MSR Dragontail Two-Person Tent (2010)

MSR Dragontail Two-Person Tent (2010) Review

MSR Dragontail Two-Person Tent (2010) Feature

• Expedition-quality tent with all-weather protection for two sleepers
• Hoop-design maximizes interior space with steep sidewalls; vestibules provide excellent gear storage
• Flow-through ventilation runs overhead, with vents on either end to keep condensation to a minimum
• 44 square foot total interior space (14 square foot vestibule); 1 door
• Weighs 4 pounds, 6 ounces; packs down to 20 x 7 inches

The epitome of ultralight, single-wall protection for extreme conditions, the MSR Dragontail two-person, expedition-quality tent offers a time-tested hoop design that will shed wind and snow everywhere from the Himalayas to the Poles. It offers excellent interior space while a unique, overhead ventilation system runs the length of the tent, providing mission-critical ventilation for optimal single-wall performance.

The hoop-design maximizes interior space with steep sidewalls and vestibules provide excellent gear storage. MSR's flow-through ventilation design runs overhead with vents on either end to keep condensation to a minimum. Large zipper pulls and buckles are designed to work with bulky gloves and mittens in extreme weather.

Beyond spacious, MSR's expedition pole configurations are designed to provide solid protection under snow and wind loads. The Fast Feed pole sleeves and freestanding design make set up fast and easy--even when pitching alone. It includes stuff sacks, stakes, and guyline.

Dragontail floor plan.

Dragontail height.

Specifications:

• Capacity: 2
• Weight: 4 pounds, 6 ounces
• Floor dimensions: 30 square feet
• Vestibule: 14 square feet
• Interior peak height: 41 inches
• Packed size: 20 x 7 inches
• Doors: 1

About MSR
Mountain Safety Research (MSR) designs, manufactures, and markets innovative adventure gear for outdoor enthusiasts. The ever-growing MSR product line is most popular with mountaineers, backpackers, and campers. MSR is the industry leader in reliability and quality with every product it focuses on--tents, stoves, water filters, snowshoes, cookware, climbing gear, fuel, and related accessories. All of MSR's products set the benchmark in performance throughout the specialty outdoor industry. MSR is also one of the most widely distributed brands in the outdoor industry and provides products to more than 1,200 specialty retailers in North America and export to more than 30 countries.

MSR Materials & Workmanship Guarantee
MSR warranties the materials and workmanship in every MSR tent to the original owner. If your MSR tent has received proper care, but fails due to a defect in manufacturing, the tent will be repaired or replaced at MSR's discretion. Repairs due to accident, improper care or negligence where MSR is not at fault--including sun degradation, mildew, wear and tear due to hard use--will be performed at a reasonable charge. MSR offers a lifetime warranty to the original owner on all MSR tent framework. If your tent pole breaks, MSR will repair or replace it--free--for the lifetime of the tent, upon postage paid delivery to the MSR Product Service Center. This warranty applies only to the original purchaser. Proof of purchase is required.

Amazon.com Tent Guide
Selecting a Tent
Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Expect the Worst
In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.

Three- and Four-Season Tents
For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.

For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.

Domes and Tunnels
Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.

Size Matters
Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.

Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.

Single-wall, ultralight, extreme-condition tent, perfect for alping ascents.