MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack Review: Getting Closer…

Bikepacking-specific gear isn’t a new concept, and while it might seem gimmicky to some, there’s something to be said about the unique needs of traveling on two wheels. Most of the gear we use can be borrowed from the ultralight backpacking world, like sleeping bags, sleeping pads, certain pieces of clothing, and cooking equipment. As long as it’s lightweight and packs into a compact bundle, it should also be perfectly suited for carrying in a handlebar bag, seat pack, or pannier.

If there’s one piece of equipment that bikepackers tend to struggle with, it’s the tent. Tents designed for backpackers generally have longer pole segments (~15 inches or longer), which are fine when using a backpack but less ideal if you’re trying to fit them inside a bike bag. Things get even more complicated for folks riding small bikes, with smaller frame bags and less clearance for gear above the front and rear tires. In 2018, Big Agnes was the first tent manufacturer to offer a “bikepacking” version of its standard tent models, starting with four “Bikepack” tent models in their UL (ultralight) series. However, some consider the Sierra Designs Flashlight tent, released in the early 1980s, as one of the first lightweight tents to cater to cyclists. Before Big Agnes hit the scene with their Bikepack tents, a few brands offered shelters that pitched using the bicycle as part of the structure, although this design never seemed to catch on.

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Since then, bikepacking tents have become more common but still aren’t as mainstream as we’d like them to be. In 2020, Nemo followed Big Agnes’ lead with their Dragonfly Bikepack tent. Two years later, Sea to Summit released bikepacking versions of their Telos and Alto tents. We’ve also seen some brands like Big Sky International offer bikepacking pole sets that pack down a few inches shorter than the standard poles, making them easier to pack on a bike.

The latest to join in on the fun is MSR, an outdoor gear brand that has been around longer than any previously mentioned brands and has nearly six decades of experience. We’ve tested and reviewed several MSR products over the years and are often impressed by their commitment to reliability and functionality. The MSR Carbon Reflex 1 Tent I reviewed in 2018 stayed with me for several years afterward and is one of my favorite ultralight one-person tents ever. Earlier this year, MSR launched the Hubba Hubba Bikepack tent lineup in both one- and two-person designs with features that cater to the unique needs of those traveling by bike. Having used the Nemo Dragonfly Bikepack Tent and read Logan’s review of Big Agnes’ bikepacking tents, I was curious how an outdoor gear leader like MSR would approach the design.

MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack: At A Glance

As the name suggests, the MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack tents take the brand’s popular Hubba Hubba series and add several features that make them better suited for bikepackers. The MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack tents use the same symmetrical pole structure as the standard version, with two small Ys at each end with a horizontal canopy pole to increase the usable internal space. They come in one- and two-person freestanding designs, feature integrated vestibules (bigger than the regular Hubba Hubba), and have a rectangular floor. The one-person model has a single doorway, while the two-person model I tested has two doors and two vestibules for stashing gear.

Both sizes are made from a blend of 10D polyester micro-mesh and 20D ripstop nylon for privacy and air flow with a 20D ripstop nylon fly. MSR includes interior and optional exterior clotheslines for drying out stinky socks after a long day on the bike. Both sizes come with a waterproof top-opening handlebar bag with removable rubber bar spacers, super short 12.25” (31cm) poles, and a separate pole stuff sack that attaches to the outside of the bar bag. They also feature a stealthy dark green fly compared to the more visible bronze color of the standard version and only weigh around 200 grams (7 ounces) more, which is impressive considering it comes with a handlebar bag. Alongside the muted fly is subtle branding that blends into the dark nylon, which feels slightly off-brand for MSR but also quite refreshing.

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The Hubba Hubba Bikepack 2-Person Tent floor is 50” (127cm) wide and doesn’t taper toward the feet like Big Agnes’ or Nemo’s bikepacking tents. Technically, two wide sleeping pads and some double-wide sleeping pads will fit, but every bit of floor space will be used. The floor is 84” (213cm) long, and thanks to the Y-shaped pole ends, the wall is nearly vertical at both ends of the tent, leaving plenty of room for tall users. The tallest point inside the tent is 42” (106cm). There’s an overhead gear loft and large gear lofts at either end of the tent to help with organization. The packed weight of the two-person model I’ve been using is 3.8 pounds (1,733 grams), which is a few hundred grams heavier than the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Bikepack and about a hundred grams heavier than the Nemo Dragonfly Bikepack. It’s by no means an ultralight tent, and all the extra features MSR packed into it come at a cost. The semi-freestanding MSR FreeLite three-person tent I tested last year weighs more than a pound less, but it has 18” long pole segments and isn’t that roomy for a three-person tent.

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Two-Person Bikepacking Tents Compared

The closest competitors to the Hubba Hubba Bikepack tent are the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 and the Nemo Dragonfly Bikepack 2-Person Tent. While the Hubba Hubba is a touch heavier, it’s also the only tent that doesn’t have a tapered floor. It has the tallest peak height, and it’s the only tent that includes a waterproof handlebar bag complete with rubber bar spacers and a slightly more versatile design—more on that below. Strangely enough, all three tents cost exactly $579 USD.

MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack Handlebar Bag

I’m not sure who decided that including a handlebar bag with the tent was crucial to calling a tent a “bikepacking” tent, but that seems to be an easy checkmark for big outdoor gear brands like MSR. In theory, getting a purpose-built handlebar bag with your tent is nice, but in reality, most of these bags are a miss. Nemo and Big Agnes took a roll-top dry bag, added some additional straps, and called it a day. This design doesn’t perform well off-road and they are sized to hold the tent and poles and nothing else. This leaves something to be desired for anyone hoping to carry a sleeping pad or some clothing alongside their tent.

MSR addressed some of these issues with the Hubba Hubba Bikepack bag by adding large rubber spacers to leave room for bar-mounted accessories and fingers, and it uses a top-opening design with room for additional gear. With the tent body and fly stuffed inside, Emily and I usually had enough space for an extra layer or rain jacket. The bag has taped seams (making it waterproof), locking side-release buckles to attach to the handlebar, and the pole sack integrates with the handlebar bag’s webbing.

MSR’s take on the tent bar bag is the best I’ve seen, but that’s not saying much. The lack of structure and rigidity means the bag tends to bounce and shift around, especially when riding rough terrain or singletrack. Although it’s nice to see a headtube strap included, it’s a stretchy bungee, which doesn’t hold things tight. Emily had issues with the poles hitting her front tire, so we attached them higher on the front of the bag, but they probably should have been stuffed inside or packed in my frame bag. In reality, I don’t think a handlebar bag is an essential factor when deciding if a tent is suitable for bikepacking or not. There are so many bag makers building great handlebar bags that these tent bags seem pretty useless by comparison. It’s better than nothing, and I could see it being a realistic option for a couple or pair of friends just getting into bikepacking, but it leaves a lot to be desired.

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Setup and Camping

The Hubba Hubba Bikepack tents feature a symmetrical design that makes set up pleasantly straightforward, reinforcing my love for freestanding tents. The symmetrical layout means none of the poles are directional, so there’s no guesswork or color-matching required to determine what goes where. Since the floor is a true rectangle and both ends are identical, there’s also no reason to consider where the “foot” end and “head” end of the tent are, as you can sleep in either direction.

The main pole structure attaches to metal grommets at each corner and clips into plastic hooks outside the tent’s body. For more interior space, MSR includes a horizontal strut that supports the center of the tent above each doorway. On clear, mild nights, it’s possible to sleep in the tent as is, and because the body is primarily ripstop nylon, it offers a reasonable amount of privacy even without the fly attached. When the fly is needed, it has grommets at the corners that match up with the pole ends and two additional grommets that meet the upper cross pole. No stakes are mandatory for setup, but it’s best to use at least one at each doorway to use the vestibule and add tension to the tent.

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In use, the simple pitch and near-vertical walls result in a straightforward night out. It’s common for two-person tents to feel like roomy one-person tents, but all the interior space helps the tent feel more livable. It was refreshing not to worry about the orientation of the tent or fly, as the doors are opposite, which also meant the tent was quick to set up in unfavorable weather. Emily appreciated its simplicity to the point that she brought it on solo campouts and trips with friends.

Ventilation and condensation were issues almost every time we used the tent, which is common in the Pacific Northwest, and I don’t think all that solid body fabric helped. We habitually rolled the side doors open when rain wasn’t in the forecast and ensured the two small strut vents were open. The fly also sits very close to the tent’s body, especially around the perimeter, so using the guyline attachment points would also improve ventilation. The tradeoff is having privacy inside the tent, with or without the fly, which will be important to some folks. I usually don’t pay much attention to tent hardware, such as the toggles that hold the rolled-up doors open. Still, after spending so much time using high-end tents from cottage gear makers, the basic plastic toggles and webbing loops felt somewhat rudimentary next to the magnets on the Durston X-Mid Pro 2 I reviewed or the Tarptent ProTrail Li I’m currently using.

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What stood out to Emily and me were the pockets and ways to dry out the gear in and outside the tent. Coming from the MSR FreeLite three-person tent I reviewed last year, having additional pockets and an integrated interior clothesline felt luxurious, and we both agree that it’s a feature we’d love to see in all tents. The clothesline became the go-to spot to hang socks and underwear at night. Although we didn’t use the optional exterior clothesline that strings between the top of the two doors, I could see that being useful for drying gear out in arid climates or when you get to camp early. MSR also built in a little “rain gutter” that runs along the opening of each door, draining water away from the doorway, which is a nice touch.

Emily and I had one exceptionally windy night while scouting the Ojai Rim Loop route in California this spring, and while it wasn’t a problem to get the tent set up, its tall stance and somewhat steep, sail-like walls can catch strong winds. On this particular night, we almost lost our tent (and our gear inside) because of my inadequate stake job. While it’s not the worst-performing tent in strong winds, it’s worth paying extra attention to the stakes and optional guyline points. The included needle stakes are basic and don’t provide much “grab,” but they have proven to be fairly durable and have held up to the occasional rock tap when camping on hard surfaces.

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• Capacity: Two-Person
• Material: 20D Nylon + MicroMesh
• Weight (as tested and packed): 3.8 lbs (1.7 kg)
• Place of Manufacture: China
• Price: $579 USD at REI Backcountry
• Manufacturer’s Details: MSRGear.com

MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepack Review Video (1p)

One of the first tents Neil ever purchased was the Hubba Hubba, MSR’s flagship tent that’s been in their lineup for decades. In his latest video review, he dives into the setup, specs, and features of the new Bikepack version sharing his overall impressions of the one-person option. Watch it below…

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Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...