Big Agnes - Copper Spur HV UL2

I just bought this tent online for 284.99 which included tax. That's us dollars though.

I thought so too. I received it. Has tags. The credit card charge shows as Cao Ky Duyen and not Simolary(business name). I wish the tag specifically said copper spur hv ul 2. Instead it says copper spur hv ul Then the various options they offer with a check mark next to 2 person and a check mark next to orange. I'm going to set it up now in the kitchen to verify it's the right one!

Copper Spur is a classic for a reason! Awesome tent.

The wife and I have had a Copper Spur HV UL2 for several years and it is frankly an amazing piece of gear for it's weight. It has made a full AT through hike + probably close to another thousand miles so we've gotten our money's worth. I took it for an overnight last weekend actually. All of those miles backpacking and the only damage it has seen was when I snagged the netting but it has been fine with a netting patch on it.

I have a ba HV UL 2 long and love the thing. It’s my goto freestanding at the moment.

I love my copper spur! It’s very similar to the dragonfly.

I own a copper spur hvul2 long and love it. It’s my goto freestanding.

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’m not very experienced with backpacking/through hiking, but if paying a few hundred dollars more isn’t a major disincentive for you I suggest paying more to get a lighter weight tent that packs down smaller. Most of us who aren’t super experienced tend to bring more stuff than those who really know how to go super light. So saving a kilo of weight and significant packed volume becomes very convenient for us less austere campers. E.g., I have a 2 person Big Agnes Copper Spur UL that has a packed weight (including tent, fly, stakes, guy lines and stuff sack) of less than 3 lbs. 3.5 with the footprint. Mine is 7 years old. I think the newest version is a few ounces heavier. I’m not recommending this specific tent necessarily. There are other tents from BA and other brands that are similar wrt weight and packed size. Most retail from $400US and up. But I often see sales with 30-50% discounts. I’ve only used freestanding tents. There might be better alternatives wrt weight & size for tents that require trekking poles but I haven’t researched them. If you’re talking about car camping or very short distances to carry your gear where weight & size are secondary considerations, then totally disregard the preceding.

I have a Big Agnes copper spur hv ul2 tent. I think it's right around 3lbs total and is fairly small; I just strap it on my rear rack although in the future I may try to pack it in a waterproof bag and tie the poles to the top-tube. I was also really tempted by the even smaller Nemo dragonfly bikepack, which is super compact and has some nicer features, including a great waterproof bag that is built to fit between drop bars, but it was almost $200 more. I'm also trying to get a smaller sleeping bag. I just bought a synthetic-fill bag, but it doesn't compress as much as I'd prefer and I was still cold in 45-degree (Fahrenheit) weather, which according to the rating it should be very comfortable in. So I may look at down bags, which supposedly can pack very small, but are expensive.

I have that tent and it’s great for one person but a bit cramped for two. It will fit two but I hope you’re very good friends, which apparently you are. The only downside is the zippers are very easy to get caught, at least on the older models. Still, a great tent. Spend the extra bucks and get the foot print so you can pitch it only using the fly. Nice option when conditions warrant it.

Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 UL HV. Go with the footprint option. It allows you to set up the fly without the canopy when conditions warrant. On sale at REI right now.

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 bought a used one probably 8 years ago and the Big Agnes is still going strong. Perfect for one person, I seriously can’t imagine two people squeezed in there!

Rei has the [Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2](https://www.rei.com/product/164193/big-agnes-copper-spur-hv-ul2-tent) on sale right now for 370$ down from 530$. Went in store and picked mine up yesterday. The deal was too good to pass up. I grabbed a footprint off amazon for it since REI doesn't have them for sale anymore, but they do sell the bikepacking footprint (footprint for the bikepacking just reaches out further to cover under the vestibules). They also have the long version and [it's also on sale for 405$ down from 579$.](https://www.rei.com/product/204104/big-agnes-copper-spur-hv-ul2-tent-long) I suspect these will go quick as just yesterday they had the UL1 listed for sale but it's gone today. With the year long return policy as a member this is probably the best deal you will find at the moment.

