After church my wife forced me to go Christmas shopping at walmart. I'd rather sandpaper a bobcats butt in a phone booth then to go to Wal-Mart. But now I'm home with TOGR on and all is right with the world. Marry Christmas to all.
@@tomjohnson8548 I will have to put some in my pack. I mean, who wants to meet a bobcat in a phone booth with the wrong size grit sandpaper? You'd just end up with a dissatisfied bobcat. And that is something that we do not want.
In 'my day' (long, long ago), some rain entering even a higher-end tent was a given. Today, at this price point, I could buy this tent, seal the questionable seams or go 'belt and suspenders' with a tarp I could deploy during better weather for other purposes. We used to be happy if we only got damp during a rain like you experienced.
I remember the firs tent I bought in the mid 1980's that offered a rain fly at more money than the tent itself. Sold separately as an option. Still, the better option was a tarp if needed. A few years ago when I got back into looking at a tent, my surprise that the rain fly is now integral and sold separately as an option is a foot print!
@@martymartin2894 he ain't getting paid. He has trashed companys big and small. No advertising or paid promotions. He's been pretty trustworthy for many years that iv followed. My opinion.
I have the EVO version of this tent, never had a leak or any issues with it. My wife and I spent five days of nonstop rain in the Adirondacks and it held up almost perfectly sans one night where we had some pretty crazy winds and some rain got in through the vent.
I bought this tent in 2014 for a 4 week bicycle trip from Santa Fe NM to the St. Louis MO area (Santa Fe Trail Bike Trek). We had 3 nights where there was hard rains during those nights. When it rained hard there was a small amount of water that got in through one of the 2 roof vents (only one vent and not the other). Other than that the tent stayed dry the entire trip, and there was no condensation. I consider it a great tent that sets up easily and kept me dry. At the price it's a great value.
Couples of years back, bought a different popular Amazon tent. Relied on the Amazon scores rather then doing research via YT (such as channels like yours). Ended up throwing it away after the camping trip. Appreciate all that you do to demonstrate the quality of whatever you are testing.
Thanks Luke for the work you put into this channel. I can't imagine what it takes to create, edit, and produce quality content as frequently as you do.
Hello,I have a Mountainsmith Morrison 2 tent and have had it 5 yrs in Colorado and I have never had any problems with my tent leaking.Its a great single person tent and Im glad I bought it.Thanks
I have a Mountainsmith Conifer 5 tent and have used it for over 5 years now and it still waterproof even when water puddles under the tent it don't leak thru, I'm very happy with the performance and quality of my Mountainsmith product and really surprised at the results you have encountered. Thanks for sharing your results about the Mountainsmith Morrison 2 tent and for the 2 person tent I'll just stick with my old Kelty Vortex 2 it don't leak. ps I hear Mountainsmith has good customer service, you may want to share this with them.
My cousin has the mountainsmith pack and he loves their pack for a 100 bucks , but u would think the tents would follow that reputation , that pack made it into the all time ultra light list , thanks for what u do testing these products , u are truly on the the cutting edge when it comes to a OUTDOOR GEAR testing channel
Always a pleasure to spend time with Luke. No doubt this guy is the REAL DEAL. He and his beautiful Wife are very special people. I am done my coffee now, so Peace everyone. God Bless & have a Fantastic Christmas with Family !
Thank you for showing it how it is. I don't know the channel but just a few days ago I was watching a "review" (purposely in quotes) for a VERY expensive VERY well known brand backpacking 2p tent in the $400+ price range. It had a puddle in it after a short rain. The reviewer said (and I quote) "It handled the rain pretty well, but I do have some seam work to do before it's perfect". Talk about confirmation bias, that kind of stuff gets under my skin. I have several cheap Coleman tents (that I really enjoy) that don't have that problem and they have been severely tested (shout out for the sundome line - best value for the dollar - still - in my opinion).
My son has the same tent for Boy Scout camping going 5 years now. It's been through a lot of crazy storms and never had a problem. I bought the Morrison 3 for myself when I go camping with them. I wanted the extra room for my cot. So far so good. Love your videos!
I have had a Mountainsmith Morrison 2 tent for several years. It was $128.00 when I bought it direct from Mt Smith. I have never had any leaking with mine. Condensation issues is ok, the mesh does a good job. I have taken it out in four seasons, backpacking, scout camping and all kind of weather. I do add an additional tarp in the winter. I wonder if mine is a little lower profile? That one looks like it set up high to me. Maybe I was just extremely lucky. Strength and Honor.
U r right my friend. The mountain smith does leak around the vents. I purchased that tent 10 yrs ago, that’s how long it’s been out. I thought it was the seams as well. I treated the tent with Coleman tent sealant but if it’s windy n raining the water still gets in just not as bad. It is the #1 tent on Amazon because of its sell rating n the videos on UA-cam don’t test for that. To bad ur video is 10ths to late for me. Fortunately I was able to treat the seams n minimize the amount of rain I get. It’s my early June n late August tent. I rarely tent camp in July on the north east corridor. Thanks for ur honest opinion n review of this product. Keep up the good work on holding manufacturers accountable 👍🤞
I have a coleman 9x12 canvas 40 yrs old; 2 gander guide series 2 man tents; a kelty 6 man dome; and a mountainsmith morrison 2 man. They have all stayed dry and have also all leaked depending on the weather. First thing I've done is seam seal them all on first setup in the yard. All the seams get it with 2 coats. I have also had better luck with the morisson leaving the vents open vs closed. All have a footprint I made out of cheap tarp material two inches or so smaller than the tent base with grommets installed by each stake location. Cut the size of the tent floor and then fold the edge two inches inches around the perimiter and tape with gorilla tape. Put the grommets thru the folded edges to line up with the tent stakes using a grommet kit from any hardware store. I put elastic loops thru each grommet and pull out so the tent stakes hold the ground footprint in place (keeping it centered) and never get wet from the bottom. The old canvas I have kept waterproofed with Thompsons Waterseal but sometimes stretch a tarp over the top for addl cover as the door has stretched over the years and water can blow in. I give myself a entrance awning. Don't overestimate the seam seal job from the mfgr. My tents have never let water thru like what you saw except in some very extreme weather setups. None were blown over except one with the canvas during a tornado in Iowa with me in it.
