Big Agnes - Blacktail 2

I have two Blacktail tents from Big Agnes that I use for car and canoe camping that have been great. We were just out in the BWCA last week and stayed dry in a 24 hour rain that included ~3 inches of rain with an inch of it coming down in about an hour. They are more expensive, but have held up very well over the six or so years we’ve owed them.

My Big Agnes Blacktail has half mesh walls. Not sure if that's helpful.

The Big Agnes Blacktail (or Blacktail Hotel) is cheaper (and heavier) than the Copper Spur.  My 3p Hotel has been a perfectly reasonable and durable backpacking tent.  The absurdly large vestibule is worth the weight penalty, IMO, as long as there's space to pitch.

Big Agnes are exceptional. Buy one secondhand, get the two person, and never look back. My buddy and I both use one, they are light, small, and truly worth every cent. 

For quality camping equipment I tend to wait for a holiday then check out REI outlet online. If you are a member you get a 20 percent off coupon that works for outlet prices. I bought a 2 person Big Agnes tent that retailed for over 3 hundred dollars. My cost was about 120 I think. It was years back but it's a great tent. We would budget 2 big ticket items every year until we had everything we wanted.

When’s the last time you actually set up a modern tent? If you’re picturing threading tent poles through sleeves then I’d get the hesitancy. Modern tents are extremely easy to set up now Takes me <5 minutes to set up my 2P big Agnes tent. Going bivy seems overly aggressive when just getting back into camping

We each have our own hammock... Def my preference! We have a 2 person Big Agnes that we put our packs in or use if the weather is really bad (even tho I have a rain fly for my hammock now!)

I’m so glad this was mentioned. I went colder weather camping with my sons a bit ago. Initially, I bought a big giant tent with an added screen room. This sub pointed us in the right direction. I returned the behemoth and went with my Big Agnes 2p and bought the boys their own 4p to use with their friend. OP, I did buy a propane heater. I would warm up my tent when I was getting ready to go to sleep and then again in the morning g before getting out of my sleeping bag. In the tiny tent, it was hot in there within minutes!

I know I’ll get downvoted but I tend to agree with this. I own an x-mid so don’t at me universe. But I think durston is a bit over-hyped. There are lots of quality issues - especially with the x dome series - just peep the gear heads sub.  Durston makes good tents imo, not great ones. They seem to do a lot of r&d with paying customers which I’m not a huge fan of - especially if you’re paying tariffs.  My x mid is fine - suitable for certain trips, while my freestanding tent (big Agnes) is great. Both have great customer service imo. But I’ll take the Xmid when I really have to count ounces and I’ll take my big Agnes into the desert where a trekking pole tent would just be a nightmare to fiddle with - weight penalty be damned. 

We really love our big agnes. It's durable, huge and comfy without being too heavy. it's about 4lbs so my husband and I split the weight. It's really thoughtfully desiged, and has so many pockets to stash stuff. super roomy footprint. It's like the Taj Mahal of tents