MSR Flylite — Reviews?

I'll add to Joe's comments and say that I am also quite excited the SD and MSR are exploring new, better, lighter designs for shelters. Not everyone wants to use paypal and buy from cottage makers (I buy from both; not advocating one against the other), so it's great to have options, to be sure. True, no shelter will do everything well so compromise is the name of the game. As Roger expressed, the user and intended use/location will determine whether this is a 'good' shelter. Someone in Washington is going to have a much different experience than someone like me who has the Sierras in his backyard.

That being said, I'd like to see some more real world tests (the whole point of this thread) rather than conjecture. Remember, 'everyone' was sure that the Tensegrity 2 Elite would all but disintegrate in windy conditions and had seemingly good reasons for thinking that, but then Michael posted the wind tunnel tests and reversed opinions.

Drew,

PLEASE put the Corporate Koolaid down for a second here and THINK …

First of all, NOBODY said the Tensegrity would " disintegrate" in wind.

Having said that, there is a big difference between a tent STAKED out in varying soil types with GUSTY winds from varing directions compared to a carefully controlled wind tunnel test with the tent BOLTED to a floor with wind from ONE direction ( most likely,the most favorable direction)

And ,from what I saw of what SD did show us, you darn well better NOT be in that tent if wind gusts hit 45 MPH.

Add the flapping issues from side and quartering winds with all the undercuts and sail like surfaces and you have a shelter that may be very adept at working stakes loose UNLESS it is bolted to a concrete floot. All I can say, I dont camp on much concrete..Or use many lag bolts pitching a shelter.

Frankly ,comparing the overall wind worthyness of the Tensegrity ,etc to a mid or dome tent is about as silly as comparing the Aerodynamics of a Curtis Jenny Biplane to an SR-71 Blackbird.

We will see how long the boxy new tarp tents last on the marketplace.
It will be an interesting next few years.

Jim,

Easy there, no need to shout. I'm not sure if you were replying to my comments only or someone else's, because I didn't make any claims about mids or dome tents here.

The points you made seem valid enough regarding stakes, wind gusts, mids, etc. I agree – no one should be in a tensegrity with 45+MPH winds. I think Michael from SD said something to the effect of "find a different campsite" anyhow. And it's true that if you know you're going to be in 45MPH+ winds, you're going to [want to] take some good stakes with a worthy shelter. Speaking with Jotaro, the owner of Locus Gear, he's been using 24" Easton Nano stakes with his cuben mids.

Just to be clear, here's the points that I am making:

1. It's nice to lightweight backpacking enthusiasts to see lighter and thoughtfully designed shelters.

2. Conjecture is beneficial and is great for forum discussion, but it's better to base decisions on facts, observations, Richard Nisely (haha).

It should be evident that the above statements are subjective opinion, FWIW.

I like the Hillberg method of testing outside with their modified snow blower. A bit less scientific perhaps. But real ground with stakes, outside, like we would use them.

So are there even any working alternatives in this size/weight class that are stable enough?

"I like the Hillberg method of testing outside with their modified snow blower. A bit less scientific perhaps. But real ground with stakes, outside, like we would use them."

+1 – you can use wind meter to measure wind speed, move it around to blow at different angles,…

Joe,

The key to getting FlyLite set up as tight as possible is to start with floor. Obviously you will not find totally flat and ideal set up locations every time, but if you get the floor staked out as wrinkle-free as possible, you are starting with a good foundation. Then it comes down to the angle and tension of your guy cords. It does take more time to set up the FlyLite compared to a traditional free-standing tent, but in the end you get a large-volume 2-person shelter for 1lb 9oz.
Terry

The Flylite looks like an interesting tent, however, in the Pacific Northwest, I am not sure with that design and a 1000mm HH rating on the rainfly you are going to have any meaningful protection from a prolonged downpour. I thought 1500mm HH was essentially the "rainproof" rating.

So, you will either end up wet from condensation or wet from the rain and protected from neither? I don't think I am understanding the targeted market here.

Any comments from the rep on status of the Flylite?

> I am not sure with that design and a 1000mm HH rating on the rainfly you are going to
> have any meaningful protection from a prolonged downpour. I thought 1500mm HH
> was essentially the "rainproof" rating.

1,000 mm????? Good lord! That is NOT rainproof!

Not too long ago the industry was trying to tell everyone that 1,500 mm would be enough when the roof was sloping. Some of us disagreed with that claim and wanted more like 2,500 mm. But to go down to 1,000 mm on a semi-flat roof … sigh.

> you will either end up wet from condensation or wet from the rain and protected
> from neither?
Well, it should keep the insects out I guess.

Cheers

Me too Roger C.
That thing is a sorry looking nylon coffin IMO.

This review of the Flylite on Trailspace appears to confirm most of the expectations outlined in this thread.

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/msr/flylite/#review33314

Not good…

That review says the HH of the floor is a pitiful 1200 mm. Ye Gods – it will leak like a sieve whenever you kneel on it!

Cheers

"Well, it should keep the insects out I guess."

Just for the sake of ccmparison, does anybody know offhand what is the HH of bug netting?

Thanks for the heads up on the trail space review. A lot of work went into that, gives you a good sense of the pros and cons.

Anyone know of any other reviews that might have popped up? Curious if MSR tweaked anything in the version that finally hit the market this July.

I really, really want to love this shelter, but I'm fairly hesitant. The Big Outside blog posted a review that was pretty positive back in May, and recent a tiny blurb of a review was posted on MSR's website that was glowing (in which they claim it held up 16 hours of straight rain). However, I was hoping for something more than an anecdotal blurb.