Big Agnes - Copper Spur HV UL1

https://www.backcountry.com/b/big-agnes-copper-spur-hv-ul1-tent-1-person-3-season?CMP_SKU=BAGZ299&MER=0406&skid=BAGZ299-ORA-ONESIZ&mr:device=m&mr:adType=plaonline&utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla&utm_campaign=20554329079__p:G%7Cs:BC%7Cct:Shopping%7Cct2:pmax%7Cg:xx%7Cc1:Hike+Camp%7Cc2:xx%7Cb:xx%7Cmt:xx&utm_content=&utm_id=go_cmp-20554329079_adg-_ad-__dev-m_ext-_prd-BAGZ299-ORA-ONESIZ_mca-7811_sig-CjwKCAiAtsa9BhAKEiwAUZAszZe0F0u4c3g0vQI75QD3zr4JtBu6XOOUmbRbiLutMQXWu5V4YinkGhoC4UYQAvD_BwE&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Jw0bR7uT02X95SpmAopZFP3eyA&gclid=CjwKCAiAtsa9BhAKEiwAUZAszZe0F0u4c3g0vQI75QD3zr4JtBu6XOOUmbRbiLutMQXWu5V4YinkGhoC4UYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds This is the tent I used for my thru hike. Held up well on the AT and the CT…still in great condition and it’s on sale right now

Solid tent in every aspect

Finished the Continental Divide last September using a 2-person trekking-pole tent. Now I’m in my 70th day of winter hiking in Italy using a freestanding one person. I much prefer the freestanding. I don’t use trekking poles most of the time and have left that weight at home. I don’t believe the freestanding is necessarily giving me better wind protection, but it certainly does better structurally in high winds. And because it’s a 1 person it’s lighter. It also, as you mentioned, can be used on hard surfaces. Oh…I’m in a big Agnes…but I’m stealth camping, don’t know the name and don’t want to light up the tent. Copper spur?

big agnes copper spur hv ul1 That was easier than I thought. Got it on sale for $160 US. Very happy with it while simultaneously very angry at Big Agnes for their defective pads. ( seam welds leak after 1 month on the first, two weeks on the replacement…and I expect the same when I get the third. Also they couldn’t replace the light model I had “not in stock” both times. They replaced it with a much heavier model) Anyway…why do I like it: Good storage slots in the mesh; big one over the foot area, one on the right above your head, a similar one on the left but that has an additional slot under it but smaller. And then one near your head in the basin area. There’s a few attachment loops I haven’t used. There is a band of material you can stuff the end of the open door in so you don’t need to carefully roll it up. Like it. In the mountains I had miserable high winds for ten days. Didn’t do all the guy lines and while the fabric certainly got blown around, I never had to go out in the freezing rain to do and emergency fixes. Could just be luck though. Don’t like: the clips from the tent to tent-fly connection are a little fussy. Since I stealth close to cities sometimes, they can be difficult in the dark. Also, they can easily get jammed with dirt in certain soil conditions. This could be my slob personality though. Anyway, the fussy clips are a minor issue. I think it’s great. I do mis being spoiled with a two person and having my gear inside…but my pack was too bulky and it’s always way heavier than other distance hikers. ( hate the cost and low durability of ultralight gear I’ve used)

I have no info about this tent, however, you could order your tent from a US site ( much cheaper because of lower taxes due to crap healthcare) and have it delivered to a hotel where you’ll be staying. Contact the hotel and ask first, then make the reservation when they say yes. Or if you know someone, have it sent to them. I have had things delivered to hotels about 5 times. I time it to get there a few days before me and make sure the address includes, “hold for Aussie guest ____”. Or ignore this. As far as tents: I have extensive camping and hiking experience (I’m winter camping in Italy now in the tent I’m about to recommend,45 days out in snow and rain so far) I have camped on average 250 days/year for the last 14 years (including your Grampians). I’m using the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 1 now and it’s my favorite of the 25 tents I’ve owned or made from tyvek. I got lucky and found it on sale at $150usd. It’s a 3 season and I’ll use it for all 4. As far as tents good in heat…I’ve never had one. The Cpper Spur will be fine without the fly for ventilation, but in full sun, with the fly for shade, I always get baked no matter the tent. Have a good trip. Edit: it weighs just over a kilo and has withstood the last week of winds over 70 freezing kph. Great storage pockets, obviously designed by someone who camps often. Also, my beige color is great for my “stealth”camping needs.

