I must say that I was a little concerned when I read the forecast for my recent winter camping trip in Pike National Forest. Temperatures were expected in single digits with blizzard like conditions. However, the all-season rating of the MSR Superfusion stood up to the snow and cold temperatures.
Weighing in at 11lbs 8oz, this tent isn’t exactly the lightest shelter but its added comfort and versatility made this tent a great choice for winter excursions. Setting up the tent was fairly straight forward, given that the dome configuration is pretty self explanatory; three poles are slid through sleeves and then secured by fastening the ends in the loops along the floor.
The freestanding construction is great in the snow, plus the added benefit of lightweight stakes secure the shelter against the wind. My favorite aspect of the Superfusion is the large vestibule that allows plenty of room for gear storage and cooking during the inclement weather outside. The interior of the tent allowed for 3 of us to sleep comfortably, and several pockets, including a handy gear loft, accommodated plenty of storage space.
In addition, the tent is well ventilated and has several options for windows and regulating moisture build up. We did encounter quite a bit of condensation build-up though I believe that this could have been mitigated by taking advantage of the ventilation options that exist inside. The rain fly kept out the four inches of new snow we received during the night, and the dome construction kept the snow from collecting too much on top.
This is a great tent for car camping with a family or a weekend winter camping excursion. After packing up and dismantling the tent, it fit neatly inside the storage bag and compressed to a reasonable size for packing. Great tent and easy to use; this would be my recommendation to others who are looking for a dependable home in the snow.
Related – NEMO Equipment Morpho AR Tent
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