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Many of the new small, lightweight tents offer an easy-access side entrance. Having a large opening on a small tent and then being able to literally roll sideways into bed is a big plus.

I've owned several tents that open at one end and require you to crawl in feet first. This is a real pain for organizing your gear and climbing in and out for bathroom breaks at night. It is especially troublesome with a low peak height.

The MSR MicroZoid tent offers a big side opening, which makes the rather low 26-inch peak more acceptable.

There is a lot of mesh for decent ventilation, which helps minimize condensation when using the rainfly. Just remember to stake out the rainfly so wet sides don't touch the mesh on the nights when condensation does form.

Here's some feature information from the official MSR MicroZoid tent web page (I always try to separate my words from the maker's hype):

A great bivy upgrade. The MicroZoid features a single pullout point in the front and rear for extra-tight tension. Peak ventilation is a huge plus, while its side entry makes for easy in and out.

Features:

• Ultralight:
  Minimum weight is just 2 lbs. 5 oz.
• Versatile:
  Fly, poles, and footprint (sold separately) can be set up independently to save weight.
• Huge Side Door & Vestibule:
  Spacious side-entry door and vestibule for the ultimate in livability.
• Great Ventilation:
  Excellent high/low venting through a peak vent with kickstand support.

While tarps and bivy sacks are lighter, I like the bug protection of a tent. And a full-feature tent under 3 pounds is worth looking at. 

Technorati tags: Backpacking, Lightweight backpacking, MSR MicroZoid tent review

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