Three people moving fast through the backcountry need a shelter that earns its place in the group kit, and the MSR FreeLite 3 delivers serious livability at a weight that practically disappears when split three ways.

Inside, the rectangular floor plan and 43 inches of peak headroom make this feel more like a basecamp tent than an ultralight shelter. No foot taper means all three occupants actually have room to stretch out, and two doors mean nobody is climbing over a tentmate in the middle of the night. The micromesh body keeps airflow moving to manage condensation on cool Canadian nights, while the waterproof bathtub floor handles whatever the ground throws at it. Tech-friendly corner pockets with cable ports and overhead gear loft storage keep the interior organised for a multi-day trip.

Outside, the semi-freestanding setup comes together quickly with MSR's unified hub-and-pole system and burly DAC NFL aluminium poles. The PFAS-free waterproof coating and fully taped seams take the weather seriously, and the cutaway rainfly trims weight without sacrificing two proper vestibules for wet gear, boots, and packs. StayDry rain gutters on both vestibule doors keep the drips where they belong when you're crawling in from a shower.

At 2 lbs 6 oz minimum weight, it's a genuinely impressive shelter for a three-person ultralight backpacking setup.

• Minimum weight: 2 lbs 6 oz (1.07 kg)
• Packaged weight: 2 lbs 11 oz (1.23 kg)
• Floor area: 38.5 sq. ft (3.57 sq. m)
• Vestibule area: 15 sq. ft (1.4 sq. m)
• Interior peak height: 43 in (109 cm)
• Packed size: 19 x 5 in (48 x 13 cm)
• Capacity: 3 persons
• 2 doors, semi-freestanding
• PFAS-free waterproof coating with taped seams
• DAC NFL aluminium poles