MSR Hubba Hubba 2 (MSR #13707)

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

2026 lineup note: Current and unchanged since its 2023 launch. The Hubba Hubba 2 (sometimes labeled "V9") replaced the long-running Hubba Hubba NX in 2023. It remains MSR's core 2-person 3-season backpacking tent at $479.95, now flanked by the lighter Hubba Hubba LT 2 and the roomier Hubba Tour 2.

Version lineage (2023–2026)

• 2006–2012: Hubba Hubba (original) — the tent that made MSR a tent brand; DAC poles, ~4 lb.
• 2013–2022: Hubba Hubba NX — NX ("next") generation: Xtreme Shield coating, 20D fly (1200 mm), 30D floor (3000 mm), DAC Featherlite NSL poles, min weight 3 lb 7 oz, packaged 3 lb 13 oz, peak 39 in. MSRP crept from $399.95 to ~$449.95. Discontinued 2023.
• 2023–2026: Hubba Hubba 2 (current) — dropped the "NX", switched to Easton Syclone™ composite poles (aerospace composite, "virtually indestructible" per MSR), unified hub system, DuraShield™ PU/silicone coatings, min weight 2 lb 14 oz, packaged 3 lb 4 oz, peak 40 in, StayDry™ doors with rain gutters, kickstand vents. MSRP $479.95. Same 29 sq ft floor and 2-door/2-vestibule layout. SKU 13707.
• Known 2023–2024 issue: some owners reported carbon-composite pole splinters; MSR committed to replacing affected pole sets (per greenbelly.co review). Worth asking about on used units.
• Still a smart buy? A used NX at $200–300 is one of the best value buys in backpacking tents — the NX was a tank. The V9's weight savings (~9 oz) and better poles justify retail for weight-conscious buyers, but the NX remains fully serviceable and MSR still supports it.

Overview

MSR (Cascade Designs, Seattle) positions the Hubba Hubba 2 as the "quiver-killer" do-everything 3-season tent: freestanding, symmetrical, true rectangular 84 × 50 in floor with near-vertical walls, and durability-first 20D fabrics. It's heavier than ultralight rivals (Copper Spur UL2 is ~12 oz lighter) but built to survive years of hard use. Siblings: Hubba Hubba LT 2 (lighter, 2025+), Hubba Hubba Bikepack 2 (short poles, handlebar bag), Hubba Tour 2 (exoskeleton, 4+ season-ish).

Key Specs

Pricing

• MSRP: $479.95 — greenbelly.co review (crawled ~2026-08-05) and packstack review data (Sep 2026) both cite $479.95; consistent with MSR's list price.
• Street price: $479.95 typical at REI/Backcountry/Moosejaw (MSR enforces MAP; discounts rare outside REI member sales, where 20% off brings it to ~$384). UNVERIFIED live today — re-verify at rei.com before publishing.

In the Box

Tent body, rainfly, Easton Syclone pole set, 8 stakes, 4 guylines, stuff sack(s), setup instructions. Footprint NOT included — compatible with MSR Universal 2-Person Regular footprint (~$49.95, sold separately). Bikepack version additionally includes handlebar bag, clotheslines, and pole/stake bags.

Warranty

MSR/Cascade Designs limited warranty — exact duration UNVERIFIED from today's research (Cascade Designs' standard has historically been 3 years on tents; re-verify at msrgear.com before publishing).

Support & Parts

MSR has an excellent parts reputation: replacement pole sets, flys, and repair kits are sold direct, and the brand proactively replaced the splintering Syclone pole sets. Seattle-based support, long product support windows (NX parts still available).

Community Verdict

The Hubba Hubba is arguably the most-recommended "first serious tent" on r/CampingandHiking and BackpackingLight forums — praised as the durable, storm-worthy counterpoint to the lighter Copper Spur, with owners reporting a decade-plus of service. The V9's Easton Syclone poles drew early splinter complaints, which MSR addressed with replacements, and some owners find 2.9 lb heavy versus true UL options; the consensus remains that it's the tent you buy when you value bombproof over ultralight. Strong resale market (GearTrade listings are common). No fabricated scores.

Images

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Research date: 2026-09-20. Specs cross-verified across MSR-published data via geartrade.ca (V9 Sahara, crawled ~2026-07), greenbelly.co (crawled ~2026-08-05), and packstack review data (Sep 2026); SKU 13707 via theoutfitters.nf.ca. Vestibule area varies by source (15 vs 16 sq ft total) — treat as ~15. Re-verify live: street price, warranty duration, and whether MSR has announced a 2027 revision.

Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality (enrichment — Sept 2026)

The Hubba line's reputation is "bomber": BackpackingLight forum veterans call it the tent that made MSR a tent brand, with decade-plus service common on older generations. On the current V9 (2023+): ultimategearlists.com's review found the 20D ripstop "stood up to rocky ground and dog claws," seam-sealed and no leaks through sustained rainstorms — but flags that some users report the Easton Syclone poles are fragile and shed splinters (greenbelly.co also documented MSR's commitment to replacing affected pole sets). A YouTube long-term video ("Does it ACTUALLY Hold Up After 2 YEARS??", Feb 2026) exists — verdict not verified from the description alone. Warranty-claim reality: MSR/Cascade Designs is known for exemplary repair service — proactively replacing splintering Syclone pole sets — though one BPL forum poster noted MSR refused a 3-year-old fly with degraded PU (called "beyond its useful life"), a reminder that coating degradation is treated as wear, not defect. Fly seam delamination after several years of heavy use appears in long-term reports on the older NX; the V9's DuraShield coating is still accumulating history.

Version history — year by year (enrichment — Sept 2026)

• 2023: Hubba Hubba 2 (V9) launched, replacing the NX — Easton Syclone composite poles, unified hub, DuraShield coatings, StayDry doors, 2 lb 14 oz min, $479.95.
• 2024: Continued unchanged; early pole-splinter reports prompted MSR replacement commitments.
• 2025: Continued; joined by the Hubba Hubba LT 2 (lighter sibling) — do not confuse the two when shopping.
• 2026: Continued at $479.95; lineup now includes LT 2, Bikepack 2, and Tour 2 siblings. No 2027 revision announced as of Sept 2026.

Head-to-head vs closest rivals (enrichment — Sept 2026)

• vs Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 (/library/gear/tents-shelters/big-agnes-copper-spur-hv-ul2/): the Hubba is ~4 oz heavier but has the easiest pitch in the class and a sturdier feel; the Spur wins on weight and packed size. Durability-first buyers pick the Hubba; gram-counters pick the Spur.
• vs MSR Elixir 2 (/library/gear/tents-shelters/msr-elixir-2/ — new this round): the Elixir is MSR's budget play (~6 lb, cheaper) — same brand DNA, much heavier. Hubba for backpacking, Elixir for car-camping or loaner duty.
• vs NEMO Dagger OSMO 2P (/library/gear/tents-shelters/nemo-dagger-2p/): the Dagger is roomier with bigger vestibules; the Hubba is simpler, more proven, and usually a bit cheaper on the street. Both are "buy once" 2P freestanding tents.

Care & maintenance (enrichment — Sept 2026)

Taped seams, no seam sealing needed. The DuraShield PU/silicone coating benefits from the standard PU discipline: store loose and bone-dry, out of UV; expect coating life of 5–8+ years with good storage. Rinse grit from the StayDry door gutters and kickstand vents — grit is what kills zippers on this tent. Inspect Easton Syclone pole sections for splinters annually; MSR has replaced affected sets — contact them rather than taping over damage. Footprint sold separately (~$49.95) is worth it for abrasive ground.

Buying traps (enrichment — Sept 2026)

• The Hubba Hubba NX (2013–2022) is still everywhere used — a fine tent, but do not pay near-retail ($479.95) for one; $200–300 is the fair used range. Listings sometimes label the NX as "Hubba Hubba 2" — check the pole type (DAC aluminum = NX; Easton Syclone composite = V9).
• MAP pricing: MSR enforces it, so "$479.95 everywhere" is normal — the real discount is REI's 20%-off member sales (~$384).
• The new Hubba Hubba LT 2 (2025+) is a different, lighter tent — don't buy it thinking it's the V9 on sale.

Community Verdict — additional voices (enrichment — Sept 2026)

Additional sourced voices (Sept 2026): ultimategearlists.com — "the best of both worlds — reliable performance in an efficient package" after rocky-ground and dog-claw testing; BPL forum's pole-issues thread documents the Syclone splinter debate among gear tinkerers, with TentPoleTech custom sets as the enthusiast fix; a TestFir (NZ) review of the V9 called it "well-proven... and much copied" with Syclone poles "80% more resistant to bending and breaking than aluminum in flex testing" (manufacturer claim quoted in the review). The Trek's V9 review: "Very, very wet. No leaking, no splashing, no problems." No fabricated scores.

Key Specs gap-fill (enrichment — Sept 2026)

Weights in both units: minimum 2 lb 14 oz = 46 oz = 1,304 g (1.30 kg); packaged 3 lb 4 oz = 52 oz = 1,474 g (1.47 kg). Floor 84 × 50 in = 29 sq ft; peak 40 in; packed 19 × 4.5 in. Vestibule area ~15 sq ft total (sources vary 15–16; treat as ~15).