New tents from MSR for Spring 2011

We gave a quick preview of one of the new tents from MSR during Outdoor Retailer (Day Three), but that only touched on one of the many new products that will be released next spring from MSR. Here’s a more in-depth preview of the new products from MSR.

MSR has redesigned many the tents in their Essential Series, a fast and light line of tents. For those looking for a an ultralight tent that doesn’t compromise on capacity, the Fast Stash will be a frontrunner. The single-wall tent pitches with two included poles, or for the person really trying to save weight, two trekking poles. Without poles, the two-person plus gear tent will weigh 2 lbs. 14 oz. and at it’s peak, is 46 inches tall. MSRP $299.95.

Many of MSR’s Essential tents were redesigned, among them the Zing, E-Wing, and Twin Sisters. The Twin Sisters has an additional door for easy access. For those that were already fans of the Twin Sisters tent but are looking for something with the same styling but larger capacity, new for 2011 is the Twin Brothers. Capacity is doubled (or even tripled, if you are conservative with gear space). The 4-6 person tent has all the same features as the Twin Sisters. You can still pitch the tent with trekking poles if you don’t want to carry the extra weight of the provided poles, snow flaps, and optional floor (sold separately). At its tallest, the Twin Brothers boasts 68 inches of height. MSRP $399.95.

For versatility, the Experience Series is the way to go. Two new tents were added to this line–the Hoop and Holler tents. The Hoop is a two-person tent with two doors, two vestibules, and plenty of room to accommodate all your gear. There is also flexibility with the pole design, allowing you to save weight and leave some poles at home if going the lightweight route. The Holler is the companion tent, a very roomy 3-person tent with two large entries and two vestibules. The Holler is able to accommodate three extra large Therm-a-Rests, something many 3-person tents can’t do comfortably! The Hoop and Holler will retail for $349.95 and $399.95, respectively.

Also new for Spring 2011, in response to many of MSR’s European customers, new colors were added to their popular models in the Experience series (Carbon Reflex, Hubba, etc). Brightly colored tents (orange, yellow) are not as popular, and as a result, don’t sell as well. To cater to the more conservative (color-wise), MSR has released the favorites in a more subdued, green/brown colorway. Though nothing remarkable, if you are looking for a tent that doesn’t scream at you from 2 miles away, these will be a welcome option.