I was waiting for a good 1 person tent option for a bit. Was likely going to go with the nemo hornet, but then the x-dome came around, and I think it's going to be very hard for other companies to beat it.
The Hornet that I had was not high enough. In the morning when there’s dew the ceiling droops and sags and it’s really wet. When I sat up I got a hair wash for free!😅
I purchased the Durston X-Dome 1+. I think he's doing really good things. I have no buyers remorse at all, and this review makes me feel even more comfortable in my choice.
I just did a quick overnight trip with the Hubba Hubba LT 1. On top of an exposed hill/mountain? (2600ft) near the coast, the wind started gusting up to 30mph around midnight and the tent frame didn't budge with everything guyed out. The big door, vertical walls, and numerous pockets create a delightful space to hang out in. Very functional. My only gripe is I wish the vestibule was a little bigger. My 85-liter pack only fits with complete coverage if it's in the middle of the door where the vestibule sticks out the furthest. I like it! So far, so good.
The X-Dome 1+ instantly renders this tent irrelevant! The spec sheet is better in almost every metric and the price is a lot less. It must have been a depressing day at MSR HQ when the X-Dome specs and price were released!
Giving me 2015 Hubba NX 1 vibes with a few new nice features. I like this and will be a major contender to replace aforementioned tent which I still use. Also love the neutral colorway as I’m not a fan of bright tents.
REI has it for almost $100 off now when you use their winter coupon code. I like that it’s fully freestanding, symmetrical and higher walls because it means less sand blowing in as Devon mentioned. The 1p size is a good width and also means I can fit in tight spaces. Excited to try it out! For reference I just finished the 800-mile AZT with a DupleXL and wished I had a zippered-door, freestanding tent half the time. Worth the weight IMO to combat the wind and rocky ground. Also good to note the metal attachment points at the corners instead of traditional plastic.
Thanks for the detailed review and showing the hub connectors! 👍🏻 I've been looking out for a new 1p freestanding I like the functionality of the inside. Appreciate the 20d floor. The fly and vestibule are meh... I'll just hold out for the Durston X- Dome 1plus Solid
I agree. The price of this does seem way too high compared to similar tents from other manufacturers. The 2P version makes more sense, as it’s at least one of the lightest free standing rectangular tents that’s wide enough for 2 25” pads.
Yeah it's crazy how expensive the Hubba Hubba and the BA Copper Spur tents have become. Grateful that Durston is offering tents that are a lot more budget friendly but still very high quality.
The 2P I believe is going to be a far better option for many folks. I suppose a benefit of retailers like REI running the tent is the frequent opportunity for sales and not paying retail.
I do like the new colors, but it feels like such small incremental changes for the hubba hubba. I feel like the only people who will buy this is new backpackers' walking into their local shop/REI to buy their gear, like myself who got a hubba hubba as their first tent. or someone who is looking to upgrade their hubba hubba 10 years from now, when many many more incremental updates have piled up to amount to a much better tent. one update I see nearly 1 person frestanding tents making in the coming years is filling out one of the vestibules like the durston xdome does. such an easy way to make a single person tent more liveable.
My wife and I just got back from a trip to Fish Lake in Utah, and we really like the Hubba hubba lt2. It was more expensive than what we would have liked, but it is the only true 2 person that I’ve ever used and liked. We both use wide Nemo tensor pads, and they fit. The only room once the pads are both in is at the head or foot, and we thought it was enough. We didn’t get rain, but one night was very windy. The wind was pretty consistent all night with gusts well into the 20-30 mph range. It’s was loud but the tent held up well. I do wish that the vestibules had more space. It’s enough for a backpack, but not much else, and it will be tight. Also love the ventilation on this. Much better than what we had in our Big Agnes Copper Spur. Over all happy with it.
That's great information! I am looking to possibly test the 2 person or even teh 3 person and see how it is maybe different from a value standpoint vs the 1 person here.
that price is WAY too high for what it is... naturehike makes the exact same tent (literally) for $150 or onetigris cosmito. but for $520 you can get a big agnes tigerwall 2 platinum.... zero competition there.
