Hi all,

MSR company has a tent which looks very light and efficient for 3 seasons called Hubba Hubba.

Looks good, just fine but practically ?
I think it is not fro winter at all.

http://www.msrcorp.com/tents/hubbahubba.asp

Anybody has experience about it?

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

Hi Samy,
Unfortunately the industry standard of rating tents by 'season' is bloody silly. I often find my tent has to put up with far more trying conditions in summer. It's then that you often have summer storms battering the poor thing within an inch of it's life. Whereas winter can just as easily be calm and peaceful.
The thing to ask yourself is "What type of camping will I be doing?" If you are camping in generally low level, reasonably sheltered conditions then this tent will be fine.
Higher altitude and exposed situations will require a four 'season' (grrr...) tent.
Also ask yourself what the temps. are going to be like. Hot weather will mean a tent with an inner with mucho mesh (like this one) is good, but this will be cold in cooler conditions.
I'd venture to say this tent would be more than adequate for the use 99% of people would put it to.
Matt

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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

IMO 4th season = snow. Not many tents rated for snow to desert.

I've a hubba hubba.
Suffers from condensation. Need to guy it so as there is a gap to provide better ventilation. So I'd say it need 4 pegs in teh ground .. not exactly peg free, but you could get away with 2 pegs or rocks to take the vestiables out.

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Click on the "Planning" graphic link on the left, and then "Tents" for more.

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Grant Johnson
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I come from long distance hiking (hiked over 10,000miles) to touring and I work at a gear shop and own a hubba hubba.

My thoughts on the hubba hubba:
1. Great lightweight tent.
2. The fly of the tent MUST be FULLY stacked out if there is any chance of rain. This is because if you notice the “tub” (the waterproof fabric that is the floor and sides) does not come up high enough on the sides. With very little rain and wind, if the tent is not FULLY stacked out, you will get a lot of splash due to the low walls of the tub (aka water in your tent)

I disagree with the condensation comment. The body of the tent is nearly all mesh and the fly has plenty of venting if fully stacked out. The condensation “problem” is no where close to the “problems” you will have with other tents. [[stay away from THE NORTH FACE ultralight series (spectrums, vector, dyad, and solo) unless you want to see REAL condensation problems.]]

As for 3 season vrs 4 season comments: I think you would be very hard pressed to find a place where you NEED a 4 season tent that you rode to. You can get by with a 3 season using your bikes as shelter from the wind. The wind will do more damage than the snow. I have been in a snowstorm where it dropped 3 feet of snow in a black diamond mega lite. ( http://www.bdel.com/gear/mega_light.php )You will be fine, you just will not sleep that night, for you are keeping the snow off you tent. Ride high and sleep low! (There is no need to be caught where you need a 4 season unless you go looking for it. IMHO)

As for the hubba hubba I think it is a great lightweight tent. But if you can handle a pound/kilo or more you can get a tent the same packed size that might be better.

Hope this helps.

Take care
WIESE

<<
As for the hubba hubba I think it is a great lightweight tent. But if you can handle a pound/kilo or more you can get a tent the same packed size that might be better.>>

Wiese,

seems that you are clued up on the "which Tent" business and wanted to pick you brains..
I am using a Black Diamond firstlight and I like it because it packs v. small is super lightweight and is dead easy to pitch.

But I would like to have a bit more space both internal and vestibule and better ventilation on hot days.

I thought the Hubba Hubba was the obvious alternative but it seems that you have different idea, could you share your ideas with us.

(I will be using the tent for two people -i.e. more stuff to store in vestibules - we are on two bikes)

Wiese,
I agree with basically everything you say except I would not like to use the Hubba in snow. On the Hardanger in Norway I was in a snowstorm where the tiny particles of windblown spindrift were blown through the no-see-um netting of the door of my inner tent. Luckily the door was two layer (the inner layer being nylon) and the snow collected between the two layers rather than entering the tent. There was about a pound of spindrift in that small area! In a tent like the Hubba so much snow could have entered I could easily have died!(Not an exageration, down sleeping bag, miles from anywhere!) Plus the mesh would make it very cold to sleep in.
BUT: You are right, I didn't access this by bike! (By skis)
AND: I agree this tent is fine for most things.

