Logo
    Show
    Hide
    Login
    Close

    SITE LOGIN

    • Forgot your password?

    Register

    New Ski Touring Maps and Guides
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
        • Skis
        • Boots
        • Bindings
        • Climbing Skins
        • Poles
        • Snowboards
      • Clothing
        • Hard Shells
        • Soft Shells
        • Insulation
        • Mid Layers
        • Base Layers
        • Gloves
        • Socks
      • Accessories
        • Safety Gear
        • Goggles and Helmets
        • Ski Touring Packs
        • Ski Boxes and Bags
        • Sleeping Bags - 4 Season
        • Technology
        • Sunglasses
        • Insoles & Braces
        • Books
      • Off-Season Gear
        • Hiking
          • Rain Shells
          • Day Packs
          • Apparel
          • Footwear
          • Safety
        • Camping
          • Backpacks
          • Sleeping Bags
          • Sleeping Pads
          • Tents
          • Coolers / Cooking
          • Furniture / Storage
          • Lighting / Power
        • Biking
        • Paddling
        • Climbing
        • Mountaineering
        • Running
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
      • Best New Summer Gear
        • Best New Summer Gear 2023
        • Best New Summer Gear 2022
        • Best New Summer Gear 2021
        • Best New Summer Gear 2020
      • Holiday Gift Guide
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2022
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2023
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2021
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2019
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2018
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2017
        • Holiday Gift Guide 2016
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • FORUMS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
        • Alpine Touring Boots
        • Backcountry Skis
        • Alpine Touring Bindings
        • Backcountry Accessories
        • Off-Season Gear
        • Climbing Skins
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us
    • REVIEWS
      • Ski Gear
      • Clothing
      • Accessories
      • Off-Season Gear
      • Lifestyle
      • Lodges and Accommodation
      • Nutrition
      • Manufacturers
      • Destinations
      • Training
      • Gear of the Year
      • Best New Summer Gear
      • Holiday Gift Guide
      • Pro Skier Interviews
    • FORUMS
    • STORE
      • Guides & Maps
      • Gear Deals
    • ROUTES
    • LODGING
      • Coast Mountains
      • Interior Mountains
      • Rocky Mountains
    • VIDEOS
      • 2022/23 Gear Reviews
      • 2021/22 Gear Reviews
      • 2020/21 Gear Reviews
      • 2019/20 Gear Reviews
      • 2018/19 Gear Reviews
      • 2017/18 Gear Reviews
      • 2016/17 Gear Reviews
      • 2015/16 Gear Reviews
      • 2014/15 Gear Reviews
      • 2013/14 Gear Reviews
      • 2012/13 Gear Reviews
      • 2011/12 Gear Reviews
      • 2020 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2019 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2018 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2017 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2017 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2016 Outdoor Presscamp
      • 2016 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2015 SIA Show
      • 2014 Outdoor Retailer
      • 2013 SIA Show
      • 2012 Outdoor Retailer
      • Tips and Tricks
      • Backcountry Skiing
    • SAFETY
      • Plan Ahead
      • Equipment
      • Resources
      • Avalanche Skills Training
      • Managing warmth & heat loss
    • ABOUT
      • Advertise
      • Glossary
      • Contact Us

    HOTTEST REVIEWS


    RMU North Shore 114 Skis MADE Custom Apparel G3 R3 Recyclable Skis Garmin inReach Messenger Peak 104SC Skis Burton Hometown Hero Splitboard MEC Couloir Jacket/Pants

    VIDEOS YOU'LL LIKE


    Helly Hansen Lifa Infinity Dalbello Quantum Boots Line Vision 118 Skis The North Face Futurelight Black Crows Corvus Skis Plum OAZO Bindings Tecnica Zero G Tour Boots

    NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

    Unsubscribe
    Elan
    Zoleo
    • Home
    • »
    • MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent

    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent

    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 TentMSR is part of the Cascade Designs company which i's the Seattle-based parent company that owns Thermarest, Sealine, Platypus and a couple other well-known names. Before I forget, be sure to take at look our review of the MSR Whisperlite Universal Stove, over here and also the Thermarest NeoAir Camping Mattress review, MSR Nook Tent review and the Thermarest Antares down sleeping bag and the Thermarest NeoAir XLite camp mattress review. 

    I have a lot to say about the two items we tested because they both are so different from the tent and mattress I have been using for too long. In the tent department, I had a four-season, expedition-grade dome tent. This old tent was bombproof—but damn was it heavy. I also found that though the tent was made for winter camping, I never used it for that. Ever. I do a lot of ski touring but when an overnight is part of the program, so is a hut/cabin or leanto. These dwellings admittedly offer varying levels of comfort and protection but they definitely remove the need for a tent.

    The first thing you’ll notice about the Carbon Reflex 3 tent is its weight, or lack of it. The thing weighs in at a paltry 4 lbs 9 oz / 2084 g. This is likely half the weight of most four season tents (actually, less than half the weight in my case) and a least 25% lighter than most three person, three season tents. It really is a dream on the hike in. Split the load with your mate and you will literally be carrying only two pounds each—very manageable.

