MSR  Hubba Hubba 2 Tent

I was a fan and longtime user of the older version of this tent so I was pleasantly surprised by the significant weight reduction introduced with this updated model. When you're backpacking, 10 oz off your back with a single item upgrade is a huge win. I've been able to get out and test this tent a few times, once trailhead camping and another on a short low elevation overnight (still waiting on the higher elevations to thaw out). I've had the luck of not field-testing the rain protection as of yet, but a good rinse with a garden hose in the backyard gives me confidence in its abilities. I know the manufacturer lists the minimum weight but with the stuff sacks, included cords, and stakes I measured the tent at 3 lbs, 3 oz. You could shave off a couple ounces by leaving the tent and pole sacks at home (which I generally do), but, realistically, the stakes are needed if you don't want to end up with an expensive flying kite after a gust of wind. Tent setup is a breeze and pretty intuitive. Everything is symmetrical and, as long as you clip the tent to the poles starting from the top, it is tensioned properly without any fiddling. I found that clipping from the bottom up leads to the poles bending oddly and reducing the usable interior space as the clips don't slide on the poles readily. The new Syclone poles are ultra-smooth with no hint of leaving splinters, which seemed to be an issue with a specific earlier batch that has been apparently rectified. As a guy that's on the taller side of average, I really appreciate the extra length (84") inside, as shorter tents leave me with a head against the inner wall or a sleeping bag brushing against condensation at the foot all night. The fully square footprint means I'll eventually get to upgrade my sleeping pad to a wide rectangular pad like my partner's too, a sacrifice I had to make to squeeze her wide (and my regular) pad into other tents with tapered footprints. I was disappointed at first that there are no vents at the head or foot of the fly but the kick-stand vents they added to the vestibule doors do a sufficient job of keeping the air flowing, though having them open does reduce the "door size" a little bit since you can no longer unzip it completely to get in or out. Small sacrifice for the weight reduction I presume. Speaking of weight reductions, my biggest concern is the durability of the floor where MSR used an ultralightweight 20D material similar to the rest of the tent. That said, I don't think I've ever used a tent without a footprint, which protects the floor from the ground, so this may be something that is a more of a concern for those who camp with furry friends and people who don't use footprints. I've come to like how this tent has less mesh than average. The solid panels provide just enough privacy that you don't feel terribly exposed if you have campsite neighbors and the fair weather allows you to leave off the rainfly to watch the stars through the mesh at the peak of the tent. Few final random notes. The built-in gear-pockets at the top of the tent are great to stash a headlamp to use as a makeshift lantern or store more delicate items (like glasses) that you easily need to snag in the dark. "Cable ports" The needle stakes look comically small at first blush but held up nicely against a moderate breeze. The vestibules are sufficiently large enough to stash a backpack and some shoes, but the pole design means the backpack has nothing to lean against other than the tent if it can't stand upright on its own. Finally, the new tan color is a stark departure from MSR's classic red and white scheme but gives a pleasant warmth to the light when inside.

After using this tent backpacking for one month the tent poles shattered. Also they are made of fiber glass and super painful to touch, so I wore gloves setting up the tent. Trying to make this tent even lighter was a huge mistake, and the materials have gotten much cheaper since MSR was bought out. The waterproof coating also changed on this version of the tent and smelled really bad for the first few weeks. The coating now will only last 2-3 years apparently. Anyway, I can no longer use my tent and the metal poles that came with the last version don’t fit this one. DO NOT BUT THIS TENT IT IS A TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY.