We have the first version of the tent that uses pole clips rather than sleeves (like the 2010 review referenced here). Overall the tent is awesome. We use it as a car-camping tent for our family of four and there is plenty of room inside to spare.
Things we love about the tent:
-Tons(!) of pockets (20 or so, I think)
-You can fully zip up the windows in the door - this makes it much warmer.
-Very strong and bombproof. I think there are something like 20 pole crossings on this thing.
-Huge f...ront vestibule that can be entered/exited without getting rain inside the tent (though I think the current version is a touch smaller than ours).
-Plenty of guy out loops that can be used as needed for extra strength/stability - we've put dedicated cords on some of them.
-The pentagonal floor plan is symmetric meaning you don't have a wide/narrow end or anything like that to contend with. There is some inherent asymmetry since the second door is not directly opposite the first.
Having said all of that there are two - and I think only two - things we don't like. One of them has been remedied in the newer version (3.0 with the fancy poles).
1. Even though we have yet to see a drop of water penetrate the rainfly water does pool up on the top of the tent during prolonged rain. The tent pole structure naturally creates a flat spot at the apex (pentagonal in shape, imagine that). MSR has cleverly addressed this with a 3-pole "spider" that attaches to this spot and lifts the very top of the fly higher. But, since this spider piece is 3 pole and not 5 there still remains enough flat area for water to collect. Not a huge deal but one I feel that they should have addressed.
2. The rainfly on our version is made of nylon. Nylon expands when wet meaning that once the rain begins I have to re-tension my tent (meaning I have to get wet) in order to keep the fly drum-tight. The 3.0 version's fly is made of polyester so this will no longer be a problem.
Excellent job, MSR!
Bought this tent in 2010 and have used it for our family of 4 in all seasons including winter camping. A supremely durable, hardy tent that has withstood many storms. Because of it's extreme tautness it can be tricky for one person to set up alone. Also because of it's rugged construction it is not highly ventilated and can be very hot during summer camping. But absolutely worth having one tent that can withstand all conditions.
This is MSR's largest 4-season tent. Suitable for all weather conditions, from pouring rains, to unexpected snowfalls and everything in between. The tent frame now features extremely durable Easton Syclone poles that are virtually indestructible for inclement conditions. There's plenty of room inside thanks to the advanced dome design and a large front vestibule coupled with a side vestibule allow you to keep most of your bulky gear outside and protected. On the inside you'll find When you're going to be facing extreme conditions on your expedition, bring the StormKing 5-person tent and you'll be prepared no matter what the conditions are.
This product can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.