MSR have produced the Hubba Hubba Bikepack 2-person tent primarily for cyclists but also for all lightweight campers, writes Graham Merrick.
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The gear test below was carried out by my friend Graham Merrick who also provided the photos, says Mike Gormley
This really is an excellent tent from MSR; a lightweight spacious home-from-home ideal for those wishing to get away from it all on their bike, either alone or with a friend. Leading on from their award winning Hubba Hubba backpacking tent MSR have produced this excellent weight-conscious, yet solid, tent ideally suited to either short overnight mini adventures or those longed-for, distant biking adventures far from home.
¤ Here showing the inner only which can be used on its own as a light screen [©GM]
The Hubba Hubba Bikepack 2-Person has been designed specifically with bike touring in mind but, because of its development from the original MSR Hubba Hubba 2, it is more than capable of standing up to the rigours of regular backpacking or kayaking adventures too. Weighing in at a very reasonable 1.4kg (3lb 1oz) this incredibly light yet roomy two-person tent is going to appeal to weight-watching bike packers.
By using lighter specially shortened DAC aluminium tent pole segments, the whole tent packs away into its handy waterproof stuff sack, measuring only 37cm across and 18cm wide. Along with its cleverly designed handlebar straps and standoff mount, the packed tent sits easily on the front of the handlebars of any bike; be it gravel, road or MTB. This handlebar pack mount, with its reflective safety logo, is well thought out using adjustable straps which allow for the option of adding a further handlebar bike pack above if additional stowage of gear is required. A further elasticated strap helps keep the bag tight on the forward head tube and prevents any disruptive movement or bouncing when off road or on cobbles. Pitching the Hubba Hubba Bikepack 2-Person is super easy. Based on a two pole system, the main ridge pole cleverly forms an extended ‘X’ shape with a shorter single pole crossing at 90 degrees. The inner is made from well cut and seamed 10D polyester with micro mesh ventilation panels and a 20D 1200DW Ripstop nylon floor.
The tent pitches very easily after siting the pole ends into their reinforced aluminium locking stake loops in each corner of the inner tent. Locking hoops easily raise and attach the inner to its poles allowing the inner to be set within less than two minutes. The shortened middle pole sits nicely at 90 degrees to the ridge pole creating the width and headroom for this spacious 2-person tent, allowing the whole inner tent to then be picked up and moved into the best ground position available before fixing the four corners using the super lightweight alloy pegs. The well cut and shaped lightweight 20D 1200mm DWR rainfly sits snugly over the inner and clips tightly into the reinforced aluminium corner grommets.
The waterproof seam-sealed and silicone coated flysheet is then pegged out with a further four peg points spreading the flysheet out into a tight Geodesic shape without bowing or flapping in high winds. With a truly rectangular floor plan to the inner tent, the hexagonal shape of the fly provides access on both sides through the easy access tent doors. These are fitted with StayDry rain gutters which prevent water ingress through the zips. The two generous vestibules on each side of the flysheet allow plenty of space for each person to store their kit or wet gear separately. The 2.7sq metres of floor gives ample living space inside for two large adults to lie comfortably side by side without having to ask permission to move, as in some smaller two-man tents. The well supported inner tent fabric gives a full 170cm (42inches) of headroom, allowing even two six footers to both sit upright and move around in order to sort gear or brew up in the vestibule. The inner has been well thought out, with ample large mesh pockets at both ends. These are situated high enough above the bathtub groundsheet that they don’t get caught in your sleeping bag or pillow. The addition of special cable management holes for your electronic gizmos is a neat addition. MSR have added some other great details such as a built-in clothesline across the ceiling for hanging those damp and smelly socks or perhaps a lightweight camping lantern. A particularly useful feature are the large ceiling mounted mesh pockets, big enough to stash clothes for drying. The roof panel of the inner tent is made up of a fine insect proof 10D polyester micro mesh. This not only helps ventilation, reducing night time condensation but also allows for the option of dry weather, flysheet free, stargazing nights; a real treat for those biking their way through warmer countries!
With all these quality features does it really stand up to the rigours of bike packing adventures, alone or in company? Well after three months of testing on a multi-day Tour of Brittany, a Coast to Coast trip in the UK and weekend mini bike packing adventures over Dartmoor, it really did live up to its expectations and the reputation of its backpacking predecessor. The attention to detail by MSR is unmistakeable throughout its build and design, with clear evidence of reinforcement at key stress points such as the corner guys and locking alloy stake grommets. Along with easy access entrances on both sides, the single-handed opening internal zips and the internal living details these features all make for a comfortable living space for two and a palace if you’re on a solo adventure.
As for its ability to keep you warm and dry, it certainly has the protection required. The rain from severe thunderstorms in Brittany, earlier in the summer, along with the inevitable Dartmoor rain did little to dampen the spirit within, where conditions stayed dry and snug. Wind (although never truly tested to gale force strength), showed no impact on the tent with no tendency to deform or flap when the wind got up. MSR have however provided additional guy points on the tent as well as guy lines and spare pegs, should these be needed in a real blow.
Any criticisms are hard to find, though in an effort to find some balance in any gear review there is always room for some improvement, but these are minor tweaks to an already proven design. Simple things like an additional door tie on the inner and outer doors would allow these to be tied back more cleanly and avoid snagging on entry and egress. The flysheet material at each end could be lengthened by perhaps an inch or so to allow pegging right down to ground level. This would prevent any splash back effect from heavy rain finding its way up under the flysheet to the inner.
As with all ‘inner pitch first’ tents, there is always the anxiety of how to pitch in bad weather without your inner tent and hence your nice dry home, getting soaked first. On the one hand the sheer speed of pitching this tent does reduce the amount of time the inner is exposed to the elements and reduces how wet it would get. It is, however, possible with the additional purchase of the standard Hubba Hubba 2 footprint to pitch this tent fly first on the footprint and then re hang the inner inside, once out of the rain.
This really leads to my only concern in the long-term use of this excellent lightweight two-man tent. Although there will always be a trade-off between weight of material and its thickness and durability, I would definitely consider buying the footprint to go under the inner groundsheet. This would help preserve the long-term integrity of the inner floor, and when it comes down to weight this additional 300gms can always be carried on your buddy’s bike, if you’re already maxed out on weight.
At the end of the day though this is an impressive, spacious, tough and very lightweight two-man tent specifically designed with the bikepacker in mind but still suitable as a great all-round backpacking, kayaking or trekking tent if you can only really afford one tent for all your adventures.
Hubba Hubba Bikepack 2-Person Specifications
- Minimum Weight: 1.4 kg (Packed Weight:1.71 kg)
- Floor Area: 2.70 sq. m
- Vestibule Area : 1.63 sq. metres
- Number of Poles: 3
- Interior Height: 170cm
- Packed Size :37x18x13cm
- Number of Doors: 2
- Free-standing: Yes
- Flysheet Fabric: 20D ripstop nylon 1200mm polyether urethane & silicone, FR Free
- Inner Tent Fabric: 10D polyester micro-mesh / 20D ripstop nylon & C0 DWR
- Mesh Type: 10D polyester micro-mesh
- Groundsheet Floor Fabric: 20D ripstop nylon 1200mm polyether urethane & C0 DWR
- Outer Colour: Stealth Green
- What you get: Handlebar bag, inner tent, flysheet, poles, stakes, additional guy lines, peg and pole bags, instructions
[images © Graham Merrick]
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