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Backpacker Magazine – April 2005

Tent Review: MSR Hubba Hubba

Meet the new benchmark in lightweight, three-season shelter

by: The Backpacker Editors


Why: This two-person tent strikes the finest balance we've seen yet between minimizing weight and maximizing space. Thanks to an innovative pole configuration that spreads the walls and lifts the ceiling, its 30-square-foot interior is surprisingly roomy; our 6'6" executive editor didn't touch at either end or bump into his tentmate while sleeping or sitting up. And the story gets better: The Hubba Hubba is freestanding and has two doors-both features a rarity in this weight class. The twin vestibules accommodate packs, boots, and careful cooking, and rain doesn't drip inside the tent when you open the doors. With an all-mesh canopy, its ventilation is excellent; we saw no condensation through New Zealand soakers. You can save another pound by pitching only the rainfly, or a bit less when you pitch rainfly and footprint (sold separately for $35). Caution: Stake the tent in a sheltered site, because it's light on guyouts and stability in strong winds.

Who: Unless you're a tarp, bivy, or cold-weather fan, you'll love this tent.

How much: $290

Weight: 4 lbs. 4 oz.

Contact: (800) 531-9531, www.msrgear.com.



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Reader Rating: -

READERS COMMENTS

Star Star Star Star Star
Tony
Apr 01, 2013

Added note: I believe green fabric flys (2011/2012) corrected the delamination problem, and either way it wasn't right when a consumer bought the tent. It

Star Star Star Star Star
Tony
Apr 01, 2013

My experience with MSR has been optimum. Called today about getting a replacement green fly for a 2007 orange fly Hubba Hubba I may buy. I was told MSR tents have a lifetime warranty so it would be replaced at no charge. As to the prior post about why consumers are not warned about a defective run, all I can say is when I get a new tent I set it up before going out with it, get familiar with the setup, and if at all possible hit it with a hose. I've dealt with them before when needing parts and they are very quick and helpful.

Philip Sanford
Aug 23, 2012

The Hubba Hubba is completely defective, and so is MSR. The tents leak because, as MSR told me, they made a bunch with defective fabric. The waterproof rain fly deteriorates, is no longer waterproof, so when you use it in the rain, it leaks like cheese cloth. But MSR won't tell you that. Its a secret. you get to find out about the problem when you use it and get wet, soak up water all night in your bag, and lay in the dark shivering. Then if you are pissed off about it when you take it back to them, they get their feelings hurt and tell you to just leave. So read a lot about their products before you buy, cause like I say, they fully admit knowing about the problem for years, and fully admit they will no effort of any kind to advise their customers. They will let you find out the hard way, and even then they will do nothing more than say oh well, we will give you a new rain fly.

SamJay
Apr 16, 2012

I have had a hubba hubba for almost 5 years and love it! Used it for multiple cycle tours and tons of hiking and travel trips so its been to over thirty countries and has performed great. A bit cosy for two people who dont know each other well but great with a partner or as a large one man tent. Condensation can build up but never too much of a problem. Stood up against storms and torrential African rain - love it so much!
Didn't read the instructions on the bag until I had had it for over a year... was pitching it wrong! Always pegged out the fly instead of attaching it to the poles and was always frustrated with the large gaps around the fly... when done proper its perfect!!

Rob
Mar 30, 2012

Bought my hubba hubba bout 12months ago in Australia. Even with a light dew the floor is wet beneath my mattress, in rain everything on the floor gets soaked. Am having problem finding Oz distributor and have been unable to contact manufacturers site. Not a happy camper Cascade

Rod
Nov 18, 2011

My zipper broke in my tent and I sent it to MSR and they don't do zipper replacements. What about a lifetime warrenty? No more MSR for me.

Tiffany
Aug 05, 2011

I love the open, spacious design, and option to just set up the rain fly and poles without the interior tent. But, I've only used it a few times and the rain fly seam protection started delaminating and the fly became extemely sticky and yucky. It's like it started melting. Weird. I had to return it. Maybe we got a defective one, because nobody else has mentioned this problem.

Kasey H
May 23, 2011

my REI purchase records will show... I love this tent... bought 4 last year, one got stolen, so I bought another to replace it and the other 2 were gifts... really great gifts! Anyway... I've searched high and low for the BEST in 2 man 3season... this is it!!!

