MSR Habitude 6 Tent Overview

Backside Line

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

That stated, there are just a few downsides. The only-door design is limiting as a second door would cut back the trouble of stepping over sleeping campers at night time. Air flow will also be a problem if the rainfly isn’t absolutely guyed out since condensation could construct up, however securing the fly tightly helps alleviate this. Lastly, we wish 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 consider it nonetheless provides nice worth for these in search of a high-quality tent filled with 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 largely dry climate, although we did expertise some fairly intense wind at occasions—excellent for placing the tent’s stability to the take a look at. With two children in tow, we received to see how effectively the Habitude 6 dealt with actual household tenting life, from gear group to late-night rest room runs.

Curious about studying extra in-depth critiques of a few of our favourite tents? Try our gear information to the Finest Tenting Tents of 2024.

Consolation

The Habitude 6 delivers excellent spaciousness and luxury, that includes a beneficiant 6’4” peak top and a big door for simple entry and exit, even accommodating these with mobility challenges. We discovered it supplied ample house for our household of 4, with further room for gear and even an array of youngsters’ toys. Actually, who wants 14 monster vans? Thankfully, 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 incorporates 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 contemporary 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 first-rate instance. Though this tent comes at a premium value, it’s backed by sturdy, high-quality supplies that you could count on to final by means of many tenting seasons. The 7000-series aluminum poles are constructed not just for longevity but additionally 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 could 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 take a look at 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 selection for frequent use.

Climate Resistance

MSR is well-known within the out of doors business for its wonderful tent weatherproofing, and the Habitude is not any exception. The strong rainfly performs admirably, holding up effectively by means of each torrential downpours and regular showers. The tub-style ground has additionally proven spectacular resistance to water intrusion. Nonetheless, 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. General, you may depend on this tent to maintain you dry in most situations.

There’s, nevertheless, some room for enchancment. The rainfly’s design leaves components of the sidewalls uncovered, which may turn out to be a problem in sturdy, sideways rain. Although we haven’t skilled any leaks, extended publicity to heavy rain may result in potential seepage. Moreover, resulting from its tall peak top, the Habitude could wrestle in excessive winds. If extreme climate is anticipated, it’s greatest to pitch this tent in a sheltered location.

Ease of Setup

Giant tents just like the Habitude 6 are sometimes identified for sophisticated setups as a result of quantity of fabric they require and the necessity for sturdy building to resist the weather, particularly in windy situations.

Thankfully, the Habitude 6 is refreshingly simple to pitch for its dimension. Colour-coded nook toggles enable for easy pole attachment, taking the guesswork out of the setup. We had been in a position to pitch the Habitude solo; although, as with most giant tents, an additional set of palms quickens the method.

The tent makes use of three pole units for the inside construction: an extended pole set for the primary dome and two shorter pole units for all sides wall. The tent physique attaches to those poles with plastic hooks, which we favor over the generally finicky pole sleeves discovered on older or inexpensive designs. The hooks make setup a lot faster and hassle-free, contributing to a clean setup expertise general.

Options

The Habitude 6 consists of all of the options you’d count on 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 objects 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 can be a welcome addition.

A singular 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 may retailer further gear within the modest entrance vestibule. Though we recognize the added gear storage, the vestibule feels small for a tent of this dimension. 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 selection for households or teams looking for a well-made tent that may face up to the weather. The quite a few inside storage pockets are particularly useful for households with kids who typically deliver alongside small toys, knick-knacks, and different treasures. This tent additionally works effectively 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 generally is a downside, the Habitude is a worthwhile funding for frequent campers. It will not be 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 in search of.

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:  When you’re in search of a big basecamp-style tent, the Wawona 6 is certainly value contemplating. It prices $100 lower than the Habitude 6, provides a barely bigger inside footprint, and boasts a completely huge entrance vestibule. Though it’s product of equally high-quality supplies, it has a barely decrease peak top and a extra complicated setup course of.

Kelty Wi-fi 6:  When you’re in search of 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 top than some pricier fashions, providing a beneficiant quantity of room general. You’ll miss out on some options, however it’s a stable selection for the value.