With 40mph winds blasting my face, I jumped into the flapping tent, desperate to get shelter from the snow pellets hitting my forehead. As I struggled to attach the poles to the inside of the tent, I thought: there must be a better way.
For most of my winter and spring ski trips, I’ve used a single-wall tent such as the Black Diamond First Light: simple, durable, and … cramped. Though this type of shelter is bomber and built for extreme weather conditions, it isn’t necessary much of the time, especially on spring ski traverses or early-season backpacking trips when temperatures are rising and the weather is shifting.
This spring, instead of struggling to set up poles from the inside out, I reached for the MSR Access 2 Tent for a ski trip in the backcountry at Snoqualmie Pass, just an hour east of my home outside of Seattle. Straddling the line between 3-seasons and 4-seasons, this tent is a perfect shoulder season tent that can handle tough conditions yet remains light and comfortable while feeling more like a summer backpacking tent.
I tested this tent at the base of Bryant Peak in the heart of the Cascade Mountains in Washington. The weather was mild, surprisingly warm for this time of year, and one of the biggest challenges I faced was staying dry from all the wet, slushy snow. I immediately loved how easy the tent was to set up, how light it was, and how versatile it felt.
In short: I tested the MSR Access 2 where it belongs: at tree line, in the snow (or not), during shoulder season when the weather and conditions are variable and unpredictable — and it excelled. I would use this tent on a multiday ski traverse, a lightweight backpacking trip, or a mountaineering adventure in any season. It doesn’t meet the highest standards of a 4-season tent, but it is suitable for almost anything but the harshest of circumstances.
Check out GearJunkie’s Best 4-Season Tents Buyer’s Guide to see why the MSR Access 2 won our Best Shoulder Season Crossover Tent title and compare it to others on the market.
- Type: Treeline ski-mountaineering
- Weight: 4 lbs., 1 oz.
- Doors: 2
- Sleeps: 2
- Floor Area: 29 sq. ft.
- Vestibule Area: 17.5 sq. ft.
- Height: 42"
- Walls: Double
Pros
- Minimal pack size that rivals some backpacking tents
- Double wall and two door design bumps up livability
- Impressively sturdy for the weight
- Mostly solid interior fly holds in heat
- Studded with guy-out points
Cons
- Carbon fiber poles aren't the most durable, and need to be treated with care
- No interior room for gear, has to be stored out in vestibules
MSR Access 2 Tent: Review
Design and Purpose
![The MSR Access 2 Tent set up in a snowy clearing without the rain fly on, showing the pole structure](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/05/IMG_4976.jpg)
First Impressions on a Ski-In Overnight
![The author setting up the Access 2 tent rainfly with mountains in background](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/05/IMG_5305.jpg)
Flush With Functionality, With Some Concessions
Pitching in the Snow
![](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/05/IMG_5350.jpg)
Room for Improvement
![](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/05/IMG_5244.jpg)
MSR Access 2: Conclusion
![](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2024/05/IMG_4979.jpg)