MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Tent In-Depth Review

Last Updated: January 2021

Category: 2-person, 3-season Backpacking Tent

MSRP: $449.95

Floor Dimensions: 84x50 inches (213 x 127 cm)

Packed Weight: 3lbs 14oz (1.76kg)

What We Like: Quick and easy set up; spacious interior with lots of headroom; Very weather-resistant and durable.

What We Don’t Like: Expensive; and Fly doors are quite small.

Best Suited For: Three-season backpacking trips.

Recommended Alternatives: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2, Nemo Hornet Elite 2, Hilleberg Anjan 2 GT, MSR Access 2.

Final Verdict: The Hubba Hubba NX 2 is a solid all-around three-season tent for backpacking trips in alpine and remote environments.

The MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 is an award-winning backpacking tent. It combines comfort and ample interior space with a super-strong design for maximum durability. The tent is impressively waterproof, even in major storms, and is easy to set up.

In this article, we give you everything you need to know about the Hubba Hubba NX 2, including:


Who is the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Best Suited For?

The MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 is best for experienced backpackers that are looking to head out into more remote environments. Since it’s not super-light, we wouldn’t recommend it for ultralight hikers. But, it’s an excellent option for extended backcountry trips both above and below treeline.

For more help on selecting a tent, check out Best Tents Buying Guide & Reviews.

Opt-outdoor-MSR hubba Hubba NX2-gaby pilson

Performance Guide

The MSR Hubba Hubba is one of the best-selling two-person tents ever. It is a fan favorite because of its good mix of durability, livability, versatility, and compactness. This is how it performs in the real world:

Weight & Packed Size

With an average packed weight of 3lbs 14oz (1.76kg), the Hubba Hubba isn’t an ultralight shelter. But, it’s well within a suitable range for use on a more extended trip in the mountains. The full tent can be reduced down to 3lbs 8oz (1.6kg) if you pack it without any of the included stuff sacks.

Additionally, the Hubba Hubba can be set up in a “light and fast” configuration. Doing so involves pitching it with just the fly, poles, and a groundsheet, which drops the weight down to 3lbs (1.36kg).

Where the tent really shines, though, is in terms of packed size. If you choose to use the included stuff sack, the Hubba Hubba is one of the most compact, fully-featured two-person tents we’ve ever seen.

Alternatively, when packed without the stuff sacks directly into your pack, the tent takes up surprisingly little space. Much of this packability is due to the compactness of the Hubba Hubba’s poles and the thinness of the tent’s fabric.

Interior/Livable Space

MSR hubba Hubba - inside view

The Hubba Hubba has an overall floor area of 29 square feet (2.7 square meters). This makes it the exact same size as both the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 and Nemo Dragonfly 2. It’s also just slightly larger than the Hilleberg Anjan 2 GT when it comes to the inner tent floor area.

Overall, the tent provides a good amount of interior space, especially if you’re using it solo. With two people and a lot of gear, it can feel a bit cramped inside, but no more than what you’d find with other top backpacking tents. 

Additionally, the Hubba Hubba has a lot of headroom, thanks to its pole design. The clips on the tent body that attach it to the poles really help maximize the interior space of the tent. So, it’s comfortable to sit upright in for extended periods.

Durability

After years of frequently using the Hubba Hubba, it’s clear that it’s a durable tent. When taken care of properly, the tent is capable of lasting for a very long time.

Even though the floor of the Hubba Hubba is made only with 30D ripstop nylon, it is strong enough to withstand frequent use. This is especially true if you take care not to pitch it on very sharp rocks or sticks. When used with the optional ground cloth, the tent is even more durable.

The rainfly is also strong enough to hold up in big storms with lots of rain, wind, and hail without ripping. Plus, the Hubba Hubba is made with Easton Syclone poles, which are thin and easy to use but also robust enough not to break in the wind.

Weather Protection

MSR hubba Hubba - Weather protection fly

As far as weather protection goes, the MSR Hubba Hubba is one of the best in the business. This is because it has a 20D ripstop nylon fly that’s treated with Xtreme shield polyurethane and silicone, as well as an even more durable floor fabric.

Moreover, the MSR Hubba Hubba comes with factory-sealed seams, so it’s designed to be waterproof, right out of the factory. This gives the tent a leg-up on some other models which need to be seam-sealed at home before they’re used. 

All that being said, we do recommend adding a few extra guylines to the tent if you’re planning on camping in a particularly windy environment. While the MSR Hubba Hubba does include quite a few guylines in its construction, adding a few more on the doors and sides of the tent can help.