When I was camping on the mountains in the Galapagos, the guides used Mountainsmith tents, so I figured they were good. I bought the 4-person model and have used it for about 5 years. It may be a bit hot, but it never leaks, has never torn or had another problem. I may buy this 2-person model just to lighten my load on some trips.
Always appreciate your honesty Luke! I never heard much about mountainsmith ! I did see it on Amazon, but I went with the nature hike mongar 2 person, for a up coming backpacking trip with my wife. I got her watching your channel and she decided to enjoy the outdoors as much as I do. Thanks always Luke.
Luke, I had this tent in 2009 and camped in it for 2 straight months in 2012 and stayed bone dry in downpours and its well ventilated. I would get in touch with Mountainsmith they stand behind their products and I've never had a problem with mine. Perhaps the construction changed a bit in the 10 years since but I would give it a shot.
Don't know about what happened to your tent. I have the exact model of tent and had no issues during heavy rain. The tent has been in real downpours. I also have one of their Celestial tents and have had no issues. One came from REI and the other from Sierra Trading. I have many Mountainsmith products and all have exceeded my expectations. I always tie off the rainfall without exception.
I saw your comments where you had only heard of them once ever (Maybe you're only talking to people who got into camping because of Covid), and It definitely left me scratching my head. Mountainsmith is a HUGE brand, as should be obvious with them being the number one selling tent on Amazon. I bought my first pack from them in the 80s and it's still my favorite ever. I have the Celestial 2 and it hasn't leaked EXCEPT for high winds occasionally blowing some through a vent. Testing that only includes setting up a tent and coming back the next day to see if there's water leaves me unimpressed. Testing it while being inside during the rain event, to see what is going on, is the only way you'll convince me if it is bad or good.
My husband and I have 4 lumbar packs from Mountainsmith which we love. Since we already have several great backpacking tents, I believe we will pass on this tent! I had a leaky tent 40 years ago, upgraded and have never looked back, LOL!
I have 3 or 4 mountainsmith lumbar packs, and 3 softsided lunch bags. I don't have any complaints about any of them. They are a decent outdoor company. Don't know about their tents tho. But I waterproof every tent before using to avoid unwanted leaking
MS is a great brand in general. As an advanced backpacker I’ve been rotating the use of 2 MS Shelter LT tarp tents ($129) for over 10 yrs in every condition and season (except heavy snow) without any incidents whatsoever. Great brand.
Probably wasn’t seam sealed at the vents. I’ve never had issues with Mountainsmith and Always test my tents at home before going out, and seam seal it if need be.
I’m sorry I’ve heard that some viewers have said that water is almost a given in tents! I’ve also heard some talk about about him being at the edge of his testing! I’ve bought an used a lot of tent in my 65+ yrs! And I’ve found is you we get what we pay for! I have 3 North Face tents and 1 Cabelas’s Alaska Guide base Camp tent all my tents are over 5 years old and my Alaska Guide is 10. That has withstood weather conditions that most Camper’s Hunting wouldn’t have stayed through! And I haven’t had a water leak problem! So again I saved up you’re money and buy from time tested best tent Company’s! P.S. I think his test was spot on because there was no wind blowing!
I've had too many experiences with wet tents this why I modify every tent with a Polly tarp no matter how much tent manufacturers advertising say that their tents are water proof. I absolutely hate packing out wet things, so again I just tarp every thing weight is never an issue most of my pack weights are 100-130 lbs I like to be comfortable.
Yes,I have been known too disappear for a month at a time my equipment my water my food my dogs water my dogs food xcetera I move slow and methodically wouldn't want to get hurt on trail.
I have found these types of vents to be problematic and usually prop them open in rain to make sure the water runs off and does not have time to collect. With that said if the wind is blowing while raining it’s going to get in. The could probably solve the problem easily by making the vent hood a little longer and attaching a guy line.
I bought a Nature Hike/Weanas 3 person dome, four years ago for $95 and it has been brilliant. All of the seams were sealed which makes a huge difference. You can always just seal them yourself or just spray some extra waterproofer on the stitching.
Patrick Smith founded and then sold Mountainsmith. He also founded and sold Kifaru. I don’t own any Mountainsmith products, but I do own various Kifaru gear and can vouch they make bombproof products.
My Mountainsmith has never leaked once, after several years of regular use. Those vents on the top can be propped open with Velcro props or closed, depending on the wind and rain conditions. If they are used correctly, water will not get in through the vents. I highly recommend this tent to everyone I know.
