MSR Elixir 3 Review

Last updated: May 14, 2025

The 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.

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.

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.

The Specs

Here is our full spec table for 3-person backpacking tents:

ModelCapacityMSRPTrail WeightPacked WeightPacked Size (in)Floor Dimensions (in)Floor Area (sq ft)Vestibule Area (sq ft)Peak Height (in)DoorsRainfly FabricFloor Fabric
Big Agnes Blacktail 22$249.955 lb5 lb 8oz21 x 790 x 52 3318422Recycled 75D polyester (1500mm)Recycled 75D polyester (1500mm)
Big Agnes Blacktail 33$299.955 lb 10oz6 lb 2oz22 x 790 x 70 4418442Recycled 75D polyester (1500mm)Recycled 75D polyester (1500mm)
Big Agnes Blacktail 44$349.957lb 12oz8 lb 4oz22 x 890 x 966022502Recycled 75D polyester (1500mm)Recycled 75D polyester (1500mm)
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL11$449.952 lb2 lb 6oz18 x 488 x 38 / 28 209381HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 20D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL22$549.952 lb 10oz3lb19.5 x 488 x 52 / 42 2918402HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 20D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 XL2$579.952 lb 14oz3lb 5oz22 x 696 x 54 3618412HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 20D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL33$599.953 lb 6oz3lb 13oz21 x 590 x 70 / 624118432HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 20D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 XL3$629.953 lb 9oz4lb22 x 6.596 x 724818452HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 20D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL44$799.955 lb5 lb 8oz21 x 686 x 965728502HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 20D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL55$899.956 lb 10oz7 lb 3oz23 x 686 x 1086534602HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 20D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL11$369.951 lb 11oz2 lb18 x 586 x 38 / 28205401HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 Bikepack1$399.951 lb 14oz2 lb 6oz5 x 6.5 x 1486 x 38 / 28195401HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL22$399.951 lb 14oz2 lb 4oz19 x 686 x 52 / 42 288421HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 Bikepack2$449.952 lb 2oz2 lbs 10oz5.5 x 6.5 x 1486 x 52 / 42 288421HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL11$429.951 lb 14oz2 lb 2oz17 x 5.5*86 x 38 / 28198391HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL22$479.952 lb 3oz2 lb 8oz18 x 586 x 52 / 422816392HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL33$529.952 lb 10oz2 lb 15oz5.5 x 1988 x 66 / 603816422HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)HyperBead™ 15D solution dyed ripstop (1500mm)
Black Diamond Firstlight 2P2$479.952 lb 6oz23 x 1582 x 48 x 4227.30421 NanoShield™ single-wall fabric70D polyester
Black Diamond Firstlight 3P3$529.953 lb 14 oz9 x 782 x 58 x 44330441 NanoShield™ single-wall fabric70D polyester
Bonfus Duos 2P2$739.001lb 7.7oz1 lb 11.5 oz13 x 6110 x 4534.3185020.75oz Dyneema® Composite Fabric (20 000mm)1.2oz 20D Silpoly
Durston X-Mid 11$2391lb 12.5oz12 x 593 x 3321.310.247"115D Sil/PE Polyester 3500mm15D Sil/PE Polyester 3500mm
Durston X-Mid 22$2742lb 2oz12 x 692 x 5233.22348215D Sil/PE Polyester 3500mm15D Sil/PE Polyester 3500mm
Gossamer Gear The One1$255.001 lb 2.7 oz10 x 583 x 33 / 211810541Custom 10D Nylon Ripstop (1800mm)Custom 10D Nylon Ripstop (1800mm)
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 11$599.001 lb 3.5oz8.5 x 5.596 x 322111541.51oz Dyneema® Composite Fabric (8 000mm)1.0oz Dyneema® Composite Fabric (10 000mm)
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2P2$699.001 lb 10.7oz8.5 x 690 x 482815482.51oz Dyneema® Composite Fabric (8 000mm).8oz Dyneema® Composite Fabric (8 000mm)
Lightheart Gear Duo 2$340.002 lb 11.5oz100 x 5538.2451.4 oz/sq yd 30 D ripstop nylon 66 (3500mm)1.4 oz/sq yd 30 D ripstop nylon 66 (3500mm)
Lightheart Gear FireFly 1P1$315.001 lb 15.7oz105 x 55 / 3026.83.754511.4 oz/sq yd 30 D ripstop nylon 66 (3500mm)1.4 oz/sq yd 30 D ripstop nylon 66 (3500mm)
Marmot Limelight 2 w/footprint2$299.004 lbs 15.4 oz5 lbs 15.9 oz5.5 x 24.485 x 55 / 4334.417.243268-denier polyester ripstop (1200mm)68-denier polyester taffeta (2000mm)
Marmot Limelight 3 w/footprint3$359.005 lbs 14.9 oz7 lbs 1.9 oz6.3 x 24.4 88 x 70 /6445.221.445268-denier polyester ripstop (1200mm)68-denier polyester taffeta (2000mm)
Marmot Limelight UL 22$479.002 lbs 14.9 oz3 lbs 3.9 oz6.7 x 19.7 86.6 x 49.2 31.26.445.32 20-denier polyester ripstop (1200mm)68-denier polyester taffeta (2000mm)
Marmot Limelight UL 33$549.003 lbs 4.8 oz3 lbs 9.3 oz20.5 x 7.188.6 x 65.740.96.446.52 20-denier polyester ripstop (1200mm)68-denier polyester taffeta (2000mm)
Marmot Tungsten 11$219.003 lb 9.1 oz4 lbs 0.5 oz18 x 5.584 x 38 / 2919.48.638168D Polyester, Ripstop68D Polyester, Taffeta
Marmot Tungsten 22$249.004 lb 15.7 oz5 lbs 4 oz 25 x 688 x 54 / 46301642268D Polyester, Ripstop68D Polyester, Taffeta
Marmot Tungsten 33$299.006 lb7 lb 1 oz23 x 790 x 6640.918.346268D Polyester, Ripstop68D Polyester, Taffeta
Marmot Tungsten 44$399.007 lb 15 oz9 lb 4 oz25 x 893 x 8252.736.652.8268D Polyester, Ripstop68D Polyester, Taffeta
MSR Access 11$679.953 lb3 lb 8 oz18 x 684 x 3319940120D ripstop nylon Xtreme Shield™ (1200mm)30D ripstop nylon Xtreme Shield™ (3000mm)
MSR Access 22$799.953 lb 10 oz4 lb 1 oz18 x 684 x 502917.542220D ripstop nylon Xtreme Shield™ (1200mm)30D ripstop nylon Xtreme Shield™ (3000mm)
MSR Elixir 11$269.954 lb 1 oz5 lb 2 oz19 x 5.588 x 3018839175D ripstop poly (1500mm)75D taffeta poly (3000mm)
MSR Elixir 22$319.955 lb 2 oz6 lb 3 oz20 x 6.584 x 52301541275D ripstop poly (1500mm)75D taffeta poly (3000mm)
MSR Elixir 33$379.956 lb 1 oz7 lb 2 oz21 x 7.584 x 70411543275D ripstop poly (1500mm)75D taffeta poly (3000mm)
MSR Elixir 44$489.958 lb 3 oz9 lb 4 oz22 x 7.590 x 88551648275D ripstop poly (1500mm)75D taffeta poly (3000mm)
MSR Freelite 11$434.951 lb 10 oz1 lb 15 oz18 x 487 x 3320839115D ripstop nylon Durashield™ (1200mm)15D ripstop nylon Durashield™ (1200mm)
MSR Freelite 22$464.952 lb2 lb 5 oz18 x 4.584 x 50291539215D ripstop nylon Durashield™ (1200mm)15D ripstop nylon Durashield™ (1200mm)
MSR Freelite 33$559.952 lb 6 oz2 lb 11 oz19 x 584 x 6638.51543215D ripstop nylon Durashield™ (1200mm)15D ripstop nylon Durashield™ (1200mm)
MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack 11$499.952 lb 1 oz2 lb 13 oz14 x 6.5 x 4.585 x 3018938120D ripstop nylon (1200mm)20D ripstop nylon (1200mm)
MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack 22$579.953 lb 1 oz3 lb 12 oz14.5 x 7 x 584 X 502917.542220D ripstop nylon (1200mm)20D ripstop nylon (1200mm)
MSR Hubba Hubba LT 11$469.952 lb 6 oz2 lb 11 oz18 x 5 88 x 3220839120D ripstop nylon, (1200 mm)20D ripstop nylon, (1800 mm)
MSR Hubba Hubba LT 22$549.953 lb3 lb 6 oz20 x 5.5 88 x 52321640220D ripstop nylon, (1200 mm)20D ripstop nylon, (1800 mm)
MSR Hubba Hubba LT 33$629.954 lb 6 oz4 lb 13 oz20 x 6.5 90 x 75471642220D ripstop nylon, (1200 mm)20D ripstop nylon, (1800 mm)
NEMO Aurora 22$299.954 lb 11 oz5 lb 10 oz21.5 x 8.0 x 4.0 in88 x 5332.418.444268D PU Polyester (2000 mm)75D PU Recycled Polyester (2000 mm)
NEMO Aurora 33$359.955 lb 12 oz6 lb 14 oz24.0 x 8.0 x 4.088 x 7344.618.444268D PU Polyester (2000 mm)75D PU Recycled Polyester (2000 mm)
NEMO Dagger OSMO 22$499.953 lb 5 oz3 lb 15 oz20 x 6.5 x 3.5 88 x 50 30.624.2432OSMO™ Ripstop (1500 mm)OSMO™ Ripstop (2000 mm)
NEMO Dagger OSMO 33$579.953 lb 13 oz4 lb 7 oz20 x 7 x 3.5 88 x 70 42.824.2442OSMO™ Ripstop (1500 mm)OSMO™ Ripstop (2000 mm)
NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 11$429.952 lb 1 oz2 lb 10 oz19.5 x 3 88 x 35 / 32 20.310401OSMO™ Ripstop (1500 mm)OSMO™ Ripstop (2000 mm)
NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 22$479.952 lb 10 oz3 lb 2 oz19.5 x 3.5 The 42" 2920412OSMO™ Ripstop (1500 mm)OSMO™ Ripstop (2000 mm)
NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 33$549.953 lb 5 oz3 lb 13 oz19.5 x 4 88 x 70 / 65 41.220442OSMO™ Ripstop (1500 mm)OSMO™ Ripstop (2000 mm)
NEMO Dragonfly™ Bikepack OSMO™ 11$519.952 lb 6 oz3 lb 1 oz14.5 x 6 88 x 35 / 32 20.310401OSMO™ Ripstop (1500 mm)OSMO™ Ripstop (2000 mm)
NEMO Dragonfly™ Bikepack OSMO™ 22$579.953 lb 0 oz3 lb 13 oz14.5 x 6.5 88 x 50 / 45 2920412OSMO™ Ripstop (1500 mm)OSMO™ Ripstop (2000 mm)
NEMO Hornet ELITE OSMO 11$549.951 lb 7 oz1 lb 13 oz19 x 4 x 2 87 x 40 / 32 21.86.9391OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop (1200mm)OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop (1200mm)
NEMO Hornet ELITE OSMO 22$649.951 lb 11 oz2 lb 1 oz9 x 4 x 2 85 x 50 / 42 27.312.4372OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop (1200mm)OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop (1200mm)
NEMO Hornet OSMO 11$399.951 lb 13 oz2 lb 4 oz 12.5 x 7.5 x 3 87 x 39 / 3020.67.3391OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop (1200mm)OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop (1500mm)
NEMO Hornet OSMO 22$429.952 lb 1 oz2 lb 8 oz12.5 x 7.5 x 3.5 85 x 51 / 43 27.714.2392OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop (1200mm)OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop (1500mm)
NEMO Hornet OSMO 33$529.952 lb 13 oz3 lb 5 oz 17.5 x 8 x 3.5 88 x 68 / 62 39.717.2442OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop (1200mm)OSMO™ poly-nylon ripstop (1500mm)
NEMO Mayfly OSMO™ 22$399.953 lb3 lb 8 oz19.5 x 6.5 x 3 85 x 52/43 27.914.2422OSMO™ Ripstop (1500 mm)PU Polyester (2000 mm)
