Gear Review:

MSR Hubba Hubba NX Tent

Pros: Stands up to storms, and has two vestibules for backpacks and other gear.

Cons: Footprint must be purchased separately and doesn’t include vestibule ground coverage.

Summary: I’m super happy with this tent. My mom and I have terrible luck with weather on backpacking trips, and have had at least one thunderstorm every single time we’ve been camping together.  This tent has kept us dry through all of them.

It weighs over 4 lbs with the footprint and stuff sacks included. This isn’t bad for a “Big 3” item, but if you’re solo-backpacking, I’d suggest looking into the 1-person version to save weight. – I haven’t been brave enough to go it alone yet, so I’ve always had a buddy. Usually, I carry all the mutual gear (stove, fuel, water filter, tent, etc.), and have my hiking partner shoulder the food supply.

One thing to note is that this is a VERY SMALL tent, big enough for only two sleeping pads. Backpacks must be kept in the vestibule under the fly. My technique to make this work in a storm (and as a general rule in case of an unexpected storm) is to put the backpack’s rain cover over it, and lay it cover-side-down on the ground. I also keep my boots well under the fly, to make sure they stay dry too. I’ve weathered many storms this way, and never had my pack or boots get wet.

If you’re a car-camper transitioning into backpacking, I would strongly recommend buying a backpacking-specific tent. You might have a little less room at night, but you’ll save a lot of weight.

Price: $460 CAD for the tent, and an additional $44 for the footprint. (Prices listed before tax.)