Most livable backpacking tent? Review of MSR Elixir 2
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- Опубліковано 6 січ 2025
- The MSR Elixir is a fantastic tent and one that I default to whenever my adventures take me above the tree line. I originally filmed this review back in 2018 for my day job. Now that I have actually used the tent over the past two years, I decided to re-release the video with added commentary of my experiences and thoughts.
About me:
I am an outdoor instructor based in Solihull, West Midlands, actively involved in bushcraft, Forest Schools, hiking, camping and general outdoor life and sustainable living.
Website: brackenoutdoor...
Facebook: / brackenoutdoors
Instagram: / bracken_outdoors
Music: Happiness by Bensound (www.bensound.com/)
I spent ten weeks in my Elixir, kayaking in Scotland. Easy peasy set up and dismantle. It allows me to store all of my gear and access it without any trouble at all.
Nice! You probably didn't even notice the weight penalty for the added space in a kayak. Just out of interest, where did you go?
@@BrackenOutdoors I paddled around the Firth of Clyde, where I have been researching the health and welfare of the fjord. Coal migration from Hunterston Quay has invaded every nook and crannie. From Largs to opposite Dunbarton Rock, Gareloch to Loch Long, Goil, down to Castle Toward and up Loch Striven to east Kyle's of Bute to Loch Riddon down the west Kyle's to Loch Fyne, Arran and of course Bute and back to Largs. I have been inspecting the coastline in its entirety at low tide, littoral and sub littoral sand and sediment, seaweed, eel grass, sea grass, marine life and the effects of the fish farms on the eco system. I rough camped mostly where the public could not access. The MSR is the best tent to date that I have used. It would not be any good for the Sahara (where I have several years experience of) as it is the wrong type of shelter.
@@barriereid9244 sounds like an amazing job (up until you've been blown about by wind and rain for the third day straight). I've got to check out some of the coast there sometime.
A lot of people don't get that there is no piece of gear that is perfect for every situation and environment.
@@BrackenOutdoors West of Scotland coastline is superb! I live on the South Ayrshire coast myself so I, wholeheartedly, encourage you to visit! Great review of this tent! I'm SERIOUSLY considering getting into wild camping after my wife and I joined a DofE expedition, as helpers for a friend, at the Yorkshire Dales recently. Loved every minute of it!
@@dkbt1 Great to hear, wildcamping is an opportunity to see and do things that you normally wouldn't. If you'd like any help or advice give me a shout and I'll see if I can point you in the right direction.
Thanks for stopping by,
Bracken
You can set it up outta first, but you will need the groundsheet for this option. After some practice its no big deal
Yep, that is an excellent way to do it. As you say, a little awkward the first few times you set it up that way, but it gets easier with practice. It's also easier to set it up this way if you pack a dry inner separate from the wet outer (which I do recommend).
Thank you for the review and the clarity of it!!
You are the only one I managed to see having all the guylines out with this tent!! I am really worried if the Elixir 2 could actually cope with high strong winds if there are so little guylines attachments on this tent!! Also at quite odd sections imo. But you talked about it so it's awesome to hear!!
I really enjoyed your video!! Just maybe upgrade the audio so that we can hear you a bit more rather than putting the volume to it's max level! Haha
Glad you liked the review. As mentioned in the video this was partly made using very old footage where I was using a basic action camera for my filming. I have a much snazzier sound setup now with wireless lavalier mics and all.
Thanks for stopping by!
@@BrackenOutdoors wooow!!! Amazing!! I will check it out!! Nice!
thank you for your honesty. I watched a video from another you tube channel and wanted another perspective on this tent. A food for thought so I can have a better idea on.thosbstyle and brand of tent. thank you .
You're very welcome. The world is full of people promising one thing as the perfect solution for everything, it's important to be aware that there is a trade-off to everything. It's about what works best for you in your situation.
Thanks for stopping by and best of luck.
its a good tent. imho better than the hubba hubba in .areas but heavier .i see you have also adapted the guyropes .this is the elixers downfall .i tie mine on the side vents this helps alot in strong winds it adds extra strength to the poles.and keeps tension on the sides better. and also keeps the vents open .. ive pitched mine along side a hubba hubba in strong winds and i do think the elixer handles the winds alot better .atb kev
Thanks for the comment.
I think the elixir I borrowed for this video was the old version with an added guyrope package, the new version that I have I believe has the guyropes as standard.
Thanks for this really helpful review.
I'm glad you found it helpful, thanks for stopping by.
I have a hubba hubba nx and love it , I spent a month in it, going around Europe, alps etc in all sort of weather, it is bomb proof
Yep, the pack size and weight of the Hubba is great. It was always the price tag that made me hesitate, but if I had to buy again for a long distance hike I would probably go for it.
