Dagger 3P

Weight: 3 lbs 12 oz
Floor Area & Center Height: 43.9 ft2 (90 x 70 in) & 42 in
Packed Size: 19.5 in (length) x 6.5 in (dia)
What I liked: Very light, super easy to set up, dual-stage Divvy sack
What I didn't: No ventilation in the rainfly, footprint isn't included, need to be treated gently as it isn't as durable

Nemo Dagger 3P is a great backpacking tent. After seeing Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL Series I was convinced that there couldn’t be any other tent out there with a better size to weight ratio, but Nemo Dagger Series definitely compete.

Besides being only 3 lbs and 12 oz., the packed size is also very good. The stuff sack comes in two stages which allows you to split the load up between two people. Especially during a long backpacking trip, this is much better for weight management in your packs.

Hubbed and color coded main pole make it super easy to set up. There's also a short mid pole for increased tent volume. One downside of the setup process is that since the tent body is mainly mesh, it is very inconvenient to set up in the rain. You might find buckets of water in the inside of the tent once you finished pitching it.

Two solutions to this problem:

One is that since the floor has great rainproof quality you can dump out the water
and the other is to first pitch the tent with only the rainfly, main pole and footprint.

Unfortunately the footprint is not included so you have to buy it separately.

The footprint adds an extra 8 oz. but it is 68D polyester. Compared to the 30D floor fabric this will definitely improve the durability and longevity of the tent.

Even though the setup is actually very easy, the sockets for the poles are a little bit different than the classic designs. The poles have small balls at the end they correspond to Jake’s Foot fitting in the corners. You can check the set up instructions here.

Another thing that might be a problem is that there's no ventilation on the rainfly. Since the main tent body is completely mesh, there is great ventilation inside. The rainfly doesn’t have any windows or vents.

In colder nights, this results in condensation in the inside of the rainfly. This condensation rains back into the tent and you usually wake up with a wet sleeping bag. However, besides the problem of not having ventilation windows, the rainfly has great waterproof qualities with 15D ripstop nylon.

REI has a good article on preventing condensation inside your tent.

While this tent is decent at colder temps and bad weather, it’s amazing in warmer weather. The mesh on the tent body is dual colored. White for the side walls for protection and black on the top for stargazing. This is a great feature while camping in summer and turns every night into a special experience.

Also, Nemo added two corner pockets made out of special mesh that diffuses the light from your headlamp to create even lighting inside the tent.

Everyone who has stayed in a tent knows that trying to light the tent with only headlamps usually ends up blinding someone so this feature is definitely a big plus.

21 Reviews

Nemo Dagger Ultralight Backpacking Tent, Birch Leaf Green, 3...

ULTRALIGHT & ROOMY - Designed for comfort &...
TWO DOORS & VESTIBULES - The Dagger has more...
WEATHERPROOF & RUGGED - Integrated 30D Nylon...
PERKS & DETAILS (3P) - Protected strut vents...

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3

Weight: 3 lbs 7 oz
Floor Area & Center Height: 41 ft2 (90 x 70/62 in) & 43 in
Packed Size: 20 in (length) x 4.5 in (dia)
What I liked: Utralight, very roomy, simple setup
What I didn't: Asymmetrical design isn't the best, imperfect weather resistance

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 is a great backpacking tent. Technically speaking, HV UL4 earned the first place in my my top picks for 4 person backpacking tents.

“HV” stand for high volume and it sure lives up to its name. You'll find it absolutely unbelievable how Big Agnes can achieve this low weight to size ratio - and the answer is in the fabrics (more on this later).

The tent weight is 3 lb 7 oz - which is the lightest in this list and (probably) out in the market, but you can also use it in the minimalist version with only the footprint, poles and rainfly, which makes it even lighter at only 2 lb 12 oz. You could also easily use this tent for 2 people and it'd still come very light.

Another important thing to mention is that this whole tent is asymmetrical. This creative design certainly has its ups and downs. It optimizes the space and weight very well, so you don’t carry what you don’t need.

However, the tub style bottom fabric doesn’t rise as high in the narrow section, so the person sleeping on that side is more exposed to the outside. I also personally find this design to be a bit unnecessarily complicated. In terms of design, I'd say Dagger 3P and Mutha Hubba NX are the two best in this list.

The poles of this tent are also asymmetrical. This maximizes the tent volume, but you should be careful when setting up the tent. There's one main integrated pole and a short brow pole for increased volume. The ends of the poles are color coded to match the corners on the rainfly so setting up is still pretty easy. The tent comes with aluminum j-stakes that should be fine if you use rocks to tack down. However, they're grey, so be careful not to lose them.

An interesting feature: Big Agnes Copper Spur is also sold with integrated LED lights. This is the patented tent light system from Big Agnes: mtnGLO.

With a push button controller you can light up the inside of the tent in a soft light. So if you hate using a single source lighting system when you're up inside your tent at night, you might want to check out Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 mtnGLO.

Let's talk about its fabric. As you can guess, this is both the best and worst thing about this tent. In order to achieve THIS much of light weight, the tent is mainly mesh and is made of very thin fabrics - although the material is the same: Ripstop nylon. As a result, it IS ultralight, but you must treat it more gentle to sustain its intended lifetime (durability) & performance.

Using a lot of mesh also has its effect on the privacy, as you can guess. Especially if you're 3 female backpackers, and you're backpacking a not-so-safe region, this might be a good thing to consider.

Also the frame is quite high, which slightly makes the tent bend against strong winds. But at least, it has a vent in the rainfly that decreases condensation.

Along with Dagger 3P, this tent is my top pick if you're an ultralighter.

22 Reviews

Big Agnes 2019 Copper Spur HV UL3 Backpacking Tent,...

Packed Weight: 3lb 14oz / 1.76kg
Packed Size: 4.5" x 20" / 11 x 51cm
3 Season Tent
Based on the features of our best-selling,...
Fly and floor are silicone treated proprietary...

Marmot Limelight 3P

Weight: 6 lbs 0.5 oz
Floor Area & Center Height: 42.5 ft2 (90 x 68 in) & 48 in
Packed Size: 22 in (length) x 8 in (diameter)
What I liked: Incredible weather resistance, vertical walls increase volume, footprint included
What I didn't: Heavy, bulky when packed, not enough stakes

Marmot Limelight 3P is heavier than other alternatives in this list, but considering the high quality & very highly weather resistant materials, the weight is excusable and might worth it for some backpackers (although that's not me!).

The most interesting feature of this tent are the pre-bent poles as they increase the interior volume a lot. You don’t get the classic cramped feeling of your head touching the tent walls when you’re sitting upright. They also increase the vestibule volume, super handy if you’re using the tent in bad weather. However, the downside is that the pre-bent poles make the packed size very bulky.

The two doors of this tent are massive. This allows you go in and out of the tent very easily. There's a storage pouch for the tent door when it’s fully open.

The main advantage Marmot Limelight 3P has over the others in this list is how good it performs in bad weather. Both the rainfly and the floor fabric is 68D polyester. The zippers on the vestibules are storm shut with extra flaps and there is two windows on the door for ventilation. The design of the tent is like a castle and it holds like a castle under high winds and rainfall.

The main downside of this tent is the weight, if you'll be doing long backpacking trips into the wilderness, maybe go for something lighter like Nemo Dagger 3P or Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3. Another downside that everyone notices is that this tent definitely doesn’t come with enough stakes.

However, you can purchase them separately or even reuse some leftover stakes from older tents.

If you'd like to read more about this tent, I also compared it to often-compared, similar model Marmot Tungsten here and explained why Limelight 3P is the superior one.

If you'll be backpacking in severe weather often and wouldn't mind the extra (nearly) 1 lbs (compared to also well weather resistant Mutha Hubba NX), this tent is what I'd recommend to you.

170 Reviews

MARMOT Limelight 3P

Marmot Limelight 3 Person Tent Cinder Rust

Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 3

Weight: 6 lbs 10 oz (footprint included)
Floor Area & Center Height: 48.75 ft2 (90 x 78 in) & 49 in
Packed Size: 23 in (length) x 6.75 in (diameter)
What I liked: Footprint included, very roomy
What I didn't: Heaviest in this review, wire stakes aren't as durable

Even by looking at the technical specs, it's easy to see the ups and downs of Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 3 | Price not available. On one hand, it’s much taller and wider than the alternatives, but on the other hand, it’s much heavier.

