MSR Hubba Hubba Tent

Comments about MSR Hubba Hubba Tent:

As a field geologist who lives over 5 months in wilderness (half backpacking-half car), I have used this tent in as many climates and conditions as possible in a three-season span. I bought this tent for backpacking, but also use it car camping, and it cannot hold up in the desert. It is fine in the high mountains (Sierra Nevada), and does not collect condensate. When I'm in desert, YES it collects sand, but so would all tents. I would not "knock" it for its mesh design, as it provides much needed warmth and protection from the weather. However outside Barstow, CA, in Rainbow Basin, this tent has BROKE twice (second year in a row). Thus is CANNOT stand up to high winds. The tent poles are so lightweight that they snap and break, mainly the cross-bow, as its design does not have enough support (like two crossing poles would--heavier). Also, the rainfly ripped when the tent was knocked over by the wind.

Comments about MSR Hubba Hubba Tent:

So much has been written about the Hubba Hubba and its ease of setup, spacious footprint and head room, relatively light weight and sturdy construction that I'll assume you already know this is a great tent and a great value. I wholeheartedly agree with all the glowing things I've read here and in reviews on the web and in the popular backpacking magazines.

What most don't tell you is how flexible this tent is in varying weather. I live in Texas, and yes, it is as hot as you think it is. I've spent many nights steaming away in my old tent wishing there was some way to enjoy the outdoors without miserably dripping sweat from every pour. Then I bought my Hubba Hubba. On most nights when rain isn't forecast I just pitch the all-mesh body to protect me from the helicopter sized mosquitos and other "little friends". With mesh everywhere, even the slightest breeze keeps you cool and comfortable. The full-view of the sky makes star gazing and reflection quite a treat. With the fly rolled up just inside the door, I know I can (and have) jump out quickly and toss the fly in in less than a minute should the weather suddenly turn foul.

Hubba Hubba works very well in the cold too. I backpacked the Chisos mountains in Big Bend over the week after Thanksgiving a few years ago with temps at or below zero at night at altitude and I was perfectly warm, even in a lightweight bag. I had zero condensation issues despite a heavy frost one morning and the orange fly is cheery inside without being too bright to sleep-in late.

I highly recommend the Hubba Hubba for its flexibility, solid construction, great features, light weight and super easy setup. I've included pictures of hot desert car camping (body only) and cold weather mountain camping.

Comments about MSR Hubba Hubba Tent:

Marvelous tent. I've used it camping on Masonboro Island and on dozens of sections of the appalachian trail. Plenty of room for two people. Has doors on both sides which is nice, plus two vestibules for boots and gear. This tent is very light, intuitive and etremely fast to set up, and etremely waterproof. It also comes with really nice stakes that I have yet to bend or break even after pounding them in the ground with rocks. The best part about this tent is that without the fly on a nice night you get an incredibly view of the stars with the all mesh top and sides. I've heard some people complain about condensation in the tent but in all me experiences with it (far too many to count) the condensation is limited to the inside of the fly and rolls down to the ground outside. There is a small paragraph in the manual that describes how the tent vents an condensation rolling down the fly is normal. I've never experienced a wet floor in the morning. Finally, I've used this tent in some torrential rain storms that lasted hours and during weeks that never stopped drizzling. Next to being in a zip-lock bag, this is one of the most waterproof tents you'll find. You won't be disappointed!

Comments about MSR Hubba Hubba Tent:

I don't feel like my gear style is a minimalist when I am in this tent. This tent has so much room inside it you don't have to keep all of your gear in the vestibule. There is a ton of head room, I am short but even my old roommate who is 6'3" doesn't have any trouble sitting up and doing things in this tent. Play with setting it up at home a few times before you take it on a trip. The first time it seems weird and complicated, the second time it goes up like a breeze, and if after the third time it takes you longer than five minutes to set up by yourself in the dark in a storm, it is because you are probably missing a limb. Bottom line is that out of all the 3-season tents I have ever seen or used it is by far my favorite. If you can spring the extra cash you might as well go for the HP but if not you won't be disappointed with the Hubba Hubba

Comments about MSR Hubba Hubba Tent:

For those who call this tent's construction flimsy, it's not. It's lightweight gear. If you're used to the heavy weight stuff, then stick with it. All lightweight gear makes compromises. This tent makes very few. The innovative one pole hub design and high sidewalls for extra room have been copied by several other manufacturers now. This is a GREAT tent for the weight, and a huge two-man tent.

Comments about MSR Hubba Hubba Tent:

I bought this tent to go backpacking with my son. I could not believe how easy it was to setup. As the another reviewer stated this tent is up in 5 minutes at most. When my other friends were still working on setting up their tents I was putting the sleeping bags in. My only concern would be using it in dusty areas as it is all mesh.

Comments about MSR Hubba Hubba Tent:

Replaced my aging Sierra Design Meteor Light CD that I got off of craigslist. Compared to the old single door design and heavy weight, this tent clearly shows how far tents have advanced. I originally wanted to get the REI half-dome 2, but picked up the Hubba Hubba on sale with the footprint instead for only a little bit more.

