Campman Outdoor Gear & Apparel

It seems like backpacking tents get lighter and pack smaller every single season. Back in the day, we’d all have to split the canopy, poles, and rain fly just so the tent would fit in our packs. And our tents would take up so much space in our backpacks that we wouldn’t have room to bring beers or other campsite comforts.

Nowadays, with MSR and Big Agnes tents, you get lightweight backpacking gear with intelligent upgrades like carbon tent poles and ultralight, nearly translucent rainfly materials. Both of these MSR and Big Agnes 2-person tents come in ultralight, ultra-packable models without skimping on features. 

We think the Hubba Hubba 2 and Copper Spur HV UL 2 are both excellent options for taking the load off our backs so we can enjoy our time on the trail. But if we had to choose only one, which would we suggest? We stacked the two against each other to help you decide which of these 2-person tents is best suited to your needs.

Weight

Let’s dive straight into what’s most important for gram-counting backpackers. Weight is arguably the most important consideration for many backpackers after all and is certainly a consideration in the design of all Big Agnes and MSR 2-person tents.

It’s worth noting the difference between packed weight and trail weights here. Packed weight refers to the weight of the tent with all of the extras and accessories included like poles, fly, stakes, guylines, stuff sacks, etc. Trail weight typically only includes the weight of the tent, fly, and poles.

Both tents have a packed weight barely exceeding three pounds, which is ridiculously light for a waterproof, two-person tent. But since we’re counting grams here, the Copper Spur’s packed weight (3 lbs 2 oz) is two ounces lighter than the Hubba Hubba (3 lbs 4 oz), and the trail weight of the Copper Spur is three ounces lighter (2 lbs 11 oz).

Most importantly, the Copper Spur can go even lighter with its fast-fly setup. If you want to skimp on weight, you only have to bring the footprint (sold separately), rain fly, poles, and your trekking poles to get an even more ridiculously light weight of 2 lbs 2 oz. This is a feature available on most Big Agnes tents. Even with the footprint (sold separately), the Hubba Hubba does not have a comparable fast-fly setup.

Advantage: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2

Packed Size

Just like weight, a tent’s packed size can make or break any backpacking trip. You don’t want to be weighed down, and you also want enough space in your pack for all of your essentials plus some extra layers and snacks — just in case. The Hubba Hubba, with a packed size of 19 x 4.5”, leaves a few more inches of space in our packs than the Copper Spur, with a packed size of 19.5” x 6”.

You can pack one or two more of your favorite beverages if you’re backpacking with the Hubba Hubba, but it’s worth noting that the Copper Spur’s packed size is still impressively small compared to many other 2-person backpacking tents.

Advantage: MSR Hubba Hubba 2

Internal Space

Both tents have advantages depending on your size. If you’re taller, you’ll appreciate the Copper Spur’s longer length at 88” long x 42” wide. But, on the other hand, if you have wide shoulders or like some extra wiggle room, you’ll like the Hubba Hubba’s wider design at 84” long x 50” wide. Both options also have the same floor area (29 sq ft) and internal height (40”), leaving us with a draw.

Advantage: Draw

Storage

Not only does the Copper Spur HV UL 2 have larger vestibules for gear storage (two vestibules with 9 sq ft each), but it also has more pockets to help you stay organized inside. The large 3D bin is particularly helpful for stashing dirty clothes or other cumbersome objects which pairs well with the three smaller mesh pockets throughout to keep all of your essential items on hand. Further, the Copper Spur also has integrated gear loops for their Gear Loft storage systems (sold separately), which can further increase your storage capacity.

The Hubba Hubba, on the other hand, has a smaller vestibule area (two vestibules with 7.5 sq ft each), and it only has two pockets with cable port pass-throughs. This offers some storage options but the Copper Spur simply has more going for it when it comes to waterproof gear storage and organization.

Advantage: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2

Weather Protection

Both tents’ rain flies tout similar waterproof coatings and taped seams, sealing out even the heaviest of rainstorms, but the Hubba Hubba’s fly comes with built-in rain gutters which keep water from rolling off the tent and onto your head or your gear.