I've done some multi-day backpacking trips in this tent, though not the daily grind of a thru-hike. It performed well in heavy rain, the stakes are surprisingly good even in high winds. I would just caution that in a very humid environment, make sure you prop open the vent in the rain fly, otherwise you can end up with condensation that will drip on you (oops!). For a 1-person tent, it's got surprising headroom, and the vestibule is plenty big to hold shoes/backpacks.

That is one of the best free standing, backpacking tents you can get without spending a fortune. I have the 1P and the 3P versions of that tent. They are my favorite tents (I have several others, too many if you ask my wife). The 2P tent will not fit two 25 inch sleeping pads, which is why I got the 3P tent for me and my wife. That price is a steal. You almost never see that tent at 50% off.

I have used BA Copper Spur UL1 for the last 3 years. If you want a lightweight freestanding quality tent from a company with exceptional customer support, this tent will be high on your list. It's on sale right now, pretty much everywhere. Directly from Big Agnes, REI, Amazon, etc https://a.co/d/3gx0Q97

If you want a free standing tent and like your MSR Hubba NX, you can’t go wrong with a copper spur. I own an MSR Hubba Hubba, Copper Spur HV UL1, and a Zpacks duplex. The MSR and copper spur are basically the same tent with a few minor differences: - copper spur is marginally lighter - msr has more metal clips so is likely more durable than some of the plastic clips on the copper spur (although I haven’t had any issues) - I prefer the interior pockets on the copper spur vs the msr and like that it’s two perpendicular zips per door instead of one big curved zip which is sometimes harder to open when not pitched perfectly taut.

I carried a BA Copper Spur UL1 on my thru (solo woman 5'6") I liked it so much that I replaced it with the same make and model when the time came. But I don't hike with poles, and I hike a lot in northern New England (where tent platforms are common) so I'm partial to free standing tents.

I use a one person tent (Big Agnes Copper Spur) but I still always leave my pack outside. Once my tent is up, my sleep set up is inside, and my bear bag is hung there isn't really anything in my pack. I just cinch my rain cover down over my pack and lean it against a tree close to my tent, with maybe my water bottles, filter (if it's not cold) and fuel. I've been doing it that way for 50 years and never had a problem, but like anything else, it's not a problem until it is.

I gave up on trekking pole tents because I too am getting old and hate spending time finagling 6 guy outs and still rarely getting a great pitch. The one man copper spur is my new freestanding tent. It did fine for a week in the high Sierra - stood up to wind and weather and has a huge shelf for storage which I came to love. They go on sale periodically for around 300 bucks. Of course the Durston freestanding tent came out and I'm intrigued...

I had a hubba Hubba nx2 but wanted lighter so I got a hornet osmo 2P. Returned it because I couldn’t get in the tent during rain without the poorly designed fly dropping water on tent body mesh. Now I have a Durston xmid2 pro for most trips and a BA copper spur 1 if its platform tenting. I love the hubba. Old style was just too heavy. All the Durston products are fantastic!

I have that BA tent. I love it and will never use a trekking pole tent again.

Sorry, the Copper Spur 1

I put the Durston down then saw that someone posted the on sale Copper Spur 1. This is a fantastic tent.

Yeah, I figured. I have a Big Agnes tent that I got for a great deal. It's only a one man tent, and I wish I would have opted for the two man tent so I have more room for my gear. I think you're right, just a gimmick. Happy trails my friend.

I actually have a very nice Big Agnes one man tent. I was more interested in this pop-up tent for like 2 day picnic trips with my family every blue moon when the weather is fair. I usually camp alone, but I was recently welcomed into a beautiful family. Would be nice to just pop out that fuggin' thing.. like a lame-a** magic trick.

I like where your head’s at for the free standing options. My first thought was the BA copper spur bike packing variant. I’d take a look at the durston xmid 2p (non dcf) and add a set of his poles. Think they are called z flick? Considerable weight/space savings.

