Replacing Hubba Hubba NX pole “hub” plastic part?

[John RB]

Hi everyone, hope your 2021 is going well!

I’ve now broken two of the little plastic hubs (see below for pic, the one in the upper portion of photo is also broken despite how it looks intact) in my NX Hubba Hubba 2p over the last 6 years of ownership. I love this tent and had nothing else go wrong with it except for what seems like a really dumbass design – a rigid piece of plastic that is supposed to flex and bend and contain the energy of two extended poles.  On the first one that broke I even gorilla glued it together, which worked for about 2 trips and then broke again.

Does anyone know where I can buy replacement or something even better than a replacement? Has anyone rigged some kind of double knotted shockcord?

As far as I can tell, you don’t need that hub for structure, only for positioning. Any thoughts and tips would be helpful.

 

[W I S N E R !]

Broke mine on my Hubba years ago.

JB Weld and electrical tape and it’s doing fine.

[Edward John M]

Have you contacted MSR yet?

[John RB]

I contacted them when the first one broke (thas how I go thte second) and am now reluctant to do it again, given how I feel the design/materials are just so unsuited for the task.

[Michael B]

looks like the part is doing two things: 1) holding the cross pole up and 2) preventing the poles from rubbing holes into each other.

It seems you could accomplish the exact same functionality with a simple, small loop of shock cord, turned into a figure 8, with the longitudinal pole fed through the top section of the 8, and the cross pole through the bottom section, making sure the loop is small enough so the cross pole doesn’t slip and bounce around. Am I missing something here about the part? I agree the plastic is certainly not up to task if you’ve broken 2.

maybe the plastic helps reduce chances of abrasion in the fly in that area? I am guessing no.

[John RB]

Hi Michael, good thoughts and thank you. That figure 8 is something I imagined as well – I don’t think you’re missing any part.. It might prevent a *touch* of abrasion but nothing else. I’ll try to do that on the next round!

[Michael B]

You might even get away with some regular 1.5-2.5mm cordage. I think using 1/8” shock cord would just offer a little more snug fit as maybe a little more robustness but probably not much more functionality.

[Chris R]

Could you mould something with Sugru silicon putty? Maybe form it around a loop of cord.

[Author]

Posts