I bought the TarpTent Rainbow 1P a few years ago It’s a great little tent. The floor is long so you can put your pack at one end without problems ant still have a good deal of room length wise. The only thing I didn’t like was that the ceiling is much narrower than the floor. Last summer I left the door opened to get more air in. At two in the morning I woke up with my back all wet, my quilt all soaked an an inch of water in the tub.😮 I sleep with earplugs otherwise I don’t sleep at all so I never heard the rain falling. I’ll never do that again and endure the heat !😊
My unanswered question is, will this provide shelter during a rainstorm? We all know of MSR leaky tents, tents that weren't seam sealed. You made no mention if the seams are seam sealed or not. If the seams are seam sealed does it still leak or not? Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada.
@@BackcountryExposure it happend while I was packing up the tent. It was only 2.5 months old with about 60-75 nights used. I was definitely put off. Never buying another tent from them again. And I wouldn’t trust an msr tent on an expedition where I couldn’t find a replacement tent.
considering that when I am back packing I am nearly all ways somewhere remote ...😵💫.... So, any tent relying on a dedicated pole set subject to failure adds risk I am not wanting to take ...The Durston X-mid has broader versatility when it comes to set up. trekking poles, tent poles, sticks found lying around , or a ridge line with leaders. and the X-mid 1 is budget friendly. IMO
I own 3 different X-Mids. Love them! I also have the same fear about pole failure, but I couldn’t help myself and just had to buy Durston’s new X-Dome 1+. lol The thing looks awesome and incredibly strong, especially compared to the Hubba Hubba.
I will agree with you . I have the Alps , Lynx 1 and Lynx 2 . Those two are freestanding with aluminum poles sets and I have had zero failure . . IMO many manufactures have veered for from simple and narrowed their customer base with complex designs. Therefor, Increasing the price to overcome fewer sales .
@@BackcountryExposure well, technically, it's the other way around. Historically, tents were non-freestanding, and freestanding was sort of an innovation breakthrough, that made non-freestanding old design obsolete. And now we see the reborn of non-freestanding tents, using new approaches and new technologies, and they can now finally compete with freestanding tents.
Was wondering about this one. Thanks for the review. I'm loyal to my Ampex 2p. I've looked around at other big name UL options but for the stellar price I'm really happy with my Ampex 2p. Yes, its 3.8 lb weight puts it out of the UL category but it's kept me dry in rain and sheltered in wind, along with lots of useful inner pockets and thoughtful additions. If I were to upgrade at all at this point I'd go with the X-Dome 1+. Partly it's the design and specs but also important, Dan Durston's ethos feels solid, not a lot of flash, not a lot of hype just quality product, mostly affordable, and served with a generous attitude. But for now my Ampex 2p is it.
I need a 3 person tent. The 3 person version of this tent will fit 3 25" wide pads or 4 20" pads. I have the Sierra Designs Studio 3 (bought a few years ago based upon your review), but it's cramped for 3 people. I'll just wait for it to go on sale as it's $630 right now.
I have Big Agnes Coppur Spur 3 Platinum. At 70 inches wide rectangular floor we easily feat three people inside, and it is crazy lightweight for such a roomy tent.
Fully rectangular floor footprint is a big plus, don't understand why companies continue to claim that their tapered floor is a "Standard" they've adapted, no just no. At least provide reasoning for an alternative floor layout which is what Tarptent and Durston has done. Other than that, this tent is fine. There is a place for standard-issue tents like this. Doesn't need to corner the market or be banished into obscurity.
The main difference that makes the decision for most people is that nylon is known to stretch and sag when it gets wet, so you end up with a loose tent. Polyester for the most part does not stretch/sag when it gets wet. Nylon is lighter weight than polyester in the same denier. That’s the basic difference.
How is it that these small financially limited companies like Tarptent and Durston can put out such great innovative tents at reasonable prices while industry giants like MSR can't? Heck Tarptent even has some American made tents. I don't see much reason to consider MSR at this point.
Yeah I don’t know the answer to that. Brands are unwilling to share exact factories, etc where products are made, and that can have an effect on the end cost.
They’re not as mass produced and they handle their own shipping I believe. I preordered the X-dome and even though it cost over $400 (I added the pegs and groundsheet) I still had to pay $14 shipping. Yet if I spent that much at a normal retailer shipping definitely would’ve been free.
Bigger companies have bigger overheads and marketing budgets. MSR also sells more volume through distributors. Remember, not everyone spends hours on TH-cam before making a tent purchase many of them rely on the reviews from a large outdoor store and brands like Durston aren't even sold in these stores and only sold directly... no matter how rabbit they're following is
It's mostly because we sell direct to the customer. Our tents are built at the same factory as a lot of MSR tents, but they have retailers adding a retail markup, whereas we sell direct and put that money partly into a lower price and partly into a premium product (e.g. carbon fiber poles).