Used Big Agnes copper spur.

Am I the only one who does not share a tent with my wife? She carries a Big Agnes 1p and I carry the 2p for that luxury condo on the trail. This works great and with two light tents, is very manageable and gives us our space on a trip where it is nothing but the two of us.

I switched from a Big Agnes 1P to an Xmid Pro 2P last year and I haven’t looked back. I love it! Like you, I always have my trekking poles and I grew wary of always having a separate tent pole. Also, my 1P tent was ridiculously small. My Xmid sleeps colder since it’s a single wall tent, so I bought a second quilt (much warmer) so that I can continue backpacking year round and keep warm overnight.

I have had problems pitching my Big Agnes on hard dirt so I ran long sturdy sticks through my BA pitching loops and I put rocks on the ends of the sticks.

Big agnus, copper spur HV UL 1 or 2 person tent, pair it with a NeoAir pad, get the wide size

Big agnus, copper spur HV UL 1 or 2 person tent, pair it with a NeoAir pad, get the wide size

I was in the same boat- and I found a great deal on the Big Agnes CopperSpur. If you are in the US they still have one for $354- it’s a $950 tent. https://a.co/d/313YPa2 You can almost stand up inside- it’s huge!

Great tent. Would jump on it if you don’t have any other preferences. We push the shoulder seasons in the Rockies with a Big Agnes.

Big Agnes’s Copper Spur HV UL. Great tent. The foot print is extra but is really nice as it allows you to set up the fly without the tent canopy. Then it serves more like a tarp when appropriate and saves you weight. Nice option. You can find them in the upper end of your price range if you watch the sales.

I had a great experience with the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL tent. It has a vestibule for storge and fits 2 - 3 people well. You can checck it out.

Excellent tent and an excellent deal. I'm an Eagle Scout and I would have flipped out if my mom had ever bought me camping gear this nice. I will say, it is a "2" person tent but like most it is tight with 2 people. One person and their gear inside the tent will fit fine. For me, I much prefer ultralight tents nowadays like the Durston Xmid style, which really are around the same price and quite a lot lighter. But. For short scout trips and for a free stranding tent this cannot be beat. It's worth the $500 retail and at less than $300 it's an absolute steal. Also I'm 6'4" so the "long" version would be appreciated. What I'm trying to get at is... I'm 38 yrs old but will you adopt me and get me one too?

I have this tent as well great tent, personally I would prefer to buy from Backcountry or Public Lands or REI instead of Amazon, get the footprint as well which would be a separate purchase

I have this and while I like it I kind of wish I got an MSR instead. Nicer for the same weight

It held up getting clipped by a typhoon camped on the side of a mountain. The winds were intense enough that the crosspole very occasionally dipped down and touched me but it was otherwise very good. Many other tents collapsed, etc., but it was at a music festival so you can bet it was some of their first times camping. But yeah, that was the one and only time that's ever come close to happening so I would take that more as a positive. Anyway, the walls of the tent are solid at the bottom and that's enough to keep any wind off of you while lying down.

Excellent purchase. That tent has been good to me over the years.

I’ve got this exact tent and paid twice as much. I think the long is overkill for your use case. I’m almost 7’ and have a little extra length. If he’s 6’ he’ll have 14”-16” of extra length. As for the tent itself it’s fantastic, easy to setup, great in strong wind & rain, versatile. I’d definitely recommend it. Also get the footprint for the tent, will help preserve the floor, and acts as a moisture barrier.

I’ve started camping often in NC for whitewater trips and it rains more often than not. My tents are UL backpacking (Durston XDome and BA Copper). The BA wets out too easily and I need more room for gear than the Durston provides. I’m looking for something more rugged and impervious to heavy downpours. Doesn’t matter how heavy since I’m car camping. I’m thinking of the Coleman Sundome 2 person bc of the bathtub floor, but else? I don’t have much experience car camping. TIA.

It’s the floor that starts to wet out- it doesn’t become completely wet, but if there’s a hard rain, patches of the floor will start to darken and become damp bc water is underneath. I have the BA footprint for this tent and I’m setting it up properly to avoid rain getting trapped, so I’m stumped.

