MSR Missing Link

Long Term Report

Report Date: September 1, 2004

Reviewer Information

• Name: Edward Ripley-Duggan
  
• Age: 51
  
• Gender: Male
  
• Height: 6' 1" (1.85 m)
  
• Weight: 215 pounds (98 kg)
  
• erd@wilsey.net
  
• Catskills, New York State
  
  

Reviewer Background: See end of report

Product information

• Manufacturer: MSR (Mountain Safety Research)
  
• Address: 4000 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134 USA
  
• Tel: 801-278-5533
  
• E-Mail: info@msrgear.com
  
• Year of Manufacture: 2004
  
• http://www.msrcorp.com
  
  

Testing environments and field notes

The Missing Link was tested on a number of overnighters in the Catskill Mountains, and on a five-day kayak/hiking tour of the East Branch of the Oswegatchie River in the western Adirondacks. This latter trip provided an especially demanding environment, because of the high ambient humidity (for three of four nights, I was camped near a waterfall, High Falls).

Several significant new issues surfaced during this trip. Our group of six camped together for convenience and company, on a rocky outcropping for the first night (which was stormy); and near a lean-to for the next three. Campsites in this area are not especially large (true indeed for most marked DEC sites in the region).

Previously, I had mostly used the tent on bushwhacks, with the odd trail hike thrown in, and the only constraint was finding a large enough rock-free level area for pitching. For small group camping in a relatively confined area, the Missing Link's spaciousness proved not at all advantageous. I found that the combination of the large and elongated tent footprint, plus the need to have the supporting guys extending a considerable distance out to each side, resulted in my tent consuming an inordinate amount of real estate. In addition, the guy-lines were something of a hazard to others and had to be carefully flagged.

As a consequence, I felt obliged to choose the least desirable pitching spot, where I would be out of the way, and was therefore less than idyllically comfortable (the site sloped rather badly and was bumpy). This will certainly limit my future use of the tent when camping in groups at sites that are likely to offer limited space (a comparatively rare occurrence). In solo camping off-trail, or with one or two other campers, this is far less likely to be an issue, in my experience.

This requirement for space is also of some concern (as I can vouch) if caught in heavy rain. In this circumstance, I need to find an adequate space quickly, and equally quickly pitch the tent. On a small camping area where others are trying to do the same, the need for a largish patch of ground is a significant disadvantage. Having found that apparently the only sufficient available space was also a major drainage from the site in question, I decided to wait out the rain until I could investigate further. It was mercifully brief and I indeed found a better space once the pelting had stopped. It then poured all night.

Condensation was heavy on the tent interior every morning. It must be said that two of my party were also using single-wall tents (both Wanderlust Nomads) and both were experiencing the identical phenomenon. Normally, they do not (by their report) have significant condensation problems. This was not at all unexpected in this lovely setting—the waterfall pumped large amounts of water vapor into the air and was just a hundred yards upstream. Still, I will bear this in mind in future when camping along rivers! In other settings, I found condensation levels acceptably low.

A little more awkward was a phenomenon that I had remarked briefly upon in my Field Report. When leaving the tent during the night or in the morning, it seems inevitable that (unless I worm out in a thoroughly uncomfortable fashion) the small of my back inevitably brushes the lip of the vestibule/awning, releasing a heavy load of condensation. One way to wake up in a hurry! I took to wearing my rain jacket when leaving the tent. As the front (high) vent exhausts into the vestibule, even under the best of circumstances condensation will tend to gather there, so this minor unpleasantness seems inherent to the tent design.

The presence of the vestibule is not merely decorative. It is akin to the beak found on almost all silnylon ultra-light tents (indeed, most tents in this category do not have solid doors at all, though they have mesh); the Missing Link (considered as an ultralight, albeit heavier than most tents of this class) is unusual in having both mesh and storm door. Such beaks, if the tent is correctly pitched, are remarkably effective at keeping out all but the worst wind-driven rain.

It is essential to note that if the storm door on the Missing Link is closed, ventilation is severely compromised. One tactic that I have found quite effective is to leave the top of the door unzipped if I am experiencing blowing rain (it has dual zippers, enabling this) so that the peak repels most of the rain, and the rest is repelled by the half-open storm door. Still, the tent ventilates best with the storm door completely down. Indeed, I rather wish that it were detachable, although it does roll quite neatly out of the way at the base. On a similar note, in order to increase airflow it is advisable to prop open the flap over the rear vent, using a stick under the guy-line.

The combination of condensation (which, in all fairness, does not seem to be more serious than in most single-wall tents, of which I own several) and the geometry of the tent conspire to make this tent rather better suited for one person than two. The distance front to back is, in any case, fairly narrow (4' 1", 1.2 m), i.e. just adequate for two sleeping pads with a little clearance.

