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MSR Habitude 4 Review

An ultra high-quality 4-person tent that makes great use of space with quality components
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MSR Habitude 4 Review (Quality materials can be found throughout, from the floors to the poles, the Habitude is built to last.)
Quality materials can be found throughout, from the floors to the poles, the Habitude is built to last.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke
Price:  $600 List
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Manufacturer:   MSR
By Rob Gaedtke ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 25, 2024
82
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 18
  • Space and Comfort - 35% 8.0
  • Weather Resistance - 25% 9.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8.0
  • Family Friendliness - 15% 7.0
  • Quality - 10% 9.0

Our Verdict

The MSR Habitude 4 features a sturdy structure, just enough height for most people to stand in, and a well-sized vestibule. It's the perfect pick for smaller families looking for an upgrade in quality and uniqueness. Weighing in at only 12 pounds, it is easy to see why this tent is a great pick for adventures. Unfortunately, there is only a single door, no battery for the porch light, and not one but three hubbed poles. The storage bag is styled after a climbing rope bag and may not be intuitive for some at first. Small criticisms aside, the Habitude easily beat out all of the other 4-person tents in our lineup. Get the skinny on how it stacks up against other top products in our article on the best camping tents.
REASONS TO BUY
Quality materials
Great height
Perfectly sized vestibule
REASONS TO AVOID
Hubbed poles
Single door
Awkward bag

Compare to Similar Products

 
msr habitude 4
This Product
MSR Habitude 4
Awards Top Pick Award
Best 4-Person Tent
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Camping Tent
Top Pick Award
Best Tent For Bad Weather
Top Pick Award
Best Form and Function
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Price $599.95 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers
$500 List
$500.00 at Backcountry
$549 List
$549.00 at REI
$349.93 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$228.99 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line A unique tent both in looks and features, built with quality material from a well-known brandIt's hard to imagine a better use of space at this price pointA well-engineered, thoughtfully designed tent that offers of convenient features, including the ability to attach you vehicle to your shelterWith good looks and even better functionality, this tent was built rightYou may have to sacrifice a little on quality, but this tent is fairly solid, cleans easily, and can sleep a platoon of kids and pets
Rating Categories MSR Habitude 4 The North Face Wawo... REI Co-op Base Camp 6 NEMO Aurora Highrise 6 Coleman Skydome XL 8
Space and Comfort (35%)
8.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
Weather Resistance (25%)
9.0
8.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
Ease of Use (15%)
8.0
7.0
6.5
7.0
6.0
Family Friendliness (15%)
7.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
9.0
Quality (10%)
9.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
Specs MSR Habitude 4 The North Face Wawo... REI Co-op Base Camp 6 NEMO Aurora Highrise 6 Coleman Skydome XL 8
Measured Weight 12.0 lbs 21.9 lbs 20.8 lbs 18.9 lbs 20.3 lbs
Max Inside Height 6' 1" 6' 4" 6' 2" 6' 5" 6' 1"
Floor Dimensions 7' 11" x 7' 11" 10' x 8' 9' 2" x 9'2" 8' 4" x 10' 16' 2" x 7' 1"
Floor Area 62.4 sq ft 86.1 sq ft 84.3 sq ft 83.3 sq ft 114.5 sq ft
Seasons 3-season 3-season 3-season 3-season 3-season
Windows 2 Mesh top 2 2 2
Pockets 7 9 14 7 6
Number of Doors 1 1 2 2 1
Room Divider No No No No Yes
Vestibules 1 1 2 2 0
Vestibule Area (total) 23.5 sq ft 44.7 sq ft 44.5 sq ft 23.6 sq ft N/A
Packed Size 23" x 9" x 9" 10" x 32" 24" x 10" x 10" 26" x 9.5" x 9.5" 28" x 11" x 11"
Floor Materials DWR 68D polyester taffeta 150D polyester 150D polyester 150D PU Polyester Polyester
Main Tent Materials 68D polyester ripstop, DWR, PU 75D polyester 75D polyester 68D Polyester/ No-See-Um Mesh Polyester
Rainfly Materials 68D polyester ripstop, DWR, PU 75D polyester 75D polyester 1500mm PU Polyester Polyester
Number of Poles 3 hubbed 4 4 4 4
Pole Material 7000-series aluminum DAC MX aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Fibergblass
Extras Porch light Dual exits in vestibule, 3 pockets on back door Vehicle attachment Oversize duffel storage bag, nightlight pockets Integrated string lighting system