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. 

I love my Big Agnes Copper Spur UL tent — I have the single person, but imagine the double is also great! It’s a little pricier than your budget but you could wait for a sale. The REI brand tents are heavier but cheaper and they tend to let you return if you try it and don’t like it (but double check to make sure!). 

Personally, I carry an ultralight 2 person tent when I’m solo. I like having the extra room, and I’m pretty tall with wide shoulders so I take up a good amount of it. A few years ago I found a like new big Agnes copper spur UL on a used gear website for like $220.

I have a one year old big Agnes copper spur UL and it kept me dry when it was absolutely pissing down. Maybe your bathtub isn’t high enough. A design flaw on your particular tent?

Copper Spur for the win!

There’s a balance of not spending too much your first time and getting quality stuff that will last for years. The big 4 that will all last a long time A good backpack should be a priority as you will be carrying it on your hips (or shoulders if it isn’t sized right). Then tent/pad. Big Agnus Copper Spur seems to be at the top of most people’s list and while not cheap it isn’t crazy expensive. Great if you can find on sale. Get a 2 person even if going solo most of the time as you can have a roomier tent w your pack inside when solo or use as a 2P tent when you go w a friend Pads depend on if you are a back or side sleeper (need a thicker pad like Sea 2 Summit or Nemo). Tons of choices and some budget options. A sleeping bag is critical but can become your most expensive item. I would start with a $200-300 one if you can that has a ISO Limit rating in the 20s if you plan on 3 seasons at altitude. If not then one with and ISO Limit rating in the 30s. Down will be lighter and pack smalller but if on a budget a synthetic bag will likely be cheaper. Good news is your bag will probably last you 20 years. You can use it car camping, rustic cabin camping or backpacking. Water filter is an easy choice these days with a cheap but super dependable and quality Sawyer Squeeze. Lots of stove options. Not the lightest but I like the Jet Boil for its simplicity and speed of heating up water and that it has the pot as part of it. I don’t carry any other pot. Just a spoon and mug. Hiking poles if doing uneven terrain and or ups and downs Hiking shoes/boots is a whole other discussion. Most go with low top trail runners vs boots. A super useful web site is Halfway Anywhere. With one big caveat. These surveys are for longer through hikes where generally weight/quality is prioritized over cost. But you get to see a big list of what people used and their ratings. I have the below link set to the JMT (vs much longer AT or PCT) as the JMP is a little more geared toward typical [gear survey](https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/john-muir-trail-survey/) backpacking.

The BA Copper Spur is available in 3, 4, & 5 person sizes. note that the regular 3P is tapered and will only fit (3) 20" or mummy pads. There is a 3XL that will fit (3) 25" pads. I have the 3 MTN Glow which has built in lights. Highly recommend the entire series

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.

My go to two person tent is a three person. I highly recommend Big Agnes tigerwall or copper spur. Kinda pricy but sometimes they go on sale.

I have the same two tents and I totally agree. I only keep my Copper Spur as a backup.

Yeah that seems wild, my copper spur is 11 years old and it’s 100% still fine

Yeah that seems wild, my copper spur is 11 years old and it’s 100% still fine

The main tent that comes to mind as stronger, cheaper, and lighter that doesn't make large compromises to usability is the durston x-mid. And it still makes some compromises in that it isn't freestanding. For 3 season backpacking in Colorado/rocky mountain US the copper.spur is solid.

I use a free standing because I normally need my hands free for kiddos (or even when I camp with the Boy Scouts) so no poles I like my BA copper spur

I own a Copper Spur and the fabrics feel quite delicate, IMO. Granted, it is on the lighter side of free standing tents (for the size). Any further weight losses in this category are usually done in poles department (like Durston did with carbon fiber poles).

