MSR Access 1 tent

[Mike M]

^ they are good stakes and until recently, all I used

 

the ti Dutchware stakes seem to be pretty good too, although no weight savings whatsoever- both are within a gram or two of an ounce even

[dirtbag]

So I picked up an Access 1 after all.

Mike is right, the stuff sack is a waste.. no need for that at all. I was able to pack the tent and fly, with the stakes (MSR Groundhogs) into a ZPacks slim stuff sack. I happend to have the stuff sack laying around unused, and it fit just fine. This packs really nice and hopefully I get some nasty winter storms this year that coincide with me getting out in the Catskills!! Anyway,  here is a picture of it next to a water bottle for some comparison…

[dirtbag]

Obviously,  the poles are not in there… they will be carried separately.. but on my scale it came in at 3 lbs 2oz.. the tent, fly, groundhog stakes and guy lines.. in that stuff sack.

[Mike M]

Yeah, that fits pretty well :)  Not sure what MSR was thinking on the stuff sack with an “ultralight” winter tent????

[bradmacmt]

MSR has never gotten its stuff sacks “right.”

[Mike M]

^ just saw a pic of the Hubba Hubba stuff sack- appears to be the same design, it works fine, but pretty darn heavy for a “ultralight” tent

[dirtbag]

Pretty odd that they do that. Anyway, i just set the tent up here at work. It is very nice!!! Im going on a short trip Friday- Saturday but wont be using this one.  Im actually leaving my hammock home and will be using my Nemo Hornet 1p.

I have to get a nice day where i have some time, pitch the Access 1 in my yard and seam seal it.. before I know it.. winter will be hitting!!!

[Mike M]

unless you think you need additional seam sealing, should be already sealed from the factory

[dirtbag]

Ahhh. Ok. I was wondering because it came with seam sealer..

[Mike M]

yeah mine did too; I think they included it if it were to start seeping down the road

[Mike M]

Couple more night in mine, one was a night it dropped to below 0- had some mild condensation (you don’t realize it until you bump your head against the top of the shelter :))

Still haven’t had any high winds to deal with (which is just fine by me!), but I’ve been using four upper guyouts in addition to the seven ground level points, so pretty confident in it’s ability for wind.

[dirtbag]

Cool thanks.

We have a storm rolling in this week, and as of now, it looks like i am stuck home quarantine for 10 days.. so i will set her up in my yard and ride out storm in there for test run. 

[dirtbag]

[Mike M]

if you get the forecasted wind, I’ll want to hear your impressions; also if you get any significant snow loads

[J-L]

@ dirtbag and Mike: How’s the Access 1 holding up? Have you had it in high winds yet? Does it flap a lot or make much noise?

My MYOG dome tent with carbon fiber poles met its match last weekend on a snowshoeing trip. Winds started ripping by a little after dark. Lots of panel deflection. It survived somehow, but now I’m looking at getting the Access 1P or maybe the Big Sky Chinook 1P. I could get thicker aluminum poles for my tent or maybe sew on additional tie-outs, but I’m not sure that would fix its wind performance.

Probably a dumb place to camp, but the view was great :)

[dirtbag]

I have not. The last post up top i was planning on a test run in my yard for a good storm.. unfortunately i was home with covid and that particular night i preferred my bed then the ground, so I packed up before storm hit and stayed inside. No other opportunities to use it yet. We got socked last night with about 20 inches or more of snow and nasty winds.. but … dang it.. I was stuck in city at work the entire day and night!!

[Mike M]

No high winds here yet;  moderate winds it’s pretty quiet. I have been guying it out pretty good too though.

[J-L]

Thanks for the responses! Seems like a good tent for the weight.

[dirtbag]

I love it from what I have seen. Though not field tested by myself personally yet, I would hate to tell you yes.. Get It, its great.

I will tell you that I do plan on keeping it and using it as soon as the right opportunity hits, and I do think it will be perfect for my circumstances. It is light weight, it packs pretty darn small and compact, it was fairly straightforward and easy to pitch (under calm conditions in my yard and at work), and it is big enough for me and my gear. Take that last comment with a grain of salt.. not sure what your comfort level is or what kind of gear or how much gear you have.. but for me personally.. it is just big enough.  Good luck with whatever you choose!!

