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Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent with Footprint MSR Elixir 3 Tent with Footprint

Head-to-head comparison: specs, scores and expert verdict

Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent with Footprint

Mountain Hardwear

Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent with Footprint

★ 8.3 Backpacking
Sleeps 2 Seasons 3-season Weight 7.9 lbs Est. Price $400

Best for: Versatile car camping and backpacking.

MSR Elixir 3 Tent with Footprint

MSR

MSR Elixir 3 Tent with Footprint

★ 8.2 Backpacking
Sleeps 2 Seasons 3-season Weight 7 lbs 2 oz Est. Price $390

Best for: Durable, spacious backpacking for two.

Our Take

Both are backpacking tents, so this is a direct apples-to-apples comparison.

Both score 8.3 overall, though the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent with Footprint wins more individual scoring categories.

The biggest gap is ease of setup, where the Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent with Footprint holds a clear advantage.

Your best pick will come down to personal priorities, so check the full specs comparison below.

🏆 Our pick: The Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent with Footprint scores higher overall.

Score Comparison

Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent with Footprint
MSR Elixir 3 Tent with Footprint
Overall Score
8.3
8.2
Space & Comfort
7.0
8.0
Quality & Durability
8.0
8.0
Weather Resistance
8.0
8.0
Value for Money
8.5
7.5
Ease of Use
9.0
7.5
Intangibles
8.0
8.5

Pros & Cons

Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent with Footprint

  • Excellent value including the footprint
  • Spacious layout with vertical walls
  • Pre-bent poles for easy setup
  • Low ceiling height limits headroom
  • Stakes for guylines not included

MSR Elixir 3 Tent with Footprint

  • Unique geometry maximizes interior headroom
  • Includes footprint for added value
  • Color-coded poles make setup easy
  • Heavier than most backpacking tents
  • Zippers fail without special care

Full Specs

SpecMountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent with FootprintMSR Elixir 3 Tent with Footprint
Tent Type Backpacking, Dome Backpacking, Dome
Capacity 2 people 2 people
Seasons 3 Season 3 Season
Est. Price $400 $390
Weight 7.9 Lbs 7 Lbs 2 Oz
Min Trail Weight — 6 Lbs 1 Oz
Floor Area 42.5 ft² 41.0 ft²
Vestibule Area 20.9 Sq Ft 15 Sq Ft
Peak Height 48 43
Doors 2 2
Floor Dimensions 90 X 68 In 84 X 70 In
Pole Material Aluminum 7000 Series Aluminum
Floor Fabric 68D 210T Ripstop Polyester (1,500mm) 70D Taffeta Nylon 3000mm Polyurethane & DWR
Rainfly Fabric 68D 210T Ripstop Polyester 1500mm PU 100% Polyester 75D Ripstop Polyester 1500mm Polyether Urethane & PFAS Free DWR
Setup Time 5 Mins 20 Mins
Warranty Limited Lifetime Limited
Made In Imported Imported

Ready to Buy?

Mountain Hardwear

Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 3 Tent with Footprint

MSR

MSR Elixir 3 Tent with Footprint

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