To me it seems like a pretty good design and weight isn't that bad for a double wall freestanding tent. Personally I think the width of the inner is fine, but 36 inch inner peak height is slightly low in my opinion. Agree price is high, but not compared to brands like Hilleberg. Inner first setup is a big minus for me though.
@@JTRavers69 Can't compare? The whole point of comparing is to look at similarities and differences. I have a Hilleberg tent and wouldn't exchange it with this for camping in the climate and/or mountains of Scandinavia or the UK, but I'd much rather have the Hubba for three season camping in most of the US.
It's a no from me. Did I get the HH rating right? 1200mm? It's just about shower proof. I would also say it's a 2 season tent, so much space around the base of the fly, it would be seriously cold. Late spring into early autumn (kinda three season I suppose). Its gonna be the Durston for me. This tent makes no sense.
I have two Nemo backpacking tents. I absolutely love them, and the OSMO FABRIC. Except that one of them has a tapered floor! Come on Nemo pull your heads out. And occupancy, 25” equals one person 50” equals two person and 75” equals a three person tent. Stop being stingy. you may be able to cut that down to 20” for the gram counters. But, the trend is to not skimp on your sleep anymore.
That's gonna be a nope from me dawg. I can literally get a Naturehike that's as good (maybe better in design) for around $100. Need high-end? Yeah, the X-Dome is gonna destroy it.
Hmmm.....I have a Tiger Wall 2 bike packing tent. $360 and much bigger. Smaller form factor. MSR is a weird company at times when it comes to their new product designs.
From an interview with the CEO of Nemo the fabric is now available to other tent makers (coming from memory so I may be off). Osmo appears to bridge the gap of nylon and dynema.
I feel MSR has not evolved with where the industry has gone in regards to progression of tents for backpacking. You can get a Solution Dye Tiger Wall UL1 from BA for less than $300 bucks right now. IMHO this tent is overpriced, under innovated, and frankly nowhere near worth the price they are asking for it. Thanks for sharing Devin.
At a price point of $420 you could make a more compelling argument for this tent. I may be looking into the 3P version of this tent for my family but like its little bother it has a cost issue as well.
MSR, let's face it, is resting on its laurels and relying on brand and product loyalty of its iconic tent. They can't reduce the price without devaluing the image... they need a Hubba Hubba Pro with some new material or innovations to warrant this price and rebrand this as the Hubba Hubba classic at a reduced price. I think they're waiting it out one more cycle until larger stores stop recommending this as the go to premium tent.
Nice review. The prices on these tents really astounds me. I understand these are 'top of the line', but the avreage packer is going to Amaz@n and getting knockoffs for less than half the price and barely a 1lb penalty. For us that do buy from these companies it really hammers home care and maint so we don't have to buy as often.
I agree. I do notice a quality difference often of a MSR tent vs a white label knock off… but in some cases that money saved works out well if you’re only out 1-2 times a year.
Sorry to say that we have much better tent manufacturers in Europe that anything MSR can offer. They are far from robust when compared to anything coming out of Scandinavia
That’s pretty pricey for what you’re getting. MSR makes good stuff, but so do a lot of other lesser known brands. It’s a competitive market, and MSR kinda pushed themselves out it at the price.
My thoughts are if nylon was truly such a terrible fabric, then why are the vast majority of tent makers still using it? Often choosing it over polyester and definitely over dyneema. Why is a brand like Hilleberg only using nylon… cause it’s a good fabric!
@@BackcountryExposure , I think you’re offended 🤔 You put more into my words than I expressed. It isn’t a terrible fabric! It’s a very good fabric! My only point is that it doesn’t have the weather resistant qualities of other fabrics. I live in a very humid climate with very heavy rain at times and I wouldn’t think about using a nylon fabric just for that reason.
@@kmichaelp4508 I’m not offended. But you also didn’t provide that context and your full feelings in your initial comment. I definitely made an assumption based on your comment.
@@BackcountryExposure , I personally look for a piece of equipment that will stand up to many different circumstances but I do have to take the most frequented areas I hike. I do love nylon for many things… outerwear for summer for sure! I just don’t understand why a company these days would limit themselves, with all the available products on the market. Seems like a huge mistake.
