Starting on the outside, the tried-and-true geometry of the Hubba Hubba series endures, with the same small but significant upgrade we made to the Hubba Hubba LT: we raised the pole hubs. This small change boosts interior space by making the tent ends more vertical, so you can sit up comfortably throughout most of the tent and enjoy your time inside, rather than dread it. And just like the LT, the three-person Hubba Hubba HD model offers enough space to accommodate up to four people in a pinch, so it makes for a pretty luxurious three-person backpacking tent at just 4 lb 6 oz.

The high quality and strength of DAC NFL poles remain, as does easy setup and packing, thanks to the hubbed poles and a new side-loading roll-top stuff sack. You’ll also notice the pole grommets on the corners of the tent are gone, replaced by strong, intuitive interlocking aluminum hardware that makes staking and connecting the rainfly fast, easy, and secure.

Extreme Protection Where It Counts.

Speaking of the rainfly, this and the floor are really what put the Hubba Hubba HD in its own elite class of foul-weather backpacking tents. First, the HD rainfly gets a big upgrade in waterproof durability with a stout 3000mm urethane coating on a 20D ripstop nylon. The bathtub floor doubles that with a 6000mm coating, along with the added durability of a 30D ripstop nylon. (You should still always use footprint!) Both are factory-taped, resulting in a level of waterproof protection that lets you wait out the wettest weather, with a good card game or a great night’s sleep, without a single worry. Roomy vestibules on every door provide plenty of space to keep gear dry outside, and StayDry™ doors with built-in rain gutters help keep you dry when coming and going. 

The other major change to the rainfly is improved ventilation. Each end of the tent features a generous, kickstand-supported vent that stretches from edge to edge for maximum airflow. This ends up being critically important with the changes in the tent canopy, so let’s jump to that layer next.

More Coverage, More Warmth 

While tents designed for warmer weather use generous amounts of mesh for greater ventilation and heat dispersion, the Hubba Hubba HD features a more solid canopy that’s less drafty and retains more heat on cold nights. It also boosts privacy on warm nights, when using the tent without the rainfly can help cool things down.  Of course, less mesh means efficient ventilation is even more critical, so each mesh panel maps directly to outside ventilation through the rainfly. You'll find those oversized rainfly vents at the peak of each door, and the doors themselves feature two-way zips for top venting, where moisture tends to accumulate. Together, they provide the optimal balance of protection and ventilation that will keep you comfortable in good weather and bad. 

The Finer Things

Now that we’ve covered all the layers of protection, let’s chat interior, which is where you might be spending some quality time should your day end–or begin–with a storm.

First, when you get into the tent, you'll notice the curved door zippers are gone, replaced with straight zippers that are easier to operate and will extend the life of your tent. Inside, you’ll find massive pockets at the head and foot, ensuring that no matter which way you sleep, you’ll have plenty of handy storage. Overhead gear lofts are great for lots of things, like holding a light for ambiance, and all pockets feature a cable port for pass-through use of your tech while charging. Additionally, every Hubba Hubba HD includes an interior clothesline; you don’t need more than one damp backpack to appreciate the utility of that.

We're also continuing to push hard to transition all our products to more responsible manufacturing, as technological advances enable us to source materials that meet our high performance standards. Currently, the Hubba Hubba HD features solution-dyed fabrics that eliminate a majority of the wastewater from traditional dye processes, and all of our DWR coatings meet the most stringent standards for being free of "forever chemicals".

So, there’s the skinny on the latest and greatest from the Hubba Hubba series of backpacking tents. If you find yourself in a place where wet weather is a regular possibility, or like to extend your backpacking season into the fringes of fall and spring, the protection, space, and user-friendly design of the Hubba Hubba HD will provide you peace of mind and a level of confidence that will make you rethink what the “end of the season” really means for backpacking.