The long-time crowd favorite MSR Hubba Hubba 2 tent has had a makeover, and there’s a lot to love about this newest iteration. Some of the most noticeable changes include a significantly lower weight, an updated color scheme that meshes nicely with natural surroundings, and a reimagined ventilation design. This lightweight tent is one of our favorites from our list of the Best Backpacking Tents for those looking for a durable shelter that provides ample protection in inclement weather.
Quick Specs
MSRP: $480
PACKAGED WEIGHT: 3 lbs. 4 oz.
DIMENSIONS (L x W x H): 84 x 50 x 40 in.
PROS
LIGHTWEIGHT – At 3 lbs. 4 oz., the Hubba Hubba is pretty light for a freestanding tent of its size – especially when divided between two hikers. There are lighter tents out there, but the Hubba Hubba provides more protection from the elements than many others.
EASY TO SET UP– The Hubba Hubba is freestanding and has a rectangular floor, so setup is really quick and straightforward.
The hubbed pole structure and symmetrical free-standing design of the Hubba Hubba a make it very easy to set up
DURABLE – We’re big fans of MSR gear in general because they’ve always designed their products with longevity in mind, and the Hubba Hubba is no exception. Every inch of this tent is constructed with quality materials and craftsmanship that will last for many years and thousands of trail miles if treated with care.
We like to adventure with our dogs, so durability is key for us
GOOD VENTILATION – The Hubba Hubba is designed with less mesh than a lot of other tents, but we still find the ventilation to be very well thought out. Large mesh windows at the head and foot allow air to circulate over you as you sleep, and a big section of mesh at the peak of the tent vents out warm air and moisture to help keep you cool and dry inside. The vestibules on the rain fly feature dual zippers which allow you to open up the top and deploy a kickstand vent on particularly toasty nights.
The triangle windows of mesh at the head and foot provide airflow
EXCELLENT WEATHER PROTECTION – The rainbow shape of the Hubba Hubba is advantageous in wet and windy weather. This structure means there’s less surface area along the spine to catch gusts of wind and it leaves little room for water to pool up on the fly. One of our favorite details of the Hubba Hubba is the gutter that’s designed into the vestibule doors. This little feature allows you to open up the tent after a rainy night without dumping water into the tent because it instead flows down these gutters.
The rainbow shape and full-coverage rainfly provide excellent protection in inclement weather
GREAT POCKETS – The pockets are really well placed in the Hubba Hubba. Large tech friendly pockets at the ends (they include little ports for charging/headphone cables) are perfect for storing your phone, stashing a map, and keeping extra layers – like gloves or a hat – close at hand for chilly nights. There are also smaller pockets at the peak that are nice for creating ambient lighting with your headlamp or keeping items you don’t want to squash (like sunglasses) out of the way.
Two pockets at the peak and large tech-friendly pockets at the head and foot provide plenty of storage for small items
ROOMY VESTIBULES – There’s plenty of room for storing your backpack and other gear in the vestibules so you can have more floor space. This helps to make the interior feel larger since the headroom is lacking a bit in the Hubba Hubba (more on this below).
The Hubba Hubba has a large vestibule on each side
CONS
A BIT EXPENSIVE– A quality backpacking tent is going to cost you a pretty penny, and the price of the Hubba Hubba – while high – is about average for a high-quality two-person freestanding tent.
HEADROOM IS LACKING – The pole structure of the Hubba Hubba includes one long spine with two Y-shaped segments at the ends and a central cross pole that pulls out the head room in the center. This means you get some pretty good head space in the middle of the tent, but there’s no structure pulling out the sidewalls at the head and foot. As a result, there’s not much space to sit up without your head touching the tent walls. Not the biggest deal in the world, but it’s a slight knock to comfort – especially when sharing the space with another hiker.
Headroom gets a little tight at the ends because there’s no structure to pull out the tent walls
BOTTOM LINE
The lightweight MSR Hubba Hubba 2 is built with high-quality materials and exceptional attention to detail. Its durable design will hold up to several years of adventuring, so it’s a good value. The Hubba Hubba has been among our top backpacking tent picks for as long as we can remember, and we think it’s a great option for anyone looking for a two-person shelter that’s easy to set up and has excellent weather protection.
More Hubba Hubba Photos
MORE INFORMATION
We hope this review helps you determine if the MSR Hubba Hubba 2 is right for you. As always, please leave a comment below if you have any recommendations, questions, or suggestions or visit our Facebook page and Instagram to join the community conversation. If you found this review helpful, please share on social media and click the little heart button below to give us a digital high five!
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