However, it’s important to note that this tent is almost as big as the 4-person versions of the others. So if you were looking for a 3-person tent to share between 2, you might even check out the 2-person version of Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 2 | Price not available. However, for the sake of the title of this review, I’ll talk about the 3-person model.

This tent is as classic as a tent can possibly be. Two cross poles create the main frame and short brow pole increases volume in both the tent main body and the vestibules. The brow pole extends in the direction of the doors. The set up is still relatively simple but not as simple as the hubbed pole tents.

TETON Sports Mountain Ultra Tent 3 Privacy

Note that if you’re planning to use this tent without the raincover, you’re fully exposed to the world. The entire tent body is made of mesh and while the views are great, it offers absolutely no privacy.

The rainfly comes with one of these ventilation windows on each side - an important feature when camping in colder temperatures. While the mainly mesh tent body means that this tent will be more comfortable in winter, the rainfly covers all areas and offers pretty decent protection against the elements. The rainfly is 3000mm PU, meaning that it's thick, and provides mid-high rain protection.

I also quite like the shape of the rainfly. The walls of the tent aren’t very vertical but since the tent floor area is already very large, I don’t think the lost volume will bother anyone. The sloped walls will hold up much better in high winds by creating a path for the wind to flow.

One thing I don’t like is the stakes, the tent comes with the classic wire stakes that bend super easily. So, you might have to replace after using the tent for some time.

Mountain Ultra 3 has two doors and two vestibules. The footprint is included, but there's no way to attach the tent to the footprint so it awkwardly slides around when you're trying to pitch the tent. There are multiple mesh pockets inside for gear storage.

Basically, it has all the basics you would expect out of a good backpacking tent, and it offers the largest inner volume in this list. My top pick for beginner folks.

264 Reviews

TETON Sports Mountain Ultra Tent; 3 Person Backpacking Dome...

STAY DRY Waterproof rainfly with a 360degree...
ROOM WITH A VIEW Get away from the city lights and...
EASY TO SET UP Lightweight tent packs down tight...
PACKS UP EASILY When it’s time to head home the...
TETON SPORTS PROMISE Reach out to our AMAZING...

If you want a similar quality tent to Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 3 but with less weight, you can also check out ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 3 | $216.05. I might prefer Mountain Ultra due to its simpler design and durability for some trips, but Zephyr series are also a good option for beginners.

How to choose a tent

Since we are not looking at tents for car camping our criteria are a little bit different. Of course for improved comfort, the size of the tent both in terms of floor area and peak height is important. However, the weight and packed size also becomes very important.

Also, the weather durability is crucial when you are out in the wilderness without any access to any car to save you out of a bad situation. Lastly, we are looking at the comfort and small design peaks of each tent.

Size and Weight

Of course the most important criteria when choosing a backpacking tent is the size and weight ratio. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 is the lightest tent on this list and on the market. Nemo Dagger 3P is a close second with only 5 oz more and a slightly a larger floor area. You could easily use either of these tents for two people and they would still be very lightweight.

The heavy(-ier) tents on this list are Marmot Limelight 3P and Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 3. However, they have redeeming qualities that excuse this weight. Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 3 is much bigger any tent on this list. In fact, the 2-person version of this tent is closer in size to the others. Marmot Limelight 3P also has a taller frame and more durable materials that increases the weight.

When we look at the sizes of these tents, it’s not very straightforward. For example, MSR Mutha Hubba NX and Marmot Limelight 3P has smaller floor areas but they have taller peaks and vertical walls that increase the overall tent volume. If you are into staying inside and playing cards this should be your preference over a larger floor area.

Another option you have when using these tent is the Fast Fly option. This is when you only use the footprint, poles and rainfly to pitch the tent. This is a very basic shelter but it saves you quite a lot of weight and space in your pack.

However, if you’re planning to go with this option I would recommend the Fast & Light Body of Mutha Hubba NX which has a more tub style bottom rather than just the footprint. During rain of sandstorms this offers very much needed protection.

The special Fast & Light Body for MSR Mutha Hubba NX is far better than using just the footprint.

Packed Size

Nemo Dagger 3P has a dual stage packing arrangement where the tent body and the poles can be packed separately. Classically the person who has the tent suffers a lot because the load never decreases. This packing style allows the load to be split between two people and the suffering to also be split between two people!

*Even though most of these tents have quite small packed sizes you can make them even smaller by packing the poles separately and using a compression sack on the tent body and rainfly.

Weather Resistance and Durability

In all honesty, event though all of these tents are rated for 3 seasons only Marmot Limelight 3P fully lives up to this rating. Or it would better to rate it 3+ seasons. You could even consider using it in the snow and it should hold up.

Regardless, if you're planning to camp in cold weather using any of these tents, read my 3 most effective tips for heating a tent without electricity.

The 3-season rating means that this tent can be used under rainfall and light snow. However, it’s very important to pitch the tent correctly. If you are looking for tent for heavy snowstorms and below freezing temperatures check out 4-season tents.

I’ve already mentioned in all of the individual reviews how important it’s to have good ventilation. The reason for that is, when the temperatures dip close to or below freezing, the water vapor from our breaths condense when they touch the rainfly and come back as rain inside the tent.

In extreme cases this would cause you the wake up with fully wet sleeping bags and equipment inside the tent. It’s super important always leave channel open for the escaping water vapor.

How to prevent condensation:

If you’re going to camp mostly in the summer with lighter weather conditions, I can safely recommend Nemo Dagger 3P as the best ultralight tent. However, it doesn’t have any ventilation windows on the rainfly and this causes condensation on colder nights.

The cross pole structures of Mutha Hubba NX and Marmot Limelight 3P increase wind-durability. Both of these tent also have higher non-mesh sections that prevent rain splashing into the tent in rainstorms. You can tell by all of these details that they had worse weather in mind when designing these tents.

Unfortunately, the materials on the super lightweight tents aren’t the most durable. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 is an amazing tent but the materials on it are quite fragile and it’s probably not the best choice for beginners that have no experience on how to care for a tent.

Using your tent in more extreme conditions means that they will degrade faster. Extreme conditions also include severe sunlight and sandstorms. Learning how to properly take care of them before and after trips will lengthen the lifetime of your equipment.

REI has a good article on caring for your tent.

Comfort and Design

When most of us are buying a tent, we first look at the technical properties of the tents like the size, weight and materials. But the little details in design can really affect the camping experience.

For example, even though it’s not a little detail, it’s very important to have double doors and double vestibules. Double doors mean good ventilation and easy bathroom exit at night. Double vestibules are also a big plus especially if you’re going to stay in these tents with 3-people. You can use one vestibule for gear storage and one for entry and exit, and cooking in bad weather.

Also, watch out for the floor dimensions especially when packing your mats! You might not be able to fit 4 large sleeping mats in some of these tents. Also if you're looking for good air mattresses to pair with your tent, my other article about air mattresses can also be a good read...

None of these tents are super complicated to set up but Nemo Dagger 3P is certainly the easiest. All of them except Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 3 have hubbed and color coded poles that make setting up easy even for beginners. The asymmetry of Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 might take some getting used to though.

The integrated LED lights of Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 mtnGlo are a cool feature that will impress everyone in the campsite. Dagger and Limelight also have light pockets that diffuse light when you put your headlamp there.

Also, I know this isn’t the most important feature but I love the light green color of Nemo Dagger 3P, it’is still cheerful but blends into the environment. The rainfly of MSR Mutha Hubba NX is white which allows ambient light into the tent when it’s still light outside. It also has red details that make it stand out in the wild.

Conclusion

So, in short, I can list the top 5 according to these criteria as follows:

In my opinion, MSR Mutha Hubba NX takes the first place due to its versatility and well thought out overall design. It maybe isn't the "best" in any criteria alone (except the design, as it's very pretty), but it's just at the sweet spot of all criteria: Volume, weight, durability, comfort and compactness.
In second place there's Nemo Dagger 3P because of its ridiculously easy set up and lighter weight. It's just shy of being the winner - and to be honest, in warmer temperatures, I'd even recommend it over Mutha Hubba NX.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 is very similar to Dagger 3P (and actually even lighter!), but the geometry isn’t as convenient, and its special construction requires a bit of "special treatment".
Marmot Limelight 3P is a bit too heavy compared to the others but it EXCELS in bad weather and is built like a castle.
Lastly, Teton Sports Mountain Ultra 3 is a great option for beginners. Although it’s the heaviest, it’s also the LARGEST tent in this list!

You can purchase them on Amazon:

Lastly, my other post how to sleep comfortably in a tent can be a good read for you.

