BeFOre YOu GO
Fully unpack your new MSR
®
shelter and pitch it at home. Familiarize yourself
with the setup procedure and the various features, and attach the guy cords. This
will help if you have to set it up in the dark or in adverse conditions.
seleCTInG a sITe
Select a site that’s level, will drain well if it rains, and is protected from wind and
other elements. Clear the area of sharp stones, sticks, and other debris, both for
comfort and to protect your floor. If possible, avoid setting the tent on ground
that is already wet. If you can’t, minimize the resulting humidity and potential of
condensation by keeping your tent well ventilated.
usInG a FOOTPrInT
It’s recommended that you use a footprint (sold separately) underneath your tent.
Designed for each specific model, a footprint will not only keep your tent floor
clean and dry, it also will protect it from excessive abrasion, prolonging the life of
the tent.
usInG TenT POles
Handle tent poles carefully—nearly all pole damage occurs during setup.
• When unfolding and folding, do not allow the shock cord to pull and snap the
ends together. This can damage the pole ends and result in breakage when the
pole is tensioned.
• Push, don’t pull, your poles through the sleeves. Pulling the poles will cause
sections to separate and potentially damage the pole or your tent fabric. Don’t
force the poles; if you feel resistance, find the snag and work your way through
it.
• Exposure to saltwater may cause your frame to fail due to corrosion. Rinse poles
in fresh water when you return from your trip and apply a light coat of silicone
lubricant.
• In extremely cold weather or after extended use, the shock cord can lose some
elasticity. To adjust, simply pull each pole section quickly back and forth to
tension the cord. If more tension is needed, unscrew the end tip, pull out a few
inches of cord, and tie a new knot in the cord.
Note:
Fabric expands and contracts in varying climates. To accommodate this,
most MSR
®
tents have two grommets for inserting pole tips in the stake loops. Use
the outer grommet in dry climates when the fabric is tight. The inner grommet is for
humid climates when the fabric is loose.
sTaKInG
All tents, including freestanding models, require staking to prevent them from
flying away in a gust of wind. Always anchor your MSR tent. Enough stakes
and guy cord are supplied to safely setup your tent in most situations. It may be
necessary to purchase additional and/or specialized stakes and guy cords for
use in extreme or varied soil conditions. Cascade Designs offers a full line of stake
tensioning kits; see your dealer for more information.
(See detail 1).
usInG GuY-OuTs
Tightly tensioning your tent with guy out cords greatly increases the tent’s strength
and stability.
(See detail 2).
This will also reduce fabric droop and wrinkles, and
prevent rainwater from pooling. Attach the cord to the tent guy-outs where needed
and feed the cord through the tensioner.
(See Tensioner Methods below).
s e T u P a n d u s e
4
5
deTaIl 1
10 degrees
deTaIl 2
FIGure 9
™
TensIOner
MeThOd
1
2
3
sTandard
TensIOner
MeThOd
