MSR Habitude 6 Tent Evaluate

Backside Line

The MSR Habitude 6 is a spacious household or group tent crafted from high-quality supplies, providing a formidable peak top of 6’4” – tall campers, rejoice! With 83 sq. toes of ground area, it comfortably accommodates a household of 4 and may sleep six in case you don’t thoughts a comfy setup. Identified for its sturdy gear, MSR has designed the Habitude 6 to face up to the weather effectively, boasting wonderful waterproofing. Nonetheless, given its peak top, it’s finest to pitch this tent in a sheltered spot if excessive winds are anticipated.

That stated, there are a number of downsides. The only-door design is limiting as a second door would cut back the trouble of stepping over sleeping campers at evening. Air flow may also be a difficulty if the rainfly isn’t totally guyed out since condensation could construct up, however securing the fly tightly helps alleviate this. Lastly, we want to see extra stakes included – further ones are wanted to completely make the most of the extra guylines supplied with the tent.

This tent’s worth level locations it within the premium class, however given all its benefits, we consider it nonetheless presents nice worth for these in search of a high-quality tent full of options.

We examined the MSR Habitude 6 over two months of late fall tenting within the mountains and foothills of Colorado with our household of 4. Regardless of the season, we lucked out with largely dry climate, although we did expertise some fairly intense wind at instances—good for placing the tent’s stability to the take a look at. With two children in tow, we acquired to see how effectively the Habitude 6 dealt with actual household tenting life, from gear group to late-night rest room runs.

Desirous about studying extra in-depth opinions of a few of our favourite tents? Try our gear information to the Finest Tenting Tents of 2024.

Consolation

The Habitude 6 delivers excellent spaciousness and luxury, that includes a beneficiant 6’4” peak top and a big door for straightforward entry and exit, even accommodating these with mobility challenges. We discovered it supplied ample area for our household of 4, with further room for gear and even an array of youngsters’ toys. Truthfully, who wants 14 monster vehicles? Thankfully, the dome-style design and taut pole construction maximize usable area, which allowed usto stroll round and alter garments comfortably with no need to crouch close to the partitions.

The Habitude additionally incorporates a modest entrance vestibule, offering further storage for gear, a sheltered cooking area in unhealthy climate, or, in our case, room for much more toys.

With out the rainfly, the tent has loads of mesh for air flow, letting in contemporary air whereas permitting scorching, stagnant air to flee. When the fly is on, it’s important to man it out totally and open the kickstand vent to take care of correct airflow; in any other case, condensation can construct up in a single day.

Sturdiness

The saying goes, “you get what you pay for,” and the Habitude 6 is a main instance. Though this tent comes at a premium worth, it’s backed by sturdy, high-quality supplies which you can anticipate to final by many tenting seasons. The 7000-series aluminum poles are constructed not just for longevity but in addition for higher stability in windy situations.

The rainfly, cover, and ground are all constructed from 68D polyester—ripstop for the rainfly and taffeta for the cover and ground. “D” stands for denier, indicating material thickness, and on this case, these supplies are exceptionally sturdy. Although the technical specs could not resonate with everybody, the standard is clear. From the physique material and mesh to the rainfly and zippers, each part feels strong. With sufficient time spent in tents, you begin recognizing the standard by really feel, and this one passes that take a look at simply. The zippers function easily each time. Even after quite a few solo and household tenting journeys—and with little children who’re famously onerous on tents—the Habitude 6 has held up and not using a hitch, making it a reliable alternative for frequent use.

Climate Resistance

MSR is well-known within the out of doors business for its wonderful tent weatherproofing, and the Habitude is not any exception. The sturdy rainfly performs admirably, holding up effectively by each torrential downpours and regular showers. The bath-style ground has additionally proven spectacular resistance to water intrusion. Nonetheless, as with all tents, it’s finest to make use of a footprint or floor tarp; sadly, a footprint isn’t included with the tent and should be bought individually. Total, you possibly can depend on this tent to maintain you dry in most situations.

There’s, nevertheless, some room for enchancment. The rainfly’s design leaves elements of the sidewalls uncovered, which may develop into a difficulty in sturdy, sideways rain. Although we haven’t skilled any leaks, extended publicity to heavy rain might result in potential seepage. Moreover, because of its tall peak top, the Habitude could battle in excessive winds. If extreme climate is predicted, it’s finest to pitch this tent in a sheltered location.

Ease of Setup

Giant tents just like the Habitude 6 are sometimes identified for sophisticated setups as a result of quantity of fabric they require and the necessity for sturdy building to face up to the weather, particularly in windy situations.

Thankfully, the Habitude 6 is refreshingly straightforward to pitch for its dimension. Shade-coded nook toggles enable for easy pole attachment, taking the guesswork out of the setup. We had been capable of pitch the Habitude solo; although, as with most giant tents, an additional set of palms hurries up the method.

The tent makes use of three pole units for the internal construction: an extended pole set for the primary dome and two shorter pole units for all sides wall. The tent physique attaches to those poles with plastic hooks, which we want over the generally finicky pole sleeves discovered on older or inexpensive designs. The hooks make setup a lot faster and hassle-free, contributing to a clean setup expertise general.

Options

The Habitude 6 consists of all of the options you’d anticipate from a $600 tent. The colour-coded poles and toggles make setup a breeze, and as soon as it’s pitched, you’ll discover a formidable 11 inside storage pockets to stow further gear. Moreover, quite a few gear loops inside are perfect for hanging gadgets like headlamps or moist gear to dry in a single day. The tent additionally has a single kickstand vent on the rear of the rainfly to assist with air flow, although a second vent on the entrance can be a welcome addition.

A novel function is the built-in “porch gentle” above the entry door, which is useful for coming into and exiting the tent with no need a headlamp. When the rainfly is deployed, you possibly can retailer further gear within the modest entrance vestibule. Though we recognize the added gear storage, the vestibule feels small for a tent of this dimension. Additionally, the tent has just one door and subsequently just one rainfly entrance; a second door would improve accessibility.

Ought to You Purchase the MSR Habitude 6 Tent?

The MSR Habitude 6 is a superb alternative for households or teams in search of a well-made tent that may face up to the weather. The quite a few inside storage pockets are particularly useful for households with youngsters who usually carry alongside small toys, knick-knacks, and different treasures. This tent additionally works effectively as a basecamp possibility, the place further gear is likely to be needed for prolonged day hikes, climbing journeys, or fishing excursions.

Although the value level is usually a downside, the Habitude is a worthwhile funding for frequent campers. It will not be the most suitable choice for individuals who solely camp a few times a 12 months, however for avid campers who want a sturdy, long-lasting tent, the MSR Habitude 6 could possibly be precisely what you’re in search of.

What Different Tenting Tents Ought to You Think about?

For extra choices, please see our full information to the finest tenting tents.

The North Face Wawona 6:  If you happen to’re in search of a big basecamp-style tent, the Wawona 6 is unquestionably price contemplating. It prices $100 lower than the Habitude 6, presents a barely bigger inside footprint, and boasts a completely huge entrance vestibule. Though it’s manufactured from equally high-quality supplies, it has a barely decrease peak top and a extra complicated setup course of.

Kelty Wi-fi 6:  If you happen to’re in search of a spacious 6-person tent and not using a $500+ price ticket, the Kelty Wi-fi 6 is likely to be an important match. At simply $280, it’s a well-made funds possibility with a barely bigger inside and decrease peak top than some pricier fashions, providing a beneficiant quantity of room general. You’ll miss out on some options, nevertheless it’s a strong alternative for the value.