I hope this review was helpful for you to understand which 3 person backpacking tent would be the best choice for your needs. Feel free to ask me any questions, provide feedback and I'll be happy to respond in the comment section below if it's within my knowledge.

Thanks a lot for reading. Happy trails.

Best 4 Person Backpacking Tent

Last updated: August 17, 2022 by Canberk Koksal

Guys, I'm talking about backpacking tents here! They aren't as roomy as your other huge camping tents, but muuuch more useful for us.

Yeah, some hikers prefer the lightest of 4 x 1P tents, but sharing a 4P tent between 4 people could save you some substantial lbs. To me, it's more effective than carrying two 2-person tents, too.

My top 4 person backpacking tent picks are (from best to worst):

To me, best one is MSR Papa Hubba NX since it's at the sweet spot of all weight, durability, weather resistance, packed size and inner volume.
Although it's even better than Papa Hubba, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 is my second choice because it's overkill for most of us...
Third is REI Co-op Half Dome 4 Plus due to its larger size, beautiful design and durability; BUT it's heavy!
Marmot Limelight 4 is the heaviest, but offers incredible durability, weather resistance and inner capacity.
Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 4 is the best choice for beginners!

I also shared their PDF Manuals at the bottom of this post (under Conclusion heading), if you're interested in that...

If you’re looking for the overall best 4 person backpacking tent, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 and MSR Papa Hubba NX are really your top 2 choices. Even though Big Agnes has the bigger and lighter tent, it's really overkill for most of us - not to even mention that the Papa is even more durable and stable!

Also, you might want a 4-person tent even if you're not hiking with 4 people. They'd be good choices for 3 people and a dog or 3 people that prefer more room.

NOW THE REVIEWS!!! First, my top pick.

MSR Papa Hubba NX Review

Weight: 5 lbs 15 oz
Floor area & center height: 93 x 86 in - 44 in
Packed size: 21 in (length) x 7 in (Dia)

To me, with its updated 2019 version, MSR Papa Hubba NX (most recent version) is the best 4P tent for 90% of us. It's an amazing alternative to Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4.

What are the updates?

Most differences between 2018 and 2019 are material of rainfly & floor (Dura shield → Xtreme shield) and poles (DAC → Easton).

At 5 lbs 15 oz, it's 12 oz heavier than Big Agnes Copper Spur - but still quite lightweight and the 2nd lightest in this review. Its peak height is shorter than Big Agnes, which creates less space, more wind and weather durability. Papa Hubba NX has the most unique pole structure with 5 poles extending in different directions. This is an excellent feature for stability in harsh weather conditions.

The unique pole structure increases the tent volume and the symmetrical design protects the tent from side winds. Here's how to set it up [PDF Manual].

Besides being an overall great tent, MSR Papa Hubba NX has some great customization features. One of them is Fast & Light Body option. We’ve talked about the minimalist fast fly setup where only the footprint and fly are used.

MSR offers another lighter tent body called the Fast & Light Body. It’s very similar to just using the footprint, but instead, the bottom cover has a raise to provide extra protection against the elements.

It’s like using the minimalist setup but it’s more durable in worse weather conditions. In my opinion this is one of the main advantages MSR Papa Hubba NX has over the alternatives. If you're planning to use the minimalist fly-footprint option frequently... This F&L Body is the one to go for.

The Fast & Light Body offers more protection than using the simple footprint.

In the latest edition of MSR Papa Hubba NX, the tent gets a weather durability update. Both the coating on the raincover and the poles are improved to stand stronger winds and heavier rainfalls.

When talking about the MSR Hubba Series we should also compare them to MSR Elixir series. Both of these tent series are offered in multiple sizes. I’ve also done an intensive review of MSR Elixir 3 if you want to check that out.

Both of them are great tents with creative designs but MSR Papa Hubba is lighter and packed smaller, which is why I chose it for this review. Also, the pole design of Papa offers more stability and protection against winds.

But the best thing about this tent is its space. Before, you'd probably complain about the inner space of this tent, but in 2019, it's updated for maximum livability to offer as much space inside as possible by using an extra pole. The result is this:

Inner environment is now unlike pyramid like tents and more like a flat ceiling home.

Also, after Mountainsmith Morrison EVO (95 in) and Big Agnes Copper Spur (96 in), this tent offers the widest floor area at 93 inches. When it comes to space, I'm a lot more about the tent width, rather than area or length.

Now... I do have three gripes about this tent:

Its 5 pole set up is a learning curve - especially when compared to Big Agnes Copper Spur which uses only 2 poles... So typically it'd take a few trials to get it. Make sure you read the set up manual [PDF] above.
Although it offers great livability with the updated 2019 model, its center height (44 inches) is still lower than most other tents - especially Big Agnes Copper Spul.
Vestibules are a little smaller than other tents in this review.

As I mentioned, the cross pole design offers wind protection for all directions and the 1200 mm durashield nylon used in the rainfly is pretty resistant against rain. I'd recommend this tent probably to 90% of you.

Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 Review

Weight: 5 lbs 3 oz
Floor area & center height: 96 x 86 in - 50 in
Packed size: 21.5 in (length) x 5 in (Dia)

If you're looking for the best lightweight, spacious, and breathable tent, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 is your choice. As long as you'll be treating it fairly gentle, I think it's the best overall for most of us.

At 5 lbs 3 oz FFW and 4 lbs 2 oz TW, body and poles are unbelievably lightweight without sacrificing the volume. At 96 in x 86 in (57 sq ft), it's the second largest floor area in this list after REI Co-op Half Dome Plus with 92 in x 92 in (58.7 sq ft).

But... when you look a little deeper... It's actually larger! Why?

Because you wouldn't like to have a tent with square floor - but a rectangular floor. When sleeping, width is much more important than length - as long as length does suffice taller people & longer mats. At 86 & 92 inches of lengths, both tents are longer than enough for this - so I'd absolutely give this tent the highest points in terms of floor space!

Besides, it has the highest center height (a whooping 50 in! thanks to its hub pole design) - so I really don't see the competition here...

Back to being lightweight, Big Agnes achieved it with lots of mesh in the tent body and DAC Featherlite poles.

At 21.5 x 5 inches, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 also has the smallest packed size in this list. Obviously this is more important if you'll take longer hikes (more than, say, 3-5 days) at least once.

The design of this tent is very simple. Big Agnes went for a classic design with a "hubbed" cross pole and a short additional pole. The walls of the tent are remarkably vertical resulting in a roomy tent. The tent body is mainly made of mesh that is great in warmer climates.

The fly only has one air vent which could be a disadvantage in higher temperatures. However, with good setup the mesh walls should be enough to prevent condensation.

For some more visuals & about hub pole design, check out this video from Big Agnes:

If you're worried about standing out with a flashy orange tent, it's also available in "olive" color that blends into the surroundings.

But, well, you have to sacrifice something in return against being this lightweight & super spacious...

If I had to say one thing I didn’t like about this tent it would be that it’s not as sturdy as Marmot Limelight 4 or REI Co-op Half Dome 4 Plus in the wind durability department. The frame is on the taller side for the simple pole structure.

For example, Marmot Limelight 4 is taller but it also has strong poles in both axes that keep the tent stable. Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 is made of very lightweight materials to achieve the incredible ultralight packing but this of course means that it shouldn’t be handled roughly.

As long as you'll be treating it fairly gentle, I think it's the best overall for most of us! I'd recommend using the tent exclusively with the footprint in order to prevent damage to the bottom of the tent.

3 Reviews

Big Agnes 2019 Copper Spur HV UL4 Backpacking Tent,...

Big Agnes

REI Co-op Half Dome 4 Plus Review

Weight: 7 lbs 1 oz
Floor area & center height: 92 x 92 in - 48 in
Packed size: 24 in (length) x 7 in (Dia)

In my opinion, this amazing tent from REI is really good! Even though it’s not lightweight it’s a comfortable and sturdy tent that you could use in almost every occasion. The 58.7 ft2 floor area is the largest on this list, and the width also creates a comfortable sleeping environment for 4 people.

Another thing REI Half Dome Plus excels at is how easy the setup is. It has hubbed poles that are color coded to make setting up easier. Besides the three main axis poles, it has this additional short middle pole that lifts the roof of the tent even higher to create extra head space. The easy setup makes this a great option for both beginners and advanced campers.

This is a hubbed pole system meaning that the four poles are attached to each other.