Mountainsmith has been around for a long time. Like many others they do make good stuff and junk... this may be in the junk pile. I do remember them in the early 90's being bulletproof expensive backpacking with lots of straps..... time's they are a changing. As ALWAYS, thanks Luke for a honest review!!! Hersh
Hi Luke, Appreciate what you do. I do think it is a pretty good starting point for evaluating most gear. In this case generally I would not be convinced the tent is so bad. I would want some further real life use. 1) in rough extended weather, I typically have a bit of water in my tent. The amount you showed did not appear all that much. I have in the past identified various reasons for water in the tent. One is some portions of seams may not be perfectly sealed. I often reseal seams from year to year. Often I trust myself more than the manufacturer, despite their good intent. Normally when you are in the tent, you make some adjustments to stop some problems (duct tape, etc.). 2) while it seems like a nice tent, I think one reason I would not buy is because of the design of the vent system - doesn't look adequate in general - not big enough and not enough overhang of the openings - very stingy. Your test does point to confirming that view - you note the water drops are under the edge of the vents. And in your test, vents appeared to be shut which I don't see as a realistic situation since one needs ventilation. 3) one almost always has some condensation (very often more than the water you showed) so since no one was in the tent, this doesn't tell me much about that either. 4) another factor to consider in tent design is how much water comes in when entering and leaving. Plus is there a space or method to remove wet clothes without a mess. In any weather situation even a small tarp is a great addition for this and for cooking, if you have a way to keep it in place. So, yeah, while there maybe a few separate or larger factors to consider in considering a tent, the real evaluation seems to me to be the whole ventilation / moisture package, including the points above. For a decade or so, I had a Mountainsmith pack and it was great - at the time there was limited good gear on the market. Advice on gear from local and experienced dealers is always valuable (often they can advise regarding the particular activity you plan to do in the area and on particular suggestions for dealing with the local weather - for instance various sections of the AT and PCT can have very different requirements. Nothing against Amazon - they have both great and terrible gear. Luke, that's why your advice is so valuable in getting us to think more specifically !! :-) Cheers!
Luke. If you found a really good cheap lightweight tent but it leeks, is it worth putting a tarp over the top? Could save quiet a bit of money and have the opportunity to have to tent door open in the rain.
My wife and I grabbed a $30 tent from Walmart on a spur of the moment camping trip. It wasn’t supposed to rain, but we were in a torrential downpour. That $30 tent didn’t leak.
I just stumbled on to this video lol. I’ve had my Morrison since 2011 and no leaks. I just make sure to use the guy lines especially on the sides of tent. Maybe you got a dud lol 😂. For summer heat I don’t use fly I just string a tarp over it to increase air flow.
Yeah tents with ventilation like that just doesn't work. Just think if the wind was blowing with the rain. That floor would have a bunch of water on it. Obviously they didn't seal the seams well. Great review!
Luke, PLEASE buy a flytop 4 season budget tent. I have one, i think it's incredible value for the money and I've had it in all weathers. I'd love to see you review one
I haven't used this tent, so I don't know if this is a faulty one or if they are all this quality. It should be easily fixed with seam sealer, but the seams are already taped, so it shouldn't leak to start with.
Mountain Smith is a good middle ground on most of their gear. It's not garbage, but it's not the best either. I would recommend their stuff to most beginners. Good enough to see if they will like backpacking but not destroy them budget wise. I have noticed when i have bought their tents in the past that one can of silicone spray makes these waterproof. So if money is an issue then this tent and one can of $5 silicone spray is much cheaper than the $400-$800 next step up tents. My issue with them is the weight. I think they are too heavy for a true backpacker. If that is you save up and get what you really want dyneema!
I suspect the reason you had water dripping from the vents wasn't leakage it was condensation. And the reason opening the vents prevents that is because t allows the temperature in the tent to move closer to the temp outside the tent. As long as its warmer inside the tent than out, condensation is inevitable. And it looks like it's leaking from the vent because the vents are heavy and create a dip in the cover that can form drips. I have their Upland model and that's what I discovered was the case. Mine leaks from the bottom of the zipper, however. I hope they've fixed this with newer models.
I got a "Mountain Shelter LT" by Mountain smith. It's all right. Better off with a flat tarp, really...more versatile. It doesn't leak but I did spray and seam seal it the first time I set it up.
Thank you very much for your reviews and tests Luke. I really appreciate that you always let the gear speak for itself. Any chance that you might review the Paria Ourdoors Bryce tent? A couple of other youtubers whose opinion I respect have recommended it, but I would love to have your thoughts.
Looks like the ties offs weren't tied off. I wonder if maybe that contributed to the leaking. Possible one of the reasons it might have leaked from the roof is that the vents weren't open. When I buy a tent and test it before going camping I have all sides tied off amd vents open.
no. it should not leak with the vents closed. that makes no sense. it had to have been the seams. you can even see the design in the video, if anything, closing the vents should provide more protection. not less. what are u talking about?
@@landminehopscotch3617 There is a reason for guying out the fly and that is to create a gap between the tent and the fly. If they touch there could be a transfer of liqiud when it rains.
Thanks. I remember the day when all affordable tents leaked with enough rainfall. Do you think it is a good idea to reseal the seams and spray a waterproofing product to the flys of any tent you buy? Wouldn't that, along with pitching it under a good tarp keep almost any tent dry inside? Perhaps you could do that to one that failed and then retest it for dryness.
Mountainsmith used to be good back in the day. They only made packs back then but they decided to make other gear. Too much too fast. They make a great pack called the Tour. Give it a shot. Great to know. Thanks!
I had a Morrison 4 and only used it 3 times before donating it. Used it in a Pacific storm and another rain event. Stayed dry both times. Don't know what to say about your results. I donated it to a BSA troop that lost everything in during the Nor Cal fires of 2017 as I had other tents I could use and it was the newest I had.