I manage gear that our local outdoors club owns for the sole purpose of lending it out to members. We have 5 or 6 Big Agnes Copper Spur 1 and 2 tents that range from 5 to 10 years old. I inspected a bunch of them this year and found FOUR instances of where the poles cracked very similarly to what you showed. My only guess is that users aren't making sure the pole segments are fully pushed together, or pushed into the hubs, and the incomplete support of the silver part, the pole insert, causes the pole end to crack and break. Just my theory. Now, maybe that's not the case for you. You backpack WAY more than our average member who's a beginner looking to borrow gear because they haven't purchased their own yet. I'd expect someone of your calibre to be mindful when assembling your poles before bending them to attach to the inner. *shrug* An interesting failure, though.
Oooh that’s interesting data. Thank you for sharing that. The DAC NFL poles are a well known and quality pole that many brands use, Nemo included. So it’s quite possible that it was simply an error on my part.
Bigger companies have bigger overheads and marketing budgets. MSR also sells more volume through distributors. Remember, not everyone spends hours on TH-cam before making a tent purchase many of them rely on the reviews from a large outdoor store and brands like Durston aren't even sold in these stores and only sold directly... no matter how rabbit they're following is
On the head and foot end yes this gives me concerns about condensation cause my feet often touch the tent wall and I’d prefer the fly to extend further down. Looks cool though. For the vestibule I’m fine with it not coming fully down cause it allows airflow.
I’m in the market and I think I’m leaning toward the durston dome. My biggest hang up on the durston is the exposed poles design of it. I’ve heard it can be an issue in the snow. So for that reason I might consider this tent.
What did you hear? That amazes me. Did you watch the Durston video with the weight test on the tent? The Durston is massively stronger than the Hubba Hubba.
@@JTRavers69 it’s not the load capability….its that the durston poles are exposed. I’ve had exposed poles and the poles melted the snow and the water went inside and froze. I had to hold the connections in my hands to melt it so I could pull them apart.
Why? Please tell me why it’s a fail. Nylon is used on thousands of tents, has been used for decades. It’s a solid, high quality fabric. So please explain the “epic fail”.
It's not actually that heavy, so i'd disagree in calling it a "bad tent". Price is high for sure! Freestanding tents will always inherently be heavier than a trekking pole tent, or semi freestanding tents.
The best part about the new Hubba Hubba LT tents is that the previous generation are all on sale for 50% off at MSR ... get one while you can.
I was waiting for a good 1 person tent option for a bit. Was likely going to go with the nemo hornet, but then the x-dome came around, and I think it's going to be very hard for other companies to beat it.
The Hornet that I had was not high enough. In the morning when there’s dew the ceiling droops and sags and it’s really wet. When I sat up I got a hair wash for free!😅
I purchased the Durston X-Dome 1+. I think he's doing really good things. I have no buyers remorse at all, and this review makes me feel even more comfortable in my choice.
I just did a quick overnight trip with the Hubba Hubba LT 1. On top of an exposed hill/mountain? (2600ft) near the coast, the wind started gusting up to 30mph around midnight and the tent frame didn't budge with everything guyed out. The big door, vertical walls, and numerous pockets create a delightful space to hang out in. Very functional. My only gripe is I wish the vestibule was a little bigger. My 85-liter pack only fits with complete coverage if it's in the middle of the door where the vestibule sticks out the furthest. I like it! So far, so good.
The X-Dome 1+ instantly renders this tent irrelevant! The spec sheet is better in almost every metric and the price is a lot less. It must have been a depressing day at MSR HQ when the X-Dome specs and price were released!
I was thinking the same thing!
I bought one right away lol So excited to get it!
@@ManivanAdventures you got to review it!
It seems like a much better thought out design than the hubba
I also got one, I love it so much.
Giving me 2015 Hubba NX 1 vibes with a few new nice features. I like this and will be a major contender to replace aforementioned tent which I still use. Also love the neutral colorway as I’m not a fan of bright tents.
REI has it for almost $100 off now when you use their winter coupon code. I like that it’s fully freestanding, symmetrical and higher walls because it means less sand blowing in as Devon mentioned. The 1p size is a good width and also means I can fit in tight spaces. Excited to try it out! For reference I just finished the 800-mile AZT with a DupleXL and wished I had a zippered-door, freestanding tent half the time. Worth the weight IMO to combat the wind and rocky ground. Also good to note the metal attachment points at the corners instead of traditional plastic.
