MSR Hubba NX

MSR Hubba NX review

MSR Hubba NX
As promised, here’s the first of a few tent reviews that I’ve been stacking up so we can compare and contrast. Kinda like a group test but carried out over an extended period in the mountains.

First up is the MSR Hubba NX, a lightweight variant of the original Hubba, which was a fine tent in it’s own right. It’s a solo tent, so if there’s more than one of you take a look at the Hubba Hubba, or indeed the Mutha Hubba or Papa Hubba. Nice naming convention there, despite making people my age think about chewing gum.

The fly is 20D silconised PU, and the groundsheet is 30D, which makes sense with that being the bit you spend most of your time on. The poles are DAC, with a curious Y-shaped spread at either end and a floating crosspole. There’s a single porch which has a twin door arrangement, which MSR call a StayDry door. The idea is that the water runs down the gutters at the side of the door rather than the center, reducing your chance of getting soaked as you get in and out of the tent. It’s freestanding and is pitched inner first.

MSR Hubba NX

So, how does it all work out there on the hill? Well the compression sack is good for making it portable. It’ll fit down the side of your pack nicely. The poles and pegs come in wee bags which will get blown away or lost, so best just leave them at home. Pitching is straightforward enough and the freestanding bit helps if you need to adjust your pitch to avoid a rock or two. Inner-first pitching does always make me sigh when the weather is inclement.  I carry a packtowel and it’s no big drama, but it’s just a bit demoralising if you have to pitch in the rain.

Internal space is good for one, even for all of the 193cm of splendidness that is me.  The height is enough for me to sit up and drink my tea and it’s comfortable for a lengthy stay on an autumn or winter night. The porch is big enough for a rucksack and your boots and will still leave room to get in and out or to cook in.  The inner is partially solid to help manage draughts, which is welcome in spring, autumn and definitely winter, although sometimes a breeze is welcome in the summer. In that case, just leave the door open.

The guys that come with it are ok but I’ve had one burst on me and so have replaced them all with doubled dyneema lines.  The supplied mini-groundhog stakes on the other hand are excellent wee fellows to keep in your pack.  Stability is very good in high winds and it sheds rain and snow well. The inner can be cinched down a bit at the peg points for those really nasty nights.

 

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My sample weighs in at 1230g but I do carry my own stake and peg pack separately and I don’t bother with the fiddly wee bag for the poles. This is a reasonable weight for a dual skin tent. You can leave the inner at home and just take the outer with a footprint and significantly reduce the weight, assuming you like midgies that is.

Short version: The Hubba NX is a lightweight yet sturdy option for three season summit camping and backpacking. Recommended.

MSR Hubba NX

 

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10 Comments

  1. Nice write up and review here Michael. Like yourself, I absolutely love my MSR Hubba HP solo that I picked up last year which like the NX has ample room for one. I think both are pretty similarly spec’d though the built-in rain gutter on NX is nice addition.

  2. Hi Michael,

    I find this interesting. I have exactly the same tent, except it’s from LL Bean (A US brand, you won’t find it in Europe). I have seen this before: I also own a Gossamer from Jack Wolfskin, and have since found that other companies (Snugpack, for example) sell the exact same tent under a different name (and maybe one or two details differ – for example, my inner from differs from your MSR – mine is completely mesh). Are there tent designers who sell their designs to different outdoor companies? Do you have any idea about that?

    I do agree with your verdict though, this is a brilliant tent (even if mine bears a different brand name :D)

    Regards,
    Stefan
    (WalkingDutchman)

  3. Ah LL Bean, I used to get their catalogue regularly. There are both designers and manufacturers who will sell to any brand. It’s a good game to spot the stuff that’s all made to the same spec with just a different brand badge. Particularly popular with stoves.

    The Hubba HP is next on the list for a review, once I can get past all the referendum coverage…

  4. I bought a NX1 earlier this year and your review helped in the decision. An awesome little tent indeed, not ultra light but light enough. See my review in ‘Trailspace.com., MSR Hubba NX 1’ by the ‘Alpine Phantom’. I put in effect a few mods, the most effective being the addition of a guy-line pullout on each side of the longitudinal pole. The pull-out is also connected to the pole from beneath, by Velcro. Being a gearhead I havegone through about 10 tents in 45 years. None were bad, I just enjoyed new styles, technology and of course tweaking them. This NX 1 may be the end of the line, it’s just to sweet to let go.

  5. Hi Michael, great reviews of both the Hubba NX and the Hubba HP! I was considering them due to the size of the porch (walking in the Scottish hills with my dear labrador), and now I am decided. However I am still unsure between the NX and the HP: I understand that it is a trade-off between sturdiness and weight, but which one would you recommend for spring to autumn wild camping in the Scottish Highlands? Definitely don’t want to end up with a broken tent in the middle of the night….

  6. Hi Nathalie, for spring to autumn you’d be fine with either tent, I’ve used the NX in very unpleasant autumn storms and it’s been perfectly solid. For the summer, the NX is probably preferable due to the mesh content on the inner which helps with ventilation. Unless you’re planning to be out in winter-ish conditions, the NX will do just fine.

  7. Don’t forget with additional footprint you can pitch outer first, makes a big difference in inclement weather.

  8. Hi Michael, great review thanks for sharing. First picture, looks like there is a guy line on the right had side of the photo mid way up the tent. Are there any other guy out points pid way up or higher? i.e. on the 4 compass points of the tent so to speak? Can you describe where the guy out points are, and if it is possible to do an easy fix add on anywhere else on the tent?

  9. There’s 3 guys one on the back panel and one at either end, single point at about mid height. In most cases I don’t bother with them, only if it’s super windy. You could easily add more if you like.

  10. Hi Michael, great review, I’m looking to hike the applalattion trail next year over 5-6 months, which tent would you recommend, appreciate your help, thanks

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