Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board MSR tents

I bought a MSR Hubba one person tent. It is just under 3 lbs. I am considering exchanging it for the Hubba Hubba two person tent; just under 4 lbs. Any thoughts on this and more importantly, does anyone have the Hubba? Is it a reliable tent for a 3 season? Thanks! mc

Don't have either of these tents, but a few thoughts:

MSR products are generally well thought of. Some of their earlier tents are among the most popular out there.

The Hubba-Hubba is what I think is one of the best 2-person configurations out there....two doors/vestibules.

A competing tent would be the REI Quarter-Dome.

The Hubba seems good, but a little heavy.

Just remember, a pound here, a pound there, a tent here, a water filter there... and pretty soon you'll be matching Hiker Laura's 50 lb pack! There is an art to lightweight mountaineering.

I own an MSR product and I will say this, they honor their warranty like no one else.

To me, that tent is a bit heavy for one person. I take a look at a couple of Black Diamond Epic Fabric tents. They are in the 3 pound range. My friends have using them for a couple of years as palatial one person tents.

Don't want to start a "Gear Forum" here but check out Henry Shires line of Tarptents .

Thanks for the input. I currently have the MSR one person (Hubba) which is just under 3 lbs. so not too bad. I liked the MSR 2 person (Hubba Hubba) for the obvious more space and 2 door design with double vestibule (very nice for 2 people). I looked at Black Diamond. The Lightsabre is a bivy, the Lighthouse and the HiLight are awesome but you have to pay extra for the vestibule.

I appreciate your words of wisdom, Steve C., regarding weight; it is easy to add a pound or two...and each pound adds up! mc

I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I went up MR with 60lbs on my back. We were a party of four and we wanted to camp in luxury. We ate like kings, but we sure packed like slaves. I wont go into details of our gear, but let's just say we brought TWO bear canisters. I think it was overkill. In my defense I have to say I carried alot of our heavier gear because two in our party were out of shape and coming directly from sea level elevation. I've learned my lesson. Packing that much weight will leave your shorter! I'm not carrying anything over 25-30lbs.

Hey, I'm WORKING on it! I keep saying I'd like to take a lighter pack. I'm tired of carrying Ken on my shoulders! Good thing he's such a lightweight! (nuthin' but luv, KM!). We'll see how my pack turns out this weekend. I'm aiming for 40#!

My Kelty Crestone 1 is about 3 lbs, but I think I'll be looking for a lighter option for this summer's adventure. I love the tent, I just know there are ones that won't drag me down so much. I may end up going with just my bivy sack.

But, I think more than that, is that I carry a lot of food and water. I'm also of the school that refuses to eat poorly (read: dehydrated nastiness!), so I'll sacrifice a few pounds for good eats! Then of course, I have to consider the fishing pole...

As for the MSR stuff, don't own myself, but have friends who absolutely SWEAR by them. If that helps at all...

-L 8)

I'm with ya, HL! I too, will sacrifice a few extra pounds for quality food and plenty of water. I will say that the dehydrated spaghetti isn't bad! My first days hiking, in the 80's, (when the dehydrated was awful) I used to bring the small shrimp cocktails in glass jars, Galileo's dry salami and cheese with fresh mango and other fruits! Crazy, yes, but you should have seen the other hikers eying my eats! mc

Why buy a vestibule? There is more than enough room inside for all your stuff if you are using it as a one person tent.

One of my friends uses a Firstlight, the other a Lighthouse.

Personally, they are too small to used as 2 person tents for my tastes.

I have an older Walrus "Swift" that weighs in about 3#. Roomy for one, was fine for the two of us when my son was little but way too cramped for us now that he's taller than I am. (The Walrus was what we used back in '01 when we did the main Whitney trail. Photos of it at Trail Camp in the Whitney report under "highpointing" on my <a href="http://www.mtritter.org">WWW site</a>.)