I agree, I haven’t yet had a problem too. My point was that while it may check a box for structural integrity due to the free standing hub design, it uses pretty much the same ultra light types of fabrics as those UL tents that OP wants to avoid

Tiger wall is semi free standing IIRC. Not sure if that matters to you, but worth noting. I have the copper spur and it's incredible. None of these are bad options though

I read about the first third of comments, so I may be repeating some of this. Whatever you do, use two separate mats. The motion transfer on an inflatable mat is unbearable, to me, though some don't seem to mind. You can use one of the various products available to lash them together. The Zenvivy Light Double Bed will take care of that part for you, and you should seriously consider it for your sleep system, if you're looking for that close cuddly sleep style. Sharing the weight of a tent you can get more space per pound than a solo hiker. A 2 person tent is not enough for two people in my opinion. If you want a big roomy tent that's light (and you don't want a DCF or pyramid style tent), you have basically 3 options. The MSR Hubba Hubba LT3, the Big Agnes Copper Spur, and the Tarptent Hogback. All will get you around 2lbs per person, but the MSR is a half pound heavier. The Tarptent Hogback will be the most stormworthy and is the only one that can be set up in the rain while keeping the inner tent dry, though the Big Agnes can do this with the extra weight and expense of the footprint. The Hogback is not a freestanding tent, it's a semi-freestanding tent. The MSR gives you more room at your sides, the Big Agness gives you more room at your head and foot, and the Hogback is square so you have the most side room and the least extra head-to-foot room.

BIG LOVER of the big agnes copper spur’s!

My favorite car camp tent is the REI half dome. It’s actually comfortable. If you want a cheaper option, the Ozark Trail tent from Walmart is pretty decent, but doesn’t have aluminum poles. The half dome can do backpacking, but it is on the heavy side. When I care about weight, I bring my Fly Creek from Big Agnes. Copper Spur and Nemo Hornet are also great options. The fly creek is crazy light, but you really have to like the second person if you’re going to fit two.

Could be, probably depends on what is important to you. A higher quality tent has higher end fabrics and poles and probably less weight for the size. If that is important, you will probably pay more. Does that mean the 35.00 Coleman Sundome is junk, not really, it just means it is probably less rugged (fiberglass pole set) and definitely heavier. Will it work in a rainstorm, in my experience, mostly. Will it stand up to wind like a BA Copper Spur, nope. Horses for courses. Light, durable, cheaper: pick two. Look at REI brand tents for a decent balance of price and quality, but, they will be heavier than a similar tent for a more premium brand. My backpacking buddy has used his ALPs Mountaineering tent everywhere I have used my more expensive Big Agnes tent and has been perfectly happy with it.

Me too, I have the half dome plus for trips where packing volume matters but weight is not an issue and also because it is more roomy and made of more robust fabrics. I do a fair amount of trips that start with a flight so a lighter tent that takes up less room is a must. Copper Spur is perfect though I have also used a 20+ pound REI Kingdome when space was less of an issue.

Marmot Tungsten, Naturehike Mongar 2p, Big Agnes Copper Spur, Durston X-Dome... Lots of great options out there. Get a tent with a mesh body, not a solid body, for summer. The Sundomes is a good tent but gets hot and doesn't air out as well as a higher grade shelter since it has mostly solid walls.

Also thumbs up on copper spur. Have 1P - Long enough to my 6'5" frame and can sit up in it. Paks nicely onto bike. Pricey though

I second the big agnes copper spur

Yea copper spur is top dog here

My only note about CS- the floor is tapered, not square. So are you sharing it and what shape/size are your sleeping mats?

WTH I’ve had mine for 5 years and zero holes

Big Agnes Copper Spur. I’m 6’4 240 and I use the 3 man for backpacking with 1 other person and a dog and it’s great. The 2 man is a single or 1 person + 1 dog. If you’re going to use on a moto with any regularity get the bike packing one. It’s the same as the other except the poles are shorter and fit in panniers better.

Copper spur is fantastic. If you want to go to the next level (with a corresponding jump in price) go with a Durston

Big agness copper spur is a great tent that has served me well. I like the looks of the durston x dome but haven’t tried one.

I don't know how any of those name-brand tents made it into a "budget" list. You may be able to find older models of the BA tents on clearance right now, in which case they do actually approach "budget" status. From those, I would choose the Copper Spur for livability, but everyone's different. If you are open to trekking pole tents, look at the Lanshan tents. Lightweight, proven and actually a budget friendly option. Even some of the Amazon knockoffs can be okay for the price (and I'm not one to usually utter that sentence) - I have a $100 knockoff from a nothing brand on Amazon that I've actually gotten so much more than my money's worth out of over the years. Weighs a kilo. It's a gamble, though. With big brands at least you get warranty support.