Another major difference between the two comes from the construction of the canopy. With the Hubba Hubba relying on solid tent walls made from a ripstop fabric, you get a design built to handle high winds better than the all-mesh canopy designs you so often see in ultralight backpacking tents, including the Copper Spur HV UL2.

MSR also included a DWR treatment to the Hubba Hubba to bead moisture off the fabric’s surface. This treatment gives the Hubba Hubba the edge for backpacking in damper environments, especially when it’s frosty in the morning.

Advantage: MSR Hubba Hubba 2

Durability

As ultralight backpacking tents, the Hubba Hubba and Copper Spur both sacrifice some durability for reduced weight. For the most part, we’d expect these tents to perform roughly equal when it comes to longevity with a few notable exceptions.

Comparing the floor fabrics, the Copper Spur utilizes a mixed denier nylon fabric (15D x 20D) while MSR opted for a full 20D nylon floor in the Hubba Hubba. Although both tents should be used with their corresponding footprints (sold separately), the Hubba Hubba will hold up a bit better if you decide to go without.

When it comes to the canopy as well, the Hubba Hubba comes out ahead with mostly solid tent walls combined with strategically placed mesh vents. This design is a bit more durable when you decide to camp without the rain fly on top. The Copper Spur, with its full mesh canopy, offers plenty of ventilation but will be less durable in the long run.

Finally, as is typical for MSR tents, they opted for sturdy composite poles which hold up well in even the most intense windstorms. And while the DAC poles of the Copper Spur also perform well in harsh weather, the Hubba Hubba tent poles are the clear winner here.

Advantage: MSR Hubba Hubba 2

Creature Comforts

This category includes all the extra features that aren’t necessary for backpacking but adds a bit of convenience to the campsite. Like many other Big Agnes 2-person tents, the Copper Spur is equipped with a surprising amount of features that you don’t usually see in ultralight backpacking tents like Copper Spur MtnGLO light compatibility, convenient door stash tabs, and awning-style vestibules to make this tent feel a bit more like a home away from home.

And as with other Big Agnes tents, you also get a few added features to make setup as seamless as possible too. For instance, they added a TipLock Tent buckle which works to secure the pole tip, secures the rainfly, and provides an easily identifiable stake-out loop. This combined with the asymmetrical construction and x-shape pole structure makes it easy to set up the Copper Spur in just a few minutes, no matter what the weather is doing.

The Hubba Hubba, while comfortable and user-friendly, stuck to a more standard design without the bells and whistles. And while that works plenty well, we think the Copper Spur takes the cake for this category.

Advantage: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2

Conclusion

Tallied up, it’s a draw between the MSR Hubba Hubba 2 and Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2 tents. Both are great options and picking the right one depends on the type of backpacker you are. The Copper Spur might be the lightest, but the Hubba Hubba packs the smallest. The Hubba Hubba might be a touch more durable, but the Copper Spur’s additional features and internal storage offer plenty of convenience.

Regardless of which tent you choose, either of these options will serve you well on your backcountry adventures. All you have to decide is what features matter the most to you. And if you don’t quite see what you’re looking for here, rest assured that there are plenty of other MSR tents and Big Agnes tents to choose from including the fan-favorite Big Agnes bikepacking tents.

About the Author

Derek Newman

Born in the Wasatch, Derek has had an affinity for mountain life since day one. He was on skis the year he learned to walk, and as a high school graduation present he gifted himself rock climbing lessons. Nearly two decades later, Derek spends most of his time climbing up and/or skiing down most of the mountains around Salt Lake City, and he's traveled around the world multiple times for the sole purpose of peak exploration. When he isn't a man about camp, he's working in Campman's content marketing crew writing up blogs about backcountry skiing or rock climbing as well as describing products that he's used personally. He's climbed in most climbing shoes, toured on most backcountry skis, and ridden the resort on skis, snowboards, and even some evac sleds.