Laying in my MSR Hubba Hubba NX tent at the base of the Mount Timpanogos Summit trail earlier this year, I reflected on an important fact. The difference between happy campers and ‘˜soon-to-be‘ non-campers is the quality of their gear. As a young Boy Scout I quickly learned that better equipment equals a better camping experience. In the BSA we refer to is at “Be Prepared.” As a Scout Master, I use equipment from great companies like MSR whenever possible in my quest to pass this wisdom to the next generation.
The MSR Hubba NX line of tents beat the competition when it comes to tent camping, especially if you are backpacking. Light weight with a fast and easy setup, (even alone,) all it takes is one run-in with a Hubba and you will be hooked for life. Which is ok because MSR tents also come with a lifetime warranty! The Hubba NX tent series sleeps between 1 and 4 persons, and you can add more space with a matching MSR Gear Shed (sold separately).
Construction
Walls -20D ripstop nylon
Fly 20D ripstop nylon 1200mm Durashield
Floor -30D ripstop nylon 3000mm Durashield
Mesh -15D nylon micromesh
Weight’”3 lbs 13 oz.
Packed Size’”18 x 6 in
Click here for more specs than most will want to see.
In use
I’ve had the opportunity to sleep in the MSR Hubba Hubba in warm, (80‘s,) and cold (20‘s,) weather and it performs very well in both. I am about 5’10” and I can sit up inside the tent comfortably and lay down without feeling cramped. If you plan on keeping your gear covered you may want to grab the Gear Shed. Or get the tent with higher capacity than the actual sleepers. I was fine in the Hubba Hubba with all my gear, as it is a two-person tent.
Setup
Setup is a breeze with the MSR Hubba Hubba. Its single pole snaps together almost automatically. Also, it’s so eye-catching I usually have an audience as soon as it comes out of my pack. Finished in under 5 minutes, I can take a nap or help out the first year boys while the troop struggles with their old-school fiber poled dome tents. Very cool. I had my Boy Scouts set it up, and on the first try they were finished in under 7 minutes, rain fly and all. Takedown is just as easy and I never struggle to fit everything back into the bag my tent came in.
The MSR Hubba Hubba is light, just under 4 lbs., and has plenty of guy wires; I love the pole and stake system, it is so easy and stable. You can even use the fly alone with the footprint (sold separately) as an ultra-light alternative. Weight weenies can use just the fly as a minimalist shelter.
Critical thoughts
I really worked hard to find something I could complain about with the MSR Hubba Hubba, and I finally found something. The holder that keeps the door pulled back when it is open is not ideally placed in my opinion. Or rather, I think there should be two. As it is, the door flops over into the doorway a little bit. This never bothered me while actually using the tent, but it doesn’t look right to me.
MSR‘s Hubba NX line is designed for 3 season use, but I decided to take it out on a winter camp anyway! I was with the Boy Scouts, the beginning of February, camping at the foot of the summit trail to Mount Timpanogos. The temperature was about 30 degrees Fahrenheit. And it snowed overnight. I was prepared with a nice pad and a good sleeping bag with an extra wool blanket inside. I slept well and was comfortable. So, if you know how to winter camp, you will have no problems using the MSR Hubba Hubba year round. The quality of construction shows itself in large and small ways. My wife has commented on how impressed I was with the zippers! They work very smoothly and don’t bind or catch on the tent itself! I love it!
Price and value
The tent itself will cost you about $300, add the footprint, and the gear cover and you are all in at about $500. So this is not a cheap tent. What it IS is a tent you will absolutely love, possibly even make excuses to get out in. And when you are finished with it, you can pass it down to the grandkids to use. It brings to mind this old Arabian Proverb, “If you buy cheap meat, you‘ll smell what you have saved when it boils.” You‘ll love the smell of your new MSR Hubba Hubba NX tent.
I‘d like to thank MSR for providing the Hubba Hubba NX for this review.