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Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 2 Review

This tent includes a great feature set and a spacious interior to create a model worthy of car camping luxury.
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Price:  $200 List | $169.98 at Amazon
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Easy to set-up, lots of features, roomy
Cons:  Heavy, flappy vestibules
Manufacturer:   Mountainsmith
By Ben Applebaum-Bauch ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 28, 2019
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68
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#6 of 11
  • Comfort - 25% 9
  • Weight - 25% 6
  • Weather Resistance - 20% 5
  • Ease of Set-up - 10% 7
  • Durability - 10% 7
  • Packed Size - 10% 6

Our Verdict

The Mountainsmith Morrison 2 offers outdoor comfort for days. It's a cinch to set up, and we enjoyed passing time inside these spacious quarters. It provides additional features that add to its appeal. It has two large doors, great storage pockets, and an included gear loft and footprint, which round out the package. Its heft limits its versatility, and we have some questions about weather resistance, but this a great tent for car camping or paddling trips.


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Awards  Best Buy Award Top Pick Award Best Buy Award Top Pick Award 
Price $169.98 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$160 List$140 List$158.95 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$149.93 at REI
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Easy to set-up, lots of features, roomyTwo side doors, easy to pitch, large trapezoidal vestibulesLots of headroom, large vestibule, easy to pitchHeadroom, large tent doors, ventilationLightweight, easy to pitch
Cons Heavy, flappy vestibulesDoors can be annoying, heavyPoles pinch under fly tensionHeavy, unsteady in high wind, cheap stakesSmall interior, single door and vestibule
Bottom Line This tent includes a great feature set and a spacious interior to create a model worthy of car camping luxury.This basic tent is easy to set up and provides comfortable nights of camping on a budget.This inexpensive tent is just a good as a 1P as it for two.This spacious tent makes the most of its dimensions and offers plenty of features that will have you camping in comfort.A budget tent for those who want to minimize weight and don't mind sacrificing a fair bit of comfort.
Rating Categories Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 2 REI Co-op Passage 2 REI Co-op Passage 1 The North Face Stormbreak 2 Big Agnes C Bar 2
Comfort (25%)
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
4
Weight (25%)
10
0
6
10
0
6
10
0
6
10
0
5
10
0
9
Weather Resistance (20%)
10
0
5
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
7
10
0
7
Ease Of Set Up (10%)
10
0
7
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
8
Durability (10%)
10
0
7
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
8
10
0
7
Packed Size (10%)
10
0
6
10
0
5
10
0
4
10
0
5
10
0
8
Specs Mountainsmith... REI Co-op Passage 2 REI Co-op Passage 1 The North Face... Big Agnes C Bar 2
Measured Packaged Weight 5.47 lbs 5.29 lbs 3.92 lbs 5.89 lbs 3.96 lbs
Floor Area 36 sq ft 33.75 sq ft 20 sq ft 30.5 sq ft 28 sq ft
Packed Size 8 x 17 in 7 x 22 in 7.25 x 22 in 7 x 22 in 6 x 19 in
Dimensions 92 × 56 × 43 in 88 x 52 x 40 in 88 x 36.5 x 40 in 87 x 50 x 43 in 86 x (52 x 42) x 41 in
Vestibule Area (Total, Sq Ft) 19 18.75 8 19 7
Peak Height 45 in 40 in 40 in 43 in 41 in
Number of Doors 2 2 1 2 1
Number of Poles 2 2 2 4 2
Pole Diameter Not provided 8.5 mm 8.5 mm Not provided Not provided
Number of Pockets 4 + gear loft 4 + 2 door stuff pockets 2 4 3
Gear Loft Yes Yes No No No
Pole Material 7000 Series Aluminum Alloy 7001 aluminum Aluminum Aluminum DAC pressfit aluminum
Guy Points 2 4 4 4 7
Rain Fly Material 68D polyester Coated polyester taffeta Coated polyester taffeta 68D lightweight polyester taffeta, 1200 mm PU Polyester taffeta
Inner Tent Material 68D polyester Nylon/Taffeta Mesh Polyester 68D polyester taffeta, 1500 mm PU coating Polyester & mesh
Type Freestanding Freestanding Freestanding Two door, freestanding Freestanding

Our Analysis and Test Results

This tent is an inexpensive and stealthy addition to anyone's outdoor arsenal. It has a lot of features and high livability. Though it is not a very lightweight tent for carrying on your back, we still love it for lounging.

