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The 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] generation Hubba Hubba (HP) arrived. Time to play in the yard.*
The tent dimensions, symmetrical shape, poles and hub system of the HP version are identical to the original Hubba Hubba. The only difference is that the bathtub floor at the tent head-and-foot ends and corners are higher, with less mesh. That seems a good idea for increased waterproofieness, as the rainfly covering the ends doesn’t allow much ventilation in those locations anyway. The footprint from the worn 1[SUP]st[/SUP] generation fits perfectly. **
The Gear Shed is not especially intuitive the first time installed, and the instruction tag MSR attaches to the Gear Shed stuff bag omits some details. One hint – it is best to unzip the fly door on the gear shed side before flopping the fly atop the tent. Another hint – look at the various on-line gear shed photos before befuddlement sets in.
http://www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/tents/experience-series/hubba-gear-shed/product
Once figured out the Gear Shed is easy to install. It does have a single 10’ shock corded pole and (ugh) sleeve, but the sleeve is an easy slider, and much as I hate pole sleeves I see no other design method as simple and effective.
I’m not thrilled with the corner openings left with the vestibule doors unzipped and the Gear Shed in place, but the higher floor material on the ends and corners should help. The first hard, blowing rain will tell.
The Gear Shed would be ideal for folks who trip with their dog. I expect that in a risky pinch tarp-less folk could light a stove under that high awning, or at least shelter there outside the tent. The gear shed is 35” high at the roofline, so a little butterfly chair would fit. It will certainly make it easier to stash the bulk of my extraneous gear out of sight and rain protected.
Once set up with gear shed and fly there are still various bits and pieces to add. Or Subtract.***
On the initial backyard set up I am surprised that MSR does not provide the stakes and reflective cord for the four tent end guy lines. Or not; I know what and how I prefer things in the way of stakes and guy lines on the fly ends. Still, they could include the four additional stakes and some cord for owner installation. The stakes MSR now includes are mini-groundhogs, but they lack the pull cord loop through the eye hole on the ends, and those groundhogs are tough to extract without the cord. One more thing to add.
Beyond adding end stakes, pull cords and reflective guy lines to the fly ends the interior needs some personal comfort and function additions.
As in an adjustable reading lantern hanger line with cord lock at either end.
And an adjustable roof line cord, twisted to better hold wet dirty socks drying in the tent so they don’t fall on my face in the middle of the night.
*I much prefer to perform that initial tent outfitting, addition and subtraction at home than the first time setting up in the field, where I discover that, dang, I need four more stakes, some additional reflective line, a couple of cord locks, where are my nippers to cut the superfluous plastic-grommeted tags off the stuff bags and gawd dammit the wind keeps blowing out my lighter before the cut ends of the new guy lines melt.
**The zippers on my 1[SUP]st[/SUP] gen Hubba Hubba seem to have recovered with some thorough cleaning and silicon spray TLC, and I’ll keep it as a spare/loaner. But, having used the old footprint for the new tent, but I can’t bring myself to drop $40 on another footprint. It may be time for a Tyvek, duct tape and grommet kit DIY groundcloth.
http://www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/t...ootprints/hubba-hubba-nx-hp-footprint/product
***The subtractions. There was a ridiculous quantity of tags, tabs, instructions and disclaimers attached to every stuff bag and tent piece. Some of them so extraordinarily attached via plastic grommets that I had to cut them off with nippers.
