The MSR Hubba Hubba line has been a long-standing favourite amongst backpackers and campers who need a stability of low weight, sturdiness, and luxury. The freestanding Hubba Hubba HD 2 is the most recent evolution of that design, aimed squarely at hikers and campers who need extra inside consolation and higher supplies with out shifting into heavy, overbuilt territory. Like its predecessor, the double-wall Hubba Hubba LT 2 (see our evaluation), it has a really rectangular ground plan appropriate to be used with huge rectangular sleeping pads, however comes with a lot better waterproofing, a stealthier colour scheme, and barely much less air flow for elevated inner heat.
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- Capability: 2 Folks
- Kind: Freestanding
- Design: Double Wall
- Doorways: 2
- Seam-taped: Sure
- Path weight: 3 lbs 9 oz
- Ranfly: Resolution-dyed 20D ripstop nylon 3000mm polyether urethane & PFAS-free silicone
- Foor: Resolution-dyed 30D ripstop nylon 6000mm polyether urethane & PFAS-free DWR
- Ground & Vestibule Dimensions: 2.95 + 1.53 sq m (32 + 16.5 sq ft)
- Peak peak: 1.02 m (40 in)
- Most folded pole phase size: 21″
- Execs: Freestanding, glorious waterproof scores, matches two 25″ huge sleeping pads, single multi-hub trekking pole is difficult to lose
- Cons: Internal tent have to be pitched first
Overview and Supposed Use
The Hubba Hubba HD 2 is a freestanding, double-wall, two-person backpacking tent for individuals who care about livability simply as a lot as packed weight. In comparison with the not too long ago upgraded Hubba Hubba LT 2, the HD model focuses on stronger supplies for improved efficiency in unhealthy climate, together with winter situations, the place a freestanding tent is an actual asset as a result of it may be arrange nearly wherever. The one draw back of the tent’s design is that it’s nonetheless pitched inside tent first, exposing the inside to precipitation earlier than the rainfly will be deployed.
Weight and Packability
The tent has a path weight of three lb 9 oz and comes with 8 mini groundhog stakes plus further guyline cordage. This isn’t the lightest two-person tent in MSR’s lineup, however the weight is justified given the tent’s added material upgrades, improved waterproofing, and storm resistance. To place this into perspective, the tent ground’s 6000 mm waterproof ranking is akin to a Hilleberg tent, an organization identified for its bombproof tent materials.
Packed dimension is cheap and matches simply in most backpacks, offered you take away it from the lengthy cylindrical stuff sack that MSR offers and repack the poles and the tent physique and fly, both unfastened or in a shorter and rounder compression sack. The lengthy cylindrical stuff sack that the tent comes packed in is sort of old fashioned and meant to be hung off the again or underneath a high-volume backpack. Personally, I like to hold a tent vertically or damaged down into elements inside my pack, so the load is nearer to my torso.
Inside Area and Livability
That is the place the Hubba Hubba HD 2 actually stands out. It’s sized to suit two huge (25″) sleeping pads facet by facet for optimum consolation, with loads of further room at each ends to retailer your footwear and kit you need contained in the tent. There are giant mesh pockets at each ends for storing gear up off the ground, like glasses or telephones, and twin gear lofts overhead for storing a headlamp and different requirements.
The tent additionally comes with two spacious gear vestibules, one for every occupant, which can be giant sufficient to retailer your backpack whereas nonetheless permitting straightforward entry and exit. This eliminates the necessity to climb over a companion at night time. The vestibule doorways have bi-directional zippers that may be configured in quite a lot of methods to boost air flow, whereas the zippers have rain gutters that channel water away from the zipper, so that you don’t get soaked if you must exit whereas it’s raining.
The height peak is 40 inches, which makes a noticeable distinction when sitting up. Two folks can sit upright with out brushing the ceiling, which is very welcome on lengthy winter nights or bad-weather days when that you must keep within the tent.
Supplies and Construct High quality
The largest improve within the HD model is the waterproof ranking of the tent ground and rain fly. The tent ground has a water-resistant ranking of 6000mm in comparison with 1800mm on the Hubba Hubba LT2, or over 3 instances extra water resistance. The rain fly has a water-resistant ranking of 3000mm in comparison with 1200mm on the Hubba Hubba LT2, almost 2 and a half instances extra water resistance.
The pole construction makes use of DAC aluminum poles, identified for energy and reliability. The tent has a single pole with a number of hubs. It’s notable that MSR has moved away from carbon-fiber tent poles in a lot of its tents and returned to aluminum.
Air flow and Condensation
Air flow is superb for a tent of this class. Mesh panels on the tent physique promote airflow, whereas roof vents assist launch heat, moist air. Condensation can nonetheless kind in humid or chilly situations, however it’s usually nicely managed and doesn’t drip onto occupants as a result of double-wall design.
Setup and Ease of Use
Setup is simple and intuitive as a result of the pole ends and rainfly connect to nook {hardware} and stake-out factors. As soon as the inside tent is erected (simpler with two folks than one), the rainfly is draped over it and secured.
Drawbacks
No tent is ideal. The primary draw back of this tent is that the inside tent have to be pitched first earlier than the rain fly will be hooked up. This will increase the chance that rain will make the inside tent moist if it’s raining while you set it up. Whereas manageable with tenting towels, it’s not optimum, provided that this tent is designed for elevated climate resistance.
Last Verdict
The MSR Hubba Hubba HD 2 is a superb alternative for backpackers who prioritize consolation, area, and sturdiness with out shifting into heavy tenting gear. It gives beneficiant inside room, dependable climate safety, and considerate options that make lengthy journeys extra gratifying. If you’d like a tent that’s light-weight sufficient for backpacking, the Hubba Hubba HD 2 hits the candy spot between mild weight and enhanced climate resistance.
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Disclosure: MSR donated a tent for evaluation.
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