Perfect middle ground here is going to be a Big Agnes Copper Spur. Its freestanding, not crazy expensive (when compared to UL tents) and pretty damn light for what you get. I just switched to a Copper Spur UL2 for my fiancee and I and we love it.

Fair enough! Its definitely not cheap, but its a great tent that will last forever if you take care of it.

Big Agnes Copper Spur is my choice. And I’m a Mountain Hardware fan but for tents I swear by Big Agnes’s, seam sealed from the factory and always kept me safe from the rain. I also don’t see any guy-outs on the ends of the MK3, I can imagine that might lead to some poor ventilation and sticker living. The half-dome is basically a heavier copy of the copper spur so of the two options go with half dome.

I use a 3-person tent by myself. I use it for car camping, but the ultimate goal for that tent is to backpack and share with my son. So if I carry the weight it will be for 2 people. I have a Big Agnes Copper Spur.

If you want freestanding, the Big Agnes line is well loved. Sold my Tigerwall UL2 this year for $250 with groundsheet (semi freestanding). The copper spur is also well loved and is freestanding. I just got the X-mid 1 pro and slept in it for the first time Sunday night. Dan put so much thought into the little details. Friday is a 3 day trip to Grayson Highlands where I'm expecting weather and will put it to the real test. Regarding your pup, if you put him inside you might want to look into a tyvek sheet to put on the inside for them, depending on how long/sharp their nails are. Or, maybe you already have booties for them.

Short answer, yes. Most of that list is geared toward backpacking and are made with expensive, ultralight materials. Your $70 amazon tent will be heavier or maybe somewhat light but with low durability. I have a copper spur, which is on that list. It has lasted me 7 years of backpacking trips with no issues except a broken pole section that Big Agnes replaced for free. My buddy came on one of my trips and bought a cheap “backpacking” tent from Walmart. I guess it got the job done, but it was a couple pounds heavier than mine, leaked in the rain, and the mesh door ripped when closing the zipper one night. You have to find the line between not paying up for name brands and “you get what you pay for.”

I've really like mine so far, but yes I don't think I'd trust it long term without a groundsheet of some short - even just a piece of plastic if not the official groundsheet.

The Big Agnes Copper Spur is the best lightweight tent I’ve ever had by a country mile. It’s still better to stake it since the vestibule doors need to stay away from the body of the tent for full rain protection, but I’ve had that thing all over the most remote parts of the Colorado Rockies and it has always performed perfectly. I usually only bring two stakes for the vestibule doors on either side.

MSR Hubba Hubba is really solid, tough and light.  Big Agnes Copper Spur is a pound lighter, just not as sturdy.  Both about $600.

The Big Agnes Fly Creek uses the same material and was the highest rated tent on several of those Halfway Anywhere PCT surveys for a few years, it was my primary pre-UL tent and survives to this day like 8 years later as my loner, and it's the tent used by the professional guides at the local outdoor shop. It's plenty durably. The Copper Spur is similarly rated on those surveys. They're both covered by Big Agnes warranty. Yes, they're very durable. You would, however, save over a pound by switching to the TarpTent Hogback. When the Copper Creek isn't on sale, you'd also be saving literally hundreds of dollars with the Hogback, too ... which is nice.

I have the Xmid2 (cheapest one) and it's SO easy and fits both me and my husband great. I actually picked up a Copper Spur for another trip where I was afraid my XMid would be too big and found it such a pain to set up compared to the XMid.

After months of research, I chose the BA Copper Spur and went up a size. The extra weight will mean zero, and the extra space will mean so much as you move through various conditions and needs.

The extra space allows you to bring all or most of your gear inside, with an area for boots/shoes etc. The tent is very well constructed and quite robust, with high-end materials. Construction quality has been much better than expected

I have and it managed pouring rain and high winds without issue. The key is workarounds with wind direction and staking

I have a Big Agnes. Love the tent and love the brand.