It also performs really well in both really hot and rainy weather. The main tent body is mainly made out 20-denier nylon mesh that lets the tent breathe. However, the bottom third of the tent is made of 40-denier nylon to increase privacy and prevent dust from entering the tent. The raincover is made of 40-denier nylon that can endure quite strong rainstorms. The raincover features lots of vents that both increase breath-ability and decrease condensation.

But remember, this is a 3 season tent (like all the others in this review) so don't use it for anything really severe...

The design of the doors on the raincover also prevent rain from entering the tent. In fact you can really tell that every single detail of this tent has been thought out. The inside is filled with mesh pockets to store your loose items, and the stakes and guylines create a very sturdy tent body.

Compared to Big Agnes or MSR Papa Hubba, this tent isn't even nearly as light or packed small. However, if you think you can sacrifice them for more durability, I'd recommend the REI Co-op Half Dome Plus 4 confidently.

*In 2018 REI discontinued to normal Half Dome and announced that only the Plus versions would be sold. These are the slightly larger and roomier alternatives to the classic.

Marmot Limelight 4 Review

Weight: 7 lbs 15 oz
Floor area & center height: 92 x 81 in - 54 in
Packed size: 27 in (length) x 9 in (Dia)

Marmot Limelight 4 is definitely not the best tent in this list in terms of size to weight ratio. It’s the heaviest with 7 lbs and 15 oz, and it has the smallest floor area. The best thing about it is its durability, weather protection and breath-ability.

However, the peak height is 54 inches - which is great! If you are camping in a cold environment or especially a storm you will have to spend lots of time in the tent. The build of the poles creates vertical walls and roomy head space that creates a very comfortable environment for playing cards, eating, hanging out etc.

The poles at the corners bend in a way that creates vertical walls and a large head space.

What I really like about this tent is the simplicity of the design. You can tell that the pole system is nothing super complicated and it is even made easier by the color coded system. The shorter two grey poles increase the head space greatly.

I also compared this tent to Marmot Tungsten

They're 3P models though... Check it out here. But the info there is still applicable to 4P.

The inside also has four corner pockets for your loose items and four top pockets for easy lighting. The top features loops and hooks to attach lighting or a rack. Since this is a tall tent, attaching items in the head doesn’t become annoying. If you want to use the tent with the door fully open, there is pouch at the bottom where the door nicely folds in.

Another thing I like about the design are the D-shaped vestibules. I’ve already mentioned the importance of good vestibules and D-shape protects the gear in the vestibules from rain and is much better for ventilation. Overall you can tell that this tent they had bad weather in mind when designing this tent. The rainfly can withstand up to 1500 mm of rain which is borderline a 3+ season tent.

Depending on your perspective the flashy orange color of Marmot Limelight can be a advantage or disadvantage. On the one hand, it’s super easy to find your tent even at night or in a fog but on the other hand you certainly don’t blend into the surroundings.

The main downside of this tent is the weight. If you want a lightweight tent, Marmot Limelight 4 doesn’t even compare to Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 or MSR Papa Hubba NX. Similar to REI Half Dome Plus 4 you might want to consider this if you're looking for a halftime camping, halftime backpacking tent. Another thing I don’t like is the too large packed size at 27 x 9 inches.

However, it’s still lightweight when compared to harsher weather tents which tend to be heavier than all of these on the list.

Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 4 Review

Weight: 7 lbs 1 oz
Floor area & center height: 95 x 84 in - 51 in
Packed size: 20 in (length) x 9 in (Dia)

Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 4 is a great beginner tent that would be able to fit up to 4 people. It has everything you'd expect from a 4 person tent - but with some quality, weight and space sacrifices.

The polyester rain cover is quite durable and the aluminum poles are lightweight. The inside features lots of corner pockets and a mesh ceiling canopy for extra storage. It also has two vestibules to store gear and cook in bad weather. Of course it’s not as lightweight as Big Agnes or durable as REI Half Dome but overall still pretty good.

Mountainsmith Morrison Evo has the simplest pole structure out of the bunch with two main cross poles and small brow pole. The brow pole increases the head space but compared to the other tents with more poles that are longer, the brow pole doesn’t do much.

While the simple pole structure is a great bonus for easy setup, it’s a big minus for weather durability. The more complex cage like structures like the one from Marmot Limelight protect the tents from heavy winds. Mountainsmith Morrison Evo has good materials and seams but it wouldn’t hold up as well as the others in a rainstorm due to the structure.

Another thing to note is that this tent features less mesh than the others on this list. This would mean that it would be warmer, which could be a plus in colder nights and very uncomfortable in warmer nights.

The tent body has less mesh paneling than the others.

When you include the footprint this tent becomes 8 lbs 6 oz which is borderline too heavy. I would still take it backpacking but it doesn’t compare to Big Agnes or MSR Papa Hubba. You may choose to omit the footprint or use the tent in its fly-footprint mode (This tent also comes with this feature!).

*Mountainsmith Morrison Evo in the Fast Fly mode with only the footprint and rainfly

If you are looking for even more beginner options you might want to check out ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 4P ($140) or even Coleman Sundome ($53!). While they are inferior to the options we’ve discussed, if you are new to backpacking they are great gateway tents.

So what should you consider while looking for a 4 person tent?

Again, I know there are huge amazing 4+ person tents out there but the ones we’re focusing on in this article are the ones suited for backpacking. This means that we’ll also focus on the weight, packed size and how easy it’s to pack and set-up. The other criteria for this comparison are the capacity, comfort, seasonality, weather durability, materials and design.

First, pretty obviously...

Packed Size and Capacity

Capacity

In order to shed some extra lbs the manufacturers sacrifice tent volume. Among the tents we're comparing, REI Co-op Half Dome 4 Plus has the largest floor area and the largest tent volume.

In terms of capacity... It’s hard to say. They differ in their floor area to tent height ratios. For example, Marmot Limelight 4 has the smallest floor area but has the highest center height. This means that even though you'll be more cramped when lying down, playing cards or eating in this tent is probably more comfortable due to increased head space.

If you're looking for a 3 person backpacking tent, check out my top picks here.

I gave the separate dimensions and the overall floor area in the comparison chart in this post. All of these should fit even the tallest of people. Still, I think my tips to sleeping comfortably inside a tent would be a good read for any 4 people going to sleep inside a tent together. If it's winter, you can also take a look at my tips to heating a tent without electricity.

Watch out for the floor dimensions especially when packing your mats! You might not be able to fit 4 large sleeping mats in some of these tents. Also if you're looking for good air mattresses to pair with your tent, my other article about air mattresses can also be a good read...

Packed Size

Another thing to consider in the size category is the packed size. At only 21.5 x 5 inches, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 wins this round which is a great plus for long/thru hikes longer than 3-5 days. On the opposite end, Marmot Limelight 4 is packed pretty big at 27 x 9 inches. You could (should) split this tent between with your friends to make it easier to carry.

Weight

Weight is another top priority for me when backpacking. All of these tents are pretty good in the weight department and you could take any one of them on a long trip. However, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 4 is by far the best in this category with only 5lbs 3oz.

To me, considering that this tent is not cramped either, this is nuts. MSR Papa Hubba NX is a close second with only 5lbs 15oz but it’s a bit smaller in volume compared to Big Agnes, so... not a very reasonable comparison.

I listed multiple weights for some of the products in the comparison chart at the bottom of this post.

What's TW and FFW?

"TW" stands for trail weight, which is different from the packaged weight. Trail weight only includes the "FFW" stands for Fast Fly Weight which is a more minimalist option that includes only the footprint, poles, stakes and the fly.

Yeah, FFW is more uncomfortable than using the actual tent, but I'd prefer this way for longer hikes or in any other condition I'd like a lighter pack. I REALLY like that MSR Papa Hubba NX can also be used with a Fast & Light base as a more minimalist option.

This base is sold separately and offers more protection than using just the footprint though... But if you’re like me and interested in a more minimalist shelter option, definitely check that out.

Seasonality and Weather Durability

I'm all about the 3 season tents here. If you're unaware about it, it means that they can withstand rainfalls and light snow but they aren’t designed for anything more severe. 3 season tents are usually lighter and roomier than 3+ and 4 season tents. Since I'm about backpacking tents here, this criteria is more important.

When trying to heat up a tent, the size becomes an issue. From comfort perspective, it’s great that REI Half Dome Plus and Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 are roomy, but if there's only 2 of you inside it, warming it up becomes a headache in colder nights.

