Exped Venus II UL vs MSR Hubba Hubba

[scownie]

I am looking for a robust light weight tent and have narrowed it down to either of these two. At the moment they are both on sale in NZ for virtually the same price. Any suggestions on which one to buy?

[ninjapuppet]

We just spent 4 nights out in my new exped venus II UL and my MSR hubba HP. I bought the venus from Bivouac in NZ for $600 NZ and bought a 2nd hand footprint for it from ebay for $20

The hubba is quite similar in design to the hubba hubba you're talking about, except mine has only 1 door.
We had some pretty strong rain and both were water tight.
Hubba is freestanding so I moved it around to find a flat spot pretty easily. The venus needs the 4 guy lines on corners to be taught to set up properly so the inner doesnt touch the outer. Despite the description, I wouldnt say its "freestanding". If theres absolultey no wind you could sleep in it in a pinch, but the tent would flop around too much without the guys. The Hubba inner is free standing and you still need 2 pegs either side for the vestibule, but without it, the tent structure is still ok. (just that the vestibule will be flapping around and may get damaged)

I've also had a hubba hubba in the past, and the venus felt like it has more vestibule space, and also more headroom inside.

The venus pitches with an integral pitch so it will keep dry inside if setting up in the rain. however with my hubba HP, setting it up in the rain wasnt a big problem either since the inner was water resistant and the outer attaches very quickly. with the standard hubba with the net inner, you'll get it wet inside if setting up in the rain. The Hubba's pole system was very easy to put to gether and the whole thing almost wants to snap into place if you just give it a little shake (not recommended) The venus's 3 poles are colour coded so its also very easy, but the poles only can be inserted from 1 side so you have to look around to see which side it is.

Condensation wise, Both tents had massive amounts of condensation under the fly over the weekend with all vents open. However, the hubba's inner and outer were kept apart very well while the venus inner and outer started sagging over the course of the night, and the inner/outer touched and the inner then got more wet. My hubba HP's iner was quite water resistant, so its pretty much dry all night inside. the venus felt damp to touch due to the problems above, but nothing major if you can live with it.

weatherwise, the Venus is a very strong tent when pitched taught and will handle much stronger winds than a hubba. The poles are fatter and the guy out points appear more robus than my hubba HP. Exped quality is very good, and I would think that Exped studied Hilleberg designs very closely as the 2 companies produce tents with very similar design features.

If its going to be your only tent and you want to be camping in harsher conditions, then I'd go the Venus II UL. However for more temperate weather, I love the convenience of a free standing tent and the Hubba's pole system is very easy to setup.

[ninjapuppet]

The venus II UL was pitched perfectly taut the night before. You can see how the section of the fabric on the Venus sags down after its been raining all night and i would say some due to the silnylon stretch and some due to the guy lines stretching a little aswell. easy fix if you get out in the rain to adjust the tensioners.

On the Hubba HP, no re-adjustment is required to keep the inner and outer touching each other since its free standing.

[farkewie]

Hi,

I have the Hubba Hubba - I am really happy with it. I never use guy lines unless I know its going to be really bad weather or already raining. Never had water inside except some standard condensation. This was more because I was camping in the snow and it blocked all the airflow. Speaking of, it can take a fair snowfall. IT just collapses down onto you - I just pull it from the inside and let it go, clears it all away.

All in all I have ised it in all weather conditions and not had a problem, I have setup and taken it down int he rain and barley got a drop of water in it and you can pitch fly first, and take the inner out before the fly.

Hope this helps

[scownie]

Thanks! I have been leaning more towards getting the Venus. At this stage I plan to use it in Tassy, the victorian high country and along the Great Ocean Road. Bivouac have the both Venus and Hubba Hubba on sale for $467 AUD. Actually the Venus is 70 cents cheaper.

[Phil S]

I've had a Venus II for a couple of years and can't fault it. It's been to the South Coast track and Federation Peak and all up I've spent between 45-50 nights in it. No probs or notable wear at all so far. Exped make outstanding gear.
I also have an MSR Hubba std version as my single person tent but don't trust it in weather as much as Ninjapuppet above seems to - the floor is too light and the detail not as impressive as I'd like. Would go with the One Planet equivalent if I were buying a solo tent again.

[frenchy_84]

If your are considering buying a tent design like the MSR Hubba Hubba you should consider the Ferrino Nemesi 2 (http://adventurefriends.com.au/ferrino-nemesi-2) at less than half the price of the MSR. IMO you gotta be nuts to buy a MSR at their prices. I reviewed the Nemesi One and was plesently surprised with it (viewtopic.php?f=15&t=8550).

[ninjapuppet]

but don't trust it in weather as much as Ninjapuppet above seems to - the floor is too light and the detail not as impressive as I'd like.

I did mention that I'd use the hubba more for temperate weather, meaning not too harsh. The venus is a stronger tent, but it does have its negatives.
Having gone thru more than 50 tents in my collection over the past 3 years, I'd easily recommend Hilleberg as a dependable brand. Personally, I wouldnt get either the venus II or hubba hubba if it were my only tent.

but I think Scounie is pretty clear in the posts' title: exped or msr

[roysta]

I concur with ninjapuppet, I wouldn't buy either if they were my only tent.
Pay the money and get a Hilleberg.