Our Analysis and Test Results

The MSR Habitude 4 can be fully set up in 9 minutes, a bit long for a 4-person tent. Three hubbed poles — two small and one large — make up the main structure, forcing two poles to connect on each corner. While not overly complicated, setting this tent up isn't intuitive and comes with a few head-scratchers. That said, the extra strength, extra height, and extra width the poles provide are well worth the added trouble. Once setup is complete, you will find many great features packed into this tent. There are seven good pockets for storage, tons of height for easy changing and stretching, and a great little porch light to help when nature calls in the middle of the night. The rainfly is perfectly sized, allowing for maximum coverage yet superior airflow from under the vestibule and on all three sides of the tent. There's only one door, and it requires two different sides to be zipped independently; while not the end of the world, some may find it a bit annoying.

Performance Comparison


msr habitude 4 - the msr habitude is a very spacious and tall 4-person tent. fitting...
The MSR Habitude is a very spacious and tall 4-person tent. Fitting a twin air mattress and individual pad left room to spare.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke

Space and Comfort


This metric is all about how well the tent works for you and your crew. While having a smaller footprint than all of our 6-person tents, the Habitude 4 is still very roomy. Frankly, it feels bigger than its 62.4 square foot footprint. The 23.5 square foot vestibule adds to the spacious feeling when the fly is on, and all zipped up.


Comfort was lost a little with the single door and two-part zipper system. If you don't want to mess with unzipping both parts, it is easy to open the top zipper and squeeze through the side without unzipping the bottom. But this small critique is easily overlooked when you are laying on a twin air mattress, looking out into nature, catching an easy breeze under the well-ventilated rainfly. When you stand up, there is plenty of headroom with a ceiling height of 6' 1". Overall, the Habitude 4 scores among the top in both space and comfort, and while not a scoring factor, this tent's shape, colors, and size look pretty darn good.

msr habitude 4 - happy campers looking out at happy dogs. a great view thanks to the...
Happy campers looking out at happy dogs. A great view thanks to the large vestibule door on the Habitude 4.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke

Weather Resistance


MSR used a fairly wind-friendly shape — it is a little broad, so you might want to place the vestibule into the wind. Sturdy materials and quality craftsmanship went into the build of the Habitude 4.


The walls, rainfly, and mesh are all very high-end materials, with every seam-sealed and held together with strong aluminum poles. While not overly critical to the tent's strength, the guylines have little aluminum lighteners that are super slick and light.

msr habitude 4 - perfectly placed guylines (with really nice aluminum lockers) help...
Perfectly placed guylines (with really nice aluminum lockers) help this tent breathe like Egyptian cotton
Credit: Rob Gaedtke

Airflow is another element MSR nailed on the Habitude 4. While not as open as other tents in our lineup, there is still ample airflow and visibility with the rainfly off. And with the rainfly on, two vents and a 6-inch gap around the entire rainfly with guylines to pull it away from the main body allow the tent to breathe in hot and cold weather. Thanks to the guylines, the added angle also helps keep the rain rolling off and away from the tent.

msr habitude 4 - the rainfly has the perfect clearance to allow for maximum airflow.
The rainfly has the perfect clearance to allow for maximum airflow.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke

Ease of Use


Setup and teardown were much longer than expected for a 4-person tent, thanks to the lack of color coating on the six poles and three hub setup. But outside of that, pitching the Habitude is pretty simple.


