Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 2 Review
Cons: Heavy, flappy vestibules
Manufacturer: Mountainsmith
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Mountainsmith Morrison Evo 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $199.95 at Backcountry | $159 List | $139.00 at REI | $158.95 at Backcountry | $200 List |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Easy to set-up, lots of features, roomy | Two side doors, easy to pitch, large vestibules | Lots of headroom, large vestibule, easy to pitch | Headroom, large tent doors, ventilation | Lightweight, easy to pitch |
| Cons | Heavy, flappy vestibules | Heavy, not so stable in high wind | Poles pinch together under fly tension | Heavy, unsteady in high wind, cheap stakes | Small interior, single door and vestibule |
| Bottom Line | This workhorse of a tent is ideal for weekend backpackers, campers, and paddlers | A straightforward tent with good comfort features | This tent carries over its best features to the 1P version | This tent offers a lot of headroom, comfort, and ventilation | This tent is cramped quarters for two people but will keep your load light if you are on a budget |
| 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%) | |||||
| Weight (25%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (20%) | |||||
| Ease Of Set Up (10%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Packed Size (10%) | |||||
| 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 | 5.23 lbs | 4.21 lbs | 5.89 lbs | 3.96 lbs |
| Floor Area | 36 sq ft | 31 sq ft | 20 sq ft | 30.5 sq ft | 28 sq ft |
| Packed Size | 8 x 17 in | 18 x 8 in | 7.5 x 17 in | 7 x 22 in | 6 x 19 in |
| Dimensions | 92 × 56 × 43 in | 88 x 52 in | 88 x 36 in | 87 x 50 x 43 in | 86 x (52 x 42) x 41 in |
| Vestibule Area (Total, Sq Ft) | 19 | 19 | 9.5 | 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 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Gear Loft | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Pole Material | 7000 Series Aluminum Alloy | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | DAC pressfit aluminum |
| Guy Points | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Rain Fly Material | 68D polyester | Polyester | Polyester | 68D lightweight polyester taffeta, 1200 mm PU | Polyester taffeta |
| Inner Tent Material | 68D polyester | Polyester | 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. 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.
Performance Comparison
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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