I would only hesitate to buy a tent like this if I was expecting to use it largely in winter.
Matt

PS: 'Four Season' tents often have more condensation problems because their design is more enclosed, the outer comes down lower etc. For this reason no tents are truly all rounders as there is bound to be compromise in some conditions.

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Alright, more random thoughts and theories on tents:

The tents I own and USE are:
MSR hubba hubba (is my hiking with the lady friend tent, aka has a floor)
Serria Design Hercules AST (the older version not the assault, light weight base camp tent)
Black Diamond mega lite (the Golite Hex is more of a pain to set up compared to the mega lite but is 100% better in the wind, if I had it to do over again I would go with the Hex for wind reasons only)
Black Diamond Firstlight with the vestibule (in luv with this tent. But I only use it where a bivy will not do when pushing for a summit)
One of Henry Shire’s Tarp Tents (www.tarptent.com) (BY FAR THE BEST LIGHTWEIGHT hiking tent on the market. They kill the Golite trig’s or cave/nest combos. My favorite hands down.)

The rest of my tents are tarps and bivys by companies like Integral Designs. Or are older and are at the bottom of my closet and haven’t seen dirt in days.

Also it is worth noting that I live in the USA and am only aware of some of the tents on the market.

I think we (the ppl of this thread) have drifted from the best advise there is regarding tents which was here before we started this thread. (Thanks once again Grant)

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tripplan/equipment/tents.php

SAMI, what are you using the tent for? RTW? I am looking for a tent to RTW with right now as well. A hubba hubba would work GREAT, but not mine as for I have eaten over the years. All the tents I am looking at are in the USA and I can get a “hook up” on. (= TheNorthFace, Mountain Hardwear, Marmont, MSR, etc) I am doing my best to change the way I look at things and trying not to put weight on the top of my list.

My criteria are like Grants but some where in there the two door criteria have changed. I am going to be traveling with the lady friend and we will be using a down sleeping bag (20 degree) that is custom (under 3lbs). It has no down on the bottom but has inserts for the sleeping pads. The point is, only one opening SO I want the doors of the tent to line up for this.

The doors on the MSR are made for people to sleep head to feet (opposing). While tents like the Earylight or even the Aeolos by Marmot have the doors opening the same way (symmetrical). But with this said I love the poles of the MSR. The Mountain Hardwear’s Meridan is great if you are short. If I were not 6’2” I would be in the Meridan. The vestibules are HUGE (even if the numbers don’t look it). The Meridan also has the poles I love so much (just one pole). TheNorthFace tent’s, I hate sleeves.

As you can see I am still looking for tents myself. We have joked about taking the tarp tent and plan on using it short trips around here to see if it is livable. I just love that tent but it is unlikely we will RTW with it. I also think all RTW will eventually be destroyed by UV and the rest of the elements. So if you don’t get it right the first time don’t worry you will get to buy another tent in a few years.

I hope this helps

Take care
WIESE

PS if you are in a snowstorm in a 3 season tent you will live just not sleep much. Stack up sticks or rocks around the fly to make a wall to form a snowdrift later. Get out every few hours and remove the snow around the tent and keep it off the fly. You will be fine.

The subject of this thread should be as above then.
Everybody has different experiences and choices of the tent. Distance different, season different, understanding of quality is different.
I think we all can come up together and agree on some certain models.

An overlander should have a tent like below:
* for two people
* small pack size
* light weight (not more than 2.5 kgs packed= 5.5 lbs)
* Good also in snow / winter / wind
* easy to set up
* good material quality
* not overpriced ?

Any biker has a dream to go far places and long distances. If we are going to buy a tent, why we don't buy the one we can use it in any condition.
I bought a tent from Germany which is very good and indeed very expensive. But it is for camping and very heavy. Impossible to take with the bike. Is it possible to have 4-5 tents for different purposes like Wiese?

