MSR Hubba 1 person tent

“I had the BA SL1, but didn't like the fact that you had to stake the 2 rear corners. So, I sold it, and ordered the SL2 which is truely free-standing.
I also like the larger interior size of the SL2. The SL series shape or design is much better in terms of shedding wind, than the MSR Hubba series, as long as you can keep the rear or front into the wind.
Although, the SL models aren't as nice to get in and out of, compared to the Hubba models. But, the Cooper Spur models are a side entry like the Hubba models.”

“I think with a lot of these tents you trade off pole weight for number of stakes. I looked at the rei quarter dome for example, which is side entry and free standing and about the same weight as the sl1... But it was short for my 6' frame... Feet and toes would touch the end of the tent.

While I am no longer a sul hiker, I still have a lot of the habits from those days. The weight range of these tents really is amazing given the level of comfort and weather protection they provide.

I still can't bring myself to pack that jetboil stove! I love it but it almost always gets swapped out at the last minute. Lol!”

“Good thread. I think you look at where Shires hikes, the Sierra, and you see what his tent is designed for. Mostly dry hiking conditions for three season use with periodic heavy storms and wind. It works great for this purpose and despite not being freestanding, I've never had a problem. I've used a Cloudburst for the past few years and really have no complaints. I've had it in serious storms and even snow and it's done fine, condensation and lack of headroom being my biggest gripes, but I can deal with that. I wouldn't want to be holed up in it for any extended period of time, but it's not designed for that anyway.

Now, my Hilleberg Nallo GT is designed for living in, and I have for several days at a time when waiting out some serious storms in the backcountry on overland routes. I've never really owned a bomber one-person tent since my wife almost always goes with, or I go with a partner.

I haven't ever used any MSR tents, though I did have a friend with Moss stuff before MSR bought them out and it was bomber, but heavy as hell. I always was envious of his heptawing.”

“I've had snowstorms and plenty of rain on the AT with the Virga and no problems so long as I pitched the tent properly. Condensation was also never a problem relative to other tents I have used.”

“are you sure you have the original virga? i looked and i don't see it was available with a bathtub floor... only a sewn-in floor.”

“So what we looking at in terms of the best airy but waterproof 1 person tents these days?”

“Looking for the perfect tent is like looking for the perfect boat.”

“it is all a matter of personal preference.”

“I see the Hilleberg is supposed to be offering an all-mesh interior for the Akto come the fall. I'm tempted to add that.”

“Well I know that, but what are some of the options out there you're looking at.”

“Yes, Yogi, it is the original Virga. I had Henry sew in a bath tub floor before he shipped it. If you didn't have a bath tub floor, I can see you could have had a problem, bathing not being high on your priority list notwithstanding;)”

“if i take care not to leave clothes near the edge of the tent i mostly do ok. if i get clothes near the edge it soaks up the splash and wicks the water into the tent.”

“Yeah, I've done that, also I've rolled onto the side of the bath tub floor, flattened it and allowed water to roll in.”

“also, as it rains the silnylon relaxes and the shelter sags. if i don't get up and retension the lines (not uncommon as i am a really sound sleeper) the tent sags low enough that near my feet the roof touches my sleeping bag and the resulting moisture gets the foot of the bag wet. very annoying. the original virga didn't have a lot of clearance by the feet. i put a piece of bungee cord on the front line to tension the tarp, and this worked pretty well, but then i didn't get quite the taut pitch along the catenary ridgeline. the virga two person version was a little better. my wife and i sleep pretty cozy but she hogs the center of the shelter and i get pushed off to the side.”

“all that and i still may take my akto next week. the setup with the carbon fiber pole is really light and it's an awesome shelter.”

“If my MLD Cuben Patrol shelter doesn't arrive in time, I'll probably use my new BA Copper Spur UL1. BIG difference in weight though, probably 12-14oz with cords and stakes versus, 3lbs 2oz for the Copper Spur.”

“Just set up the Copper Spur UL1 again, and liking it more and more. At first I didn't like the crescent drop down door, but now realize that its nice, as you don't need to tie it back, like a side opening door.
You can just let the door lay down at the floor, or choose to roll it and tie it off. The rear mini vestibule is bigger than what I first thought as well. I could fit a pack in there if needed. The higher, breathable fabric sides are nice too, and should help to cut down on side drafts.(less mesh at the sides)
last edited: 8/13/09 4:04:30 PM”

“if you replaced the stock poles with some cf poles i am betting the weight would be more tolerable.”

““if you replaced the stock poles with some cf poles i am betting the weight would be more tolerable.”
Yogisan
7:53:20 PM
8/13/09


Do they make CF poles for this model? or do you have to custom order them? I like just about everything with this tent so far, except it has a very loose fitting storm flap over the door zipper, and doesn't have a velcro closure near the top.
So, I could see the flap blowing over, and then rain seeping through the zipper.”

“there is a company on the internet that made cf poles for all sorts of tents including the msr hubba, light year cd, etc. they were very expensive, however, and at the time i gave up tents for a tarp.”

“[url]http://www.fibrapl

msr hubba (cf poles) $140
ba sl1 $120

...big bucks, but the poles weigh 1/2 as much and for a tent like the hubba and copper spur that are heavy because of the pole design (so you can have the side door) it might be worth it.”

“...i have the akto fg pole ($56) but it came with the tent when i bought it used. it is way lighter than the aluminum pole that comes with the tent.”

“It would be a 5.6 oz savings for a BA SL2 at $163.00 for the CF set.

They don't offer a CF set for the Copper Spur UL1, at least I didn't see it listed.

They do have the poles for the Seedhouse SL series, the SL1,2,& 3”

“How strong is the carbon pole Yogi. Anything short of snow load? Or you have to be careful with it?”