I’m getting more and more freaked out that so many bad Amazon reviews don’t show up anymore. It’s also a complete joke that Amazon got rid of the ability for people to comment on reviews!! A reviewer can spew nonsense about a product without a chance of being corrected, and likewise make false claims of praise about the product without the chance of being corrected.
@@joebuck4496 ya, I don't trust any reviews on Amazon anymore. I buy things based on the free return. If I need it and no free return, I go without it.
Really hope someday you test the Paria Bryce tent. Or their heavier Zion tent. Curious how you would review it. Both are budget friendly tents as well.
3 pieces of plastic tubing from the hardware and a cheap roll of syran wrap make a dry teepee OR go whole hog and get a 15 x 15 plastic dropcloth with a spool of masons twine and you can configure several style tents. all totaly waterproof.
more interested in the pop up tent can you recommend a good one for car camping my son is in a wheelchair so with that and two cots need about ten by ten
I was 10 miles in with pouring rain for three days in an alps mountaineering one person tent and it did awesome! The only rain that came in was my getting in and out of it. There are vestibules on it but they aren't very big and you just can't help getting some wetness inside. The one I have is really nice for a not too expensive tent.
Had mine for years now last summer it rained at fish lake Utah for 2 days straight was totally dry inside. Not ideal for more than 3 days of camping. I prefer to being able to stand up in my tent. Wonder if they got cheaper made like I said I bought mine many years ago.
Ok let's try a hypothetical situation, I've paid for this tent cannot return for refund/replacement what steps can a take to remedy these problem? Apply seam sealant to all seams? Apply spray sealent to outsides of tent? Be aware of weather forecast if rain is expected hang secondary tarp over tent to deflect majority of expected bad weather?
Seam seal seams and test. It appears that is where this is leaking from-the vent seams. I’d spray some waterproofing spray on the vent material as well.
Can you do a test with Geertop tents. There have been some flaws with zips but the company has rectified this where it has been a problem. Wondering how they hold up in rain though.
I got my Alps Mountaineering Koda 2P ( I think it's the same as the Lynx) for $109. I've only been out with it 3 times and it never rained so I can't say. You did the Lynx review that showed it didn't leak, so I still think that my Koda is probably a better value if you can stand the limited ventilation. I'm curious why did you test the Lynx spending the night it, but left this one alone and came back to check? Maybe something wasn't right in the set-up that you could have missed without being in it. Just a thought. Thanks for the review your information is always a valuable asset.
Luke, thanks for all your vids. I bought a Bessport Praslin 3p 4p tent on Amazon $89 on sale for $69 to motorcycle camp. I left it out in the back yard for a week in the wind where it rained moderately to heavy on and off for 5 of those days. The only water in it was from opening the doors to get in it. Can you test a Bessport tent like mine some day. It seems like a decently made tent. but I will spray seal it like I do to all my wet weather gear. I have not used it on a trip so far . Rotator cuff op been done.
Can't say for sure that I've ever had a Mountainsmith tent, but this I know. I've never paid more then $100 for a tent, and don't expect them to not leak, however, I always bring it home, set it up, and douse it with something like Campdry. Rarely had one leak after that...
After church my wife forced me to go Christmas shopping at walmart. I'd rather sandpaper a bobcats butt in a phone booth then to go to Wal-Mart. But now I'm home with TOGR on and all is right with the world. Marry Christmas to all.
What grit sandpaper are you using on the bobcat?
Nah, just kidding, I really like the description!
My coffee just shot out my nose. That’s one of the funniest sayings I’ve ever heard. 🤣🤣
@@harryporter7220 80 grit gets the best reaction
@@tomjohnson8548 I will have to put some in my pack. I mean, who wants to meet a bobcat in a phone booth with the wrong size grit sandpaper? You'd just end up with a dissatisfied bobcat. And that is something that we do not want.
Rather sandpaper a bobcat just entered my lexicon.
In 'my day' (long, long ago), some rain entering even a higher-end tent was a given. Today, at this price point, I could buy this tent, seal the questionable seams or go 'belt and suspenders' with a tarp I could deploy during better weather for other purposes. We used to be happy if we only got damp during a rain like you experienced.
All about whos paying him the most. Why didn't he video the water dripping from it hum.
Everything you said is true... BUT, I think what LUKE does is invaluable and let's be honest... He is the real deal. Be safe campng... Peace
I remember the firs tent I bought in the mid 1980's that offered a rain fly at more money than the tent itself. Sold separately as an option. Still, the better option was a tarp if needed. A few years ago when I got back into looking at a tent, my surprise that the rain fly is now integral and sold separately as an option is a foot print!
@@martymartin2894 he ain't getting paid. He has trashed companys big and small. No advertising or paid promotions. He's been pretty trustworthy for many years that iv followed. My opinion.
@@martymartin2894 Lol. It's clear you just bought one.
I have the EVO version of this tent, never had a leak or any issues with it. My wife and I spent five days of nonstop rain in the Adirondacks and it held up almost perfectly sans one night where we had some pretty crazy winds and some rain got in through the vent.
I’ve got the same tent and it works great.
I bought this tent in 2014 for a 4 week bicycle trip from Santa Fe NM to the St. Louis MO area (Santa Fe Trail Bike Trek). We had 3 nights where there was hard rains during those nights. When it rained hard there was a small amount of water that got in through one of the 2 roof vents (only one vent and not the other). Other than that the tent stayed dry the entire trip, and there was no condensation. I consider it a great tent that sets up easily and kept me dry. At the price it's a great value.
