After years of using this tent across multiple trips and continents, I can say this plainly: the MSR Hubba Hubba 2 is the best proper tent purchase I've ever made. No caveats, no "but here's the thing to watch out for." It's genuinely earned that.
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What I actually carried at Torres del Paine with a toddler.
Easy to Set Up Solo
This is the detail that matters most in practice and gets mentioned least in most tent reviews. The pole structure and clip system are straightforward enough that I can pitch this tent completely alone, without wrestling with poles or fighting a stubborn design. When you're setting up camp by yourself — possibly also managing a toddler at the same time — a tent that goes up easily solo isn't a nice-to-have, it's essential.
The Rectangular Footprint
Most two-person tents use a tapered, wedge-shaped footprint, which means one person ends up with their feet squeezed into a narrowing triangle by the end of the tent. The Hubba Hubba gives you a proper rectangle instead — full-width space from head to toe for both occupants. It sounds like a small detail until you've spent a night in a tapered tent and then a night in this one. The difference in actual sleeping comfort is significant.
Footprint Tip
If you're comparing tents before buying, actually check the floor plan dimensions rather than just the stated capacity. A "2-person" tent with a tapered footprint and a "2-person" tent with a rectangular footprint like the Hubba Hubba can feel like completely different amounts of usable space.
Storage That Actually Works
Storage pockets at both ends of the tent mean gear stays organised and accessible without cluttering the sleeping area — headlamps, phones, small items you want within reach overnight. The vestibule is a genuinely adequate size too, big enough for shoes and gear you don't want inside the tent itself, which matters after a muddy hiking day when the last thing you want is wet boots next to your sleeping bag.
Room to Actually Sit Up
There's a decent amount of overhead space inside — enough to sit up comfortably rather than being confined to lying flat. This matters more than people expect on multi-day trips, where you're not just sleeping in the tent but spending real time in it — waiting out weather, reading, getting a toddler settled for the night. A tent you can only lie down in becomes genuinely limiting fast.
Light Enough to Carry Solo
At its weight, this tent doesn't become a burden when you're already carrying other gear — a toddler carrier, your own pack, camping equipment for a multi-day trip. It's light enough that carrying it solo, on top of everything else, doesn't feel like a compromise.
Things I Don't Love
Honestly, I can't think of anything. That's not a cop-out — I've genuinely tried to find something to flag here, the way I would with any other gear review, and after years of real use across multiple trips and climates, nothing has come up as a genuine drawback. It's held up, performed consistently, and done exactly what a good tent should do every single time.
Would I Buy It Again?
Without a second thought. This is the rare piece of gear that's lived up to its reputation completely, and after years of relying on it across different trips and conditions, it remains the tent I reach for without hesitation.
- MSR Hubba Hubba 2 Person Tent → — the exact tent used throughout, still going strong
Free Download
Free Patagonia Packing List
What I actually carried at Torres del Paine with a toddler.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, genuinely easily. The pole structure and clip system are straightforward enough to pitch solo without wrestling with it, which matters enormously when you're setting up camp alone or managing a toddler at the same time.
