Can you pick out the MSR Elixir 1-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent? It’s the middle one. Sort of like a plain old tent isn’t it? But, I can say without a doubt it’s the best backpacking tent for 2023 that you can get. I showed this picture, with the MRS Tent hidden in the middle to make a point.

We are often drawn to the bright colors, the pretty, like moths to a light we just pick whatever looks good. But, we really shouldn’t do that when picking a backpacking and camping tent.

MSR Elixir 1-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent

I have used a multitude of tents over the years, from the tops of mountains in Wyoming to the bottom of some valley in Utah, and everywhere in between. Fastpacking 20 plus miles a day, to slow like a turtle up and down mountains, I’ve been here and there and slept everywhere.

I would have to say that your backpacking and camping tent is probably the most important gear pick that will make or break your entire trip.

• It’s where you spend a lot of time.
• It’s hard to sleep in a bad tent in the wind.
• It needs to always keep the rain and weather out.
• It has to be lightweight!
• It needs to be set up quickly.
• The rain fly needs to go on easily, without problems.
• It needs the ability to store your, plus keep your gear dry somehow.
• It can’t let water condensate.

It’s not just a tent. It’s your home away from home. If you get a little breeze and everything is making noise and the tent just has that “cheap” feel, well, you have a cheap tent. You get what you pay for.

Why the MSR Backpacking tent is the best tent of 2023.

Sure a lot of gear review websites or videos might go into every minute detail and try to convince why this or that tent is the best. Well, I’m not going to do that. I’m just going to tell you at a high level why the Elixir 1-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent is the best tent you can get.

It’s light and doesn’t weigh much.

Seems obvious uh. Tents are where a lot of your weight goes when backpacking or camping, you want something that is light as possible while providing the best structure and durable sleeping environment. Coming in at 3lbs and 15 ozs, there just isn’t much to complain about.

The rain fly provides room to store gear and backpacks.

It’s the small things that make a difference, one of the things I love most about my MSR backpacking tent is the way the rainfly jets out by the door, allowing ample space for which to put my gear, smelly shoes, and backpack when I’m out in the mountains. It’s nice to have a dry area that is made for this story of stuff!

Many times instead of bringing everything into the tent with me, in the MSR I’m able to just stack my stuff in this little open area, even water bottles, shoes, etc, where I have easy access to them but they are not getting in my way at night!

Durability and Rugged design.

Honestly, the other reason I love my MSR backpacking tent is simply that it is made really well.

I’ve had a lot of lightweight backpacking tents over the years, and most of them just don’t make the cut. But cutting back on weight usually, they are flimsy, everything flaps in the breeze, and they just feel and look cheap. Basically, you don’t want to be in a storm with them. Not so with the MSR Elixir 1-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent.

This tent feels tight and sturdy from the minute you start putting in the tent poles and attaching the rain fly. You get that feeling that you could make it through a hurricane in one of these things.

It sets up very fast and the rain fly can be attached quickly and easily. Sure, you might not think this is a big deal, but at the end of the day or at night after many miles on the trail, no one wants to fight their tent. They just want it up and ready to use as quickly as possible, without sacrificing quality.

It’s honestly just the best tent for the money, you cannot find a cheaper or more expensive tent that quite fits into that perfect slot of lightweight, durable, room to move, and usable. You will never regret having a MSR Elixir 1-Person Lightweight Backpacking Tent. I have not, and will soon be sleeping in mine buried in the mountains of Washington State!

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