Ciss Outdoors

Disclosure: The MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2-Person tent was provided for review. I purchased the MSR footprint independently.

The MSR Hubba Hubba LT combines a spacious interior with a lightweight design, making it an excellent choice for spring and summer backpacking and wild camping.

When I choose a tent, I’m looking for something comfortable to live in after a long day hiking, just as much as something easy to carry. That’s one of the reasons the Hubba Hubba LT immediately appealed to me. The original Hubba Hubba has earned a reputation as one of the best-known backpacking tents on the market, and the new LT version promises to save weight without sacrificing the features that made the original so popular.

I’ve now been using the Hubba Hubba LT for around three months, mainly on solo wild camps in the Cairngorms during spring and early summer. During that time, it’s quickly become a tent I look forward to using, not because it does one thing exceptionally well, but because so many of the smaller details come together to make it an enjoyable shelter to use.

First Impressions

The first thing that struck me when I unpacked the Hubba Hubba LT was the overall quality. Everything feels thoughtfully designed, from the Mini Groundhog pegs through to the roll-top stuff sack that the tent packs into. I appreciate the stealth-green rainfly, and despite being lightweight, each element of the tent feels robust.

The stuff sack is a surprisingly practical feature. Instead of feeding the tent through a small opening at one end, the entire top opens up, making it much easier to pack away. If you’re leaving camp quickly or packing up in poor weather, you don’t need to spend time folding everything perfectly. You can get the tent inside, roll the top down and compress it using the straps. It’s a small detail, but one I’ve appreciated after almost every trip.

One thing to note is that the included Mini Groundhog pegs cover only the standard pitch. MSR supplies additional guylines, and there are extra attachment points on the tent, but using them in stronger winds requires purchasing additional pegs.

Footprint

Although the footprint is sold separately, I’d recommend considering it if you’re buying the Hubba Hubba LT. The floor fabric of the Hubba Hubba LT is noticeably lighter than tents I’ve owned previously, at 20D and 1800 mm HH rating. Having that extra footprint layer underneath provides reassurance when pitching on rougher ground or in wetter conditions. MSR themselves recommend using the footprint, so I bought it as soon as I received the tent and have used it throughout testing. Bear in mind, this increases your overall packed weight by about 250 g.

Despite purchasing the recommended size for the Hubba Hubba LT 2-person, I would have preferred the footprint to sit fractionally further under the long edge of the tent floor. The width protrudes slightly beyond the tent width. This isn’t how the dimensions read on paper, with the footprint stated as being 129 cm wide and the tent inner 132 cm. Perhaps without two rectangular sleeping mats inside the tent inner, it is not spread to its widest possible shape. Whatever the cause, having the footprint protrude slightly isn’t ideal. Water could pool between the footprint and groundsheet, and it means I spend a little more time positioning things than I’d ideally like while pitching the inner. There is no issue with the length of the footprint, which is 216 cm, compared to the tent inner’s 224 cm.

Ease of Pitching

Pitching the Hubba Hubba LT couldn’t have been much simpler. The first time I put it up, I relied on the illustrations printed on the stuff sack flap alone. Everything felt intuitive, and after that initial pitch, the process quickly became second nature.

The DAC NFL poles are rigid enough to support the tent well, but they are not so rigid that you have to wrestle the ends into the corner hardware, as I have with other tents. The inner pole clips feel substantial and snug, and the rainfly is easy to position and secure without it becoming difficult to control in the wind.

The joy of having a freestanding tent is that you can also pitch the inner on its own. On dry, warm, calm nights, you have the freedom to stargaze if you wish. Being solo and living in Scotland, I am yet to try this, but it is very nice to know the option is on the table.

Living space

Although I’ve only used the Hubba Hubba LT solo, I deliberately choose two-person tents for most of my camping. At 5′ 11″, I appreciate the extra room. I also prefer a two-person tent because it does not immediately advertise to anyone who sees it that I’m camping alone.

The Hubba Hubba LT feels spacious for its footprint size. The 102 cm of headroom is good compared to other similar tents, but it’s the tent’s domed shape that really makes the difference. Because the side walls are steep, the usable height extends across much more of the tent rather than being concentrated in the centre. Sitting up, getting changed and moving around inside all feel much easier than I expected from a tent designed with weight saving in mind.

Having a two-door design adds to that sense of space. The porch on either side also makes the tent more versatile, whether that’s choosing which side to cook from, opening the door towards the best view or simply adjusting to changing wind direction. If you’re sharing the tent, it also means each person has their own entrance.

Inside, there are plenty of storage pockets, along with overhead drying lines that I’ve used to air damp clothing between hiking days.

Ventilation

The Hubba Hubba LT’s ventilation has been excellent throughout testing. The largely mesh inner makes the tent feel airy, while the rainfly sits well above the ground, allowing air to move underneath. There are also kickstand vents you can open to encourage airflow. Throughout my testing, ventilation has been excellent, and I’ve had no issues with condensation, even after overnight rain.

That airflow brings with it a trade-off. In windier conditions, the inside of the Hubba Hubba LT stays cooler than other tents I’ve used. This is ideal in warm conditions. In cooler conditions, however, you may need a warmer sleeping bag and mat than you would in a more enclosed tent.

Weather Performance

Most of my testing has been during spring and early summer in the Cairngorms, with temperatures down to around freezing, overnight rain and generally favourable weather for backpacking. I haven’t deliberately taken it out in severe winds or heavy rain simply to find its limits; this review reflects the conditions I’ve experienced.

The 1200 mm HH rainfly performs exactly as I’d hoped during showers, with no leaks or signs of water ingress. It’s also quieter than I’d expected. The lightweight 20D fly fabric is rustly when moving, but if you take the time to pitch the rainfly well and keep it taut, it stays quiet in the wind.

A Conditional Choice

One thing I have noticed is that the Hubba Hubba LT makes me stop and think, ‘Is this the right tent for this trip?’. Before heading out, I spend time considering whether it’s the right shelter for the conditions I’m expecting. That’s not because the tent has given me any reason to doubt its performance. Instead, it’s because the LT is unapologetically positioned as a lightweight backpacking tent, with lighter fabrics and lower hydrostatic head ratings than previous tents I’ve used.

For me, that’s simply part of choosing the right kit. If I’m planning a spring or summer wild camp where keeping weight down is a priority, the Hubba Hubba LT will be the tent I reach for. If I’m planning something much more exposed or committing in poorer conditions, I’d think more carefully about whether a heavier, more weather-protective tent would be a better choice.

That isn’t a criticism of the Hubba Hubba LT. It’s simply recognising what this tent has been (well) designed to do.

Related reading:

Wild Camping Gear: How to Choose A Tent That Works for You

Wild Camping Gear: What I Rely On, and Why