“i have no experience with this. i would say it's plenty strong for most applications. i certainly have never feared it breaking with normal use setting up the tent, strong winds, etc. i guess since you already have the aluminum poles you can use these in winter if you are concerned about snow load.

here are some reviews.


http://www.backpacking.net/contributions/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=158&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1
last edited: 8/14/09 11:07:24 AM”

“Found out that Fibraplex can duplicate any pole set. If they don't currently make your tent model pole set, all one needs to do is ship them your pole set and they'll duplicate it.

Not cheap though, waiting to hear back, as to what the cost will be my BA Cooper Spur UL1. Not sure if its worth the coin, to save maybe 6 oz.

Although, I've spent plenty on other UL gear for sure.”

“i went through this process once, and in the end decided it was too much $$ for the weigh savings (which was significant). i focused more on developing my tarp camping techniques. i guess in the end you are saving a lot of weight, but you can save a LOT more if you ditch the tent altogether and work on basic skills. in my case the poles were for the sierra designs light year cd which is a great tent and would have worked great with the cf poles.”

“Yeah, for most of my trips I use a tarp now anyway, probably 90% of the time. The MLD Cuben Patrol shelter will probably be what I use most of the time, when it finally arrives anyway?”

“this weekend, in the porkies, i pitched my tent on the shore of lake superior. a storm rolled in that evening. while it was a minor storm the wind and rain were significant. the tent i took with me? my hilleberg akto.

i have always liked this tent for it's low weight and easy setup. this weekend i decided i loved it for it's bombproof nature and versatility. this is a tough, lightweight and very versatile shelter.

it ain't cheap... but i got both my aktos used and you can bet i'll be holding onto them! what am amazing, well designed shelter.

i looked at the tarptent site today at the "scarp" tent (ncthiker mentioned this to me). gee, i wonder where THAT idea came from. lmao!

...the akto was introduced to the market over 10 years ago. take the time to read up on the fabrics used to make this tent. why don't other tent manufacturers use these fabrics?

i had to laugh at a review of the akto i read this evening:

The tent easily shed heavy rain and high winds (60 -70 mph gusts estimated). One of my friends had a tarp tent. He didn't sleep - but rather stayed awake all night hanging on to his tarp and praying (really). My other friend had a Walrus Micro Swift. With the Swift's low profile and with its low end properly facing the wind, it easily shed the wind but the snow and ice practically flattened it. He also had puddles of water inside the tent. I, on the other hand, was snug as a bug. At first, until I got used to the stability of the Akto, I found myself bracing when the wind - roaring like a diesel locomotive - came charging down the mountainside prior to slamming into our campsite. Eventually I rather enjoyed the storm.

so after my search for a new tent, and buying a big agnes seedhouse ul1, i finally wind up going with a tent i have owned two of for many years... go figure!”

“...and for the record there were 4 tents on that lake shore that evening. two aktos (mine and crash bang's), a new MSR Hubba and a new Big Agnes Copper Spur. both either leaked water and/or had trouble with the strong winds.

i spent one night in my new big agnes seedhouse ul1. it's an ok tent (did not rain) but it takes a LOT of stakes to properly pitch. the "doghouse" entry is not as easy for me as i thought. i guess i am less than pleased with it. i would return it if it weren't for the fact that i love rei so much and don't want them to have to eat the tent. i'll use it as a car-camping "first night tent" to replace my msr hubba. not sure what i'll do with the msr hubba.”

“Put the hubba up for auction.”

“Every time I see one of the Aktos I think it'd be nice to have one but I simply can't justify the $400 for a one man tent that weighs 4.20 lbs. Don't get me wrong I'm sure this tent is everything you say it is and more (which it should be).”

“Yogisan
You reasoning is exactly why I bought my Moss Outland tent a decade ago. I have been in hurricane force winds, driving rain, hail, you name it...I have woke up and never knew how bad the storm was that night until I unzipped the fly.

Nigal
I used that reasoning years ago when I never did much mountain backpacking...gale force winds on an exposed pitch will change your thoughts on this.

For you MSR people, through the process of buy outs they hold the patents to Moss designs and most of their tents use these designs. They will never match the quality of production of Moss so will always be second rate it my eyes.”

“I agree sticks. I'm sure the Akto is the true four season take anything that is thrown at it tent. I don't get a chance to hike in those conditions much.”

“i sold my akto to crashbang when i went the bivy route about 5-6 years ago. i will probably buy another one, specially if they add the mesh summer inner tent option i've heard rumored.”

“the akto does have a large footprint though. specially if staked out properly”

“nigal, i did not pay that much. they come up used on a regular basis for 180-200. i picked both mine on on backpackinglight.com on the forums as the ultralight freaks dumped their super lightweight tents for tarps (and later regretted it i bet!)”

“...for the record i bought the second because it was a great deal and i wanted another one to pass to my son when he got a little more into backpacking. it still hasn't "caught on" with him, but i am thinking not long now.”

“Hilleberg makes awesome stuff. 4-lbs for a 4-season, 1-person seems heavier than I would want to carry solo, but if you want/need that sorta insurance, then I guess that is what is needed.

I've had my tarptent in 40-50 mph gusts, snow and driving rain and been ok in it. I wasn't exposed (on a lake, but in a wooded glen) and you do get splash through the mesh. It can really whip, too, but never came apart. That said, if you knew it was going to rain/storm a lot, the tarp tent is NOT the shelter to bring.”

“the akto doesn't weigh 4 lbs. it weighs closer to 3 lbs and mine weighs less because i replaced the aluminum poles with a carbon fiber pole from fiberplex ($56). that is excellent for a 3-season 1-person tent yet alone a 4-season tent with the versatility of the akto.”