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First, the caveat: on its own, the MSR Thru-Hiker Mesh House 1 will not keep out weather. Consisting of a mesh upper and 15-denier nylon bathtub floor with a 1200-milimeter waterproof coating, the Mesh House will shut out bugs in the air and moisture from the ground, but you’ll need to pair it with a tarp if you’re expecting rain. With that said, this 10-ounce shelter is one of the lightest—and, right now, cheapest—solutions for keeping out no-see-ums, mosquitoes, and ticks, whether you’re on the Appalachian Trail or trekking through trackless backcountry. The offset, pyramidal design pitches with a single trekking pole and, with a peak height of 38 inches, provides a heck of a lot more headroom that a bivy. (Need a tarp to go with it? MSR recommends its 1 lb, 4 oz. Thru-Hiker Wing 100, currently on sale for 30% off at REI, though the Mesh House 1’s dimensions work with other tarps like Gossamer Gear’s $95, 7.1-ounce Solo Tarp as well.)
From 2025