The Elixir range is a brilliant size, small enough to pack down and not take up much space in your pack, yet big enough to allow a large amount of room to move around inside while set up. In the main sleeping area you get just over a metre of head room to sit up, cook, move about and generally live in, while two spacious porch areas can house your kit, a small pet or someone you don't like very much. Two porch areas lead into two separate doors; this is especially useful if you need to get up during the night and don't want to wake your other half. This latest model (the version two of the Elixir) has around 35% more space in the porch areas.
A unique pole setup means this tent is completely freestanding and quick to set up. The inner simply lies flat while the frame is constructed above, the inner then clips to the poles and the outer sits over the top of the poles ready to be pegged down. The main benefit of a freestanding tent is that techically it doesn't require any guylines, therefore it can be set up on rock or other areas which are exempt from ground penitration. Colour coded poles, clips and webbing makes the Exixir 2 fantastically simple to set up in the dark, while a mesh cover for the two doors keeps the creepy crawlies out without restricting air flow.
Two different setup options are available; standard (2.2kg) and fast and light (1.61kg). This allows you to control the weight and pack size of the tent depending on your chosen activity. If you want to keep all your creature comforts, you'll have a groundsheet, the included footprint, outer and inner all present for a protective, spacious and comfortable nights sleep. If you fancy a few days out in the hills and are conscious of weight, you can ditch half of the included equipment to just be left with the footprint and outer. This strips the weight all the way back to around 1.6kg and provides you a packable, durable and lightweight alternative to tarp and bivvy camping.
Ventilation is taken care of by cleverly placed vents in certain areas. These vents are placed high up to avoid privacy issues, yet low enough to allow a breeze through. Two of these vents are placed either side of the tent, while the outer waterproof fabric can be pulled pack and pinned to the top of the tent to allow further breeze through, or if you just want to partake in a bit of stargazing.
The outer fabric used is an ultra-light yet durable 68D polyester, while the groundsheet is a slightly thicker 80D Nylon to cope with rough floors and careless throwing of kit.
Inside the main living area, you'll happily get two mattresses side-by-side, yet the whole tent will pack down to just over 2kg. You can even strip the tent right back to 1.6kg by removing a few creature comforts here and there. What's even better about this little gem though is that MSR are kind enough to supply a footprint free of charge to prolong the life of your groundsheet.
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Lightweight
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Fast to erect
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Footprint included
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Freestanding
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Durable outer fabric and groundsheet
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Livable height (1.02m)
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Two spacious vestibules
How to Care for Your Tent
We know that purchasing a tent is a big investment, that’s why we have such a wide range of options to suit different activities, weather conditions and people, allowing you to choose the perfect one for you. Taking care of your brand new tent can be the difference between heading out for an adventure in the mountains, or having to fork out for a hefty repair bill, or even worse, another replacement tent. Below are our best tips to care for your tent.
Footprint
Before even leaving the shop (or online basket) with your tent, consider a footprint. A footprint is a large water-resistant piece of material which sits underneath your tent to protect it from sharp rocks and wet ground; if this footprint gets damaged, it’s easy to replace and doesn’t cost a fortune; if your tent groundsheet gets damaged, you’ll have to spend at least twice the amount for a repair or replacement.
Don’t Abuse the Poles
The chances are your poles are made from individual aluminium sections connected by elastic; when you come to remove the poles from the tent, don’t pull them out. The best way to remove poles from their sleeve is to place the pole end against your hip and pull the fabric towards you. If you simply attempt to pull the pole out, they’ll disconnect inside, the elastic will stretch and then spring back, potentially trapping the fabric of your tent between the pole sections.
You might also be tempted to flick the poles out so that the elastic snaps them into place in a quickfire fashion. However, this is far from ideal, as if the poles don’t align when they meet, you can easily damage or weaken the end of the pole, leading to future failure which is usually on the wettest and windiest nights!
Collapse Poles From the Centre
When your poles are safely removed from the sleeve, collapse them from the centre to avoid stretching the elastic.
Stuff, Don’t Fold
You were probably told when you were in the Scouts or doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award that the best way to pack your tent away is to neatly fold it into a rectangle, the width of your storage bag, roll it around the poles and pegs and then put it all in the stuffsack. However, whilst very neat and tidy, this method of packing can create permanent creases in the fabric, weaken the waterproofing and eventually split the fabric of your tent. The best solution is to simply stuff the tent fabric into the storage bag, just like you would a sleeping bag, and pack the poles separately. Make sure to leave and end or corner at the top, so that you can easily peg it out if your next campsite is windy. The poles normally have their own stuffsack so they can be packed separately, strapped to the outside of your pack or stored inside, allowing the tent fabric to be compressed for efficient packing.
Store it Dry
Let’s assume you’ve been out with your tent and the weather has been a little on the damp side. You’ve packed your tent away when wet and now you’re back home in the warm and dry with a nice of cup of tea reflecting on your latest adventure. But what about your poor soggy tent? The worst thing you can do is to leave it packed away wet, mildew will grow and eventually rot the tent, rendering it useless. As soon as you’ve finished that cup of tea, wipe off any excess dirt and moisture with a towel, then hang the tent somewhere where it can fully air out; a nice warm spare room or a garage is perfect. Alternatively, when it stops raining, pitch the tent outside in the sunshine to dry off. Let it air for at least 24 hours and once you are sure that it is bone dry it can be packed away for storage. Note - don’t tumble dry or hang the tent over a radiator or other direct heat source.
Don’t Store in the Stuffsack
Like your sleeping bag, it’s best not to store your sleeping bag in its stuffsack unless it has to be compressed for an activity. Leave it in a large duffel bag or supermarket ‘bag for life’ in a cool, well ventilated area so it can breathe.
Avoid Tree Sap
If you’ve ever had sap on your hands, you’ll know how horrible and sticky the stuff is; it’s even harder to remove from your tent flysheet. Pitch away from trees if possible.
Don’t Leave in the Sun
The majority of tents we stock are made from nylon. Nylon is incredibly tough, lightweight and easy to care for, however it will naturally degrade if left out in harsh sunlight for extended periods of time. Try to pitch your tent in the shade or strike the tent (pack it away) during the day. Polyester tents don’t suffer from this quite as badly, but it’s still a good habit to get into.
Leave Sharp Objects Outside
Boots, cooking equipment and other sharp/abrasive objects can all be stored in the vestibule, where there is less chance of it ripping a hole in your fly or groundsheet. You may not want to pop your pet in there, but at least carry a small blanket to avoid their claws damaging your groundsheet.