When you’re camping in cold and/or humid environments often condensation buildup on the inside of your tents and raincovers. This is because the warmth your body and breath produce a warm air inside the tent that turns to liquid when it touches the cold tent body. This may then turn into ice or create a pseudo-rain in the inside of your tent.

It’s important for tents to have lots of ventilation and flaps on the fly of the tent. This creates a way for the warm air to escape without condensing. You can read about this under ventilation heading of this post of mine (it's the review of MSR Elixir 3).

REI Half Dome Plus has great flaps that create ventilation without letting in the air. In fact, having good ventilation was one of my main criteria when choosing these tents, so all of them are pretty good in that aspect.

In order to prevent condensation, make full use of the ventilation systems. Also check out this video from MSR on condensation & how to prevent it:

if I were to camp in foul weather as much as in better 3 seasons, due to its complex pole structure and thick rainfly (can withstand up to 1500 mm rain!) Marmot Limelight 4 could be a good choice.

PAPA saves you too!

The complex pole structure and raincover of MSR Papa Hubba NX makes it a GREAT choice for bad weather.

On the contrary, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 has a very tall frame and thin materials to keep the weight low, but these factors decrease its weather durability. Mountainsmith Morrison Evo also has a simple pole structure and in general lower quality stitching which results in lower performance in bad weather. Just like in other cases REI Half Dome Plus does pretty well in bad weather with a 40 denier raincover.

What is “denier”?

Denier is a thickness measurement in fabrics with fibers. Higher the denier number, higher the durability; but less breath-ability and softness.

Comfort and Design

IMO, having two vestibules is a great advantage. When I'm with large groups, I like using one vestibule as a storage space to keep our packs dry and the other for entrance & cooking. In good weather this not that important since you will probably be doing the cooking outside but in bad weather being able to cook in the vestibule area is a life saver.

While all of these tents are actually on the small side for 4-person tents, they have 2 vestibules that increase storage space.

At first hubbed poles may look strange or confusing but they are definitely the easier option. They save you the time it takes to figure out which pole is meant to go into which axis. Some designs have also got rid of this problem with color coded poles. If MSR Papa Hubba didn’t have these, most people would take at least half an hour to set it up! You’ll also notice that all of these tents have pole clips instead of the traditional pole sleeves. Tents with pole clips are much easier to setup and especially when the temperature drops below freezing much easier to disassemble. I’ve had so many instances where the pole and sleeve froze together and it was impossible to separate them. Mountainsmith Morrison Evo is especially easy to setup and is great for people without any camping experience.

I know color/beauty usually isn’t anyone's main concern when choosing a tent but... it’s still a factor to consider. Marmot Limelight 4 comes in a very bright orange color. If you don’t like to attract attention then this may become annoying but it certainly is a plus when you are trying to spot your tent from a distance.

My favorites in the color aspect are REI Half Dome and MSR Papa Hubba NX which both have a reddish interior and a whitish rainfly. The white rainfly creates a natural light in the tent when you are inside during daylight. Whereas a bright orange makes everyone and everything inside look very orange.

Big Agnes Copper Spur is sold in orange and olive to give people options and Mountainsmith Morrison Evo comes in a grey-green that blends right into the surroundings.

The white rainfly creates natural lighting inside the tent.

To me, MSR Papa Hubba NX looks the prettiest:

Conclusion

My top 4P tent picks are (from best to worst):

To me, best one is MSR Papa Hubba NX since it's at the sweet spot of all weight, durability, weather resistance, packed size and inner volume. [PDF Manual]
Although it's even better than Papa Hubba, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL4 is my second choice because it's overkill for most of us... [PDF Manual]
Third is REI Co-op Half Dome 4 Plus due to its larger size, beautiful design and durability; BUT it's heavy! [PDF Manual]
Marmot Limelight 4 is the heaviest, but offers incredible durability, weather resistance and inner capacity.
Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 4 is the best choice for beginners!

I hope this review was helpful for you to understand which 4P backpacking tent is the best one for your needs. Feel free to ask me any questions, provide feedback and I'll be happy to respond in the comment section below if it's within my knowledge.

Thanks a lot for reading. Happy trails.

MSR Elixir 3 Review

Last updated: August 19, 2022 by Canberk Koksal

MSR Elixir 3 is quite popular mainly because of its livability.

Most backpackers including myself really like the ample headroom it offers - but it also is incredibly well ventilated, easy to set up and offers surprisingly well wind & rain protection for a 3-season tent although I do have some gripes which, in this post, I'll mention first in summary and then in more detail.

MSR had always marketed Elixir 3 as their most livable tent - but...

...in 2019, MSR revised Mutha Hubba NX to optimize its internal volume, and as a result, it now offers even more volume inside than MSR Elixir 3, but it's list price is $549.95 at the time of writing this article (3 Feb 2019) since you also pay for its ultralight qualities...

Check out the price of MSR Elixir 3 at REI.

Overall, it's a pretty good 3-season tent, but I wouldn't use it in severe weather. It does resist perfectly fine against spring-downpours even if you incorrectly set up on a stream path (more on this later) and it does dodge the wind well due to its shape (maybe even better than some other 4-season tents!); but it still just isn't durable, stable or waterproof enough for winter. This tent simply isn't designed for that kind of use.

If you're planning to camp specifically during winter, then I'd recommend you to check out this gear list published by TheWildGuides.

MSR updated Elixir 3 in 2018

Don't use the information in this post for the previous versions - although there isn't much of a difference. To see what's new in this most recent (2018) version, go to the bottom of this page.

Also, yes it does use a unique pole design which provides more volume inside the tent, but it comes from the increased headroom - not the floor area. Floor area of MSR Elixir 3 is still large compared to other 3P tents, but it just really isn't great for 3 big sized people to sleep inside comfortably.

That's why, if you're 3 average-big sized guys, I'd also check out either MSR Elixir 4 or MSR Zoic 3. I'd also recommend checking out my article about ways to sleep comfortably in a tent.

Table of Contents

Is ventilation really that important?

Structure

Vents and mesh fabric

Ease of setting up

Features

Weight and Size

Marmot Limelight 3P vs MSR Elixir 3

MSR Elixir 3 vs Mutha Hubba NX (2018 version)

What's new in the updated model?

References

So in this post I reviewed MSR Elixir 3 in terms of:

Space (floor & head) [Good],
Weather protection [Good for a 3-season tent],
Ventilation [Very good]
Ease of use [Very good],
Features [Good],
Weight and size [Average].

I don't like talking about durability because it's entirely up to how YOU treat it. All you need to know is that as long as you don't use it in severe weather, you'll be fine using ALL 3-season MSR tents.

In summary, I like it because it's easy to set up and incredibly well ventilated. Despite being a 3-season tent it resists surprisingly well against rain (as long as it isn't severe). Dome-shaped design allow ample headroom and better wind protection. Floor area, though, can be too small for 3 big sized people to sleep inside comfortably. If you aren't an ultralighter (and don't want to pay extra 100's of bucks to lightweight qualities!) and you don't camp in severe weather this is probably the tent for you.

SALE

146 Reviews

MSR Elixir 3-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent

Unique pole geometry maximizes space and provides...
Tent body mesh and solid fabric panels provide the...
Tent can be set up with just the rainfly and...
Freestanding system features color coded poles,...
Supremely livable design includes large...

Also, this most recent 2018 version comes with the footprint - which you'll get anyway unless you already have another one. Plus, this one fills beneath the entire tent floor very well (more on this later).

Other than that, it's a full package includes the following:

Frame assembly,
Tent body,
Rain-fly,
Guy lines,
Stakes,
Footprint.

Space (Floor & Head)

Floor Space

Floor space is 68 inches (1.72 m) x 84 inches (2.13 m), which sums up to 39.5 square feet (3.67 square meters).

After MSR Zoic 3, it's the second most spacious (in terms of floor space) backpacking tent by MSR. Combine it with headroom and ventilation, you see why they label Elixir Series as "most livable MSR tent". It also feels roomier than its dimensions.

If you're planning to fit 3 sleeping pads inside, you might better consider these dimensions - especially the length. There's nothing wrong if they overlap width-wise! Also, I reviewed best air mattresses for camping too, so it can be a good read if you're looking for buying one.

Regardless, if you think the space this tent allows is enough for you, but you think you might need more space during some activities other than backpacking, you can check out MSR Gear Shed which is compatible with MSR Elixir and Hubba Series only.

