MSR Elixir 2 Person Hiking Tent with Footprint

For trampers heading out on New Zealand's Great Walks or multi-day backcountry routes, the MSR Elixir 2 makes a compelling case as your go-to two-person shelter. It's earned a reputation as one of the most livable tents in its weight class — not just technically capable, but genuinely comfortable to spend a full evening in after a long day on the trail.

The Elixir 2 is a freestanding three-season tent with a unique pole geometry that maximises headroom and internal space despite a compact packed size. Two large vestibules give you real storage for wet boots and muddy packs, keeping the interior clean and dry on those inevitable Fiordland or West Coast nights when everything arrives wet. The built-in gear loft keeps small items organised overhead, and glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls mean you can find the door in the dark without fumbling — a small detail that makes a real difference at 3am during a middle-of-the-night weather check.

This package includes the MSR footprint, which protects the tent floor from abrasion on rocky New Zealand campsites and significantly reduces the chance of moisture infiltrating from below. Updated fabric coatings improve waterproofing durability, and the directional pole-end grommets make setup fast even for less experienced campers. The two-door design means both occupants can get in and out without disturbing the other — a small courtesy that matters on a ten-day South Island crossing.

The Elixir 2 is for two-person teams who want a spacious, reliable, and easy-to-pitch three-season tent for New Zealand tramping — from the Milford Track to remote alpine routes in Kahurangi.