Hubba Hubba NX 2-Person Backpacking Tent vs Plex Solo Tent
Head-to-head tent comparison.
| Hubba Hubba NX 2-Person Backpacking Tent | Plex Solo Tent | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | MSR | Zpacks |
| Price | $450 - $550 | $599 - $649 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.6 |
The Bottom Line
If you need a practical, resilient two-person shelter that sets up anywhere and tolerates real-world abuse, get the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2-Person — it’s the winner for weekenders, couples, and anyone who values livability over shaving ounces. If you’re a solo ultralight hiker or thru-hiker who will choose campsites carefully, carry a trekking pole, and absolutely must cut weight, get the Zpacks Plex Solo — it’s the winner for minimalist speed and tiny packed size but demands careful handling and stake-friendly terrain.
Livability & Space
For two-person livability the MSR Hubba Hubba NX wins — 29 sq ft of floor, a consistent 50 in width, two doors and two vestibules beat the Plex Solo’s 20.6 sq ft and single vestibule for sharing gear and entry. The Plex Solo, however, wins the solo tall-hiker seat: its 52 in peak height and 7.5 ft length let you sit up and stretch in a shelter that still won’t weigh you down. Bottom line: Hubba Hubba is the practical camp for couples or gear-heavy users; Plex Solo is optimized interior-for-weight for a single fastpacker.
Weight & Packability
The Zpacks Plex Solo blows the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2-Person away on weight — at roughly 14 ounces for the Plex Solo versus a nearly 4 pound Hubba Hubba, you’re saving pounds, not ounces. That weight savings translates to real-world benefits for thru-hikers and fastpackers: the Plex stuffs into a fist-sized bundle and frees up space for food and water, while the Hubba Hubba’s 6 x 18 in packed size and heavier pole set take up noticeable load and hipbelt real estate. If absolute ounces matter, Plex Solo wins; if compact, predictable bulk and a single-piece footprint in your pack matter more, Hubba Hubba is the steadier choice.
Setup & Site Versatility
MSR Hubba Hubba NX wins setup and site versatility hands-down because it’s freestanding with an Easton Syclone pole set — you can pitch it on rocks, platforms, or uneven ground without perfect stake placement. The Zpacks Plex Solo is a non-freestanding single-wall shelter that needs a trekking pole and multiple stakes, so it struggles on slabby or sand-and-gravel campsites where stakes won’t hold. In short: Plex Solo is faster and lighter when ground allows, but Hubba Hubba tolerates crappy sites and lazy setups far better.
Materials & Failure Modes
The design philosophies diverge: the Hubba Hubba uses woven nylons and a standard pole architecture that rips slowly and is easy to repair or patch, while the Plex Solo leans on Dyneema Composite Fabric for absurd strength-to-weight but less forgiving puncture behavior. Practically, that means a tear or abrasion on the Hubba Hubba is usually repairable on-trail with a patch and behaves predictably, whereas a puncture in a DCF panel can be more finicky to fix mid-trip and the Plex depends on good stake placement and a trekking pole that can bend or fail. MSR’s long product lineage also means spare poles and fly components are easier to source than Zpacks’ more specialized parts.
Value & Who Should Buy Which
On pure value for most backpackers the MSR Hubba Hubba NX is the smarter buy — $450–550 gets you a proven, two-person freestanding tent with broad aftermarket support and sensible durability. The Zpacks Plex Solo is a premium, purpose-built tool at $599–649: it’s a fair price if you’re an ultralight thru-hiker where every ounce saved is worth a sleep-deprived tradeoff, but it’s a poor value for casual weekenders or couples who want forgiving gear. Buy the Hubba Hubba if you want a durable, versatile shelter for two; buy the Plex Solo if your sole metric is absolute weight savings and you accept the handling quirks.
Weather Protection & Durability
MSR Hubba Hubba NX wins overall weather resilience — the two-wall design, 20D canopy and 30D floor with a 1200mm coating are more forgiving of abrasion, wet-ground grit, and condensation management than a single-wall Dyneema shelter. The Zpacks Plex Solo’s DCF is superb at shedding water and has an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, but single-wall condensation and a lower tolerance for abrasive rocks and tent-floor abuse make it more site-sensitive and higher risk in rough conditions. If you camp on varied terrain and want a tent that stands up to real-world punishment, choose the Hubba Hubba; if you chase dry mileage and pick perfect sites, Plex Solo’s waterproof DCF is alluring.
Read full Hubba Hubba NX 2-Person Backpacking Tent review · Read full Plex Solo Tent review