Headroom

Judging from the stance of all the other 3P tents, headroom of MSR Elixie 3 is better than its floor space - because it uses a new pole design (more on this later under the setting-up heading).

Mutha Hubba sketch belongs to its 2018 version - not 2019.

As you see, it's shaped more like a dome and less like a skyscraper. In the end, high ceiling is spread to more space, and hence 3 people can sit inside more easily. Although 3 people wouldn't sleep inside very comfortably due to not-so-generous floor space, they can sit there perfectly fine.

Ceiling height at the center of this tent is 41 inches (1.04 meters). For an average sized male, it looks like this:

All these numbers add up to 63 cubic feet (1784 liters) of tent volume. In Zoic 3, this number is 102 cu. ft - which is almost TWICE.

But more volume isn't better in every condition. Which brings me to my next point...

Weather protection

Although Elixir Series are 3 season tents, they resist surprisingly well against rain and wind.

Rain

Floor fabric is made of 70D taffeta nylon 3000mm polyurethane (& DWR coating for extra waterproofing) which is superior than rain-fly's 68D ripstop polyester 1500mm Polyurethane (& DWR coating for extra waterproofing).

If you'd like to read more about DWR and waterproofing

You can check my post about Arcteryx jackets. I mentioned them more there and same things are applicable to tents as well.

But, don't let the advertisements and commercial content deceive you. Waterproofing isn't black and white - some fabrics are more waterproof than others and vice versa.

But more importantly, there is no fabric out there with 100% waterproofing. With enough time and amount, water can and will penetrate through each and every type of fabric.

Overall, in terms of being waterproof, fabrics of Elixir 3 is superior than most other 3 season tents, but not the best one out there. Structure, though, is what makes a noticeable difference and is better than more 3-season tents in the market.

The fabric that attaches the floor fabric to body fabric at the floor borders is designed like a "bathtub" style - meaning that the floor fabric is attached higher to the body. So the floor fabric of this tent gets in contact with the terrain less than other tents, and is also more protected from water splashes.

Combined with the included large footprint beneath the entire tent floor, if you encounter an unexpected rain or put your tent on the path of a stream incorrectly, you'll most likely be fine (as long as it isn't anything severe). The stream won't be able to get inside the tent due to this "bathtub" design.

In summary, unless you'll be camping under heavy rain, you probably won't experience any problems.

Wind

4 guy lines are included with this most recent 2018 version, which you can use to tighten the tent and make it more stable against wind. But you can do this in every tent, so it isn't really a big plus.

The big plus is its structure:

Mutha Hubba sketch belongs to its 2018 version - not 2019.

Due to the dome-shaped design of Elixir 3, the body isn't going to be exposed perpendicularly to the wind. That's why the wind will be more prone to slip above the tent rather than striking into the body of skyscraper-shaped designs (like Mutha Hubba).

This way the DWR coating of the body fabric will also last longer.

Cold weather

Protecting from cold is less about the tent and more about you - but Elixir has less mesh on the body fabric as I explained above, so it's more on the warmth side of the fence than ventilation.

Also, I made a post about most effective ways to heat a tent, and it can be a good read if you'll be camping in cold - whether you buy this tent or any other.

Ventilation

When the rain-fly isn't in use and when any doors or vent channels aren't opened, ventilation of all tents is determined by the ratio of mesh fabric used in the body. Generally speaking, more mesh fabric means more ventilation but less privacy and warmth inside the tent.

However... Elixir 3 manages to offer incredible ventilation without compromising privacy or warmth. Let's see how.

Is ventilation really that important?

Ventilation is very important in tent design and if you don't consider it when buying one, you probably should. It's important not only because you'll have more breeze when it's too hot, but also because it'll reduce condensation.

You don't want condensation because it'll reduce the life of your tent. When it happens, you'll have to dry your tent more often to avoid mildew as well as to avoid getting the inside of your backpack and your other items wet.

Believe me when I say this can ruin your entire outdoors experience very easily...

That said... Condensation is a fact of physics and in some conditions, it WILL happen no matter what you do. You should be focused on reducing it as much as possible, and your tent should be designed in a way to direct it to most harmless regions of the tent.

However, when it's very humid outside (say, when it rains), more ventilation can cause more condensation.

To minimize condensation as much as possible you should:

Vent more often,
When setting up, orient your tent in a way to leverage the breeze more,
Dry the tent more often,
Leave damp items outside.

However, tent design also determines ventilation. Generally speaking, ventilation increases with more mesh and less solid fabric use (in addition to extra features such as fly vents and other air entrances to the body).

As I already mentioned, Elixir 3 does have fly vents and two large doors, which is good for ventilation. So let's look at the body structure, vents and mesh fabric.

Structure

As you might already know, warm air molecules go up and cold air molecules go down. This is why heaters are located at the floor level and air conditioners at the ceiling level in your home, and most tents leverage this principle.

This design directs the humid air (and hence condensation) to the lower edges of rain-fly. So it's normal to see these areas wet and it doesn't mean tent is leaking or something. Just remember drying it to avoid mildew.

Vents and mesh fabric

You get A LOT of ventilation channels with this tent. When you're not using the rain-fly, you have huge mesh fabric on the two walls without the doors:

There's mesh fabric at the top as well.

These mesh structures offer enough ventilation. Another thing I like about them is that they allow you to see what you have in the tent pockets from outside. This way you don't forget anything there when packing it away.

When you have the rain-fly over, you also get two "fly vents" at the top (opened by pulling the fly down), which isn't available in most other tents and is great for reducing condensation when you have the rain-fly for extra privacy, weather protection or something else.

Also, regular tears (due to condensation or not) aren't covered under MSR warranty. If you want to increase the durability of your tent, don't want to pay extra for repairs by customer service and be able to DIY field repairs to increase your overall outdoors experience before it ends, you can also get mesh repair kit and fabric repair kit.

There's also a pole repair kit, but I'll mention it later.

Ease of setting up

To me, this is the biggest advantage of this tent - especially after the 2018 update when they added glow-in-the-dark internal zips.

Within MSR tents, Elixir has one of the easiest to set up method along with Hubba Series. I really like the color coding as it makes everything much easier especially for beginners.

Here's the quick 4 step guide:

Click on image to enlarge.

Step 4.1 (aligning the rain-fly midpoint to ridge pole) is often overlooked, but is important if you don't want to repeat the next step. Also, attaching the Velcro inside the rain fly to the tent poles before progressing to step 4.2 will make everything easier.

Features

There are 2 doors, 2 vestibules (when the rain-fly is attached) and 3 internal pockets.

Locations of pockets. They're offer ample room and like I said earlier, being able to see them from outside (due to mesh) is what I really like about them.

Attic gear loft looks like this:

Weight and Size

At 7 lbs 1 oz (3.19 kg) and 20 (Length) x 8 (DIA) in (51 x 20 cm) packed size, although still quite light and compact, Elixir Series definitely aren't one of the lightest or most compact tents out there.

If you're going on a backpacking trip for more than nearly 10 days or if space is just too important for you, you might want to consider another tent such as Mutha Hubba.

Other than that, if you know how to pack a tent in your backpack, you should be perfectly fine with Elixir 3.

Marmot Limelight 3P vs MSR Elixir 3

Both are 3-season backpacking tents at around the same price ballpark and hence are compared to one another often.

The only advantage of Limelight 3P to Elixir 3 is that it's more roomy when you judge from the dimensions. But let's take a closer look.

Lengthwise, at 90 inches, it's 6 inches longer than Elixir 3 - which seems like a plus especially if you'll be storing a lot of gear inside - but Elixir comes with an attic gear loft and 2 large mesh pockets hanging from 2 walls. Limelight doesn't offer a gear loft at the top (sold separately) but 4 smaller pockets at each corner (plus 6 inches of extra floor length, as mentioned).

So I call this a draw, but would like to add that being organized on the trail always worth it. That's why I personally like Elixir a little more for that matter.

In terms of ceiling height, it's 48 inches, which is 7 inches higher than Elixir 3 - but remember, Elixir 3's pole design spreads high ceiling to more floor space and hence 3 people can sit inside more easily.

Limelight 3P is also around half a pound lighter, but that's less than 10% of tent weight, so shouldn't be important for most of you.

In terms of durability, weather/wind resistance, ease of setting up, packed size and ventilation; Elixir 3 is the winner.

If you'd like to read more, I reviewed Limelight and Tungsten 3P too. But, in short, I really don't see why would anyone go for Limelight 3P instead of MSR Elixir 3.

