2011 Green MSR Hubba Hubba Review (with mesh inner tent).
Yes Msr have finally seen the light, its no longer yellow!!
Earlier this year I wrote about my first impressions of an Msr Hubba Hubba >HERE<. In january I tested it at 2 degrees on new years eve/day, and later up to 35 degrees in Uganda. My first impressions where pretty close. If you dont get tangled up in the poles the only complaint is the colour (if you want to camp wild) and the very easy to bend pegs. I also had my doubts about how storm proof the tent is.
Summer 2011: Msr have seen the light and changed the colour of their tents. The recession is still in full swing here so there's almost a tent price war going on between various outdoor Internet shops
The verdict?:
The green is lighter than I thought but its actually the ideal colour for camping between bushes and other low greenery. Those crappy tent pegs are history and MSR have finally seen the light and changed to my favourite stakes (V-pegs from DAC) these are the same stakes used by Hilleberg. They've also strenghend the lower guyline attachment point. Just like the previous version the bottom of the outer tent is quite high from the ground to allow better ventilation. This is nice unless its rainig really hard, then the rain splashes up and under the outertent.....cant have everthing I guess.
I recently tested the tent in a nasty summer storm without problems. I have no doubt this is the ideal tent for Africa, and is probibly one of the best 3 season tents on the market. With a good sleepingbag I've slept to just above freezing point. In warmer dryer weather I just use the inner tent for maximum ventilation.
Room for improvement?: Maybe MSR shouldn't be so cheap (or shouldn't cheat in the posted weight) by including guylines and a couple more pegs with the 2011 model, yup the tent came without guylines and has only 6 pegs. The only other improvement I can think of is changing the colour of the ceiling panel in the inner tent, its still white which reflects the moon very nicely when using only the inner tent. This makes it almost glow in the dark, goodbye stealth. Pink pegs? whats that all about, maybe I wont loose these ones in the grass I guess.....