Thanks for the detailed review and showing the hub connectors! 👍🏻 I've been looking out for a new 1p freestanding
I like the functionality of the inside. Appreciate the 20d floor. The fly and vestibule are meh... I'll just hold out for the Durston X- Dome 1plus Solid
I agree. The price of this does seem way too high compared to similar tents from other manufacturers.
The 2P version makes more sense, as it’s at least one of the lightest free standing rectangular tents that’s wide enough for 2 25” pads.
Yeah it's crazy how expensive the Hubba Hubba and the BA Copper Spur tents have become. Grateful that Durston is offering tents that are a lot more budget friendly but still very high quality.
The 2P I believe is going to be a far better option for many folks. I suppose a benefit of retailers like REI running the tent is the frequent opportunity for sales and not paying retail.
Yeah but... how many liters of water can you put on top? 😂
I think it looks GREAT...for around $330
I do like the new colors, but it feels like such small incremental changes for the hubba hubba. I feel like the only people who will buy this is new backpackers' walking into their local shop/REI to buy their gear, like myself who got a hubba hubba as their first tent. or someone who is looking to upgrade their hubba hubba 10 years from now, when many many more incremental updates have piled up to amount to a much better tent.
one update I see nearly 1 person frestanding tents making in the coming years is filling out one of the vestibules like the durston xdome does. such an easy way to make a single person tent more liveable.
My wife and I just got back from a trip to Fish Lake in Utah, and we really like the Hubba hubba lt2. It was more expensive than what we would have liked, but it is the only true 2 person that I’ve ever used and liked. We both use wide Nemo tensor pads, and they fit. The only room once the pads are both in is at the head or foot, and we thought it was enough. We didn’t get rain, but one night was very windy. The wind was pretty consistent all night with gusts well into the 20-30 mph range. It’s was loud but the tent held up well. I do wish that the vestibules had more space. It’s enough for a backpack, but not much else, and it will be tight. Also love the ventilation on this. Much better than what we had in our Big Agnes Copper Spur. Over all happy with it.
That's great information! I am looking to possibly test the 2 person or even teh 3 person and see how it is maybe different from a value standpoint vs the 1 person here.
that price is WAY too high for what it is... naturehike makes the exact same tent (literally) for $150 or onetigris cosmito. but for $520 you can get a big agnes tigerwall 2 platinum.... zero competition there.
I bought the TarpTent Rainbow 1P a few years ago It’s a great little tent. The floor is long so you can put your pack at one end without problems ant still have a good deal of room length wise. The only thing I didn’t like was that the ceiling is much narrower than the floor. Last summer I left the door opened to get more air in. At two in the morning I woke up with my back all wet, my quilt all soaked an an inch of water in the tub.😮 I sleep with earplugs otherwise I don’t sleep at all so I never heard the rain falling. I’ll never do that again and endure the heat !😊
My unanswered question is, will this provide shelter during a rainstorm? We all know of MSR leaky tents, tents that weren't seam sealed. You made no mention if the seams are seam sealed or not. If the seams are seam sealed does it still leak or not?
Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada.
At 1200 HH, it's just about waterproof... for a light shower..
@@JTRavers69 My point exactly. RIGHT ON.
@@JTRavers69 I had a Hubba with a 1200 mm hydrostatic head and had it in torrential downpours without any leaking whatsoever. So you are incorrect.
Funny that is exactly where my MSR poles snapped too.
Do you know the cause?
@@BackcountryExposure it happend while I was packing up the tent. It was only 2.5 months old with about 60-75 nights used. I was definitely put off. Never buying another tent from them again. And I wouldn’t trust an msr tent on an expedition where I couldn’t find a replacement tent.
considering that when I am back packing I am nearly all ways somewhere remote ...😵💫.... So, any tent relying on a dedicated pole set subject to failure adds risk I am not wanting to take ...The Durston X-mid has broader versatility when it comes to set up. trekking poles, tent poles, sticks found lying around , or a ridge line with leaders. and the X-mid 1 is budget friendly. IMO
I own 3 different X-Mids. Love them! I also have the same fear about pole failure, but I couldn’t help myself and just had to buy Durston’s new X-Dome 1+. lol The thing looks awesome and incredibly strong, especially compared to the Hubba Hubba.
I mean, freestanding tents have been used for decades, long before trekking pole tents were a thing and they’ve always been a reliable option…
I will agree with you . I have the Alps , Lynx 1 and Lynx 2 . Those two are freestanding with aluminum poles sets and I have had zero failure . . IMO many manufactures have veered for from simple and narrowed their customer base with complex designs. Therefor, Increasing the price to overcome fewer sales .