Performance Comparison


The Mountainsmith Morrison 2 is supremely comfortable and easy to pitch. Its weight holds it back, but this tent still shines in the top half of our review.

This tent offers a spacious experience wherever it goes.
This tent offers a spacious experience wherever it goes.

Comfort


This tent has a lot to like about its interior comfort. At 92" x 56", it is the longest and widest tent in this review. Its 43" peak height is the second highest. There's just a lot of space in there. It has a two-side-door design, and the doors themselves zip-off almost all the way around for a real open-air feel. The orientation of the doors suggests that sleepers are meant to go head-to-toe.

There is plenty of headroom to go around in this tent.
There is plenty of headroom to go around in this tent.

There are additional storage pockets, an included gear loft, and when you are not storing the door in the side pocket, there is even more space to tuck away clothes and equipment. The vestibules are large enough for each person to store a pack and footwear.

The door can stow away in one of the side pockets which can also be used for other items when the door is zipped.
The door can stow away in one of the side pockets, which can also be used for other items when the door is zipped.

This tent has a combination of mesh and other fabric throughout the canopy, which has its advantages and disadvantages. It is less breathable than tents with more mesh but potentially retains warmth more. We also like the look of it. The light green and gray colors can be very stealthy for tucking away in the woods.

Ease of Set-up


The Morrison 2 is easy tents to set up. It has a simple two-pole design. Each pole end slides into grommets at the tent corners. A cross pole in the middle increases headroom. The fly clips in at each corner, and the tent battens down with its two end guy lines and vestibule doors. We like that the guyline is already attached to the fly; however, we found that properly tensioning the single point fly was more difficult than the trapezoidal geometry found on the flies of other models in this review.

The two crossing poles offer a straightforward traditional pitch.
The two crossing poles offer a straightforward, traditional pitch.

Weather Resistance


The Morrison 2 stands up to rain relatively well, but because of issues with the fly tension, it could be better. It has a burly fly and floor that withstood the moisture we encountered while testing. It would benefit from a couple more guy points to help it better withstand strong winds. Its 43-inch peak height offers a lot of headroom but can also catch some serious wind. The low running vestibules are nice a preventing splashback, but there are so many ripples in the fly that precipitation still channels down in specific spots as opposed to uniformly dripping off.

Even after readjustment the fly still has a lot of extra material we would prefer to tension out.
Even after readjustment, the fly still has a lot of extra material we would prefer to tension out.

The venting options on this tent are very nice. In addition to proper ventilation at the top, the open doors create an excellent cross breeze, and the fly door has dual zippers that can open up to keep air moving without having to unstake any part of it.

Durability


The Morrison 2 has much the same fly and floor materials as other tents. The fabrics themselves hold up; the issue is the cheaper polyurethane coating that tends to degrade over time, especially when the tent is not dried out and stored properly. Otherwise, we think this model seems quite durable and well made. The inclusion of a footprint only helps to increase the longevity of this behemoth.

In the top right corner the true vent is visible in addition to the open vestibule door. Both facilitate good ventilation.
In the top right corner, the true vent is visible in addition to the open vestibule door. Both facilitate good ventilation.

Weight & Packed Size


Alas, all good things must come to an end. This tent is quite a heavy package, tipping the scales at 5 pounds, 8 ounces. It is not quite as heavy as some behemoths in this category, but it's not far off. It packs to 8" x 17" — in the middle of the group.

This stout model (middle) side-by-side with the Big Agnes C Bar (left) and Sierra Design Clip Flashlight 2 (right).
This stout model (middle) side-by-side with the Big Agnes C Bar (left) and Sierra Design Clip Flashlight 2 (right).

Value


This tent is a good deal. Though it has an above-average price tag for this budget review, it is loaded with features, has a great spacious interior, and can withstand hard use for several years. We think that for the right car camper, this model offers great value.

This tent also pitches in fast fly mode without the main tent body. If it's past bug season this can be a good way to reduce weight (but you also reduce comfort).
This tent also pitches in fast fly mode without the main tent body. If it's past bug season, this can be a good way to reduce weight (but you also reduce comfort).

Conclusion


Although it is heavy, the Mountainsmith Morrison 2 is a solid workhorse tent. You won't mind spending time in its luxurious interior. We like all the pockets and variations of its interior doors. We worry that it whips in high winds and may not withstand a punishing rainstorm.


— Ben Applebaum-Bauch