Big Agnes, MSR, and Nemo are 3 of the best tent brands available. I ran the warranty desk for an outdoor gear company, and saw the least amount of warranty issues with those brands. They’re not inexpensive, but, you get what you pay for. I have a Big Agnes tent that’s at least 10 years old, we use it regularly and only have to hose the dirt off. It’s amazing. Nemo is awesome too, I know a lot of people with Nemo tents and they love them. I just got an MSR 3 person tent and absolutely love it. Definitely get a 2 person tent. The general rule is to take however many people will be sleeping in the tent, and add 1. So 1 person = 2 person tent, 2 ppl = 3 person tent and so on. A 2 person tent is more comfortable for having your gear inside the tent, changing your clothes, etc. If you don’t plan to go backpacking with it, I’d get a 3-4 person tent just for the space.

After dealing with a warranty issue with Durston I would rather deal with Big Agnes

Big Agnes warranty and customer service help is top-notch. I sent them an email earlier this week and they responded within minutes with a fix that allowed me not to send the tent in and repair it myself.

Try the REI re/supply. I got a Big Agnes tent that retails for $499 for $134. Also, REI sale is coming up in a few weeks and there will probably be a good deal on their own brand tents and others.

https://geartrade.ca/ they stock a bit of budget gear and they are not amazon. Also try thelasthunt.com, and https://www.sportchek.ca/en.html they can have some good gear in clearance. I really enjoy my big agnes tent and they are available in long, but they are pricy when not on sale.

Ive had my big agnes longer than any other tent ive owned so far! I think its at least ten years old.

Paria is a glorified dropshipping company. Durston and Big Agnes are good options, you don't need anything more niche honestly

Big Agnes ,Big house is comfy

I’ve had trouble with zippers on Big Agnes tents, but I’am in the sand often.

"I’m someone who only buys from reputable, high quality brands. I would get rid of this thing if I were you." And you're telling them to get rid of a Fjallraven tent, that they got for $200??!! Are you dumb? These are comparable to Hilleberg, which are in the $1,000's and probably some of the highest rated tents you could buy. Not to mention a lifetime warranty. You probably don't even know what a tunnel style tent is, so just stop talking. OP, you have a fantatstic tent that will probably last you many years if you take care of it. I'm talking decades. I have gear from them that is 10 years old and still looks brand new but have also had alterations done by them for free. I have a 3lb Big Agnes for reference and is paper thin, it holds up but if I found an Abisko for $200, I'd choose that in a heartbeat.

Both me and my partner love my Durston x-mid 2. Rock solid tent, fairly light weight, wasn’t ridiculously expensive, and decently roomy! Once you get the hang of setting it up it’s super easy and quick. My partner has a big Agnes, which is great, a little lighter but super tight for both of us.

I have a Nemo tent and two big Agnes. Love them both.

Completely disagreeing with this. This is a well known influencer site and list. So, it is merely a sales pitch. Lets check out the list: North Face Stormbreak. 200$ for a polyester tent in 2025! Half of the amazon junk would be more resistant to weather, and weighs half. It is an amazing tent, but only if we are in 2000s. Kelty, is it half covered in mesh, it is horrible in summer and it cannot stand winter. Then there is Hilleberg. Top of the top winter tent. If the list contains a Hilleberg I dont think there would even be a place for MSR in the list. The list then should be dominated by other Hillebergs. Also, where is the Zpacks, or Xmids? Where is mongar, or lanshan? Those are amazing <1 kilo tents .. some of which are on amazon. I agree, Amazon has a lot of junk. But also a lot of very high quality products not paying influencers. There are many better tent makers outside of this list and for many of the items in the list, they are indeed amazing products. However, for many I dont think their brand name justifies their price in 2025 anymore.

