MSR Advance Professional 2 Tent Overview

January 28, 2025

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The MSR Advance Pro 2 tent pitched in the snow with skis and an avalanche shovel leaning against it, surrounded by snow-covered trees.

Backside Line

The MSR Advance Professional 2 is a specialised, high-performance tent constructed for alpine and winter mountaineering. Its single-wall design combines ultralight weight (3 lbs 2 ozpacked) with sturdiness, making it excellent for fast-and-light summit pushes or technical expeditions. The tent units up rapidly with a compact, freestanding design that’s manageable on slim ledges or confined areas.

With Easton Syclone poles and a sturdy 20D ripstop nylon material, it handles heavy winds and snowfall exceptionally nicely.

Nonetheless, as a single-wall tent, it sacrifices breathability, resulting in some condensation buildup in damp situations. Its restricted inside area feels very cosy for 2 folks with gear. Regardless of its minimal footprint, the Advance Professional 2 excels the place weight, climate safety, and packability are paramount. For skilled climbers prioritizing summit-focused effectivity over consolation, this tent has dependable efficiency in harsh alpine environments.

Discover extra top-performing fashions in our information to one of the best four-season tents.

How We Examined

Whereas we haven’t taken the MSR Advance Professional 2 to the Himalayas simply but, we totally examined it in deep-winter situations in Colorado’s mountains. Our analysis targeted totally on snow-covered terrain under treeline, the place we assessed its efficiency in chilly, windy, and difficult environments. To gauge its versatility, we additionally pitched the tent in hotter situations on filth, permitting us to raised perceive its setup course of, breathability, and general consolation throughout a variety of climates.

Fast Specs

MSR Advance Professional 2

Finest Finances Different Tent

CleverHiker Ranking:

4.2.5.0

Worth:

$800

Weight:

3 lb. 3 oz.

Dimensions (LxWxH):

82 X 42 X 44 in

Sq. Footage:

24 sf

Professionals

Ultralight
Fast and simple setup
Small pack measurement
Sturdy
Storm worthy

Cons

No vestibule
Condensation points
No inner stash pockets

Consolation

The MSR Advance Professional 2 walks the road between minimalism and livability, however let’s be sincere—it’s finest as a one-person tent. Whereas technically designed for 2, our winter testing in Colorado’s Sawatch mountains confirmed that squeezing two folks (plus gear) inside is tight, to say the least. The tent’s steep partitions and sensible pole geometry assist maximize area, however even then, it’s cosy. Once we confirmed it to pals, the phrase “like sleeping in a coffin” got here up greater than as soon as—all the time mentioned with a mixture of laughter and delicate reality.

There’s additionally no inner storage, so that you’ll have to preserve gear tremendous organized. The dearth of a vestibule makes managing tools in unhealthy climate a trouble. Air flow is healthier than in older variations, however moisture buildup remains to be noticeable, particularly in hotter situations. For solo mountaineers who prioritize light-weight safety over roomy consolation, the Advance Professional 2 is a stable, high-performance possibility.

A person sitting at the entrance of an MSR Advance Pro 2 tent, wearing a puffy jacket and preparing gear inside the tent, with snow-covered skis and trekking poles visible outside. — Staying organized within the MSR Advance Professional 2 may be difficult due to its small measurement. – Photograph Credit score: Ben Dawson (Cleverhiker.com)

Weight & Packed Dimension

This tent excels in each weight and packability, making it a go-to possibility for alpine missions. With a packed weight of simply 3 kilos 8 ounces and a minimal path weight of two kilos 14 ounces, this tent firmly locations itself within the ultralight class for four-season shelters.

Throughout our checks within the Colorado mountains, its compact design was a standout characteristic—it stows simply right into a small alpine pack with out hogging priceless area. The light-weight design is achieved by high-performance supplies like a 20D ripstop nylon cover and Easton Syclone poles, which steadiness energy and minimal weight.

For climbers and mountaineers targeted on minimizing weight and maximizing pack area, the Advance Professional 2 is an efficient alternative for streamlined alpine adventures.

The MSR Advance Pro Tent packed into it's stuff sack and laying in the snow next to a foam sleeping mat. — The Advance Professional 2 packs down small making a superb possibility for quick and light-weight missions within the alpine. – Photograph Credit score: Ben Dawson (Cleverhiker.com)

Climate Resistance

The Advance Professional 2 is constructed to deal with the intense calls for of alpine environments, excelling in excessive winds and snow. Whereas testing it, we had been critically impressed by the way it dealt with gusty situations—this factor feels rock-solid even when the climate turns nasty. The simple, sturdy design offers you confidence in uncovered, high-altitude spots.

Whereas the tent’s ground successfully prevents leaks, its partitions are much less waterproof than typical three-season tents. This makes the Advance Professional 2 excellent for below-freezing situations, the place precipitation is extra more likely to come as snow moderately than rain. It may well deal with average rainstorms however isn’t designed for prolonged moist climate. This tent is a troublesome, dependable possibility for climbers and mountaineers braving wind and snow.

The MSR Advance Pro 2 tent covered in a thick layer of snow, blending into the wintry forest background. — The MSR Advance Professional 2, designed to deal with heavy snowfall, holds its form in difficult winter situations. – Photograph Credit score: Ben Dawson (Cleverhiker.com)

Ease of Setup

The setup for this alpine tent is simple.. Its single-wall design eliminates the necessity for attaching an inside tent and fly—every little thing is built-in. The hubbed poles slide into sleeves on the again and clip in on the entrance, minimizing complexity. Stake out the corners, insert the poles, and also you’re able to go. Nonetheless, in excessive winds, it’s smart to safe the tent with gear or stakes beforehand to forestall it from taking off.