MSR Elixir 3 vs Mutha Hubba NX (2018 version)

Think of Mutha Hubba like a cheetah and Elixir 3 like a lion.

That's all I have to say about that...

Back to being serious, Mutha Hubba NX and Elixir 3 have a lot in common:

Both are 3 seasons,
Both offer 2 doors & 2 vestibules and similar space inside,
Both are freestanding,
Both offer amazing ventilation.

The most important difference is that at 4.8 lbs and 21 x 7 in packed size, Mutha Hubba is a lot (2.3 lbs!) lighter and slightly more compact. The sacrifice comes with being this light is that it's less durable than Elixir 3.

This is Mutha Hubba 2018 - NOT 2019.

Advantages of Elixir 3, besides extra durability, is that first, it's easier to set up. Second, the dome-shaped design dodges the wind better than Mutha Hubba and allows more headroom inside.

Both tents have a lot in common (I'd say, 60%). If you're going on a longer trip (more than a week) or if weight is more important than durability, ease of use & headroom to you; you'd probably better go after Mutha Hubba NX (2018 version). For all the other folks, I'd recommend MSR Elixir 3.

Review of Mutha Hubba 2019 coming soon!

What's new in the updated model?

Here you can see the updates to the previous Elixir 3:

I hope this review was helpful for you to understand whether MSR Elixir 3 is for your needs or not. Feel free to ask me any questions, provide feedback and I'll be happy to respond in the comment section below if it's within my knowledge.

Thanks a lot for reading. Happy trails.

Marmot Limelight vs Tungsten

Last updated: May 17, 2020 by Canberk Koksal

Quick summary

While both tents are rated for two people to camp comfortably and three people to camp not-so-comfortably during three seasons, the clear winner is the Limelight 3P as it had more bells and whistles included with it, such as the gear loft, more head & floor space, well thought out entrances and higher solid wall design for more warmth and privacy.

It's better suited to extended-stay, static campers because of the extra features and added privacy.

Its biggest downside is that although the floor space is 1 square feet larger than the Tungsten, it's still too tight for 3 adults unless they're very skinny and/or are OK with sleeping inside the tent without moving.

So overall, Limelight 3P is a superior tent with more features, however, if you’re an infrequent or inexperienced, fair-weather camper; the Tungsten 3P will suit you just fine.

Also, you'll have a breeze of a time setting up & packing away both tents quickly and easily.

Overview

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	Limelight 3P	Tungsten 3P
Overall Score	89/100	83/100
	Limelight 3P	Tungsten 3P
Pros	More head AND floor space, great gear loft, more warmth and privacy, easy set up, much larger doors	Easy set up, better ventilation
Cons	Not the best for 3 people, 1 lbs heavier than Tungsten	Even worse for 3 people!, no gear loft, more mesh walls cause less privacy
	Limelight 3P	Tungsten 3P
Best for	More serious, extended campers	Beginners

Both tents are rated for three seasons, but the Limelight has the edge over the Tungsten, which could be a bit chilly in the autumn months due to the higher percentage of mesh in the tent walls. The Limelight offers a gear loft while the Tungsten does not. The Tungsten offers two large doors, while the Limelight has one very large and one large door.

Why did you choose to compare the 3P versions of these tents?

Because 2 person versions are considerably inferior to 3p and 4p and much smaller; while the 4p versions cause a little too much of a hassle like the difficulty to pack along, weight, size etc - without providing any worthwhile extra benefits. To us, 3P versions are the best of both models.

Different volumes mean different products. DO NOT use the information given in this post to decide between 2p or 4p versions of these tents.

The Limelight and the Tungsten each feature zone construction, which Marmot has achieved through the pre-bent poles and strategically placed clips, used to create almost vertical wall construction and offer more headroom. Both tents come complete with all you could need to set up camp including stakes, guy lines and storage bags. However, we think that sturdier stakes and reflective guy lines would be a wise purchase before you set out.

Backpackers find the Limelight and Tungsten easy to carry for a single person but also offer tips on splitting up the tents between two or three people to lighten the load. Because both tents compress into reasonably sized drawstring bags, they are ideal to pack as standard gear in a truck, van, car, boat or motorcycle.

Buying tents online?

We've been buying tents online for years and never had any problems. Before you buy, do make sure to check the seller's return policy, but you can almost always return an unused tent within a certain time frame and you're good. If you don't dig it after trying at home, you can always return!

Both models tick all the must-have boxes for backpackers as they are easy to pack along & setup. Same with long-trekkers, who find setup and tear down quick and easy thanks to the pole and clip design, with color coding on every component so the tent is the same every time. Static campers like festival campers or long-term visitors will find the three-season rating and spacious design very comfortable for extended camping.

Marmot Limelight 3P Quick Review

Footprint, headlamp pocket and gear loft are included and the size is generous for two, cozy for three.

Pros

The Limelight 3P features a simple design and durable waterproof construction. The pre-bent poles and clips make setup and tear down easy and fast for even a single person. The large d-shaped doors on two sides allow for quick, private accesses.

Thanks to the generous ventilation, condensation isn’t a concern. The full-coverage rain-fly offers two vestibules for additional storage. A bathtub-style or u-shaped floor keeps water out even on hard ground.

Cons

For backpacking, the Limelight is a bit heavy at almost 7 lbs with the footprint. The interior space is very tight when shared by three people although it's still 1 sq feet larger than Tungsten. While perfect for spring, summer and autumn; the Limelight isn't going to be warm enough for winter camping, and is rated appropriate for three seasons. The bagged tent is a bit bulky because of the pre-bent poles. The included stakes aren’t very strong, though others can easily be purchased separately.

170 Reviews

MARMOT Limelight 3P

Marmot Limelight 3 Person Tent Cinder Rust

Marmot Tungsten 3P Quick Review

Compared to other tents that angle to the center, the Tungsten 3P offers much more room - although it's identical to that of Limelight 3P's.

Pros

Easy to set up and fully color coded, the Tungsten 3P is ideal for two to three campers. The headroom is generous at 46 inches thanks to the zone construction, which makes the walls almost vertical.

Ventilation system in the fly prevents condensation without a hitch. Two entrances are the utmost in convenience and airflow on hot nights. A waterproof footprint is included but may be left behind if desired to reduce weight. A bathtub-style or u-shaped floor keeps water out even on hard ground. A headlamp pocket is built-in as are four storage pockets in all corners.

Cons

Some may consider it a bit heavy for a backpacking tent at over 6 lbs. (2850 g). The interior space may not be entirely comfortable for three people, and measurements should be taken if sleeping pads or cots are being used. There is no gear loft included, just straps for one sold separately. The sidewalls have a high percentage of mesh, which may not be suitable for cooler weather and offer little privacy. Headroom is adequate, but not generous when standing to dress or get a view of the horizon.

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Table of Contents

Quick summary

Overview

Marmot Limelight 3P Quick Review

Pros

Cons

Marmot Tungsten 3P Quick Review

Ease of Use

Ease of Set-up

The Limelight 3P features a pre-bent pole and clip setup, a system that has been well thought out by Marmot designers. The three poles press-fit together to make two long poles for the structure and one short pole, which is called the “brow” pole. After laying out the two longer poles in an X shape across the center of the tent just clip the seams to the poles and fit the ends into the corner grommets. Place the brow pole over the two main poles where they cross, clipping it in place. The rain fly is added by matching up the color-coded tapes to the pitch clips and staking it down to create the vestibules over each door. From footprint to fly, it will only take one person an average of ten minutes to set up the Limelight.

Here is the manual to set-up the Limelight and here's the video by Marmot:

Setup for the Marmot Tungsten 3P model is similar to the Limelight 3P model, with pre-bent poles that are color coded to the tent body and clips. The three poles press-fit together with a tension cord inside for a durable structure. By crossing the two longest over the tent in an X shape, the tent is easily and quickly set up by clipping the tent to the poles. The brow pole is then placed in the grommets on the canopy. Finally, the rain fly is secured with a similar clip system and staked with guy lines to the ground until taunt:

Ease of Packing Away

Packing the Limelight 3P back up is almost as fast as setup. Just remove the vestibule stakes and corner stakes then the poles, unhook the tent clips and break the poles back down, that’s it. Fold the tent to the width of the included bag, and break the poles down, placing them in their own bag. Then just roll the tent up up with the pole bag and rain fly tucked inside.

With a little compression, the whole thing stows nicely back in the drawstring bag (bottom right) and ready for the next trip.