Ok let me pitch on the list then: This is an incoherent list: contains tents with different sizes and persons count, so it is creating more confusion than being helpful. Apart from that several of the tents there have well known problems: \- Hilleberg is a winter tent; if you rely on this list and buy it for a summer holiday you will die. \- Elixir does not use seam sealing and instead use a sealing technique mostly seen in cotton fabric tents, and it is known that it leaks. So late autumn it is a dangerous tent. \- North Face Stormbreak is a very old, reliable tent, but uses polyester, so it weighs around 3 kilos. You can easily find a tent with the same specs, much better material for half the price and would weigh around 2 kilos. \- Rei and Nemo tents in the list are all dome tents, which are literally replicas of each other (i would even say knock offs of Big Agnes there with inferior build quality). Many of them are half covered with fabric instead of mesh in their inners, which is terrible for summer. Always go for as much mesh as possible for summer. For early autumn, late spring they are probably good. But definitely master of none. I dont know how they are in a "best" list \- Kelty again is an old reliable tent, but has pole sleeves, so setting it up is a chore. It is covered with fabric again, so not so good for summer, would be good for mountain weather in the summer though. Still, material is outdated and setting it up is much slower than current lines of tents. \- Hillebergs are top of the top, and big agnes clearly earns its place in the list. \- MSR tents there are both very light options, but nothing special there. Personally i would carry 500 grams more instead of paying premium to a tent design that is so common. It is a very good alternative for ultralighters. \- There are other tent types, such as inflatables, such as popup tents, such as summer tents. The list contains none. So, if you are trying to find a tent to buy .. ditch this list and check out other sources. It is incoherent, it misses out a lot of different alternatives and it doesnt factor in criteria such as who? how? where? when? how many people? duration? conditions? It is basically the sunday paper of tent recommendations. A potpourri of cool images.

Buy once - cry once Don't skimp on shelter. A good tent (like the big Agnes) will last you a lifetime. Kelty is a decent second option (but usually heavier) and Coleman is more likely to tear or break a pole (I have one for family car camping and it broke a pote...repaired the pole but still swapped for TNF Wawona 4) It only takes one failure to make you wish you'd just spent the extra $. Buy the Big Agnes and move on.

Yeah there are good tents. I’m partial to Big Agnes myself, and own a couple. If you only plan to camp a few times a year, look at the REI Co-Op options, or Sierra Designs hit a good price/quality budget, or something similar. Don’t be afraid to look at lightly used too. 

I have two Big Agnes tents and really do like them a lot. I've probably owned too many tents in my time camping, but I've been impressed with them. But you do pay a bit more for them. I've used friends REI tents and they're great for the price and a casual camper. As you said as well, TNF makes a killer tent too. Lots of good options, it's all about finding the one that fits your needs and budget.

We love everything about our Big Agnes tents.

Coleman is for very occasional car camping. If you go to rainy locations, make sure the fly is full length, not just a little umbrella over the top. Kelty is a mid level brand that has some department store type stuff and some very good products. I look to the poles to see which is which. If they are fiberglass, it is low quality, and DAC or Easton Aluminum are very good. Kelty makes both ranges. Big Agnes tends to make top tier stuff. The problem is that the occasional campers might not store it properly and any tent will mildew and disintegrate if it is put away wet. When you pay top dollar, you need to do your part and care for it.

I have a big Agnes tent and it's held for over a decade. I have no problem recommending them

Always go a size up! A '6-person' is ideal for a family of 4 to actually have space. Don't underestimate the value of good headroom and a big vestibule for shoes/gear, especially with kids. We use a Big Agnes and it's been fantastic.

Nature hike kicks ass. Had the one from 5 years ago and it had been so good that it's a high recommendation to budget traveling tent and intro to light tents. It made it through tornado weather multiple times (3 season one) This was the chosen tent until saved enough to afford that same big Agnes one you mentioned and use this one now. Was Totally worth the money for the old old one back then before investing and LOVING the lightweight and strength of big Agnes now. Waited till it went 30% off sale at REI this past year. No experience with it, and I bet the new new model of nature hike is good. It's up to you how much you can actually break the bank. Both are great depending on what you can spend. If you have the money, get big Agnes. If you're punching pennies, get nature hike and keep your eye out for sales on big Agnes or work overtime to get it.

My only comment on Big Agnes in my experience is that the tents are fragile because they are so ultralight. I’ve had my Copper Spur poles snap twice. BA is great with repairing stuff but it’s not great when you’re in the back country and you’ve got to hold everything together with duck tape just to make it through the rest of the trip. My MSR on the other hand, while a little heavier, seems a lot more substantial while still being a light weight backpacking tent.