Big Agnes - Blacktail Hotel 2 Bikepack Tent

No it weighs 2.5 kg, the large vestibule has no use for me (my bike doesn't need shelter) and other than the vestibule its just a heavy, small 2 person tent. I think it would be great if I was bringing it in my car or canoe, but not for biking.

I love this thing. Have done a few weekend trips with it, but it is great for camping with my wife for a getaway as well. The vestibule is great for keeping gear separate from wet/dirty clothes and shoes. Also like that I can store my shoes/gear in a place they will stay dry. 100% recommend this tent, and the footprint made for it. At 240/250lbs, I'm not worried about the weight, but a 6'4" (193cm) it is a bit cramped for me. Only other complaint (other than length) is that the "handlebar bag" isn't durable. Use voile straps.

I used the 2P version on a rainy trip and was glad to have the vestibule to cover my bike and bags (leaving more room in the tent itself), for cooking very carefully on a isobutane stove with the door zipped open, and for changing out of soggy clothes and muddy shoes into jammies. It's heavier and bulkier compared to other tents but i had panniers.

I have this exact tent in 2p form, bought it last year. It's not small or light, per se, but I like having space when camping and I don't care about minimalism or running ultra light. I'm 6'3 and 220# so carrying a six pound shelter plus footprint isn't an issue for me. The tent is well made, with thoughtful storage and sets up in just a few minutes. It fits great on top of my rear rack between panniers, and the garage keeps my gear out of the rain. Pretty happy with my purchase and planning to use the heck out of this tent in years to come.

I bought one (2p) intending to use if for bike packing and liked the idea of the vestibule for storage/security but ended up not liking the bulk on the bike and have moved it to car camping duty while I find a better/smaller shelter that has less bulk and still fits me at 190cm tall. I'm probably going to get a tipi style tent so I can use it in more than one configuration. The six moon designs stuff has my attention at the moment

Yes! I have done three trips with it. I just used it in September on a three day ride on the C&O Canal Towpath from Cumberland, MD to Washington DC. I had the tent strapped between my drop bars but I carried the poles in a Blackburn bag & cage attached to my fork. I know the benefit of the Short-stik poles is that they can fit between the drop bars but so much weight on my bars made it clumsy to steer sometimes. On my last ride the weather was perfect so I never actually used the vestibule. It was nice knowing I had it just in case though.

2 person with shorter poles for bike packing. Yes please 😍

I had a bagpack on my rear rack where they fit nicely. I have the short poles for my big agnes bikepack 2p tent. Changing setup in the future and not sure where they will go next. Im running a jones h loop bar, but switching to a flatbar/30degree alt bar in the future.

I've used a Big Agnes Blacktail Hotel for years now. I've grown up in the bush and it's by far the best tent I've ever used. Every year I buy a can of silicon sealing spray and spray it down on a good sunny non-windy day, never had a drop of rain. The best part is the huge vestibule. On super rainy days we can set up our camp chairs in there and cook with the stove no problem, the dogs sleep out there and it's a great place to dry stuff. My wife and I got the 3 person version for extra space as I've never found a 2 person tent that is actually comfortable for two people. If you are 2, get the 3 person. Not sure what the price on them is these days and if you're CAD or USD, but I've never seen or used a better tent. Otherwise, where I live, every camp has at least one MSR Hubba. They seem to be a big favorite but I've never used one, not a huge fan of MSR tents. The ultimate cheap resort is just some department store tent and cover it with the silicon spray. When I grew up I was in Beavers/Cubs/Scouts, and to avoid a bunch of shitty kids wrecking good tents, the troop would just buy really cheap Coleman tents and douse them in silicon spray. This always worked great also. Hope that helps!

I’ve got several tents and the one in your picture is one of them. Blackmail 3P I think. I’ve also got the copper spur. The black tail is a tank. I only use it for trips where there’s support, like ragbrai. I use the copper spur for overnight/easier riding trips. For actual bike packing / serious miles, I go with an ultra lite HMG mid-1. The black tail is cool and giant, but it’s a big heavy load too.

I took a lightweight Big Agnes bikepacking tent on a long 1.5 year trip on the PanAmerica and it did great. Survived all the crazy winds in Patagonia. Ants chewed some small holes in it in Costa Rica, but I bought some tent repair tape before the trip and that easily patched the small holes. Towards the end of the trip I was very rough putting it up one night and snapped a pole but I used one of the tent repair splints they give you and it seemed completely structurally fine with that, even in strong wind again. I'm actually taking the same broken pole and hole-y rainfly on my next long trip too because I think it will hold no problem. --------------- Previously I was using a heavy UK camping shop own-brand tent and it the actual tent material felt thicker and more durable... but it was 3x the weight.

Right now REI is clearing out excellent Big Agnes 2P tents. They’re the best for the price. Light, tough, freestanding. Easy setup. No gimmicks.

I have a 1p REI tent and a 2p Big Agnes. I use the smaller one in colder conditions because it takes less space in my pack, which makes more room for extra insulation. When it’s warmer, I don’t need all the extra warmth at night so I can bring the bigger tent. My typical camping trip is 1-2 nights, and I try to keep my pack weight low, but I will always pack the bigger tent when I can.