    The tent claims to be a three person tent and, in a pinch, it accommodates. If you have the option, I say it’s always better to have a little extra room to keep stuff dry in case of rain or if you want to hang and wait out the weather. One of the things that struck me almost immediately was the rectangular shape. Many tents don’t have two opposite sides of an equal length and this is somehow unsettling to me. With the MSR Carbon Reflex 3, you feel the symmetry and don’t worry about sleeping on top of anyone because there’s a choke at one end of the tent. Note that if bugs aren’t a concern, you can pitch the tent with just the fly and the footprint (which isn’t included). Don’t forget the poles. If you want to see how to set up the tent, check out this vid. It features the two-person version but you’ll get the idea. The MSR Carbon Reflex 3 is part of their Experience Series of tents; not as minimal as the Essential Series and not as expedition-ready as the Explore Series. 

    The tent, canoe camping. From the front and from the side respectively.
    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent


    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent

    If there’s no risk of precip., you can skip the fly. The entire top section of the tent is mesh. Great for hot and dry nights.
    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent

    If it is really blowing, there are Velcro straps attached to the underside of the fly. Here is the centre one and one on the side below it. You can tell that the sewing is high quality just by looking at it.
    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent

    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent

    Seam sealing looks nice and tidy but it always does on new tents. I’ll report back with an update next year (or I’ll try to remember).
    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent

    Inside, the tent is pretty bare bones, though many supplemental items are available through MSR (like gear lofts, dry lines, etc.) There are two pockets in the corners like the one pictured here.
    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent

    The Carbon Reflex 3 tent doesn’t come with a footprint but I would recommend getting one to increase the tent’s durability and ability to fend off driving rain storms. The fly clips into the corners of the tent, as does the footprint. One can easily tighten the fly over the tent by pulling up on the strap (pictured here, cranked to the max.)
    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent

    Here’s the kit that comes with. I think the MSR folks scaled back in order to keep the weight down. I picked up a couple extra tent pegs that I threw in the bag for back-up. The tent poles (which aren’t pictured) are made of Easton carbon fibre and are one of the many features that keep the tent’s weight down.
    MSR Carbon Reflex 3 Tent

    Fabrics:

    Fly Fabric: 20D ripstop nylon 1000mm DurashieldTM polyurethane & silicone
    Mesh Type: 20D nylon no-see-um mesh
    Floor Fabric: 40D ripstop nylon 3000mm DuraShieldTM polyurethane & DWR

    Verdict:

    The MSR Carbon Reflex 3 is a remarkable tent. If you are moving from a 4-season tent, you’ll soon appreciate that you don’t really need something so totally bombproof (read: heavy)—especially if you aren’t camping out in the winter. The tent’s simple 3 pole design makes it a breeze to set up (I did it in the dark no problem) and the steep sidewall construction means it feels spacious. There are interior lash points if you need to batten down the hatches for a storm. As is likely the case with any tent in this ultra-lightweight class, durability may be an issue. Make sure to invest in a footprint, take care of it and it’ll probably live a long and full life. 

    SPECS:

    Price: $635
    Color: Moss Green/Gray
    Capacity: 3
    Minimum Weight: 4 lbs 5 oz / 1904 g
    Packed Weight: 4 lbs 9 oz / 2084 g
    Floor Area: 41.5 sq. ft / 3.8 sq. m
    Vestibule Area: 20 (10 + 10) sq. ft / 1.85 sq. m
    Tent Volume: 124 cu. ft / 3530 litres
    Vestibule Volume: 20 cu. ft / 566 litres
    Packed Size: 20 x 7 in / 51 x 17 cm
    Number of Doors: 2
    Number of Poles: 3 Easton Carbon FX
    Number of Stakes: 8

    PROS:

    Super light weight. You’ll feel the difference on the hike in—before you even set up the tent. Comfortable and spacious feel. Really, really easy set up. Kept us dry through a night of rain.

    CONS:

    Could have come with a couple more tent pegs. At $600ish, the Carbon Reflex 3 is a little spendy to work into many budgets.

    Rating: 8.5/10

    Interior Space     2/2
    Design                1.5/2
    Features             2/2
    Weight                2/2
    Quality / Price    1/2

    buy backcountry skiing gear

    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.

    Back to the rest of the reviews. 


    We built this backcountry skiing community for you, the passionate skier, and hope you enjoy the hard work we put into all the reviews, routes, videos, and posts we create. It’s been free from day one but that doesn’t mean it’s not a valuable resource. If you enjoy this website and value the content we create for you, then please support Backcountry Skiing Canada by donating today or by clicking on those sponsor ads and 'Buy Now' links at the bottom of the reviews. Thank you!

    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022-23 Backcountry Skiing Canada. All Rights Reserved.