Two tents worth lining up side by side. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| MSR FreeLite 3 | Marmot Limelight Ultralight 3P | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 79✓ | 78 |
| Capacity | 3 | 3 |
| Packed weight | 38.0 oz✓ | 52.8 oz |
| Floor area | 38.5 sq ft | 40.9 sq ft✓ |
| Space-to-weight | 16.2 /lb✓ | 12.4 /lb |
| Peak height | 43 in | 46.5 in✓ |
| Doors | 2 | 2 |
| Vestibules | 2 | 2 |
| Price | $570✓ | $589 |
| Type | Ultralight | Ultralight |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: FreeLite 3 in blue, Limelight Ultralight 3P in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full tent comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
The MSR FreeLite 3 and Marmot Limelight Ultralight 3P take different routes to the same job. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The FreeLite 3 is 15 oz lighter, better space-to-weight, and $19 cheaper. The Limelight Ultralight 3P is more floor area (40.9 vs 38.5 sq ft) and taller (46.5 vs 43 in peak). Their GearScores land within a couple of points (79 vs 78), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the FreeLite 3 if you care most about low weight and space-to-weight, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Limelight Ultralight 3P if floor space and headroom matter more to you, or you are focused on comfort and room to move.
The MSR FreeLite 3. It is 15 oz lighter than the Limelight Ultralight 3P.
The Marmot Limelight Ultralight 3P. It is more floor area (40.9 vs 38.5 sq ft) than the FreeLite 3.
They are nearly tied at 79 and 78 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the FreeLite 3 for low weight, or the Limelight Ultralight 3P for floor space. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.