The Tent Kit

 

More than just a tent

The tent:                MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Person.

The Footprint:       MSR Universal 2 Person Footprint - Large

The tent pegs:        MSR Groundhog Tent stakes - 6-packs x 2

Extra guys:            Quechua 2 long guys and 4 toggles

As you can see, I have strong preference for Mountain Safety Research products. The reviews I have read, both sponsored and independent, all remarked on them favourably. 

I wanted to prepare the kit for wet and windy conditions, so I beefed up the components needed to anchor the tent well into whatever ground it might need to sit on.

I would have preferred carbon fibre compound poles, but that option is not yet available in Europe. I'm sure the aluminium poles will serve me well. (You'll hear all about that whichever way the ball bounces).

The way I load my pack, the tent poles slide vertically down one side, whereas the tent itself, fly and footprint all compress and load into the footwell of the pack, for fast access and weight balance. Given that approach, I found the newly-designed storage bag of the MSR tent useless. It will sit at home and keep my spare kit tidy while I'm away. Instead, I'll use a small capacity compression sack to contain the tent, fly and footprint.

I pitched the tent in a nearby playing field to see how it accommodates my sleeping kit - and it does so very well.  I could slip the sleeping pad into the centre of the floor, stay well clear of the tent walls and enjoy maximum headroom.  It would be tight though, if I was to try to share this with a walking buddy. Two sleeping mats would consume the entire floor area. Not a problem in colder climates where body heat is a benefit. Sharing the tent in a Mediterranean climate could get a little cosy.

Very comfortable sleeping accommodation

I was a little surprised at how much daylight there is below the vestibule walls. 

I think I'll bring my gear inside the tent.

Certainly that means that any pack kept in that outer area during a shower, will get wet from underneath. And keeping dirty boots out there is only feasible in dry weather.  So ... I'll be bringing my pack and boots into the tent. There's plenty of room for that, as long as I consider this to be a very roomy one-person tent (which was always my intention).