The tent contains pre-attached man traces which are straightforward to arrange, although you’ll want additional stakes to make use of all of them. Moreover, there’s a strengthened guy-out level on the rear of the tent that doesn’t include a man line, which could require some improvisation.

The one actual problem is securing the poles to the entrance corners. It takes a stunning quantity of energy, sufficient to make you query if the poles are the right set. After a little bit of effort—and a few hesitation—we managed to get every little thing secured with out breaking something.

A detailed view of the MSR Advance Pro 2 tent’s guyline attachment, featuring reinforced fabric and a secure cord. — The guyline attachment level on the MSR Advance Professional 2, are strengthened for excessive situations. – Photograph Credit score: Ben Dawson (Cleverhiker.com)

Sturdiness

MSR designed the Advance Professional 2 to endure the cruel situations of high-alpine tenting, and it largely delivers on that promise. The 20D ripstop nylon sidewalls and 30D ground strike a formidable steadiness between being light-weight and feeling strong and sturdy, able to dealing with powerful mountain environments.

A novel characteristic of this tent is using Easton Syclone poles, that are marketed as lighter, extra versatile, and higher outfitted to deal with excessive winds in comparison with conventional poles. Nonetheless, data on their composition and manufacturing course of stays restricted. Most different four-season tents on this class depend on industry-standard DAC aluminum poles, that are recognized for his or her reliability.

Whereas our testing revealed no points with the Syclone poles, experiences of early delamination from different customers elevate some considerations about consistency in high quality. For peace of thoughts, inspecting the poles totally upon buy is a smart step.

A snow-covered vent on the MSR Advance Pro 2 tent, designed to maintain airflow while preventing snow buildup. — Snow-tested and dependable, the MSR Advance Professional 2’s vent flap showcases efficient snow-shedding capabilities. – Photograph Credit score: Ben Dawson (Cleverhiker.com)

Versatility

The Advance Professional 2 is a specialised tent for high-altitude and alpine environments, however its give attention to excelling in these situations limits its general versatility. Designed as a light-weight, single-wall shelter, it thrives in sub-freezing situations the place snow is the first concern. The steep partitions and small footprint make it excellent for establishing on ledges or tight areas, and its streamlined design is a standout for fast-and-light alpine missions.

Nonetheless, outdoors of its supposed atmosphere, the tent’s limitations grow to be obvious. The sidewalls are much less waterproof than typical three-season tents, making it much less suited to wet or humid situations. Air flow is minimal, resulting in vital condensation buildup in milder climates. Moreover, the compact inside, whereas manageable for one individual, feels cramped for 2, particularly in non-emergency conditions.

In the end, the Advance Professional 2 is a distinct segment tent that shines in alpine extremes however struggles to adapt to extra general-purpose use.

Interior view of the MSR Advance Pro 2 tent, with two sleeping bags arranged on the floor and sunlight filtering through the red fabric. — A glance contained in the MSR Advance Professional 2, exhibiting its tight inside with sleeping baggage and kit. – Photograph Credit score: Ben Dawson (Cleverhiker.com)

Ought to You Purchase the MSR Advance Professional 2?

This tent is a best choice for mountaineers, climbers, and adventurers tackling alpine environments the place weight financial savings, stability, and a small footprint are important. Its sturdy supplies, compact design, and skill to deal with harsh wind and snow make it excellent for high-altitude missions or excessive situations. Nonetheless, it’s not a flexible tent for common out of doors use, as its single-wall development, minimal air flow, and fewer waterproof partitions restrict its efficiency in moist or humid climates.

The Advance Professional 2 delivers spectacular efficiency and sturdiness for these needing a specialised tent for alpine pursuits. Nonetheless, the tent’s slim focus means it’s finest for customers who regularly embark on technical climbs or expeditions. Whereas not cheap, it gives first rate worth for its supposed objective, offering a dependable, light-weight shelter for excessive situations. For informal tenting or backpacking, extra versatile choices are seemingly a greater decide.

Inside the MSR Advance Pro 2 tent, two sleeping bags—one blue and one teal—are neatly arranged, with the bright orange walls reflecting sunlight. — A comfy inside view of the MSR Advance Professional 2, showcasing its cosy match for 2 with two sleeping baggage laid out. – Photograph Credit score: Ben Dawson (Cleverhiker.com)

What Different 4-Season Tents Ought to You Take into account?

In the event you’re contemplating the MSR Advance Professional 2, listed below are a couple of different four-season tents value exploring. If you need extra choices, take a look at our full four-season tent gear information.

Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 Overview: An ultralight basic, the Ultamid 2 gives distinctive weight financial savings whereas sustaining sturdiness and climate resistance. Not like the Advance Professional 2, it’s a pyramid-style shelter that gives extra inside area and flexibility for a number of seasons. Nonetheless, it requires trekking poles or a separate pole system for setup and lacks the identical stage of stormworthiness in excessive alpine situations.

Samaya 2.0 Overview: This ultralight, absolutely waterproof tent is right for fast-and-light alpine ascents. It rivals the Advance Professional 2 in weight and stormworthiness however options high-tech supplies that present higher breathability whereas being 100% waterproof. It’s not low-cost, however it’s a game-changer for severe mountaineers.

NEMO Kunai 2 Overview: A extra versatile possibility, the Kunai 2 blends light-weight design with sturdiness. It’s barely heavier however gives dual-wall development for higher air flow and lowered condensation, making it an amazing alternative for mixed-season adventures.