MSR Habitude 6 Tent Evaluation

Backside Line

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

That mentioned, there are a number of downsides. The one-door design is limiting as a second door would cut back the effort of stepping over sleeping campers at evening. Air flow can be a difficulty if the rainfly isn’t absolutely guyed out since condensation might 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 value level locations it within the premium class, however given all its benefits, we imagine it nonetheless gives nice worth for these searching for 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 principally dry climate, although we did expertise some fairly intense wind at instances—good for placing the tent’s stability to the check. With two children in tow, we bought to see how nicely the Habitude 6 dealt with actual household tenting life, from gear group to late-night toilet runs.

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Consolation

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

The Habitude additionally encompasses a modest entrance vestibule, offering further storage for gear, a sheltered cooking house 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 recent air whereas permitting sizzling, stagnant air to flee. When the fly is on, it’s important to man it out absolutely and open the kickstand vent to keep up 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 chief instance. Though this tent comes at a premium value, it’s backed by sturdy, high-quality supplies which you can anticipate to final via 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 cloth thickness, and on this case, these supplies are exceptionally sturdy. Although the technical specs might not resonate with everybody, the standard is obvious. From the physique cloth and mesh to the rainfly and zippers, each part feels stable. With sufficient time spent in tents, you begin recognizing the standard by really feel, and this one passes that check simply. The zippers function easily each time. Even after quite a few solo and household tenting journeys—and with little children who’re famously laborious on tents—the Habitude 6 has held up with out a hitch, making it a reliable alternative for frequent use.

Climate Resistance

MSR is well-known within the out of doors trade for its glorious tent weatherproofing, and the Habitude is not any exception. The sturdy rainfly performs admirably, holding up nicely via each torrential downpours and regular showers. The tub-style ground has additionally proven spectacular resistance to water intrusion. Nevertheless, as with all tents, it’s greatest 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, nonetheless, some room for enchancment. The rainfly’s design leaves components of the sidewalls uncovered, which might 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, on account of its tall peak peak, the Habitude might wrestle in excessive winds. If extreme climate is predicted, it’s greatest to pitch this tent in a sheltered location.

Ease of Setup

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

Fortuitously, the Habitude 6 is refreshingly simple to pitch for its measurement. Coloration-coded nook toggles permit for easy pole attachment, taking the guesswork out of the setup. We have been capable of pitch the Habitude solo; although, as with most massive tents, an additional set of fingers quickens the method.

The tent makes use of three pole units for the inside construction: an extended pole set for the principle dome and two shorter pole units for both sides wall. The tent physique attaches to those poles with plastic hooks, which we want over the typically finicky pole sleeves discovered on older or cheaper designs. The hooks make setup a lot faster and hassle-free, contributing to a easy 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 could be a welcome addition.

A novel function is the built-in “porch mild” above the entry door, which is useful for getting 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 respect the added gear storage, the vestibule feels small for a tent of this measurement. 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 wonderful alternative for households or teams in search of a well-made tent that may stand up to the weather. The quite a few inside storage pockets are particularly useful for households with youngsters who typically convey alongside small toys, knick-knacks, and different treasures. This tent additionally works nicely as a basecamp choice, the place further gear is likely to be mandatory 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 is probably not the most suitable choice for many who solely camp a couple of times a 12 months, however for avid campers who want a sturdy, long-lasting tent, the MSR Habitude 6 might be precisely what you’re searching for.

What Different Tenting Tents Ought to You Contemplate?

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

The North Face Wawona 6:  For those who’re searching for a big basecamp-style tent, the Wawona 6 is unquestionably price contemplating. It prices $100 lower than the Habitude 6, gives a barely bigger inside footprint, and boasts a completely huge entrance vestibule. Though it’s made from equally high-quality supplies, it has a barely decrease peak peak and a extra complicated setup course of.

Kelty Wi-fi 6:  For those who’re searching for a spacious 6-person tent with out a $500+ price ticket, the Kelty Wi-fi 6 is likely to be an amazing match. At simply $280, it’s a well-made price range choice with a barely bigger inside and decrease peak peak than some pricier fashions, providing a beneficiant quantity of room general. You’ll miss out on some options, but it surely’s a stable alternative for the value.