As we understand Hubba Hubba is not for winter and not wind proof.
So what else other choices can be?
Who is ver satisfied from his/her tent for overlanding/any season? As the gudiance/spesifiactions above?

If we don't get rest and sleep well, we can't have a good day tomorrow.

Best wishes,

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

Samy

Once again I feel the best advice is given by Grant.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tripplan/equipment/tents.php

I also think tents are like bikes. Meaning: there is no “right” tent. All tents are going to be a compromise in one area or another.

With that said, I would lean more to Grants:

· excellent ventilation
· 2 vestibules
· 2 doors
· light weight with max floor space
· quick and easy setup

over

* light weight (not more than 2.5 kgs packed= 5.5 lbs)
* Good also in snow / winter / wind

Just my 2 cents!

“”Is it possible to have 4-5 tents for different purposes like Wiese?”” YES because there is NO right tent that does it all. And NO, I would not switch out my tents in mid trip all my tents are in my closet.

Although I think you can get A tent that can do ALMOST everything you NEED.

Here you go: (if I where you, no joke, go do this, you will be HAPPY) I would first try to find a shop in German that has the Mountain Hardwear’s Meridan. Can you fit in it? If yes buy it. If not find a dealer that carries the Marmot Aeolos (Backpacker Magazine's Editor's Choice 2006 Award!). THIS WILL BE THE TENT THAT DOES IT ALL almost (it’s a 3+season). But, it takes time to set up. (4 poles, instead of one on the Meridan “”* easy to set up””). Both of these may not fit in the category of “”* not overpriced?”” they are not overpriced but they are expensive. If you don’t like either of these THEN get the MSR hubba hubba (Backpacker Magazine's Editor's Choice 2005 Award) OR Marmot Earylight. And be done with it. Any of these tents you get you will be MORE than fine once you get out there.

Once again I hope this helps

Take care
WIESE

“”I bought a tent from Germany which is very good and indeed very expensive.”” What tent is it? Because, “”Remember - ANY bike can do it. It's all up to you.”” First things that comes to mind is people who sleep rolled up in a $10 tarp from Wal-Mart. Gaspipe (adventure rider who goes to HU meetings, and this is how he got his name, gray tarp/red sleeping bag) and I can name 2 other hikers who walked across America sleeping like burritos. Just a thought.

Thank You very much indeed Wiese, it was very helpful.

Regards,

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

Samy

As I was saying in the posts above I am looking for a RTW tent as well. Well, I decided to go with the Marmot Aeolos 2. (my only drawback is the number of poles which equals another 45 secs or so to put up the tent.)

Here is a good site:

http://www.rei.com/

And search for tents then “take a tent for a spin!”

Take care
WIESE

.. thank you all for excellent responses..

basically to summarise:

1. Mountain Hardwear, Meridian (if you can fit in it)
2. Marmot Aeolos 2 (if you don't mind 4 poles)

3. MSR Hubba Hubba (if you can't afford 1 & 2)

Hi,

The North Face Tadpole 23 Tent 2-Person 3-Season
This tent looks also very good.
Which one do you think is better? Meridian II or this?
I must decide due to the experiences.

Thanks a lot

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

There's a general trend in backpacking to produce ultra-light gear for light and fast travel.

I've been using a lightweight tent from REI for a couple months now - Sub-Alpine UL tent - and the zipper blew out (zip got "off -track" and won't hold when zipping top to bottom - still works from bottom to top). Of course, REI will take care of that easy enough, but I'm in the Yukon now, a long way from REI and I need it to keep the bugs out. The zipper still works so hopefully with care I can continue my trip without problem and get it fixed on my way through Seattle.

I'm thinking for longer duration travel, one needs to make sure they don't focus on light-weight where lighter zips, lighter construction materials are being used to save weight. Down the road, if one is depending on a functioning tent, make sure the tent is up to the task.

I'm definitely going to be shopping for a new tent in Seattle, with a keener eye on the construction; durability over weight.

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Chiang Mai, Thailand