I also have an MSR "Zoid 2" that is a very nice 2-person summer tent (mosquito net walls). Weighs about 4# and with a door on each side is really nice not to be crawling over each other to get in/out of the tent.

If I'm out for a weekend, I'll carry the Zoid even for myself...the extra room is nice. For longer trips where I'm in a tent solo, saving a pound with the Swift is the way to go.

Both were bought on sale...the Swift on closeout back about '96 from Sierra Trading Post, the Zoid during an REI sale.

Both have proven durable over multiple trips. Overall, quality of the MSR is better than the Walrus but then MSR tends to be a better line anyway.

I've had my Hubba Hubba for the past 1 1/2 years. Rain, wind, and heat... It's all good!!! Sets up easily and packs away quick. Has enough interior space for 2 six footers [w/backpacks stored in vestibule areas]. Know a few other folks who own the Hubba Hubba too and they all enjoy their's as much as I do. For the quality and weight you can't go wrong! And as you already know - MSR makes some of the best products out there!!!

I just bought a Black Diamond Hilight from REI. Had to pick it up in DC and carry it in airline baggage because of CA fire retardant regs. It's a great one-person keep all your stuff in the tent shelter.

Thanks again for all the input.

bigfatmarmot, I am trying to decide between the Hubba or the Hubba Hubba. Just under 3 lbs vs. just under 4 lbs. Also, booger, I have had my eye on the HiLight and the Lighthouse by Black Diamond. wbtravis5152 said why buy a vestibule? Isn't is nice to have if you need to cook in high wind or extreme cold conditions?

Bottom line, I think any of the above mentioned tents would be good. I just have to make up my mind!

I was thinking about getting the Hubba. I don't think the Black Diamond tents are fire resistant. I don't wanna get burned to a crisp when I'm cooking inside on rainy days.

I wouldn't worry about the vestibule. First off, I wouldn't cook near my tent in bear country. I would not want the odors permeating the tent.

With that said, in ten years of 3 season Sierra backpacking there has only been on night or morning where it would have been nice to cook inside a vestibule of a tent.

The nice thing about BD tents at ~3# they can be used as a 2 man tent in a pinch. The MSR Hubba can't.

Upon closer look the Black Diamond lighthouse looks awesome. I didn't know it was a 2 person tent at 3lbs!! I'm going to REI right now and use my 20% coupon and dividend check. Thanks!

I bought the Hubba last weekend at REI. Btw, 20% off for new or current members ends April 1st. I was seriously looking at the BD Lighthouse. It is a phenomenal tent! But I would want the vestibule as I have been accepted to Dan Mazur’s Glacier School this Sept. We will attempt either Baker or Rainier so a vestibule could come in handy. I have to combine a tent for “3 season Sierra’s” and basic mountaineering because I’m also getting a new tent for boat camping with hubby (a seven pounder). He would not be a “happy camper” if I bought two tents for my backpacking/climbing needs! Now I’m thinking about the BD Lighthouse and maybe buying the vestibule in August before my Glacier School. One slight concern I had with the Lighthouse is the ventilation. wbtravis5152, have your friends ever complained about the BD Lighthouse or HiLight getting too hot?

My friends have used the BD tents in the winter...they are basically copies of the Bibler I Tent. I would not trust them if the call was for big weather.

I do not remember any of the three that own this tent complaining about them being hot, after all it is a double door, both screen and fabric, and back vent for cross ventilation. We backpack almost exclusively in the the High Sierra where the morning temperatures are in the 30s.

Lastly, they cannot be purchased in California because they are not flame retardant. I have seen them offered by REI in Dallas, TX...so you might be able to buy them on line and utilize your discount but don't count on being able to order them at the store.

Thanks again wbtravis5152 and all, for the info. Two different employees of REI were ready to order the BD lighthouse for me and did not mention that it can only be ordered from certain states. I guess I am going to REI tonight...decision time!

I am truly amazed at how helpful the members of this board are. I am grateful that I was lead to this site.