In fact, the Hubba Hubba tends to flap a bit in the wind when you use just the factory guy lines. However, after adding extra guy lines to the tent, there is minimal flapping for a more comfortable camping experience.

Ventilation

msr-hubba-hubba-review

When it comes to ventilation, the MSR Hubba Hubba has two large vents, one at the head and one at the foot of the tent. These can be closed using velcro in very cold weather or kept open on a hot summer’s day if you add extra guy lines.

In addition to these built-in vents, the tent is made with 15D micromesh nylon along the top of the body. The large swaths of mesh paneling in the tent provide a decent amount of air movement on hot days.

That being said, on sweltering, humid, and rainy days, it can feel a bit muggy inside the tent. But, this is true of any tent, so we can’t really knock the MSR Hubba Hubba on this.

Storage Space For Gear

The MSR Hubba Hubba provides an impressive amount of interior and exterior space for gear storage, which is a bonus for backcountry travelers. It has built-in mesh pockets for organizing smaller bits of gear inside the tent.

For actually storing your backpack and other large items of gear, the Hubba Hubba’s two sizable vestibules are the way to go. We really like that the tent has two vestibules, instead of one, because this allows both campers easy access to their gear and their own private entrance to the tent

Additionally, having two vestibules simplifies in-tent organization. This is especially true if you are planning on base camping for a few nights.

Ease of Set-Up and Take Down

The MSR Hubba Hubba is one of the easiest tents we’ve ever set up - once you understand how it works. Since the tent uses a single hub-style pole, it’s worth watching a video to see precisely how it works before you head outside. Once you get the hang of it, though, the tent can be pitched in just a couple of minutes.

The single hub-style pole quickly clips into each corner of the tent without having to thread the pole through any annoying sleeves. Then, you just need to attach the plastic clips on the tent body to the pole to finish the interior set up.

Plus, the Hubba Hubba has easy-to-use webbing adjustment straps that allow you to easily place stakes and tighten the tent for maximum tautness. It also has a color-coded tab system that makes orienting the fly to the body super simple.

The tent is fully free-standing and can actually be set up without guylines, but we don’t recommend this in a storm. Using the included guy lines - and adding a few of your own - can help make the Hubba Hubba more stable in foul weather.

MSR hubba Hubba NX2 Tent-gaby pilson

What We Like About the MSR Hubba Hubba

The Hubba Hubba is a great all-around tent. Here are some of the things that make it a star in our minds:

Simplified Set-Up

The Hubba Hubba was designed with a single unified hub-style pole that makes setting up the tent super easy, even if you’re on your own. Other things we like about the tent’s set up system include its color-coded tabs

This makes orienting the tent body and fly very simple when you’re trying to pitch your shelter, even in the rain. Thanks to this color-coded system, you don’t have to worry about spending time pitching your tent only to realize that you put the fly on backward.

Plus, the Hubba Hubba has a unique metal clip design that allows you to quickly connect the body, fly, and poles together and adjust the tautness of the tent. Unlike other tents that use plastic buckles, the metal clips on this shelter are nearly impossible to break, even in a storm.

Spacious Interior

With 29 square feet (2.7 square meters) of interior space, the MSR Hubba Hubba provides enough room for you to relax at the end of a long hiking day. Plus, the tent has two spacious vestibules for gear storage so you can keep your interior space clean and dry even in a storm.

We also really like that the MSR Hubba Hubba has a high center height for a backpacking tent. This provides you with more headroom and added comfort when sitting upright at night.

Weather-Resistance and Durability

The MSR Hubba Hubba is one of the most durable and weather-resistant three season tents on the market today. It has a 20D silicone-treated ripstop nylon fly and a slightly thicker 30D DWR-treated ripstop nylon floor.

Additionally, the tent is fully seam-sealed at the factory for added waterproofing. The poles of this tent are also super strong, even when in a big storm. But, the tent is still lightweight and compact, despite its durable construction.


What We Don’t Like About the MSR Hubba Hubba

Even the best tent in the world can be improved. Here are some of the things that didn’t quite impress us with the MSR Hubba Hubba:

Expensive

Let’s face it: the MSR Hubba Hubba isn’t cheap. Unfortunately, top of the line tents usually cost quite a bit, but we feel this is well worth it for the quality you’re getting with this tent.

Small Fly Doors

One of the things that disappointed us about the MSR Hubba Hubba’s design is its small fly doors. While we’re happy that the tent has two vestibules, getting in and out of them can be a bit of a squeeze. The difficulty of getting in and out of these small doors is particularly obvious if you’re storing a lot of gear inside the vestibules. With this in mind, we will say that the Hubba Hubba’s body doors are quite large. So, if you can sneak into the vestibule, it’s pretty easy to jump right into the tent if it’s raining.