To pack the Tungsten 3P, remove the stakes and guy lines and fold up the rain fly. Remove the tent poles and disengage them by pulling on each section to loosen the cord. By folding the tent to the same length as the bag and then rolling the accessories, a little compression will get it to fit easily into the included drawstring bag (identical to that of Limelight 3P).

Versatility

Weather Resistance

The Limelight has been designed to withstand wind and rain as a three-season tent. The floor of the tent and the rain fly are waterproof, including durably taped seams and special fabric used in the construction. The tent itself is constructed with a u-shaped floor to wall design, which keeps out water even on hard ground. A free footprint is included, which almost seems redundant due to the waterproofing of the tent floor itself, but it’s a nice insurance policy against a wet floor. With use of all six stakes and corner guy lines as advised in the instructions, heavy winds are also not a problem for the Limelight to withstand easily.

Being waterproof is NOT black and white!

Some tents are more waterproof than others and vice versa.

In our case, both tents are at 1500 F/R (=a unit used to measure the waterproofness of a fabric) which means the fabric will withstand a 1500 mm (5 feet) column of water for more than one minute before a single drop will soak through it. In English, it means they're strong enough to prevent rain from leaking in a 75 mph hurricane-force storm - which is great BUT still not enough for winter camping in most cases! When tents are proved to be higher than 1500 F/R they're rated 4 season - which is why both tents in this review are 3 season. Most tents are between 800-1500 F/R - but pro tents such as those of Terra Nova's can go as high as 7000mm!

So although these tents provide great water resistance, it mostly comes insufficient winter camping. If you still insist to use them during winter though, just make sure you know how to heat a tent without electricity and do think of investing a rain fly such as below:

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Condensation can be a problem in any tent without proper ventilation. Fortunately, the Limelight has vents in the fly as well as the upper walls of the tent and ceiling. This allows for plenty of airflow, even during rainstorms when the cover is on. Accessible from inside or outside the tent, the fly ventilation system can be adjusted quickly and quietly any time of day or night. The solid material that goes halfway up from the bottom of the tent provides plenty of privacy while also blocking cool evening breezes from making it too cold in the tent. By day, keep the rain fly in place to limit the sun’s impact on the temperature in the tent.

Rated for the three seasons of spring, summer and autumn, the Tungsten offers high waterproof fabric throughout the tent, rain fly and footprint. The rain fly itself offers full coverage over the tent canopy, complete with securely taped seams. The floor of the Tungsten is cleverly created to keep out water, thanks to its U-shaped construction. Of course, all seams are taped for ultimate water resistance. The dome shape of the Tungsten prevents issues when winds kick up by making it aerodynamic.

Most tent campers worry about condensation, but Marmot has thought of that for Tungsten too. Its rain fly is equipped with vents to lessen the chance that condensation will happen inside the tent. The tent itself has a high percentage of mesh, which allows for airflow to prevent condensation. The airflow also makes the Tungsten more comfortable during warm or hot weather. To keep the heat of the sun off the tent, use the rain fly during the day and remove it at night to catch a cool breeze.

Design

Featuring a d-shaped double door on one side and slightly smaller d-shaped door on the back, the Limelight 3P allows for easy exit and entrance from both sides. This is a great feature for light sleepers, as nobody has to be stepped over for middle-of-the-night trips outside. The larger door can be zipped up or down from either side, or even folded out of the way into a side pouch for easy access. The footprint is made of the same tough, highly waterproof material as the tent floor itself. Also included was a mesh gear loft, providing an inventory with a quick glance overhead.

Larger front door of Limelight 3P is zip-opened from both sides and stuffed inside its own pocket in the middle. Its smaller back door is zipped the same way Tungsten 3P does.

The Tungsten 3P features two generously sized, d-shaped doors that zip from the sides, both with vestibules courtesy of the rain-fly. The zone construction offers greater living space because of the nearly vertical wall shape. The tent itself has a high percentage of mesh, which is excellent in hot weather to offer cooling breezes for all sleepers. Cleverly shaped like a U, the floor is constructed to keep water out, even if you’re camped on hard ground. You get the same footprint with the Tungsten 3P too.

This is how the front and rear doors of Tungsten 3P are zipped and unzipped.

Carriage

Easy for a single hiker to take along, the Limelight 3P only weighs around 7 lbs. total (2985 g) with the footprint included; without the footprint, its closer to 6 lbs. Packed up, the Limelight 3P is in a round drawstring bag that is 8 inches around and 22 inches long (56 x 20.3 cm).

Packed up, the Limelight 3P is in a round drawstring bag that is 8 inches around and 22 inches long (56 x 20.3 cm). You get the very same drawstring bag style with the Tungsten 3P.

Packed for transport, the Tungsten 3P is also 22 inches long and 8 inches in diameter when enclosed in the drawstring bag. The complete weight when packed is 6.5 lbs (2948 g), and gets as light as 5.1 lbs when you ditch the footprint.

Floor space

Although the floor space of Limelight 3P is 1 square feet larger than the Tungsten 3P, it's still too tight for 3 adults unless they're very skinny and/or can sleep inside the tent without moving. If you're 3 adults planning to use this tent together, make sure checking out how to sleep comfortably in a tent.

Headroom

At 48 inches high, you have 2 inches of more headroom inside Limelight 3P compared to Tungsten 3P. If you're tall, extra 2 inches makes an important difference as it makes changing your clothes much easier.

Here's how an average height person would look like sitting inside Tungsten 3P.

Pockets

There are pockets at all four corners of the Limelight 3P that are great for stashing all the necessities of tent-life. There is also a headlamp pocket in the upper corner of the tent, which was the perfect size to hold a headlamp the right way up and provide light to every corner of the tent.

A storage pocket is built in to each of the four corners at floor height in the Tungsten 3P. Though there is no gear loft, there are straps to secure one if purchased separately. A headlamp pocket is included in the inside top corner of the tent.

Vestibule

For Limelight 3P, the rain fly creates storage vestibules on the side of both d-shaped doors, which are the perfect size for storing backpacks or muddy hiking boots before you enter the tent. One vestibule is slightly smaller than the other, with one at 11.3 square feet and the other at 7.5, which extend the floor space even further.

Each entrance of Tungsten 3P features a vestibule area adding 10.6 and 7.8 square feet, respectively.

Durability

The Limelight 3P floor is made of polyester, which is treated to be both water resistant and fire retardant. The canopy and fly are also made of polyester, with a rip resistant weave and are both fire retardant, with the rain fly also treated to be water resistant. The poles are DAC material, which are lightweight yet strong and fit together with a cord system into a pre-bent shape for easy setup. All seams are taped, including those on the floor, footprint and rain fly.

The 9 mm press-fit poles of Tungsten 3P are durable and lightweight, while the nylon tent and floor fabrics are treated to be fire retardant and water resistant. The fly is polyester, meaning it won’t stretch and sag over time, and is treated for waterproof durability. The tent, rain fly and footprint can be cleaned with warm water and a sponge or with mild detergent, if necessary, and allowed to air dry.

Other Features

The Limelight is sold complete with stakes, guy lines, mesh gear loft, headlamp pocket, footprint and vented rain fly as well as carrying bags. The Limelight is small enough for backpacking and bike trips, even for a single camper, but is easily divided for sharing the load. The rain fly creates almost 19 square feet of vestibule storage space in protected areas on either side of each door. The Limelight can be cleaned with warm water and a sponge or gentle detergents and allowed to air dry out of full sun.

For Tungsten; everything is color coded, so setup is super easy to get right again and again. Marmot has created a zone construction system that provides a roomier tent, ounce-for-ounce, when compared to other three-person rated tents. The packaging includes stakes and guy wires, offering a complete setup on arrival. All seams are taped for full coverage from moisture and rain.

The floor of the tent and the footprint are the same quality, giving you more coverage if you need it, but lightening your load if you don’t. Having doors on either side provides more convenience, while the high percentage of mesh offers maximum airflow even with the doors zipped.

Conclusion

Limelight 3P is the better tent in terms of all design, weather resistance, livability and features. Both tents are very easy to pack away and set up.

If you're planning to use this tent with 3 people mostly and you'd prefer roomy vestibules and entrances with solid wall design adding to the privacy and warmth inside; you should undoubtedly go for Limelight 3P.

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However, if you're a little less serious backpacker and will use this tent mostly in a fair-weather with 2 people, Tungsten 3P will work perfectly fine.

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