Alan
May 16, 2011

I have used the Hubba and the Hubba Hubba in Haiti for the past year-and-a-half, and I could not be more delighted with a product. I have been through tropical downpours with big wind and nothing to provide any shelter for the tent, and it has performed perfectly every time. I own expedition tents by North Face and Mountain Hardware, and neither hold a candle to the MSR. I have been a climber and trekker for 35 years, and an architect and industrial designer for 30; the Hubba Hubba rings all the bells! I find this to be the case with all the MSR products (water purification, cookware, stove, and my Hubba); design, fabrication, materials, and performance are top notch.

T.J
Apr 28, 2011

Bought the new 2011 Hubba Hubba and got caught out in a huge storm. My wife and I stayed warm and dry. I love this tent. The space inside was great. I opened one side and had a nice couple ours inside playing cards, making bracelets and watching it rain.

PJ Colorado
Feb 07, 2011

I just got this tent recently on Clearance at my local REI store. I already have the incredible Mutha Hubba for my nephew and I to use as we are both over 6 feet tall. I was using the new version of the REI Half Dome 2. I loved the Half Dome till I got this Hubba Hubba. It is longer and lighter than the REI tent. I will now use the Hubba Hubba and ditch the REI tent, (Not sure why it was Backpacker's Editor's Choice Award for 2010?) as the REI tent has 3 seperate poles to the MSR's 1 hubbed pole. The other thing I love about this tent is the single zip to open and close the door. The issues I had with the REI tent is that you had to use 2 seperate zippers to open the door, and the way the rainfly was on the REI tent is that if raining or snowing and you open the rainfly water just pours in as it opens right over the doors. The MRS tent's rainfly opens out away from the door. The other thing I love about MSR products (Cascade Designs) is that they back up their producs. I had a pole break on a tent I purchased used from a private party about 2 years ago and I called them and they sent me new poles no questions asked. With REI products you have to prove you got the tent there, and not from a private party. I have only used this Hubba tent twice so far, once in rain and once with a freak snow storm in the Colorado rockies and both times it held up well. The only downfall is if you are near sand and the wind blows you will need to expect some sand into the tent. FYI. I also have (for solo camping) the MSR Hubba HP with the solid material so I don't have that issue. Otherwise this tent kept me dry and very little condensation as I used a footprint underneath. I also am an avid reader of Backpacker Magazine and learned a few tricks from them. One is to keep yourself warm (2010 Survival Guied issue)you should use a closed cell (self inflating pad) under a non-self inflaiting pad to stay way warmer. I tried that and had no condensation either as my body was farther away from the ground. All in all I would highly recomend the MSR Hubba Hubba for 2 smaller people or one larger person and gear.

Art
Dec 21, 2010

I bought my Hubba Hubba from HumbleOutdoors for $237 w/free MSR footprint.
MSR really perfected this design, which has yet to be surpassed by (nearly) any other tent manufacturer (possible exception: MSR Hubba Hubba HP). The hub-pole is simple and lightweight, making set up a breeze. The fine mesh allows for great ventilation, further weight shavings, and excellent star gazing on nights without the rain fly. The coatings on both the fly and floor of the tent are very strong and ample for, dare I say, 'excessive' waterproofing. The interior walls are drawn nearly vertical to create a welcoming large space inside, complemented by two roomy vestibules for your gear and nice, bright colors to add a little cheer if you end up caught in your tent during a downpour.

Steve
Sep 15, 2009

We have owned a Hubba Hubba for three years and have noticed that the floor will allow, or draw moisture into the tent even on dry nights from the ground. We always store it dry, clean and loose, not in a stuff sack. It is frustrating since it is not exactly cheap! Our Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 does not have this same problem.

Kim
Aug 31, 2009

We have owned and loved our Hubba Hubba for several years but this time out - we just returned from through-hiking the JMT - we hit only one night of rain, and the fly sagged onto the netting and the tent leaked mightily. Don't know why. Hubby guyed out four more angles using the tentfly door toggles which helped, but the Thermarests were still sitting in a pool of water in the morning, thankfully keeping our down bags mostly dry. A few nights later it fared very well in gale-force wind gusts just under the Whitney final ascent.

Tim
Aug 09, 2009

Own it and love it. Its Rainproof, Cozy but comfortable with two people. Great one person tent and light enough for one person to easily carry. I have the version with the Taffeta walls rather than the mesh - it's actually an ounce lighter and gives better wind protection. Vestibules good for shoes but a pack won't fit - cover your pack and put it under a tree. Happy I bought the ten.

Spam Hater
May 09, 2009

Too Much Freaking Spam on this site.

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