The MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2-person backpacking tent has been rejuvenated. After a 10-year run as a top selling backpacking tent, it was time for a little modernizing, with the focus on livable space, weight, & setup. The innovative results speak for themselves as the Hubba Hubba NX won 2014 Outside Gear of the Year.
Spring, summer, and fall are my favorite times to backpack. I prefer 3-season tents over 2 or 4 season as they have the most versatility and protection from the elements. Big thanks to MSR/Cascade Designs for allowing me to test this tent. It arrived just in time for a weeklong trip below the rim of the Grand Canyon.
Setting up a new tent is usually an adventure, however, MSR has simplified the Hubba Hubba NX to four steps! When I first received the tent and took it out of its compression sack, I was excited to find the instructions attached to the inside so they travel wherever you go. The first step is to lay out the tent body and assemble the poles. An interesting note about these poles is that they are an attached hubbed pole system. This means the poles are all connected to form one backbone instead of two or three parts to assemble, keep track of, and worst of all, figure out which pole goes where. Step two is inserting the poles into the grommets on each corner of the tent body. This can be done alone, but it‘s easier with a second person, or by lightly pre-staking the body which acts like a second set of hands. Once the poles are in place, the mesh body connects to the backbone with multiple easy snap clips. Finally, unfold the rainfly over the top matching the grey stake loops to grey fly webbing, and the red stake loops to red fly webbing. It is important to attach the rainfly midpoint to the pole backbone before attaching the body to the stake loops to ensure the tent is lined up correctly. Then, stretch out the vestibule until taut, and stake. Presto! Hubba Hubba NX assembled. Honestly, the setup was so straightforward I have not needed to look at the directions again.
The tent comes with the tent body, rainfly, poles, 2 guy cords, 2 tensioners, 6 MSR Mini-Groundhog Stakes, 1 pole repair sleeve, and a compression stuff sack. With the basic setup in the compression sack, the tent weighs in at 3lb 7oz, which is right in line with similar light tents. I strapped it to the bottom outside of my pack as a last ditch effort to make room for a week’s worth of food and layers for the unknown November weather. Usually, I absolutely hate anything hanging off the pack, but it‘s so light and compact that it didn‘t dangle or swing and bother me.
There are two additional Fast & Light set up methods for the Hubba Hubba NX that can get the tent weight down to 2lb 2oz. These additional setup options transform this tent into one of the most versatile on the market. The Fast & Light set-ups are: rainfly, poles, & footprint (sold separately), or rainfly & poles only.
Getting used to the layout of the tent was no problem, as it is extremely spacious and has loads of features for such an ultra light model. The basic layout of the tent is 84in long, 50in wide, and 39in tall at its center. This was plenty of room for myself, my 6‘ 5” husband, both of our sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and other assorted gear stashed at the foot of my bag and in the mesh pockets at head & foot. It is very cozy at night, but not too tight. The designers put some thought into the floor size as it kept our sleeping pads in place without them sliding too far part (huge pet peeve to wake up off my pad and with a sore hip from sleeping on the ground all night). The headroom also deserves an honorable mention, as there is enough room for my husband to completely sit up.
The Hubba Hubba NX has two zipper doors running the length of the tent. This gives each of us the ability to get outside without crawling over one another, or having to be cautious in the middle of the night not to fall on your tent mate‘s head or ankles while trying to get in or out.
The spaciousness and functionality of the design extends through the rainfly. First, the vestibules are very roomy, and there are two! I prefer to keep my pack close to the tent (unless in bear country) and enjoy the simple luxury of my hiking boots being covered overnight. Hubba Hubba NX allows plenty of room for backpack, boots, and there is still room to get in and out of the tent without tripping over the gear.
In addition, the fly has Velcro-open vents at the head and foot. I found having both of these open, even if temps are in the low 20‘s allows for great cross ventilation. Structurally the fly does a fantastic job shielding from the wind. I have had other tents where the wind picks up and it feels like a hurricane inside the tent. One night in the Canyon it was extremely gusty. We could hear the wind, but inside, hardly felt a draft. The fly also includes built-in rain gutters to direct flow of water away from the tent.
The Mini Groundhog Stakes proved to be extremely strong in the shaft. However, we did have an issue with the top hex part of the stakes twisting and breaking off while trying to drive them into the ground. In speaking with MSR after our trip, we learned that the Hubba Hubba NX comes with the Mini Groundhogs to compliment the light weight and strength of the tent. They advised trying more burly stakes such as MSR Carbon-Core Stakes or Cyclone Stake if camping in places with lots of hard ground & rocks.
Overall, this is one solid tent design.. Through the testing I have been able to do this product has clearly proven its lightness and spaciousness, while maintaining a high level of integrity. With an MSRP of $399.95, the value for what you get with the Hubba Hubba is unparalleled.
For more technical information please refer to the MSR Hubba Hubba NX Specs page.
– Carley