MSR Hubba Tour 3 Tent Review – Three Person Backcountry Tent
From extended weekends spent in the mountains and beyond, the MSR Hubba Tour 3 Tent will keep you dry and comfortable regardless of the weather. While I choose to own the three-person tent, which comes in at 5lbs and 12 ounces, MSR also offers their Hubba tents in one and two person options. For my needs, the Hubba Tour 3 was the perfect fit for my dog, partner and myself; not to mention, all of our gear.
Unlike most backpacking tents out there, the Hubba Tour 3 offered significantly more interior space and storage thanks to its longer and wider design. The vestibule is generously sized at 25 sq. ft. and features plenty of room to store at least three 75L packs or larger, alongside additional gear. Best of all, there’s a protected floor area in the vestibule to keep everything nice and dry.
With the impressively large vestibule size, I was able to easily remove soggy, wet and dirty clothing before entering the main tent. For transitioning from the harsh outdoors to the protected indoors, this spacious area is golden in my book.
Quick Highlights:
- Minimum Weight: 5 lbs. 12 oz.
- Packed Weight: 6 lbs. 4 oz.
- Floor area: 43 sq. ft.
- Vestibule area: 25 sq. ft.
- Tent volume: 74 cu. ft.
- 2 Lightweight Aluminum 7000 Series Poles
- 20D ripstop nylon & DWR canopy fabric
- 30D ripstop nylon 3000mm Extreme Shield floor fabric
- 20D ripstop nylon 1200mm Xtreme Shield rain fly fabric
- 15D nylon micromesh windows for ventilation
- Exoskeleton frame with unified rain fly and body
- Generously sized vestibule for a dry, protected area
- Two simple-access entrances
- Multiple interior storage gear lofts
- Internal glow-in-the-dark zipper
- Xtreme Shield coating lasts 3x longer than standard waterproof coatings.
- Collapsed poles with short sections for small pack down
- Unified rain fly and body keep interior dry through rainstorm setup
- Watertight precision seams
MSR Hubba Tour 3 Tent Review
While you can enter the main tent from the large zippered vestibule door, there’s also a second door that gives instant access to the main tent. Once inside the main tent you’ll find all sorts of great features to stay organized, including gear lofts, hang loops and large pockets. In terms of space to sleep, the Hubba Tour 3 is true to its name. It will fit 3 adults comfortably, or in my case, 2 adults and an 80-pound dog.
When it comes to setting up the MSR Hubba Tour 3 the process couldn’t be easier. The Exoskeleton frame is a breeze to snap together, while the tent body comes attached to the rain fly so the interior stays bone dry even during rainy setups. In my case, I choose to go with the optional footprint for added protection. If you spend a lot of time camping in the wild, a footprint is worth every penny.
After getting the footprint spread out and staked down, next was spreading out the tent itself and staking it down. With the tent ready for the exoskeleton frame, all I had to do was attach the tent body clips to it. Within a minute or less the main tent was up and ready to go. For the vestibule area, the dedicated vestibule pole gets inserted into the vestibule sleeve. Finally, stake up the vestibule sleeve and you’re good to go.
For harsher conditions with heavier rain and wind, the rear door features a nice staking loop. Of course, you’ll also find additional points to secure down the tent should conditions ever require it.
Beyond setup and size, where the MSR Hubba Tour 3 Tent really shines is in its Xtreme Shield Coating. This waterproof coating lasts 3x longer than your typical waterproof coating on most tents.
You’ll also find watertight precision seams for additional peace of mind. During wet testing, my gear inside remained bone dry and I kept quite cozy and comfortable. After ending my trip, I came to appreciate how fast the tent packs up. Not to mention, the ease of all the components fitting in one stuff sack.
In terms of durability and construction quality, the MSR Hubba Tour 3 gives me plenty of long-term confidence that it will last. The selected materials alongside the stitching, exoskeleton frame details and so on, all make for one ruggedly built, premium tent.
Overall, the MSR Hubba Tour 3 has me incredibly impressed! The setup process was brilliantly thought out, while the interior space and organization options are extremely generous for the tent’s very reasonable weight. I’ve been on the hunt for a rock solid three person tent for a while now, and even with lots of time to compare various models and brands, the MSR Hubba Tour 3 has won me over!