View Full Version : MSR Hubba Hubba NX - Tent Pole Elastic Cord wear
Uncle Joe
09-23-2018, 21:28
So I can count on one hand the number of times I've had my MSR HHNX setup. I took the grand-youngin' camping this weekend and thought I'd use it and not try to hang. When setting it up I found the cord that strings the poles had very little shock left in it. I know they can't last forever but this tent has been used very little and is maybe 2 years old. Anyone seen this with other MSR tents?
Welcome to the club. Similar age and amount of use. As soon as I find the correct box, my poles are headed to Seattle.
I have a similar set of poles from the mid-90s, also made in Seattle, that still have all of their shock left in the shock cord. If I get any grief from MSR I will mention my older but still functional Seattle poles to them.
Wayne
Kittyslayer
09-24-2018, 10:49
Not an MSR tent but I always fold my poles the same way.
First in half, then in half again, then finish up. My shockcord last a long time and I think my method helps with that by not overstretching one part of the shock cord.
I see others who start at one end of the pole and start folding it up a section at a time. By time you get to the end folding over the last section the shockcord is going to be stretched to its max because earlier folds of the pole used up a lot of the stretchy parts of the cord. Like all elastic materials, there are only so many lifecycles in the expand/contract material.
Uncle Joe
09-24-2018, 11:01
Not an MSR tent but I always fold my poles the same way.
First in half, then in half again, then finish up. My shockcord last a long time and I think my method helps with that by not overstretching one part of the shock cord.
I see others who start at one end of the pole and start folding it up a section at a time. By time you get to the end folding over the last section the shockcord is going to be stretched to its max because earlier folds of the pole used up a lot of the stretchy parts of the cord. Like all elastic materials, there are only so many lifecycles in the expand/contract material.
That makes sense. The problem is that this tent, like so many modern designs, has a bit of a convoluted pole design with multiple angles. It would take a bit of thought, not to mention a keen memory, to plan out a consistent folding technique. The Hubba Hubba essentially has 2 Y's that converge end-to-end with a single crossbar in the middle.
nsherry61
09-24-2018, 13:21
FWIW, my 4 year old BA copper spur pole elastic has pretty much given up the ghost on elasticity with relatively light use. It's poles have always, without exception, been folded from the middle (or almost middle when there in't a true middle) out. My 1995 tent from the Canadian REI (MEC), which has been used much more and is much older, still has fully functioning elastic.
I need to contact BA on this since I don't find this level of failure to be acceptable.
I just got my 1994 vintage Garuda Atman tent out of the closet. The shock cord in both pole assemblies is good as new.
The main poles are in 3 sections. No middle. There goes that theory.
Wayne
Ditto on a pair of The North Face tents. One from the 1970s: the shock cord was fine when I returned it to The North Face in the late 1980s because the fly coating was flaking off. The replacement tent’s shock cord was fine a couple years ago when I borrowed it from a friend.
New isn’t always better.
Wayne
Uncle Joe
09-24-2018, 19:42
Well MSR has replied with the procedure to send them in. It's something they do as a "service." They didn't give a price so I'm assuming they're comping this. I guess if they bill me I can recoup that money when I sell the tent. :D Not that I was planning to.
nsherry61
09-24-2018, 20:30
. . . It's something they do as a "service." . . .
I'd make sure to ask them if they are going to be restrung with a better elastic or if you need to plan on returning them for service every two years. :-? :mad:
I'd make sure to ask them if they are going to be restrung with a better elastic or if you need to plan on returning them for service every two years. :-? :mad:
Along with the rainfly. The 2019 model tents are supposed to have a leakproof seam construction that eliminates the seam tape that is prone to falling. Now they tell us.
It sounds like someone at MSR was rummaging through Bill Moss’s papers and rediscovered his no leak seam process.
It’s always something.
Wayne
I have had two tents where the shock cord failed, one had been used a bit but not often, the other was assembled probably less than 20 times.
The cord failed in a similar manner after maybe 7-10 years.
The pole manufacturer was the same as the one used in that MSR tent and some if not all of the BA tents .
Feral Bill
09-25-2018, 00:55
I have read that poles should be stored assembles, limiting cord stretch and wear. Not going to happen.
rmitchell
09-25-2018, 07:26
I have read that poles should be stored assembles, limiting cord stretch and wear. Not going to happen.
I had the same thought. Problem is not in use but in storage.
Not practical to store assembled unless you have lot of space. Especially for MSR style poles with the Y shaped hubs.
Likely something has changed in the elasticity of the material. At least it's not a critical failure. Just annoying like worn waistband in underwear.
not that tough to restring shock cord - less of a PITA IMO than packing and shipping
j_jones84
10-07-2018, 00:57
My Hubba NX has also lost the elastic. Was this comped or were you billed?
My Hubba NX has also lost the elastic. Was this comped or were you billed?
My Hubba Hubba NX poles are boxed and heading to a shipping shop in the morning. I’ll post the outcome when I know something.
Wayne
My Hubba Hubba NX poles are boxed and heading to a shipping shop in the morning. I’ll post the outcome when I know something.
Wayne
My equipment is on its way back from MSR. I won’t know what they did until I open the box. MSR has not asked for money. More information when I have the package in hand.
Wayne
My equipment is on its way back from MSR. I won’t know what they did until I open the box. MSR has not asked for money. More information when I have the package in hand.
Wayne
im betting its new poles.....
Probably. I couldn’t figure out how to get the Hubba Hubba NX poles apart. I would be excited if they replaced the steel Moss clone Wing poles with aluminum.
It’s like Christmas.
Wayne
not that tough to restring shock cord - less of a PITA IMO than packing and shipping
I was kinda thinking the same thing....based on the poles I have experience with. Maybe these are different though.
Assuming these are user serviceable, I'd rather just spend a few minutes some evening restringing with a much better grade of cord.
My first thought when reading the beginning of this thread was to ask, "is this really a problem? how were the poles stored?" I recon storing them in an attic, for example, the higher temperatures might explain premature failure of the elastomers
I have several Easton and DAC poles.
They are stored in the same place and conditions.
The elastic on the DAC has failed on a few of my poles, Easton of the same vintage have not.
I have several Easton and DAC poles.
They are stored in the same place and conditions.
The elastic on the DAC has failed on a few of my poles, Easton of the same vintage have not.
Bingo! Mid-90s Easton poles good as new. The tent was made in Seattle.
MSR Pole set from Taiwan purchased May 2015 were fine until last winter. The shock cord croaked in a matter of weeks from one set up to the next.
Take a look at the setup videos for the MSR HUBBA HUBBA NX. Umpteen sections going in multiple directions. Without decent shock cord to keep it all together setup is virtually impossible.
The package was in Amarillo this afternoon. Scheduled for delivery on Saturday.
Wayne
The box arrived. The old shock cord was white. The poles now have black shock cord. Nice and snug. No charge. Allow several weeks turn around.
Wayne
Time Zone
11-24-2018, 19:17
I have several Easton and DAC poles.
They are stored in the same place and conditions.
The elastic on the DAC has failed on a few of my poles, Easton of the same vintage have not.
That's interesting.
I experienced what I'd consider early shock cord failure (~2 yrs) on a tent with a DAC pole. That said, IMO, one should not expect shock cord to last more than say 5 years, regardless of storage conditions (kudos if you do better). It's elastic rubber, and elastic rubber bands fail with age, regardless of amt of use. One should be prepared to replace it periodically ... and, obviously, be prepared to periodically replace one's supply of replacement shock cord, too!