Just got back from testing the tent on an overnight trip around Snoqualmie Lake. Had to do a river crossing as well as climb down a small cliff and deal with the worst washouts along a trail that I've ever seen. After about 8 miles of climbing over, around and under fallen trees and traversing washouts, we decided to stop and set up camp next to a small stream and try some fishing.

Being a bit out of shape, I was really pleased at how fast the hubba hubba went up. Set out the fly, folded out the tent and the single pole almost snapped into place by themselves. I think once the footprint and the tent were spread out, I erected the tent in about 2.5 mins. The fly was a bit strange though. I ended up putting it on upside down. The MSR mark should face the inside instead of outside...

As it was my first time setting it up and attaching the guy lines, I think the whole thing from start to finish only took me 10 minutes. It only probably got down to about 40 degrees that night, but I only had my 55 degree REI travel bag with me. It was cold. The tent doesn't insulate at all. That said, there was zero condensation in the tent or on the underside of the fly.

Entering and exiting are pretty easy and more than enough room for one. I imagine that it'll be pretty tight for two, but not unbearably so. Was able to lay down flat and sit up with no problem at all. Very roomy. Wish the tent came with a gear attic though.

Breaking down the tent was even faster. Had it all packed away in about 5 minutes.

All in all, this is a much superior tent than my old SD Meteor Light which is probably over 10 years old. The vestibules seemed small to me at first, but swallowed up my pack and boots without a problem.

I don't know how it'll do in the rain or on the beach with all the mesh but I'm looking forward to many years from this tent. Very satisfied with this product.

Comments about MSR Hubba Hubba Tent:

This is a great tent! The set up is very quick and easy. It is a one man job that takes less than 5 minutes. I have used this tent for solo bicycle touring. There is plenty of room for you and all your panniers to sleep comfortably inside the tent. The two vestibules are perfect for keeping shoes and other odds and ends that don't need to be in the tent dry. I've also done multiple day backpacking trips with this tent. It comfortably sleeps two and vestibules are big enough to store the back packs under. Tent seems durable and water proof, but I haven't been in any monsoons, just some light wind and rain. It is easily ventilated and condensation doesn't seem to be a huge problem. My only complaints is the lack of an attick to throw items like clothing for use in the morning. I can live without it and it isn't a deal breaker but, MSR, if you are reading this look into adding one to next years model. Also the door design doesn't zip all the way to the floor. There is a lip about 5-6" than you must step over to get in and out. It really hasn't been an issue for me but I can see the potential of tripping over it in the middle of the night and knocking the tent down, tearing a hole in it or possibly breaking a pole, and possibly injuring one'self. Once again, not really a big deal but something that could be looked at.

Overall this is a great tent and I am very satisfied with my purchase. When this one wears out after several years of use I will probably purchase another one.

Comments about MSR Hubba Hubba Tent:

If you are going on a backpacking trip, this is the only way to go. MSR makes quality gear, and this tent is no exception. On a 20 day trip this tent could not have performed better. One advantage of this tent over others in my group is that it came with 8 of its own lightweight titanium stakes - other "lightweight" tents came with either aluminum (flimsy) or steel (heavy!!), or none at all and had to be purchased separately. Especially nice is that there are EIGHT stakes, so you can stake your corners, both your vestibules, and also the fly in 2 additional places to ward off wind and condensation. Ownage.In addition, this tent is able to be extremely light weight without making any quality sacrifices, which is awesome because you will not have anything heavy to hold you back from getting anywhere (see photo).The air circulation in this tent is spot on. I could wash clothes in the evening at camp, hang them inside the tent with me on a carabiner, and have them be dry - even on some of the colder nights, and no condensation. Some nights in the Sierras were pretty darn windy and I slept like a baby in my cozy MSR.All in all, I can't find a flaw with this tent, and IF something were to go wrong, [...]

Comments about MSR Hubba Hubba Tent:

After almost six years of frequent (30+ nights/year) use, my MSR Sidewinder had to be retired due to a leaky floor and zipper failure. Because it was essentially beyond repair, MSR offered me a deal on a new tent, and I purchased the Hubba Hubba at cost. I recently used it for a week in Yellowstone, where temperatures were mild at night and there was little wind or precipitation. That said, I can't comment on how well the tent holds up in adverse conditions, but I can say I've been very pleased with it in terms of set-up, design and overall quality. The single-pole arrangement was a little confusing at first -- it's a little awkward extending all of the sections -- but when I discovered how incredibly fast the set-up is, I was sold. I especially like the fact that there is no pushing of poles through tent fabric, which was always an exercise in frustration with other tents. My biggest complaint is that the tent doesn't come with an attic, a feature I adored with the Sidewinder. Even more annoying is the fact that the stand-alone attic isn't compatible with the Hubba Hubba. That said, I've been able to make due pretty well with the pockets at either end of the tent (although I wish they were a little deeper so they'd hold more gear). I also find the tent a bit hard to get in and out of with the rainfly attached, due to the fact that one corner of the fly must be staked to the ground. I also should note, however, that I have yet to use the Hubba Hubba in the backcountry. I expect to appreciate its minimalist design when I'm carrying it in my pack.