Couples of years back, bought a different popular Amazon tent. Relied on the Amazon scores rather then doing research via YT (such as channels like yours). Ended up throwing it away after the camping trip. Appreciate all that you do to demonstrate the quality of whatever you are testing.
Thanks Luke for the work you put into this channel. I can't imagine what it takes to create, edit, and produce quality content as frequently as you do.
Hello,I have a Mountainsmith Morrison 2 tent and have had it 5 yrs in Colorado and I have never had any problems with my tent leaking.Its a great single person tent and Im glad I bought it.Thanks
I was surprised it leaked. I’ve had this tent for several years. Never had it leak once on me. I’ve been very pleased with mine.
Guess thats why we should always test, even good gear can go wrong.
Same but i have an older model 3 person
Same here I’ve had mine for many years and it’s never leaked. Perhaps they’re now worse quality or he just got a bad egg.
I have a Mountainsmith Conifer 5 tent and have used it for over 5 years now and it still waterproof even when water puddles under the tent it don't leak thru, I'm very happy with the performance and quality of my Mountainsmith product and really surprised at the results you have encountered. Thanks for sharing your results about the Mountainsmith Morrison 2 tent and for the 2 person tent I'll just stick with my old Kelty Vortex 2 it don't leak. ps I hear Mountainsmith has good customer service, you may want to share this with them.
My cousin has the mountainsmith pack and he loves their pack for a 100 bucks , but u would think the tents would follow that reputation , that pack made it into the all time ultra light list , thanks for what u do testing these products , u are truly on the the cutting edge when it comes to a OUTDOOR GEAR testing channel
Have you ever considered putting out an inexpensive rain gauge next to the tents?
Good idea!
Always a pleasure to spend time with Luke. No doubt this guy is the REAL DEAL. He and his beautiful Wife are very special people. I am done my coffee now, so Peace everyone. God Bless & have a Fantastic Christmas with Family !
Thank you for showing it how it is. I don't know the channel but just a few days ago I was watching a "review" (purposely in quotes) for a VERY expensive VERY well known brand backpacking 2p tent in the $400+ price range. It had a puddle in it after a short rain. The reviewer said (and I quote) "It handled the rain pretty well, but I do have some seam work to do before it's perfect". Talk about confirmation bias, that kind of stuff gets under my skin. I have several cheap Coleman tents (that I really enjoy) that don't have that problem and they have been severely tested (shout out for the sundome line - best value for the dollar - still - in my opinion).
My son has the same tent for Boy Scout camping going 5 years now. It's been through a lot of crazy storms and never had a problem. I bought the Morrison 3 for myself when I go camping with them. I wanted the extra room for my cot. So far so good. Love your videos!
It’s good you test all this gear it helps folks make decisions. You got the best job 😁
No doubt about it... Luke is the REAL DEAL !
And always such a good attitude
I have had a Mountainsmith Morrison 2 tent for several years. It was $128.00 when I bought it direct from Mt Smith. I have never had any leaking with mine. Condensation issues is ok, the mesh does a good job. I have taken it out in four seasons, backpacking, scout camping and all kind of weather. I do add an additional tarp in the winter. I wonder if mine is a little lower profile? That one looks like it set up high to me. Maybe I was just extremely lucky. Strength and Honor.
U r right my friend. The mountain smith does leak around the vents. I purchased that tent 10 yrs ago, that’s how long it’s been out. I thought it was the seams as well. I treated the tent with Coleman tent sealant but if it’s windy n raining the water still gets in just not as bad.
It is the #1 tent on Amazon because of its sell rating n the videos on UA-cam don’t test for that.
To bad ur video is 10ths to late for me. Fortunately I was able to treat the seams n minimize the amount of rain I get. It’s my early June n late August tent. I rarely tent camp in July on the north east corridor.
Thanks for ur honest opinion n review of this product. Keep up the good work on holding manufacturers accountable 👍🤞
I have a coleman 9x12 canvas 40 yrs old; 2 gander guide series 2 man tents; a kelty 6 man dome; and a mountainsmith morrison 2 man. They have all stayed dry and have also all leaked depending on the weather. First thing I've done is seam seal them all on first setup in the yard. All the seams get it with 2 coats. I have also had better luck with the morisson leaving the vents open vs closed. All have a footprint I made out of cheap tarp material two inches or so smaller than the tent base with grommets installed by each stake location. Cut the size of the tent floor and then fold the edge two inches inches around the perimiter and tape with gorilla tape. Put the grommets thru the folded edges to line up with the tent stakes using a grommet kit from any hardware store. I put elastic loops thru each grommet and pull out so the tent stakes hold the ground footprint in place (keeping it centered) and never get wet from the bottom. The old canvas I have kept waterproofed with Thompsons Waterseal but sometimes stretch a tarp over the top for addl cover as the door has stretched over the years and water can blow in. I give myself a entrance awning. Don't overestimate the seam seal job from the mfgr. My tents have never let water thru like what you saw except in some very extreme weather setups. None were blown over except one with the canvas during a tornado in Iowa with me in it.
Yay!! Love the test night episodes, ive watched ALL the other ones 4 or 5 times now, 😂😂😂
When I was camping on the mountains in the Galapagos, the guides used Mountainsmith tents, so I figured they were good. I bought the 4-person model and have used it for about 5 years. It may be a bit hot, but it never leaks, has never torn or had another problem. I may buy this 2-person model just to lighten my load on some trips.