@@BackcountryExposure well, technically, it's the other way around. Historically, tents were non-freestanding, and freestanding was sort of an innovation breakthrough, that made non-freestanding old design obsolete. And now we see the reborn of non-freestanding tents, using new approaches and new technologies, and they can now finally compete with freestanding tents.
Was wondering about this one. Thanks for the review. I'm loyal to my Ampex 2p. I've looked around at other big name UL options but for the stellar price I'm really happy with my Ampex 2p. Yes, its 3.8 lb weight puts it out of the UL category but it's kept me dry in rain and sheltered in wind, along with lots of useful inner pockets and thoughtful additions. If I were to upgrade at all at this point I'd go with the X-Dome 1+. Partly it's the design and specs but also important, Dan Durston's ethos feels solid, not a lot of flash, not a lot of hype just quality product, mostly affordable, and served with a generous attitude. But for now my Ampex 2p is it.
I need a 3 person tent. The 3 person version of this tent will fit 3 25" wide pads or 4 20" pads. I have the Sierra Designs Studio 3 (bought a few years ago based upon your review), but it's cramped for 3 people. I'll just wait for it to go on sale as it's $630 right now.
Just get the REI Half Done 3+.
@@Colby168 Thanks for letting me know. It's hard to know every piece of gear that is available. It's on sale now too, less than $300. Thanks again.
I have Big Agnes Coppur Spur 3 Platinum. At 70 inches wide rectangular floor we easily feat three people inside, and it is crazy lightweight for such a roomy tent.
Fully rectangular floor footprint is a big plus, don't understand why companies continue to claim that their tapered floor is a "Standard" they've adapted, no just no. At least provide reasoning for an alternative floor layout which is what Tarptent and Durston has done.
Other than that, this tent is fine. There is a place for standard-issue tents like this. Doesn't need to corner the market or be banished into obscurity.
What is the big difference between polyester versus nylon? Looking to buy a tent, and trying to learn all I can.
The main difference that makes the decision for most people is that nylon is known to stretch and sag when it gets wet, so you end up with a loose tent. Polyester for the most part does not stretch/sag when it gets wet.
Nylon is lighter weight than polyester in the same denier. That’s the basic difference.
@@BackcountryExposure Thanks!!!
Also polyester dries quicker, too!
How is it that these small financially limited companies like Tarptent and Durston can put out such great innovative tents at reasonable prices while industry giants like MSR can't? Heck Tarptent even has some American made tents. I don't see much reason to consider MSR at this point.
Yeah I don’t know the answer to that. Brands are unwilling to share exact factories, etc where products are made, and that can have an effect on the end cost.
They’re not as mass produced and they handle their own shipping I believe. I preordered the X-dome and even though it cost over $400 (I added the pegs and groundsheet) I still had to pay $14 shipping. Yet if I spent that much at a normal retailer shipping definitely would’ve been free.
Bigger companies have bigger overheads and marketing budgets. MSR also sells more volume through distributors. Remember, not everyone spends hours on TH-cam before making a tent purchase many of them rely on the reviews from a large outdoor store and brands like Durston aren't even sold in these stores and only sold directly... no matter how rabbit they're following is
@@TheNewGreenIsBlue Also, Dan Durston listens to the people using his products.
It's mostly because we sell direct to the customer. Our tents are built at the same factory as a lot of MSR tents, but they have retailers adding a retail markup, whereas we sell direct and put that money partly into a lower price and partly into a premium product (e.g. carbon fiber poles).
To me it seems like a pretty good design and weight isn't that bad for a double wall freestanding tent. Personally I think the width of the inner is fine, but 36 inch inner peak height is slightly low in my opinion. Agree price is high, but not compared to brands like Hilleberg. Inner first setup is a big minus for me though.
My sentiments, having to pitch the inner then attach the fly is one big reason I bought the Hilleberg Enan.- my one & only tent.
But this isn't a Hilleberg.. you couldn't really compare the two. Its like comparing a Rolls Royce to a Toyota.
@@JTRavers69 Agreed, price for Hlleberg temts will discourage many buyers.
@@JTRavers69 Can't compare? The whole point of comparing is to look at similarities and differences. I have a Hilleberg tent and wouldn't exchange it with this for camping in the climate and/or mountains of Scandinavia or the UK, but I'd much rather have the Hubba for three season camping in most of the US.