The pole inserts did get to be a bit of a cluster. Having two poles and a rainfly connection at every corner made for a tight fit that rubs and scratches — something to consider for those who like to keep their gear pristine.

msr habitude 4 - a team of two setting up the first of three hubbed poles. while not...
A team of two setting up the first of three hubbed poles. While not overly complicated, it is still time consuming
Credit: Rob Gaedtke

Weighing in at only 12 pounds, the Habitude 4 is one of the lightest tents in our lineup. With such high-quality light material, it is clear why this tent is a great choice for activities that have weight and size restrictions. The design of the storage bag mirrors that of a rope bag, with a huge opening that is cinched closed with a small, stretchy cord. This setup will be familiar to rock climbers but may be foreign to those used to a classic tent bag.

msr habitude 4 - arial view of the habitude 4, showing off the great shape and...
Arial view of the Habitude 4, showing off the great shape and stylish design
Credit: Rob Gaedtke

Family Friendliness


Weight, durability, and size are all top of the pack for this 4-person tent. The unique shape of the Habitude gives it a roomy vibe for a 4-person tent with great height for changing and stretching. The walls are mostly covered, allowing privacy to change and not be seen while sitting down. However, don't plan on fitting four air mattresses in here. A twin and two sleeping pads will get the family off the hard ground with a little extra wiggle room for gear. The extra room in the vestibule also helps make the smaller inside stay open and clean, and seven pockets help keep things organized.


The porch light also falls into the family friendliness metric and is a novel feature that is surprisingly handy for a toddler heading to the bathroom or a groggy father who can't find his headlamp. The light didn't seem to be the best quality and didn't come with the required two CR2032 batteries, but a few bucks and a quick trip to the store fixes that.

The porch light was a smart and useful addition for easy visibility...
The porch light was a smart and useful addition for easy visibility and quick late night calls
The quality of this light is still TBD, we recommend you keep a...
The quality of this light is still TBD, we recommend you keep a backup handy
Batteries are not included. If you purchase this tent, toss two...
Batteries are not included. If you purchase this tent, toss two CR2032 into your cart at the same time.

While the Habitude 4 is not in our top rankings for family-friendly, the tent can still house two adults, two kids, and a furry friend.

msr habitude 4 - just enough mesh to enjoy the stars at night, while still keeping...
Just enough mesh to enjoy the stars at night, while still keeping you warm and private.
Credit: Rob Gaedtke

Quality


MSR is well known for its quality. They have a reputation for making well-made products using high-end materials, and the Habitude 4 is no different. From the 7000-series aluminum poles to the string used for the guylines, almost everything about this tent screams durability. The walls are made of DWR 68D polyester taffeta on the floor and sides and 40D nylon micro-mesh for the open areas. Designers used a 68D polyester ripstop on the fly, and the stakes are also super light and strong.


There are, however, two exceptions. The first is where the poles attach to the tent. The side-by-side nature ensures that the poles will rub against each other every time the tent moves. And secondly, the plastic hubs. These feel like an unnecessary weak point in an otherwise bomber tent.

Fitting two poles and a rainfly attachment into a single corner...
Fitting two poles and a rainfly attachment into a single corner makes for a bit of a cluster
The three hub setup. While not ideal, the design was surprisingly...
The three hub setup. While not ideal, the design was surprisingly easier than most other tents with hub systems.

Should You Buy the MSR Habitude 4?


The MSR Habitude 4 is the best 4-person tent in our lineup. It has all of the features you would expect from a name brand like MSR and touts a total usable footprint larger than any other 4-person option in our lineup. Some bonus features like a porch light, large vestibule, great ventilation, and a 6'1" ceiling height helps make the price point easier to swallow. A few nitpicky flaws include the two zipper door opening, a light without a battery, and of course, the single entry point. But overall, the pros of the Habitude far outweigh the cons.

What Other Camping Tents Should You Consider?


Considering the quality and lightweight materials used, the larger than normal 4-person footprint, and the stylish design, the higher price point for the MSR Habitude 4 seems fair. If you decide you need the extra space, it's worth upgrading to the award-winning The North Face Wawona 6. On the other hand, if this price tag is tough to swallow, check out a budget Coleman model like the extra-large Coleman Skydome XL 8 or Coleman Sundome 6, which should suit the needs of casual and infrequent campers.

Rob Gaedtke