Always appreciate your honesty Luke! I never heard much about mountainsmith ! I did see it on Amazon, but I went with the nature hike mongar 2 person, for a up coming backpacking trip with my wife. I got her watching your channel and she decided to enjoy the outdoors as much as I do. Thanks always Luke.
Wonderful autumn background, awesome camera angles, keep your channel up to the quality, and thanks
Luke,
I had this tent in 2009 and camped in it for 2 straight months in 2012 and stayed bone dry in downpours and its well ventilated. I would get in touch with Mountainsmith they stand behind their products and I've never had a problem with mine. Perhaps the construction changed a bit in the 10 years since but I would give it a shot.
Per the video, he didn't set the tent up properly :(
Don't know about what happened to your tent. I have the exact model of tent and had no issues during heavy rain. The tent has been in real downpours. I also have one of their Celestial tents and have had no issues. One came from REI and the other from Sierra Trading. I have many Mountainsmith products and all have exceeded my expectations. I always tie off the rainfall without exception.
I have this tent amd I have treated it with seam sealer from REI, at the very areas that you showed it leaking at and no problems.
I saw your comments where you had only heard of them once ever (Maybe you're only talking to people who got into camping because of Covid), and It definitely left me scratching my head. Mountainsmith is a HUGE brand, as should be obvious with them being the number one selling tent on Amazon. I bought my first pack from them in the 80s and it's still my favorite ever. I have the Celestial 2 and it hasn't leaked EXCEPT for high winds occasionally blowing some through a vent. Testing that only includes setting up a tent and coming back the next day to see if there's water leaves me unimpressed. Testing it while being inside during the rain event, to see what is going on, is the only way you'll convince me if it is bad or good.
Absolutely unacceptable!!!! Keep up the good work Luke!!! It can be done, to find decent tents under $150! I found 3, so far. 🎉😊😅
My husband and I have 4 lumbar packs from Mountainsmith which we love. Since we already have several great backpacking tents, I believe we will pass on this tent! I had a leaky tent 40 years ago, upgraded and have never looked back, LOL!
I have 3 or 4 mountainsmith lumbar packs, and 3 softsided lunch bags. I don't have any complaints about any of them. They are a decent outdoor company. Don't know about their tents tho. But I waterproof every tent before using to avoid unwanted leaking
MS is a great brand in general. As an advanced backpacker I’ve been rotating the use of 2 MS Shelter LT tarp tents ($129) for over 10 yrs in every condition and season (except heavy snow) without any incidents whatsoever. Great brand.
I've spent over 50 nights in a morrison3 with occasional bad storms and many rains. Never had an issue with leaking anywhere.
I appreciate you for finding something to do in the woods on a rainy day.
Probably wasn’t seam sealed at the vents. I’ve never had issues with Mountainsmith and Always test my tents at home before going out, and seam seal it if need be.
I’m sorry I’ve heard that some viewers have said that water is almost a given in tents! I’ve also heard some talk about about him being at the edge of his testing! I’ve bought an used a lot of tent in my 65+ yrs! And I’ve found is you we get what we pay for! I have 3 North Face tents and 1 Cabelas’s Alaska Guide base Camp tent all my tents are over 5 years old and my Alaska Guide is 10. That has withstood weather conditions that most Camper’s Hunting wouldn’t have stayed through! And I haven’t had a water leak problem! So again I saved up you’re money and buy from time tested best tent Company’s! P.S. I think his test was spot on because there was no wind blowing!
I really appreciate your reviews! You are very honest, and extremely helpful when thinking about gear to purchase.
I've had too many experiences with wet tents this why I modify every tent with a Polly tarp no matter how much tent manufacturers advertising say that their tents are water proof. I absolutely hate packing out wet things, so again I just tarp every thing weight is never an issue most of my pack weights are 100-130 lbs I like to be comfortable.
Wait... You pack a 100 pound bag?!?!?!
Yes,I have been known too disappear for a month at a time my equipment my water my food my dogs water my dogs food xcetera I move slow and methodically wouldn't want to get hurt on trail.
I have found these types of vents to be problematic and usually prop them open in rain to make sure the water runs off and does not have time to collect. With that said if the wind is blowing while raining it’s going to get in. The could probably solve the problem easily by making the vent hood a little longer and attaching a guy line.
I bought a Nature Hike/Weanas 3 person dome, four years ago for $95 and it has been brilliant. All of the seams were sealed which makes a huge difference. You can always just seal them yourself or just spray some extra waterproofer on the stitching.
Patrick Smith founded and then sold Mountainsmith. He also founded and sold Kifaru. I don’t own any Mountainsmith products, but I do own various Kifaru gear and can vouch they make bombproof products.
My Mountainsmith has never leaked once, after several years of regular use. Those vents on the top can be propped open with Velcro props or closed, depending on the wind and rain conditions. If they are used correctly, water will not get in through the vents. I highly recommend this tent to everyone I know.
Mountainsmith has been around for a long time. Like many others they do make good stuff and junk... this may be in the junk pile. I do remember them in the early 90's being bulletproof expensive backpacking with lots of straps..... time's they are a changing.
As ALWAYS, thanks Luke for a honest review!!!
