MSR - Hubba Hubba 2

I really like my Hubba Hubba 2 from MSR. Minimum weight is listed at 2 pounds 14 oz on the website but it seems like last seasons version is sold out through cascade designs after discounting. Edit: I will mention that there are quite a lot of negative reviews about this tent from those who have probably used theirs more than me. I would say maybe steer away from this one as it seems very hit or miss.

Weird… I have an older gen Hubba Hubba and it’s been going strong and dry for 15 years. It’s not the updated light weight red and grey one, but green and black. I always use the footprint. I cant see the pic again without deleted my reply, but the tent “bucket” goes up a few inches on the long end and the screen goes to the ground under the vestibules. The seal tape is deteriorating and due to be replaced, but I have never washed it, DWR or otherwise and it’s kept me dry in the heaviest of downpours. Edit: ok looked again. Your “bucket” looks even taller than mine, but it def seems like the fly is higher off the ground, too. I’m sure you’ve tried this, but taught tent floor and then tighten the fly as tight as possible without warping the frame? You might also try hitting the bucket with a fresh hit of DWR like NikWax or equivalent. Getting some overspray on the screen where it meets wouldn’t hurt either.

From the standpoint of flexibility - I have a 10F down quilt and a 40F synthetic quilt along with a 3.5R pad and the cheap 2R waffle pack thing from Walmart for when I go out in anything under 20F conditions. It is cost effective, warm, and I saved a bunch of money by having four pieces that mix/match to cover camping year round. Granted this is for Scouting and I'm normally walking in only a mile or two to get to our site, so weight isn't a huge deal, but the overall penalty isn't that big anyway. My tent is the previous version of the Hubba Hubba and it works beautifully in winter as well. Coldest trip so far is 6F with a couple inch accumulation overnight. I will say the warmest I've slept in these conditions is when my 16 year old decided to share my tent because he was too lazy to put up his own. I put the 40F quilt over top of both of our bags and it was nice.

My wife and I backpack a fair bit (multi day up to two weeks). Our primary tent is an MSR Hubba Hubba 2 from a couple years ago (not sure if I’d recommend them now as company changes have affected their gear a bit, but just using it for reference). The tent floor is 84”x25”. We use Nemo Tensor Regular Wide sleeping pads which are 72”x25”. So, they fill the entire floor width with only a handful of inches top or bottom. I am 5’10 with wide shoulders and over 200lbs. She is 5’4.5 (the extra half inch is important to her) and 130’s. We are able to put our packs at our feet and sleep fine. She sleeps on her back. I tend to sleep on my side or stomach (and then feet end up on the pack or under knees if I do end up on my back for a while). We also have Nemo Fillo Elite pillows (with and inch of memory foam on top of the air bladder). Comfort is import to us while trying also be efficient about size and weight (but not ultra light). For packing, we mostly carry all our own individual stuff (quilts, clothes, headlamps, personal items, food, water, etc). A few random things get split; stove versus battery versus shit kit, etc. For the tent, the way we handle it is I carry the whole tent, but she then gets my sleeping pad and pillow to offset the volume and some of the weight. This is what works for us. For a two person backpacking tent, you will be cozy and hopefully like being near the person you’re sharing it with. I wouldn’t want to share it with a random person or someone I wasn’t very comfortable sleeping very close to. Carrying a 3 person backing tent would not be a bad decision if you want the extra space. You pay for it with about an extra pound of weight and a slight bit more volume in the pack, but it’s your choice to make on what is important to you (as well as what money you can spend). I personally prefer freestanding tents (and then still stake them down as best I can) because I’m in Colorado and find that staking can be hard enough to do that I really don’t trust trekking poles type tents that rely on staking. Too much risk of a staking pulling out due to poor ground. Means I will never have the lightest tent due to carrying tent poles, but I’m the one that has to carry them (not the randos online that are measuring the eight of a ziplock bag).

I will second this. When I’m using a trekking pole tent, the x-mid 1 is my go to. I use both a free standing Hubba hubba 2 (love that tent) and an x-mid 1 for backpacking. The choice depends on the terrain primarily and a little bit on weather.

MSR Hubba Hubba 2. Double walled free standing. Got me through an AT thru last year and NEVER leaked. Very roomy.

Balanced Weight and Durability: Look for tents in the 1.5–2 kg range rather than the sub-1 kg category. These often have better durability while still being lightweight. • Three-Season Tents: Most UL tents are three-season, so ensure the tent you choose has robust guying points and a stable frame for wind and rain. Well-Reviewed Models: Popular options for bike touring include: • Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2/UL3: Lightweight, durable for its class, and easy to pitch. • MSR Hubba Hubba 2: A good balance of weight, durability, and weather resistance. • Zpacks Duplex (DCF): Ultralight, durable (for its weight), but expensive. • Tarptent Stratospire Li: Durable DCF fabric and excellent in wind and rain. I use a MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2man tent and love it.

For 1p tents, there’s a wide range. I started with an elixir one which is on the smaller end but now have an akto which is huge along with my x mid. All of these tents I’ve spent a week plus straight in them and not had an issue. I’ve got an hubba 2 and only use it with my partner.

It’s a little pricier so may not be what you’re looking for but the hubba hubba 2 is 50% off at backcountry(dot)com. That is a screaming deal for a lightweight tent that’s beginner-friendly.  It’s heavier than all the hiking pole ones so far on this thread (not ultralight weight) but it’s freestanding which makes it a bit easier to manage for a newer backpacker. If he doesn’t have two hiking poles, the hiking pole tents will be a bigger investment, cuz you’ll need poles. 

I’ve owned a Hubba Hubba 2 and Mongar 2 for years. Very very similar designs. Ironically the Chinese copy lasted a lot better than the original, with a bit of a weight penalty. Considering nearly every backpacking tent company has a similar tent design (double y with a short cross pole), I don’t really have a problem with intellectual property theft. It’s not exactly an exclusive or original concept.

I’ve owned this tent for ~5 years. If you have a dog in your tent the bottom will rip over time. I’ve had this tent repaired twice. It’s a really nice tent and very lightweight! They also sell a mini garage attachment for it. It’s great!