MSR Hubba Hubba HD Sustainability Report

The Hubba Hubba HD uses 20D ripstop nylon in the fly and canopy, and a thicker 30D coated nylon floor. From first pitch, the fabrics felt sturdier than most lightweight backpacking tents. The reduced mesh panels help limit snag-prone areas, and in use, the tent has handled rocky, slabby campsites without issue. The only hiccup in our testing was a bent stake when driven into hard ground. Overall, the HD’s tougher-than-average build for its weight gives it solid, middle-of-the-pack longevity.

Choosing durable outdoor gear is perhaps the most effective way to reduce environmental impact—the longer it lasts, the less it needs to be produced. Our proprietary longevity rating evaluates overall build quality based on factors such as materials, fabric denier, component durability (including zippers and toggles), real-world performance as reported by our field testers, and our experiences with the brand. Overall, we feel strongly that reducing overall consumption is a cornerstone of sustainability.

The MSR Hubba Hubba HD’s canopy and floor feature PFAS-free durable water repellents (DWR), while its rainfly is polyether urethane and PFAS-free silicone. Some of MSR’s tents use a PFAS-free durable water-repellent treatment.

The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish is a product’s direct defense against outside moisture, and commonly contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These synthetic compounds, known as "forever chemicals,” are found in a range of gear categories, from jackets to footwear. They resist water, oil, and heat exceptionally well, making them ideal for outdoor use, but their nearly indestructible nature also means that they take an extremely long time to degrade in nature, if at all. PFAS can eventually end up in everything from soil to drinking water and have been linked to a range of health issues.

The Hubba Hubba HD doesn’t contain recycled materials. MSR uses recycled aluminum in some of its products, such as snowshoes, but most of the brand’s products do not incorporate recycled materials.

Outdoor gear can be made partly or entirely from recycled materials, the most common being nylon, polyester, wool, and down. Some products include a single recycled component or a partially recycled fabric, while others are 100% recycled (generally excluding accessories like zippers, Velcro, toggles, etc.). For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate the amount of recycled materials in a particular product and assign points accordingly.

There aren’t any Bluesign-approved materials in the MSR Hubba Hubba HD. MSR is not a Bluesign System Partner, nor does it use Bluesign-approved materials.

Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile certification system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A Bluesign-approved material indicates that it has undergone a rigorous vetting process based on the criteria above. A Bluesign Product goes the next mile, containing at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and at least 20% Bluesign-approved accessories.

The tent’s rainfly, canopy, and floor fabrics are all solution dyed. MSR offers some tents that are made of solution-dyed materials.

Solution dyeing is a process in which pigment is added to a synthetic fiber’s raw materials during production instead of after. Compared to traditional methods, solution dyeing reduces water consumption, energy use, and carbon dioxide emissions, and releases fewer chemicals overall. In addition to these environmental benefits, solution-dyed fabrics resist fading because the fiber’s pigment becomes intrinsic to it, rather than being dyed on the surface.

Cascade Designs, MSR’s parent company, owns production facilities in Seattle, Reno, and Ireland, where the majority of its products are manufactured. These facilities adhere to strict water and waste management regulations. Because Cascade Designs publicly lists the standards and regulations its facilities follow, it meets our criteria for this category. MSR’s factories are also subject to U.S. and European labor and environmental regulations, and products typically have a lower carbon footprint due to reduced transportation between global factories.

This criterion evaluates a brand's commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing its environmental impact throughout the production process. Responsible manufacturing is most commonly demonstrated through certifications and membership in programs such as Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accreditation of Production, and the Fair Labor Association. We also recognize brands that prioritize local production, such as those that manufacture primarily in the United States or Europe, to reduce carbon emissions, maintain better oversight of working conditions, and comply with strict social and environmental regulations.

MSR does not provide any details about the recycled content of its packaging. However, it sources packaging materials from local suppliers and is exploring opportunities to reduce packaging when possible.

Packaging can add significant waste to an outdoor gear purchase and often ends up in landfills. Many brands are using recycled packaging and/or making efforts to reduce packaging altogether. For example, they may use a certain percentage of recycled cardboard or make efforts to use less plastic or paper across their packaging operation. In some cases, brands also use Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, which helps to ensure sustainable sourcing of forest materials.

MSR offers in-house repair services for its products. The company has made annual gains in the amount of repairs performed: In 2011 just 65% of returned products were repaired, and in 2018, that number was up to 85%.

Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption. Some brands offer comprehensive repair programs that can fix a wide range of issues, while others have more limited capabilities. If a brand's warranty policy only covers replacement, rather than repair, these programs usually do not meet this criterion.

MSR does not offer resale or recycling services for its products. The company does provide some general information to customers about how to recycle old fuel canisters properly.

Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation for longer and out of landfills. The most common form is a trade-in program, where consumers can exchange items for store credit, which is then resold. Some brands accept products back for recycling at the end of their life, thereby reducing waste. Occasionally, some do both.

MSR was one of the first hardgoods brands to use the Higg Index, but it primarily uses Higg to track material traceability, chemical management, and social responsibility. Cascade Designs, MSR’s parent company, uses Climate Neutral’s Business Emissions Evaluator (BEE) tool to track greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2005, the company has also used 100% carbon-neutral electricity at its Seattle manufacturing site.

This criterion evaluates whether this brand measures its greenhouse gas emissions, along with its commitment to reduction and transparency in reporting. Typically, we require brands to follow established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. Most companies use the widely recognized scope categorization system for measuring brand emissions. Those who earn the most points in this category have emissions reduction goals verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a global organization that helps companies set greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. To verify their goals through SBTi, companies undergo a rigorous assessment process and continual follow-up to ensure consistent progress towards achieving their targets.

MSR published an annual impact report in 2019 but has not published one since. Likewise, the brand’s parent company, Cascade Designs, does not publish an annual impact report. This does not meet our standards for this criterion.

An impact report is an important step toward transparency and accountability on the sustainability front. These reports vary in form but generally cover topics such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions tracking, waste and water usage, supply chain analysis, and packaging efforts. For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate this criterion based on the depth and quality of the information provided in the report, and how often it is produced. Some brands produce their own impact report, while others are published by their parent company. In practice, we’ve found that reports produced by individual brands include more detailed information about their sustainability efforts.