Hersh
Nice for letting us know. Thanks
Hi Luke, Appreciate what you do. I do think it is a pretty good starting point for evaluating most gear. In this case generally I would not be convinced the tent is so bad. I would want some further real life use. 1) in rough extended weather, I typically have a bit of water in my tent. The amount you showed did not appear all that much. I have in the past identified various reasons for water in the tent. One is some portions of seams may not be perfectly sealed. I often reseal seams from year to year. Often I trust myself more than the manufacturer, despite their good intent. Normally when you are in the tent, you make some adjustments to stop some problems (duct tape, etc.). 2) while it seems like a nice tent, I think one reason I would not buy is because of the design of the vent system - doesn't look adequate in general - not big enough and not enough overhang of the openings - very stingy. Your test does point to confirming that view - you note the water drops are under the edge of the vents. And in your test, vents appeared to be shut which I don't see as a realistic situation since one needs ventilation. 3) one almost always has some condensation (very often more than the water you showed) so since no one was in the tent, this doesn't tell me much about that either. 4) another factor to consider in tent design is how much water comes in when entering and leaving. Plus is there a space or method to remove wet clothes without a mess. In any weather situation even a small tarp is a great addition for this and for cooking, if you have a way to keep it in place. So, yeah, while there maybe a few separate or larger factors to consider in considering a tent, the real evaluation seems to me to be the whole ventilation / moisture package, including the points above. For a decade or so, I had a Mountainsmith pack and it was great - at the time there was limited good gear on the market. Advice on gear from local and experienced dealers is always valuable (often they can advise regarding the particular activity you plan to do in the area and on particular suggestions for dealing with the local weather - for instance various sections of the AT and PCT can have very different requirements. Nothing against Amazon - they have both great and terrible gear. Luke, that's why your advice is so valuable in getting us to think more specifically !! :-) Cheers!
Luke.
If you found a really good cheap lightweight tent but it leeks, is it worth putting a tarp over the top?
Could save quiet a bit of money and have the opportunity to have to tent door open in the rain.
Just use a tarp. No need to use tents.
My wife and I grabbed a $30 tent from Walmart on a spur of the moment camping trip. It wasn’t supposed to rain, but we were in a torrential downpour. That $30 tent didn’t leak.
I just stumbled on to this video lol. I’ve had my Morrison since 2011 and no leaks. I just make sure to use the guy lines especially on the sides of tent. Maybe you got a dud lol 😂. For summer heat I don’t use fly I just string a tarp over it to increase air flow.
You really need to make a video "How to pack a multiday backpack"!! Would be very interesting to see.
Thank you for your time and effort, very helpful.
I just never trust a tent in the rain. Redundancy in the form of a tarp is never a bad idea
So true
That’s what I do. I take a dynema tarp, light enough and gives me a nice water protected porch. Texas
Of course! But this was a test!
Thank you Luke for sharing your honest review. You just saved me some money $$$. Stay safe and healthy. 🤗
Curious what the result with the vents open would be
Yeah tents with ventilation like that just doesn't work. Just think if the wind was blowing with the rain. That floor would have a bunch of water on it. Obviously they didn't seal the seams well. Great review!
I love your channel! Could you recommend a few truly waterproof 3 season tents! Thank you for what you do!
My Scout Troop bought several Tents years ago. All Leaked. We made tarps out of Plastic sheeting. That took care of the problem.
Luke, PLEASE buy a flytop 4 season budget tent. I have one, i think it's incredible value for the money and I've had it in all weathers. I'd love to see you review one
Thanks for the review Luke ! Much appreciated 👍👍
Appreciate your no nonsense reviews..stay safe..R.
I haven't used this tent, so I don't know if this is a faulty one or if they are all this quality.
It should be easily fixed with seam sealer, but the seams are already taped, so it shouldn't leak to start with.
Mountain Smith is a good middle ground on most of their gear. It's not garbage, but it's not the best either. I would recommend their stuff to most beginners. Good enough to see if they will like backpacking but not destroy them budget wise. I have noticed when i have bought their tents in the past that one can of silicone spray makes these waterproof. So if money is an issue then this tent and one can of $5 silicone spray is much cheaper than the $400-$800 next step up tents. My issue with them is the weight. I think they are too heavy for a true backpacker. If that is you save up and get what you really want dyneema!
I suspect the reason you had water dripping from the vents wasn't leakage it was condensation. And the reason opening the vents prevents that is because t allows the temperature in the tent to move closer to the temp outside the tent. As long as its warmer inside the tent than out, condensation is inevitable. And it looks like it's leaking from the vent because the vents are heavy and create a dip in the cover that can form drips. I have their Upland model and that's what I discovered was the case.
Mine leaks from the bottom of the zipper, however. I hope they've fixed this with newer models.
I got a "Mountain Shelter LT" by Mountain smith. It's all right. Better off with a flat tarp, really...more versatile. It doesn't leak but I did spray and seam seal it the first time I set it up.
Thank you for sharing your research.
Tents like this used to come with some sort of a rain cover that would mostly eliminate any leakage, did that idea go by the wayside for some reason?
Thank you very much for your reviews and tests Luke. I really appreciate that you always let the gear speak for itself. Any chance that you might review the Paria Ourdoors Bryce tent? A couple of other youtubers whose opinion I respect have recommended it, but I would love to have your thoughts.
Looks like the ties offs weren't tied off. I wonder if maybe that contributed to the leaking. Possible one of the reasons it might have leaked from the roof is that the vents weren't open. When I buy a tent and test it before going camping I have all sides tied off amd vents open.
Agreed, No Space between the Rain Fly and Vents
no. it should not leak with the vents closed. that makes no sense. it had to have been the seams. you can even see the design in the video, if anything, closing the vents should provide more protection. not less. what are u talking about?
@@daveinstlouis7296 dude what? 😂 the vents are PART of the rainfly. are these bot comments? suuuussss
Once the tent is up, guying it out or the vents (opened or closed) shouldn't matter.
