Verdict
All guidesMethodologyAboutContact
Head-to-head · Best 2-Person Backpacking Tents

MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2-Person vs NEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 2P

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2-Person comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.6 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about backpackers who hit rocky or desert terrain regularly and prioritize floor durability over saving the last 6 oz — read the strengths below before deciding.

MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2-Person
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best 2-Person Backpacking Tents
MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2-Person
$550

The Hubba Hubba LT is MSR's answer to the Copper Spur and arguably its closest competitor at this weight class. The 32 sq ft floor with no taper is the standout — modern wide rectangular sleeping pads fit better than they do in the Copper Spur. The 30D floor is the most robust here, which matters for desert and rocky terrain where the lighter floors of the Copper Spur or Hornet Elite OSMO need a footprint. Picks: get this if floor durability matters; get the Copper Spur if peak height matters.

Strengths
  • — 32 sq ft floor with no taper — fits modern rectangular sleeping pads better than competitors
  • — Packed weight of 3 lb 13 oz; minimum of 2 lb 14 oz
  • — Easy-entry D-shaped StayDry doors with built-in rain gutters
Watch-outs
  • — Heavier than the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 minimum-weight spec
  • — Less head room than the Copper Spur's 39" peak (Hubba Hubba is closer to 36")
  • — Pricier than the Naturehike Cloud-Up Pro 2 by a wide margin
$550 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
NEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 2P
Ranked #4 in Best 2-Person Backpacking Tents
NEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 2P
$550

The Hornet Elite OSMO 2P is the ultralight thru-hiker pick. At 2 lb 1 oz it's a full pound lighter than the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 and a pound and a half lighter than the Nemo Dagger OSMO 2P. The OSMO fabric story is the same as the Dagger's — PFAS-free, recycled, low wet stretch. The trade-offs are predictable for an ultralight: narrower foot end, smaller vestibules, semi-freestanding setup. For sub-3-lb base weights on PCT/CDT thru-hikes, this is the tent.

Strengths
  • — Lightest tent in this round-up — 2 lb 1 oz packed weight
  • — Two 7-sq-ft vestibules for shoes, packs, and poles
  • — OSMO fabric — PFAS-free, 100% recycled, 3x less wet stretch
Watch-outs
  • — Foot end tapers narrower — restless sleepers will feel the constraint
  • — Floor area smaller than the MSR Hubba Hubba LT and Nemo Dagger OSMO 2P
  • — Semi-freestanding — needs stakes to fully erect (won't fast-pitch on hard surfaces)
$550 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

MSR Hubba Hubba LT 2-Person

Most robust floor in this lineup — 30D vs the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2's 20D and the Nemo Hornet Elite OSMO 2P's 15D. 32 sq ft floor is the widest. Loses to the Copper Spur on peak height and minimum weight; loses to the Naturehike Cloud-Up Pro 2 on price by a wide margin.

NEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 2P

Lightest tent in this lineup by a wide margin. Loses on floor space to the MSR Hubba Hubba LT and Nemo Dagger OSMO 2P. The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 weighs more (2 lb 10 oz) but offers more livability per ounce. Best for users where the last pound matters; worst for users who don't want to fight a narrow foot end.

Specs side-by-side

SpecMSR Hubba Hubba LT 2-PersonNEMO Hornet Elite OSMO 2P
Packed Weight3 lb 13 oz2 lb 1 oz
Minimum Weight2 lb 14 oz1 lb 11 oz
Floor Area32 sq ft27.5 sq ft
Doors / Vestibules2 / 22 / 2 (7 sq ft each)
Floor Fabric30D ripstop, 3000 mm DurashieldOSMO ripstop, 1200 mm, PFAS-free
PolesDAC Featherlite NFL hub-and-pole—
Peak Height40 in37 in
Body Fabric20D polyester micromesh / 20D ripstop nylonNo-see-um mesh
Setup—Semi-freestanding
← See the full ranking of best 2-person backpacking tents