This space is certainly in theory sufficient for two sleepers and their gear (or this could be left in the vestibule, which I found provides adequate protection to either side except in heavily driving rain). However, because the roof of the tent dips so low towards the rear, especially in the corners (even with the guy to the roof staked out), the sleeper furthest from the door stands a good chance of partly blocking the low vent while they sleep. This will interrupt the airflow through the interior and thereby increases condensation (which in any case will be worse with two occupants).

If the second occupant is using a fairly high-loft bag, it will inevitably pick up some moisture by contact with walls or ceiling, which (especially if the bag is down-filled) may result in a damp footbox and loss of insulation. Finally, if they need to leave the tent at night they have to crawl over the sleeper by the door! All in all, this is less than ideal. In my estimation, this is not as good a tent for two as for one, unless the environment is such that condensation levels are going to be predictably low. Still, given the advantages of the relatively low weight and bulk of the tent, these inconveniences are a trade-off. Apropos the bulk of the tent, a compression sack is distinctly useful in reducing the volume it occupies within my pack.

Shortly before leaving on my Adirondack trip, I learned via the BackpackGearTest list that there was a problem with the rear seam above the vent that caused leaking into the tent in heavy rain. I decided not to seam-seal the tent in order to see just how bad the problem was. Nature obliged with a series of heavy thundershowers on the first night, providing a torrential drenching far in excess of anything I had experienced previously in the tent. Indeed, water did start to trickle down the interior of the mesh of the rear vent and (as it turned out) down the front vents as well. However, the quantities were pretty minimal. I woke a couple of times and swabbed wet spots on the floor with a square of camp towel, but I would not categorize the leakage as major. My sleeping bag remained high and dry.

I contacted MSR after the trip, in order to gauge their response, and was sent a tube of McNett silicon seam sealer to fix the problem. I felt this was an adequate and reasonable response to my complaint, although I would certainly have been happier had this problem been identified before the tent was issued (and I am perplexed that it was missed in the testing that surely preceded the release of the product). All other seams appeared to be adequately taped, and I experienced no noticeable leakage from the floor seams, which are level with the base of the tent. I may eventually seam-seal the tent, but I can't say that I found the leakage a major issue, although the extent of the problem may vary from tent to tent.

So far, this final account may appear to be a litany of negatives, but I should emphasize that I do in fact like the Missing Link. My children, 13 & 16 years old and nearly as tall as I (though far skinnier), have enjoyed it. I am pointing out caveats noted during the testing process, many of which may be worked around with planning and patience. None disqualify the tent from serious consideration as lightweight backcountry accommodation. All tents have their strengths and weaknesses (if the perfect tent exists, I am unaware of it) and this is no exception.

Despite the fact that the weight is substantially higher than my lightest silnylon tent, a disadvantage, it does provide a spacious experience for one occupant. The color continues to bother me (orange is hardly in accordance with Leave No Trace principles, and one wonders why it was chosen); still, there's no question but that the light within is cheerful, even invigorating. As noted, it will house two at a pinch, if those occupants are careful about condensation. It handles winds reasonably well, so far as I could judge. The highest wind speed to which it was exposed was about fifteen knots, and the tent behaved gracefully and without excessive noise under those conditions. I suspect that it could, if carefully pitched, manage speeds far in excess, as the tent's literature claims, but have not been able to put this to the test.

Finally, the tent's form is, quite simply, fun. There isn't much out there that resembles it! I hope that the manufacturer continues to enhance and improve the design. My thanks to MSR and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to test the Missing Link.

Summary

The Missing Link is a lightweight and spacious tent that shares many features with ultralight tarptent shelters, but is somewhat heavier than the average in that class. The similarity with such tents unfortunately includes the usual proclivity towards condensation, but in this regard it is (in most environments) better than most. It is comfortable accommodation for one and adequate accommodation for two, provided care is exercised to avoid complications with condensation. Despite a minor and correctable design flaw, it weathers heavy rain well. It is easily and quickly pitched (see Field Report) but requires a fairly substantial area, which may restrict its utility on shared campsites.

Reviewer biography

I enjoy walking in all its manifold forms, from a simple stroll in the woods to multi-day backpack excursions. I through-hiked the Northville-Placid trail over ten days on 2003. Though by no means an extreme ultralight enthusiast, from spring to fall my preference is to carry a packweight of 12 pounds (5.5 kg), more or less. In recent years, I've rapidly moved to a philosophy of "lighter is better," within the constraints of budget and common sense.