Is it possible to mount the outer skin without the inner tent?
No fly first pitch on this one.
Very thorough, ty for the review
It's a no from me. Did I get the HH rating right? 1200mm? It's just about shower proof. I would also say it's a 2 season tent, so much space around the base of the fly, it would be seriously cold. Late spring into early autumn (kinda three season I suppose). Its gonna be the Durston for me. This tent makes no sense.
I disagree, the HH rating is plenty of the vast majority of uses in 3 season settings.
And you've every right to disagree, but I won't be camping in Irish weather in anything less than 3000mm HH. So it's still a no from me.
I have two Nemo backpacking tents. I absolutely love them, and the OSMO FABRIC. Except that one of them has a tapered floor! Come on Nemo pull your heads out. And occupancy, 25” equals one person 50” equals two person and 75” equals a three person tent. Stop being stingy.
you may be able to cut that down to 20” for the gram counters. But, the trend is to not skimp on your sleep anymore.
That's gonna be a nope from me dawg. I can literally get a Naturehike that's as good (maybe better in design) for around $100.
Need high-end? Yeah, the X-Dome is gonna destroy it.
Hmmm.....I have a Tiger Wall 2 bike packing tent. $360 and much bigger. Smaller form factor. MSR is a weird company at times when it comes to their new product designs.
I'm wondering at this price why didn't they use the Osmo fabric?
Osmo is a Nemo trademark and their fabric they had made for them. I’m sure other brands will work with fabric mills to develop similar fabrics.
From an interview with the CEO of Nemo the fabric is now available to other tent makers (coming from memory so I may be off). Osmo appears to bridge the gap of nylon and dynema.
I feel MSR has not evolved with where the industry has gone in regards to progression of tents for backpacking. You can get a Solution Dye Tiger Wall UL1 from BA for less than $300 bucks right now. IMHO this tent is overpriced, under innovated, and frankly nowhere near worth the price they are asking for it. Thanks for sharing Devin.
At a price point of $420 you could make a more compelling argument for this tent. I may be looking into the 3P version of this tent for my family but like its little bother it has a cost issue as well.
You can buy the "previous version" of this tent much cheaper. The 3 person tent is $315 on the MSR website.
Yes, expensive in a crowded market segment. Slingfin Portal 1 looking good in comparison.
The slingfin portal 1 is $490 on their website
@@jakejohnson2428 same price indeed, but the Slingfin does look like it's a better tent (especially more stormworthy I suspect)
Slingfin definitely has the history and humans in place that understand tent design. The Portal is a smart design.
MSR, let's face it, is resting on its laurels and relying on brand and product loyalty of its iconic tent. They can't reduce the price without devaluing the image... they need a Hubba Hubba Pro with some new material or innovations to warrant this price and rebrand this as the Hubba Hubba classic at a reduced price.
I think they're waiting it out one more cycle until larger stores stop recommending this as the go to premium tent.
It weighs the same as a tiger wall UL2 with less room 🤷🏼♂️🤔.
Nice review. The prices on these tents really astounds me. I understand these are 'top of the line', but the avreage packer is going to Amaz@n and getting knockoffs for less than half the price and barely a 1lb penalty. For us that do buy from these companies it really hammers home care and maint so we don't have to buy as often.
I agree. I do notice a quality difference often of a MSR tent vs a white label knock off… but in some cases that money saved works out well if you’re only out 1-2 times a year.
I gotta say - this is insanely expensive for the size and weight. Looks cool, and MSR are bulletproof stand-alone tents, but geez...
Sorry to say that we have much better tent manufacturers in Europe that anything MSR can offer. They are far from robust when compared to anything coming out of Scandinavia
I’d suffer through the shortcomings of an Ampex 1p for $99 over this. The TT Rainbow would be my next choice for a non budget tent.
The Ampex is a great value!
Pitch the inner tent first? It’s such a non starter. So, that’s a big ‘NO’! 🌧️🌧️🌧️ Outer pitch first, always. Crazy expensive too. So, a double ‘NO!’
I purchased a Nemo Mayfly three person tent with foot print for a hundred bucks less.
The Mayfly is a great tent! Nemo did a good job with that one.
That’s pretty pricey for what you’re getting. MSR makes good stuff, but so do a lot of other lesser known brands. It’s a competitive market, and MSR kinda pushed themselves out it at the price.
