Mountain Smith Morrison 2 Person Tent

We tested the new Mountainsmith Morrison 2 tent recently and without a doubt this 3-Season tent is one of the best bangs for your buck out there. From our experience with Mountainsmith products, they have a remarkable attention to detail and quality while maintaining a very low price point and the Morrison 2 certainly hit this tent stake on the head.

The Morrison 2 features 35 square foot floor space – ample for a two-person tent with plenty of room for an extra tall person or for your pack, dog or whatever you bring along for the tour. With a headspace of 43 inches, there’s enough room to maneuver about without cramping your style.

Features on this freestanding tent are many. The two-door design (one on each side) means you don’t have to step on your buddy on late night trips to the loo, and several pockets in opposing corners allows storage for water bottles to headlamps to what-have-you. The tent has large screens at each end and each door has a zipper-open screen to provide plenty of ventilation as required.

One of the more impressive features is the rain fly, which has fully taped seals, nifty prop-up ventilation and guyout attachment points (with reflective guylines) to keep things stable and dry inside. The 185t poly PU2000mm fly attaches via colour-coded buckle attachments for no mistake and rapid setup. There’s no question you’ll stay dry in the Morrison 2 in even the rainiest of conditions.

While this tent is not meant to manage heavy snow loads and high winds, the light 7000 series aluminum poles are robust and can handle adverse conditions. We set this tent up in a windy snowstorm and felt quite secure inside. The simple two pole cross frame attaches via simple grommets, also enabling quick set-up. First time at it and we had it up and ready to use in only a few minutes. Set-up instructions are printed on the storage sack, a nice touch.

The bottom of the Morrison 2 has a “bathtub” build meaning water and snow won’t easily get in. It’s made of 190t Poly PU5000mm and has fully taped seals. While I don’t question the waterproof characteristics, I’d be hesitant to set this up without a ground cloth as it’s on the thin side.

Three inside pockets in opposite corners provide ample storage for personal items.

Quick pole clips make tent set up a breeze.

A nifty opposing hooks keep the tent poles secure and aligned.

Zippers on the Morrisen are durable and easy to open and close.

Corner clips for the fly also help for fast, secure set up, but make sure they're snow free before clipping or they’ll jam with ice.

The full rain fly rolls away for easy access. Doors on both sides are a nice touch to prevent stepping over your partner.

The Verdict:

The Mountainsmith Morrison 2 is an impressive tent at an even more impressive price (suggested retail $159, but found as low as $114 on some websites). Its average weight for its class (4lb 11oz) may deter the weight weenies out there, but it more than makes up for it with a roomy interior and more features than you find on just about any tent at this price. We say the Mountainsmith Morrison 2 is a winner for everything but mid-winter camping where snow loads and heavy winds may be a bit much, which is to be expected from a 3-season tent.

SPECS:

Price: $179 US
Weight: 4lb 11 oz / 2126g
Colour: Green, Grey and white
Dimensions: 92” x 56” x 43” / 234 x 142 x 110 cm
Stand-up Height: 3’ 7” / 1.3m
Packed Dimensions: 18” x 7.5” / 45.75 x 19 cm
Included: Tent, Fly, 2 Aluminum poles, 8 Aluminum v-stakes, nylon storage sack
Capacity: 2 Persons
Materials: YKK® Zippers, 30dx244T Nylon Storage Sack, Fly: 185T Poly PU2000MM F/R, Tent: 185T Breathable Poly F/R, Floor: 190T Poly PU5000mm F/R

PROS:

- Excellent features for the price
- Top shelf construction
- Quality rain fly with good coverage
- Good ventilation
- Plenty of room for a 2-person tent

CONS:

- A tad on the heavier side
- Thin floor will require a foot print drop sheet
- Large screens equal little heat retention

Rating: 8/10

Interior Space    2/2
Design               1.5/2
Features            1.5/2
Weight              1.5/2
Quality / Price  1.5/2

This is only our opinion. Do you disagree? Did we miss something? Are we totally out to lunch? Join the discussion in the forums here, and let us know what you think. People like/dislike gear for different reasons so chime in and we'll get a well-rounded evaluation. Check back mid-season to see how our review stands up to our in-the-field testing.