NEMO Mayfly OSMO™ 33$459.953 lb 10 oz4 lb 1 oz18 x 6.5 x 4 88 x 68/62 39.717.2422OSMO™ Ripstop (1500 mm)PU Polyester (2000 mm)
REI Halfdome 22$299.004 lbs 10.3 oz5 lbs 12.1 oz22 x 7.3 x 7.388 x 5231.818.3440240-denier ripstop nylon (1500mm)75-denier polyester taffeta (1500mm)
REI Halfdome 2 Plus2$359.004 lbs 13.2 oz5 lbs 15.9 oz22.2 x 7.5 x 7.592 x 5635.819.442240-denier ripstop nylon (1500mm)75-denier polyester taffeta (1500mm)
REI Halfdome 33$399.005 lbs 6.76 lbs 13.727 x 7.5 x 7.590 x 7043.719.5844240-denier ripstop nylon (1500mm)75-denier polyester taffeta (1500mm)
REI Trailmade 11$179.003 lb 8oz4 lbs 12oz18 x 788 x 36229.540175-denier polyester with polyurethane coating75-denier polyester taffeta with polyurethane coating
Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo1$259.991lb 12.7oz11 x 4.590 x 48268.549120D Silicone Coated Polyester40D Silicone Coated Polyester
Slignfin 2Lite2$475.002lbs 10oz2lbs 14.2oz13 x 589 x 42 / 4028.452141215D Nylon Ripstop Sil/PU (1200mm)20D Nylon Ripstop PU (1200mm)
Tarptent Aeon Li1$569.001lb 3.2oz14 x 488 x 3018.37.64710.51oz Dyneema® composite fabric (8,000mm)1.0oz Dyneema® Composite Fabric (10 000mm)
The North Face Stormbreak 11$170.003 lb 2 oz3 lb 7 oz22 x 6 87 x 3418.1633.5168-denier polyester (3000mm)75-denier polyester (1200mm)
Zpacks Altaplex Classic1$699.001lb 3.2oz12 x 690 x 40257.2561.75 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric (8 000mm)1.0 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric (10 000mm)
Zpacks Duplex Classic (green)2$699.001 lb 7oz1 lb 8 oz13 x 790 x 4528.116.6482.75 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric1.0 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric (20 000mm)
Zpacks Duplex Lite (blue)2$669.001 lb 2oz1 lb 3 oz12 x 690 x 402516.6482.55 oz/sqyd Standard Dyneema® Composite Fabric (15 000mm).75 oz/sqyd (25.4 gsm) Dyneema® Composite Fabric (20 000mm)
Zpacks Pivot Solo1$649.001 lb 25 oz1 lb 3.5 oz12 x 6 84 x 28215.6521.75 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric (8 000mm)1.0 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric (10 000mm)

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.

The MSR Elixir 3 also comes with a footprint which is great for both protecting the floor of the tent . Plus, this one fills beneath the entire tent floor very well (more on this later). Check out our article on the best backpacking tents for other important features to consider

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). 

The Elixir 3 is one of the most spacious (in terms of floor space) backpacking tents 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

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

The MSR Elixir 3 comes with 5 guy lines, 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:


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. REI has a great article on preventing tent 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.

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 backpackyou 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.

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.

About the Author Canberk K.


Hey, what's up? Canberk here. Arc'teryx addict, gym rat, and Tame Impala fan.