MSR Hubba Hubba Tent Fly

Is the MSR Hubba Hubba Good Value For Money?

At $449.95, the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 is by no means a budget-friendly tent. However, when it comes to value for your money, we have little to complain about with this tent.

The Hubba Hubba might not be cheap, but it is made with some top of the line materials that are meant to last for years. Moreover, the tent is designed incredibly well and is chock-full of features that make it more comfortable for extended trips. So, while the tent might set you back quite a bit financially, it’s undoubtedly great value for your money.

Other Sizes Available

MSR makes alternatives to the Hubba Hubba NX 2 in a few other sizes. This includes the one-person Hubba NX 1, the three-person Mutha Hubba NX 3, and the four-person Papa Hubba NX 4.  The Hubba NX 1 is a great option for solo adventures, while the Mutha Hubba and Papa Hubba are good choices for larger groups.


Recommended Alternatives

If you’re not sure that the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 is the right tent for you, then you’ll be happy to know that you have plenty of other options. Here are some of the best alternatives to the Hubba Hubba for different styles of camping:

For More Versatility: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2

big agnes copper spur hv ul2 tent

The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 is a good alternative to the Hubba Hubba if you want more versatility in your outdoor living space. The Copper Spur is the same price as the Hubba Hubba but is slightly lighter. It has the same interior space (29 square feet/2.7 square meters). But, what sets the Copper Spur apart from the competition is its unique vestibule design. With this tent, you can quickly convert your vestibules into awnings for relaxing at camp on a sunny summer’s day. You can also roll back the vestibule door for more airflow or pitch just the rainfly for maximum flexibility on ultralight trips. Check the latest price on Amazon or read our in-depth review to find out more.

For Weight Savings: Nemo Hornet Elite 2

The Nemo Hornet Elite 2 is one of our top picks for a fully-featured ultralight backpacking tent. It is slightly more expensive than the MSR Hubba Hubba but is nearly half the weight at just 1lb 11oz (765g). Despite being super lightweight, though, the Hornet Elite is comfortable and spacious, just like the Hubba Hubba. It also features a single hub-style pole design that maximizes interior space and is easy to set up. 

What sets the Hornet Elite apart is, of course, its weight. But, we’d only recommend the tent to very experienced ultralight backpackers that are willing to be extra careful with their gear. This is because the tent is made with some super thin fabrics, like 7D ripstop nylon, which can tear easily if placed on sharp ground. But, when it comes to ultralight camping, the Nemo Hornet Elite is tough to beat. Learn more at Amazon.

For Bad Weather: Hilleberg Anjan 2 GT

Hilleberg is one of the top tentmakers in the world, and they’re known for their high-end camping shelters. The Anjan 2 GT is a burly tent for three-season use that’s also designed for maximum comfort in stormy weather. This tent weighs in at 4lbs (1.8kg), so it’s not super light, but it has one of the largest vestibules on the market. It also features huge doors for easy access and plenty of space for storing gear. The Anjan’s tunnel design also makes it an excellent choice for very windy conditions. The major drawback of this tent is its price. At $860 MSRP, the Anjan is certainly not cheap, but if you want a handmade tent designed to last a lifetime, it’s a good bet. 

For Four-Season Use: MSR Access 2

The MSR Access 2 is more or less a four-season version of the MSR Hubba Hubba. It can comfortably fit two people, and a 1 person version is available. Although it’s fairly expensive, the Access 2 is impressively light for a four-season tent. It has many of the same features of the Hubba Hubba, like a spacious interior and two sizable vestibules.  But, it has a higher peak height to better shed heavy snowfall. Additionally, Access 2 has less mesh on the body for added insulation in the colder months. View the MSR Access 2 on Amazon.

For more options: see all our tent in-depth reviews or our Best Tents Buying Guide.


Tent Comparison Table

Tent

MSRP

Packed Weight

$450

3lbs 14oz (1.76kg)

$450

 3lb 2oz (1.42kg)

$500

 1lb 11oz (765g)

$860

4 lbs 10 oz (2.1kg)

$600

4 lbs. 1 oz (1.84kg)


Final Verdict

The MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 is an excellent option for experienced outdoor enthusiasts that want a reliable tent for backpacking in the mountains. It tips the scales at a respectable weight and is very compact for easy packing.

While the Hubba Hubba is a bit pricey, we think it’s well worth the value you get with this tent. As one of the most durable three-season backpacking tents on the market today, the Hubba Hubba is ready for a lifetime of adventure.

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