This MSR Advance Pro 2 Person Tent Review is about a winter tent for alpinists and professionals. This is a freestanding ultralight single-layer tent with an incredibly easy setup. It has a unique pole sleeve design so that it can be set up by one person standing in a single spot.
Key features & benefits
- All seasons full protection.
- Very easy setup.
- Very lightweight.
- Freestanding.
- Small floor size for easier pitching on narrow ledges.
- Hybrid clip and pole sleeve design for a fast setup by one person.
- Easton Syclone poles are ultralight and cutting-edge composite materials that will resist breaking even in most severe situations.
What types is it
The Advance Pro 2 is described as a four-season tent, but it is best to understand this as a winter tent or even better as a high altitude tent. Using it in summer conditions as an ordinary camping tent would be an overkill.
The tent is a free-standing type so you can pitch it on any terrain. This is due to its two-pole structure and the grommets in the corners. In the MSR site and elsewhere they describe it as a single-pole tent, which is quite hard to understand; see the pictures and you will realize it.
This is also a single-layer tent, which is typical for tents of this type. This is both good and bad; good is because the setup is much easier, and bad is that it provides less comfort. You can read more about winter tents in my separate text.
Who is it for
At MSR they describe it as designed for professional alpinists. So this is:
- an ultralight construction,
- it needs a very small space to pitch it up, and
- a very expensive tool.
There is a downside; the tent is really small for two people. Indeed two alpinists will manage to squeeze inside but I see it as a perfect solo tool. But it is not designed for comfort; this is a tool to be used at high altitudes where it may be difficult to find a space for a tent.
In view of its purpose, the design is simple, you have only one door, but this is a front door which is very good. There is no vestibule here. See its floor size and dimensions:
Setup and construction
The Advance Pro 2 is with a particular pole sleeve system which allows for setting it up fast by one person standing in a single spot. You will be able to see this in the video below.
The floor shape is rectangular which I love to have and the dimensions are only 82 x 42 inches (208 x 107 cm), as shown above. So this is a design for areas where space is precious and for summit assaults.
The poles are an ultralight and very strong composite material, designed to withstand harshest conditions. See how it is set up:
Note that the tent is without a footprint, but this is not surprising in view of its main purpose. If you need it, it can be ordered separately here.
Waterproofness
This tent’s external fabric is coated with polyurethane coatings and all seams are factory taped. So you have a full protection from water. The rating is 1000 mm for the fly and 3000 mm for the floor.
If you are not familiar with the terminology, this means that the coating will withstand this number of millimeters of a water column for at least one minute before a single drop appears through the fabric.
Those numbers may look small but more is not needed, they are good enough for a hurricane-force storm.
Specifications
- Type: freestanding, 4-season tent.
- Capacity: 2-person tent.
- Minimum weight: 2 lb 14 oz (1.3 kg).
- Packed weight: 3 lb 3 oz (1.46 kg).
- Packed size: 18 x 6 in (46 x 15 cm).
- Floor area: 24 sq ft (2.2 sq m).
- Tent volume: 38 cu ft (1076 l).
- Length: 82 in (208 cm).
- Width: 42 in (107 cm).
- Interior peak height: 44 in (112 cm).
- Poles: 2.
- Doors: 1.
- Rainfly fabric: breathable 20D ripstop nylon 1000 mm.
- Floor fabric: 30D ripstop nylon 3000 mm Durashield polyurethane & DWR.
- Colors: 1, orange.
Minimum weight vs packed weight
In the specifications, you have seen these terms. This terminology is described in detail in my separate text. But the terminology is not standardized and various manufacturers use it differently.
MSR follows ASTM International F 1934-98 standards, so the packaged weight includes the total weight of the packaged contents.
Following the same standards, the minimum weight is the combined weight of the tent body, rainfly, and tent poles. So this does not include tent stakes, guy cords, stuff sack, etc.
Summary, rating, pros & cons
In the conclusion of this MSR Advance Pro 2 Person Tent Review to stress again that I love the design and simplicity of this tent, this is a very reliable tool from the brand which I trust and I can fully recommend it. But the floor area is quite small and I would not use it as a 2-person tent, this is a great solo tool.
This is an alpine shelter that can accommodate two people, but use it as a solo tool and you will have an alpine castle. Please see how I rate this tent:
MSR Advance Pro 2 Person Tent
Pros
- Very versatile.
- Easy setup.
- Breathable fabric.
- Tent for professionals.
- Advanced design and technology.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Narrow.
- No vestibule.
See also my list of winter tents for backpacking where this tent is included.
Thank you for reading. Please use the comment box below in the case of comments and questions. Have a nice day.
Stefan says
Sorry, but this is not what I call a review. It´s more of a description or a summary about what this tent is. It´s good as such, but except for the scores I can´t find any personal experiences or references mentioned here. Have you even used it? Just pitching a tent in your backyard should result in more personal opinions than this.
Jovo says
Hi Stefan, yes I have full access to all the stuff presented here. The information you have in the site is reliable.
PC says
Thanks Jovo. Yes, length is a factor. I had seen the Lago based on your review, and it seems suitable at first glance (minus the odd folding floor, which has mixed reviews). However i have difficulty finding it for sale for a reasonable price (amazon shows $2,000) since it’s a discontinued item. The Rab Latok Summit tent also seems appealing in footprint since it’s larger, but the shallowly sloping walls are surely going to reduce that usable footprint significantly to possibly smaller than the Advance Pro 2. So, nothing jumps out yet as a better option. Thanks for your thoughts, I’ll continue the search.
PC says
Hello, Thank you for this great review:)
Some state the minimum as 0.84 kg (1 lb 14 oz), others state 2 lb 14 oz minimum. So, i’m trying to figure out which it is…
Did you verify the weight on a scale, or if not, would you be able to weight it if it’s still in your possession?
Jovo says
Hi, my data are always based on what manufacturer gives. So the value is 2 lb 14 oz (1.3 kg) as indicated. It is completely impossible to get to 0.84 kg, this is a single layer tent. I do not have it at hand now but you can rely on these numbers.
Such a small weight you have in another tent, the Big Agnes Fly Creek 2 Platinum HV, where you have 907 and 737 packed and trail weight, respectively. But this is not a winter tent.
PC says
Thanks Jovo, I appreciate your reply. Then, some websites are incorrect 😉 (Eg MEC.ca has this as 0.84 kg).
I asked about the weight because I still use the old-version BD Highlight, which is 3 pounds, is also bomber in high winds, and has more floor space (I’m >6 ft tall and barely fit the BD). But setting it up is a major pain with the internal poles.
The Advance Pro 2 may be too short for me but I could use it as a 1-man tent diagonally as you suggested…but it weighs the same as the Lighthouse, so it’s probably not worthwhile to get given that the same weight.
Since you used the Advance Pro 2, do you personally see any significant advantages of it over the prev-gen BD Lighthouse?
Thanks again for your reviews, they are always insightful to read.
Jovo says
So the length is an issue for you? Then it is better to check for some longer options, I wonder if you have considered the Lago tent which is 226 cm. Also, Rab Latok Summit tent is long, 220 cm, the same as BD Lighthouse. For 3-season use Eureka Solitaire tent is the same weight as the MSR Advance Pro 2, but it is 244 cm.
Scott says
Hi
Can you tell me if there is mesh netting where the top vents are? Thanks!
Jovo says
Hi Scott, yes you have them there for sure. Best regards.