[dirtbag]

here it was,  pitched in my yard just before the storm hit..

I took it down a few hours later when I wasn’t feeling great and decided best to sleep in my bed and not on ground in blizzard.

[Chris S]

@ dirtbag and Mike M

I was just researching this tent and it was looking pretty decent based on this older thread, but then I noticed some of the other search results were gear swap posts where you both ended up selling them.  If you don’t mind me asking, what didn’t you like about the tent and what are you now using instead?

[dirtbag]

So. I did like that tent a lot.  However,  I was not a huge fan of double wall and when I used it last winter in a good snow storm,  I had it pitched inside a shelter without the outter fly on it.  So, we got to that lean to around midnight, just as the the anticipated storm was beginning. Pitched our tents and went to sleep.. overnight got real nasty.. lots of snow and some heavy winds and bitter cold. It stayed like that all day and into the following day, so I was basically in that tent the entire time. I had no issues or problems at all and I stayed dry and cozy. Anyway.. when I got home, I thought about it for a few days and how I hope this winter i get another opportunity to ride out a legit blizzard.. this time not with the confides of the lean to for that added protection. So a few more days go bye and it got me thinking, I want something a tad bit larger, not much.. but a little tiny bit more room in there because I was able to melt snow and cook in there using my MSR Windburner, but it was very tight and I had to be very extra cautious,  so I would appreciate a a bit more room. Also, I wanted a single wall tent so I would not have to mess with the fly.. pitching or packing up. Simple and fast. I do have a Black Diamond Bibler I tent, but thats a bit bulkier and heavier and maybe overkill for my needs. So I researched and figured I would give the Black Diamond Highlight 2P a shot this year. I picked one up, played with it several times in my yard and decided thats what I will use this winter hopefully in a nasty storm somewhere in the Catskills or at least Harriman.

So thats a long story.. maybe doesnt even make any sense at all.. and there was nothing about the Access 1P that I really didn’t like, in fact, I was torn when I sold it.. actually almost decided to not sell it and hold onto it.. but if I want to ride out a good storm and be stuck in a tent for 2 days, I do prefer slightly more room.. mind you, I am a bivy lover.. but that little extra side room was enticing for extended period of time. And.. single wall, faster and easier to set up and break down.. especially when its freezing cold and windy out.. late at night, or early in the morning!!

[Chris S]

Awesome, thanks for the detailed reply.  Super helpful.

Yeah, it did look a little tight for one.  If I do go with the Access, it’ll definitely be the 2P version.  I looked at the BD Highlight as well, but I saw a few mentions in reviews that it’s not quite long enough if you’re over about 6′, even with only 1 person, so probably not a good option for me.  Part of reason I’m looking into a tent like this is to avoid the fiddle factor of the mid I would otherwise use, so the simplicity of the single wall is definitely appealing though.

Looks like you’re on long island.  I grew up in Islip and I’m actually heading there next week for a wedding.

[dirtbag]

For sleeping overnights in.. there was ample room in there. For riding a storm out and hunkering down 2 or 3 days.. a bit extra room is nicer to have, so yes,  the 2P would be way to go.  I am in Ronkonkoma.. grew up in Jersey,  Queens and Long Island, back and fourth.. so right around the corner from Islip. Tò bad you weren’t coming out this weekend,  I would say join us in Harriman for a short overnighter..

[Mike M]

I have a sheep hunt coming up next year in the Brooks and after looking at a lot of shelters (and frank discussions with previous hunters) went with a Hilleberg Niak.

Double walled, but the body is attached to fly so quicker/easier setup and obviously much less concern with condensation.  More room, which if you do happen to be stuck in a long storm, is welcomed.  The vestibule is a push between the two.  The Niak is a littles heavier (4-5 oz).   The main reason however was that the Niak is definitely more bomber.  Several stories of tents getting beat up pretty bad; definitely don’t want that on a 10-12 day trip :)

 

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