@@landminehopscotch3617 There is a reason for guying out the fly and that is to create a gap between the tent and the fly. If they touch there could be a transfer of liqiud when it rains.
i have had the geartop 4 season version of this tent and its been great for years
I've been using a moutain smith 3 person tent for a few years with no leaks and no issues other than some condensation
Got a Mountainsmith Morrison 3 today at REI. Being discontinued so $126 with tax after getting a $30 membership.
Thanks. I remember the day when all affordable tents leaked with enough rainfall. Do you think it is a good idea to reseal the seams and spray a waterproofing product to the flys of any tent you buy? Wouldn't that, along with pitching it under a good tarp keep almost any tent dry inside? Perhaps you could do that to one that failed and then retest it for dryness.
I call that a fair weather tent ⛺️ great review thanks!
Brutally honest! Just the way I like your vids. 👍🏻
I’ve got the Evo 2 and it works great.
Good review
Now tell us which on is a good tent
Thank you for the test on both tents and how is your shed coming along
Very helpful as always! Thank you!
Mountainsmith used to be good back in the day. They only made packs back then but they decided to make other gear. Too much too fast. They make a great pack called the Tour. Give it a shot. Great to know. Thanks!
Thanks for a decent review. I'll stick to my Snugpak Cave 4. Thx.
I had a Morrison 4 and only used it 3 times before donating it. Used it in a Pacific storm and another rain event. Stayed dry both times. Don't know what to say about your results. I donated it to a BSA troop that lost everything in during the Nor Cal fires of 2017 as I had other tents I could use and it was the newest I had.
Fair play to you, honest reviews.
Anything that's best-selling on Amazon is generally a big red flag
I’m getting more and more freaked out that so many bad Amazon reviews don’t show up anymore. It’s also a complete joke that Amazon got rid of the ability for people to comment on reviews!! A reviewer can spew nonsense about a product without a chance of being corrected, and likewise make false claims of praise about the product without the chance of being corrected.
@@joebuck4496 ya, I don't trust any reviews on Amazon anymore. I buy things based on the free return. If I need it and no free return, I go without it.
I'm surprised you didn't point out the possible failure points before the rain came... I saw it right away.... I'm sure you did too !;😊👍
Thanks Luke, Strength and Honor my friend 👊🇺🇲
I had 6 for my scout troop never had any leak. We survived two severe unexpected rain storms and none leaked.
Wonder if you got a defective one .
My experience with Mountain Smith backpacks has been positive.
Really hope someday you test the Paria Bryce tent. Or their heavier Zion tent. Curious how you would review it. Both are budget friendly tents as well.
3 pieces of plastic tubing from the hardware and a cheap roll of syran wrap make a dry teepee
OR go whole hog and get a 15 x 15 plastic dropcloth with a spool of masons twine and you can configure several style tents. all totaly waterproof.
more interested in the pop up tent can you recommend a good one for car camping my son is in a wheelchair so with that and two cots need about ten by ten
Great review as always with this guy and I love and appreciate his videos, thanks as always, Atb to you and your family, and have a safe Xmas.
I was 10 miles in with pouring rain for three days in an alps mountaineering one person tent and it did awesome! The only rain that came in was my getting in and out of it. There are vestibules on it but they aren't very big and you just can't help getting some wetness inside. The one I have is really nice for a not too expensive tent.
I like Alps products.
Had mine for years now last summer it rained at fish lake Utah for 2 days straight was totally dry inside. Not ideal for more than 3 days of camping. I prefer to being able to stand up in my tent. Wonder if they got cheaper made like I said I bought mine many years ago.
Thank you for this review!!
My $50 Coleman w/ a $10 tarp will weather anything.
Ok let's try a hypothetical situation, I've paid for this tent cannot return for refund/replacement what steps can a take to remedy these problem? Apply seam sealant to all seams? Apply spray sealent to outsides of tent? Be aware of weather forecast if rain is expected hang secondary tarp over tent to deflect majority of expected bad weather?
Seam seal seams and test. It appears that is where this is leaking from-the vent seams. I’d spray some waterproofing spray on the vent material as well.
Love how u keep them honest brother.keep it up we need your reviews
Can you do a test with Geertop tents. There have been some flaws with zips but the company has rectified this where it has been a problem. Wondering how they hold up in rain though.
I got my Alps Mountaineering Koda 2P ( I think it's the same as the Lynx) for $109. I've only been out with it 3 times and it never rained so I can't say. You did the Lynx review that showed it didn't leak, so I still think that my Koda is probably a better value if you can stand the limited ventilation. I'm curious why did you test the Lynx spending the night it, but left this one alone and came back to check? Maybe something wasn't right in the set-up that you could have missed without being in it. Just a thought. Thanks for the review your information is always a valuable asset.
Thank you. I was about to buy it.
Ssssooooo... which tent would you say is up to par?
Luke, thanks for all your vids. I bought a Bessport Praslin 3p 4p tent on Amazon $89 on sale for $69 to motorcycle camp. I left it out in the back yard for a week in the wind where it rained moderately to heavy on and off for 5 of those days. The only water in it was from opening the doors to get in it. Can you test a Bessport tent like mine some day. It seems like a decently made tent. but I will spray seal it like I do to all my wet weather gear. I have not used it on a trip so far . Rotator cuff op been done.
Loved the enthusiasm for the crap tents 🤣
Can't say for sure that I've ever had a Mountainsmith tent, but this I know.
I've never paid more then $100 for a tent, and don't expect them to not leak, however, I always bring it home, set it up, and douse it with something like Campdry. Rarely had one leak after that...