How exactly do you tie the guylines on? I'm a mom. I'm learning about this so I can take my son camping. I'm widowed but even if my husband were still alive he wouldn't know either. I'm not talking about the knots so much as the angle it's pulled to support the tent in the wind. Please and thanks for your help!
Firstly, great to hear that you are willing to learn new skills and try new things for your son to have new experiences.
Guy lines are usually pulled out straight away from the tent and tied at least a couple of steps away from the bottom of the tent. The most important part is making sure that the head of the tent stake is angled away from the guyline and tent.
Guylines add more stability, but your first priority is to select somewhere sheltered to pitch your tent.
Hope this helps and let me know if you need any more help and advice.
Thank you very much for this helpful review👍 I am about to buy one but just not very sure about the porch size. Is it really enough to cook and to use alcohol stove? I saw MSR gear shed too but both would be so heavy for backpacking I think.
Glad you liked the review. I don't see why the porch wouldn't be big enough to use even a larger Trangia. You likely wouldn't be able to (or advised to) cook with the porch zipped up but provided you've pitched the tent with either the head or foot end facing into the wind, the half of the porch that you can leave staked down offers more than enough shelter in most conditions as well as enough space to set up a decent backpacking kitchen area.
I have never felt the need for the additional space that the Gear Shed would offer, even with two people (provided you are somewhat organised) I haven't felt short of space for equipment and cooking.
Hope this helps.
@@BrackenOutdoors Thank you very much👍 was very helpful! Just purchased one. Thanks for the great videos!
@@BrackenOutdoors amazing!!
I am going to save and buy this one!! Omg!!
Really nice video! Is good for bikepacking?
Yes, If anything It might be better as a bikepacking tent than backpacking as the slightly heavier than average weight isn't as much of a penalty on a bicycle. I reckon it would fit quite nicely on top of a rear rack as well.
@@BrackenOutdoors it does,i use it for bike packing as i like the extra space plus I'm 6'2.
Have you experience of the Hubba Hubba ? If so how would you compare the 2 ?
Hi, I haven't used the Hubba but have had a play around with it in-store. Basically, it's the same size and dimensions as the Elixir, only much lighter. The flysheet is made of lighter weight nylon ripstop material and the poles are also quite a bit lighter. So if you are looking for a really light but roomy backpacking tent for lower altitude hiking and trekking, then the Hubba is pretty good.
The main drawback (besides the vastly increased price) is that it's not as strong and durable as the Elixir and I personally would not feel as comfortable in exposed areas high above the tree line. However, if I was doing something like Hadrian's Wall Hike or travelling to warmer or more sheltered climates (think Spain/America) I would totally go for this.
I hope that helps,
Bracken
Have you ever found a coyote or wild animals around savana during on a camp? But I hope everything is o.k
No coyotes around here luckily, the sheep are pretty vicious but as long as you keep the raw meat well away from camp you're usually okay.
Most animals stay away from humans and don't cause problems, but obviously, in places like the US and Africa, it is a whole different ball game.
Best wishes from the High Savannah, Cumbria.
Do your research. With the footprint, it can go up fly first.
What colour option is that dark rain cover?
That's a dark green, from my understanding the older ones were in a bright red and some of the American only versions are white.
I love my Elixir. ❤ great review.
@@adventureswithbecketandxena Thank you! Your channel looks really interesting, I shall have to have a watch,'
You've got some mold on the inner
May well do, I did wash and air dry the ten thoroughly afterwards but as I mention near the end of the video, the tent featured isn't actually mine, just borrowed from a colleague.
I have to know where you're from. Your accent is beautiful.
Thank you! I'm originally from South Africa, hanging on to my accent for dear life here.
@@BrackenOutdoors ah ok. I'm from New York but have been living in France for the past 9 years. So, you can imagine how I sound!
@@RonnelB. That's got to be an interesting accent you're developing there, greetings from one international citizen to another :D
An inner, up first tent to me is useless, a silly idea. Its starts raining an your gear and inner tent are exposed when you erect the tent for shelter !
That's a fair comment. I personally haven't had a problem given how quickly it goes up, but I luckily haven't had to pitch it in utterly torrential rain either.
It is actually possible to pitch it with the groundsheet, poles and flysheet and then add the inner tent afterwards if you needed to, but it is a bit more of a pain.
Bauht Elix 1, 1kg less, less space
Yep, if you don't mind a tighter fit that can often be a better idea from a weight point of view. Personally, I prefer the flexibility and space of a 2 man particularly when I'm stuck inside in bad weather.
Its too heavy!!
As I mentioned in the video, that is one of the big trade-offs (no such thing as a perfect tent). If you want to save weight then the Hubba version would be better but you will pay more. If even that is too heavy then you will need to sacrifice living space to get a lightweight tent.
You should get the tent that fits your priorities but whatever you choose there will be downsides (lightweight isn't often durable, long lasting isn't cheap etc.).