What Durston has been able to do for the price he's offering on the X-Dome is amazing. The Rainbow as well is just so attractive for the price its at!
That’s super expensive for pretty basic stats.
Free or not, I would have just sent it back. You can feel as you may about nylon but… you are one out of ten.
My thoughts are if nylon was truly such a terrible fabric, then why are the vast majority of tent makers still using it? Often choosing it over polyester and definitely over dyneema.
Why is a brand like Hilleberg only using nylon… cause it’s a good fabric!
@@BackcountryExposure , I think you’re offended 🤔 You put more into my words than I expressed. It isn’t a terrible fabric! It’s a very good fabric! My only point is that it doesn’t have the weather resistant qualities of other fabrics. I live in a very humid climate with very heavy rain at times and I wouldn’t think about using a nylon fabric just for that reason.
@@kmichaelp4508 I’m not offended. But you also didn’t provide that context and your full feelings in your initial comment. I definitely made an assumption based on your comment.
@@BackcountryExposure , I personally look for a piece of equipment that will stand up to many different circumstances but I do have to take the most frequented areas I hike. I do love nylon for many things… outerwear for summer for sure! I just don’t understand why a company these days would limit themselves, with all the available products on the market. Seems like a huge mistake.
I manage gear that our local outdoors club owns for the sole purpose of lending it out to members. We have 5 or 6 Big Agnes Copper Spur 1 and 2 tents that range from 5 to 10 years old. I inspected a bunch of them this year and found FOUR instances of where the poles cracked very similarly to what you showed. My only guess is that users aren't making sure the pole segments are fully pushed together, or pushed into the hubs, and the incomplete support of the silver part, the pole insert, causes the pole end to crack and break. Just my theory. Now, maybe that's not the case for you. You backpack WAY more than our average member who's a beginner looking to borrow gear because they haven't purchased their own yet. I'd expect someone of your calibre to be mindful when assembling your poles before bending them to attach to the inner. *shrug* An interesting failure, though.
Oooh that’s interesting data. Thank you for sharing that. The DAC NFL poles are a well known and quality pole that many brands use, Nemo included. So it’s quite possible that it was simply an error on my part.
Thanks for sharing an informative comment.
Bigger companies have bigger overheads and marketing budgets. MSR also sells more volume through distributors. Remember, not everyone spends hours on TH-cam before making a tent purchase many of them rely on the reviews from a large outdoor store and brands like Durston aren't even sold in these stores and only sold directly... no matter how rabbit they're following is
Prices in general for most of the big brand names are just out of control. Especially if production is happening overseas. Just ridiculous.
They’ve saved weight by making sure the fly is too short 💅
On the head and foot end yes this gives me concerns about condensation cause my feet often touch the tent wall and I’d prefer the fly to extend further down. Looks cool though. For the vestibule I’m fine with it not coming fully down cause it allows airflow.
Very nice but WAY too rich for my tiny wallet! Enjoy 😊
Yeah $50-$100 less in cost, at least for this 1P would be nice!
I’m in the market and I think I’m leaning toward the durston dome. My biggest hang up on the durston is the exposed poles design of it. I’ve heard it can be an issue in the snow. So for that reason I might consider this tent.
What did you hear? That amazes me. Did you watch the Durston video with the weight test on the tent? The Durston is massively stronger than the Hubba Hubba.
I don't know that I would call the Hubba Hubba and X-Dome true 4 season tents. There's more to a 4-season tent than just snow load capability.
@@JTRavers69 it’s not the load capability….its that the durston poles are exposed. I’ve had exposed poles and the poles melted the snow and the water went inside and froze. I had to hold the connections in my hands to melt it so I could pull them apart.
Nope
Super expensive and heavy. No thanks.
It’s still nylon. Epic fail.
Why? Please tell me why it’s a fail. Nylon is used on thousands of tents, has been used for decades. It’s a solid, high quality fabric. So please explain the “epic fail”.
@ I’m absolutely stunned that you asked me this….
@ but you didn’t answer my question.
Bad tent. It combines heavy weight, a weak pole structure, too little inner space and it’s too expensive.Not interested. MSR do your homework.
It's not actually that heavy, so i'd disagree in calling it a "bad tent". Price is high for sure! Freestanding tents will always inherently be heavier than a trekking pole tent, or semi freestanding tents.
If you are getting something for free, that's a form of payment. That's sponsorship. Don't try to hoodwink your audience. Unbelievable!
MSR has always been a reapoff