MSR Elixir 2 review: useful living space with a clear weight cost

The current MSR Elixir 2, model 13699, makes a straightforward trade: room and everyday tent conveniences at a weight that needs to fit the trip. It is worth considering for campers who do not put the lowest possible pack weight first. The current model’s specifications should be checked directly rather than copied from an older Elixir listing.

Space and access

MSR lists two doors, an 84-by-52-inch floor and 30 square feet of floor area, with 15 square feet of vestibule area. Minimum weight is stated as five pounds two ounces; packaged weight is six pounds three ounces. These are different measures, and the difference should remain visible when comparing tents.

Two doors are a meaningful convenience for two occupants because access does not have to be organized around a single entrance. The floor dimensions also allow a practical pre-purchase check: compare them with the actual sleeping pads you intend to use. A two-person label is less informative than seeing how the pads and small essentials fit together.

Decide how far it will be carried

For short approaches or trips where the load is shared, the Elixir’s weight may be an acceptable exchange for its layout. For long-distance walking with a tightly controlled pack budget, a lighter alternative deserves attention. The answer depends on the trip; a tent should not be praised for room while its carry cost is ignored.

Check what is included in the exact retail package, including the footprint and stakes, rather than assuming an accessory pictured elsewhere is supplied. Practice pitching before departure and learn the intended ventilation and guying arrangement. That preparation makes the product’s design useful and helps identify missing parts while they are still easy to replace.

Verdict

The Elixir 2 is a coherent choice when two-door access and a defined rectangular sleeping area matter more than shaving the last ounces. Its packaged weight is the principal compromise. Compare the current model, lay out the planned sleep system and choose it for a trip where the space-to-weight exchange makes sense.

Editorial rating: 4.0 / 5

Editorial assessment of the documented feature set, design tradeoffs, versatility and ownership requirements for the intended buyer. Features and design each contribute 30%; versatility and ownership each contribute 20%.

• Features: 4.1 / 5 (30%) — Two doors, specified vestibule area and a clear two-person floor plan provide useful camp conveniences that can be evaluated against actual sleeping-pad dimensions.
• Design: 4.2 / 5 (30%) — The rectangular floor and separate access points create a practical shared layout, with the six-pound-three-ounce packaged weight as the main design compromise.
• Versatility: 3.6 / 5 (20%) — The room-to-weight balance can suit shorter approaches and shared loads, but it is less compelling for trips where minimizing carried mass is the dominant goal.
• Ownership: 4.0 / 5 (20%) — A precise current model identifier and published minimum and packaged weights aid shopping, while package contents and practice pitching still need attention before departure.

Sources

• MSR Elixir 2 current model 13699