HV UL2 is on sale at REI right now for 370$

Agreed. Have a big Agnes I use for a family of 3 and it works well

It’s a great option for a double walled, free standing tent. The 2 person version of this tent is snug (width) - not sure if that is an issue being light sleepers.

That is a very good tent. I had one. It's just me, but I like the extra room. Since you need a 2P tent, what you have is one of the best choices out there, and the weight isn't bad. The only reason I got rid of my UL2 was because the X-Dome 1+ came out. I'm still awaiting mine in April. Both tents are freestanding, which I wanted. The X-Dome 1+ is smaller and lighter, but it has more room than most one person tents. The extra room is why I've always use a 2P tent.

Depending on budget, there are several 2-person tents, many good ones already mentioned. For an inexpensive treking pole tent, look at Lanshan. I had a BA Copper Spur HV UL2. A very nice tent, and if you can get it on sale, not so expensive. I went with this tent because it was freestanding. I had treking pole tents, but they didn't always work where I wanted to setup. I just put in an order for a Durston X-Dome 1+, which is in between 1 and 2 person tents. I won't get mine until the second batch in April, but the reviews look good, and the price of $369 seems reasonable for what it is. The X-Dome 1+ is freestanding, unlike the X-Mid.

I have a kelty 4p tent that is too heavy to backpack with, I love the tent, for car camping. I just bought myself the big Agnes cooper spur hv ul 2 for my dog and I. With the foot print it weighs in at 3lbs and packs down really small. My kelty doesn’t.

Why not consider the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 2? This will fit you comfortably, is double walled, and is super durable. 2lb 11oz (2 oz less than the Lanshan 2) and frequently falls below $250. Wife and I are 6’ and 6’3” and we fit fine. Edit- just saw copper spur was already recommended.

This!! My husband and I joke that the big agnes copper spur saved our marriage. When we are solo we have trekking poles style shelters, but when we are together, the ease of a freestanding tent prevents arguments and the weight is easier to split between us. Here[https://pmags.com/tent-of-wonder-big-agnes-copper-spur-hv-ul2-2019](https://pmags.com/tent-of-wonder-big-agnes-copper-spur-hv-ul2-2019) is my husband’s review.

The 2P is perfect for one person with a little bit of space along the side. I use the 2P and am 6’2” without it being too short. Able to keep my backpack in the tent too which was important for me

I did use a Big Agnes Copper 2-person HV UL2 and it was great, quite roomy for me and my gear, doesn’t take much space or weight.

I have that tent. It is solid. You can fit 2 people if you are exhausted and just going to crash, but it's comfortable for 1 person. Especially if you need to pull some gear inside with you.

I've been using a Copper Spur HV UL2 since 2018, but as a solo tent. But I'm 6' tall and 230 pounds.

I have the XMid Pro 2 and backpack with one of our huskies almost every trip. Mika is 45lbs, Max is 50lbs. Just one dog and me fit easily with extra room for gear. Two people and one of our dogs would work but be tight. (replaced a Strat Li but below applies to both tents) To protect the floor, I bring a full size z-fold pad (generic z-lite). I cut it into two pieces - about 1/3 and 2/3rds. I place them together to put where the dog will be sleeping. I cut it into two pieces so that I can use the 2/3rd piece under my pad in the event I get cold. They can still use the 1/3rd. I lay a costco quilt over the top of the pad. The like to "dig" sometimes. Between the pad and quilt, it protects the floor long enough until I can tell them to stop. For just casual walking in and out of the tent, laying down etc, there would be no need to protect the floor. Kneeling on a sharp rock or stick would probably do more damage than a dog stepping on the floor. We also have a Big Agnes UL2 and UL3 we've used for people and dogs. Only damage to any of the tents (first time out in a brand new UL3) was when I walked away with the dog in the tent and she paw'd at the screen and ripped it. Luckily, she hit the pocket so it didn't affect the door.

I backpack with one of our Siberian Huskies (one is 45lbs, other is 55lbs) using either and XMid Pro 2 or Copper Spur HV UL2. I'm about 5'10". I like having some room in the tent for stuff or just hanging out. Both of the above tents work great for this.

Comparing the Copper Spur HV UL2 to UL3: a 3 person tent will be about 25% heavier (12 oz, 35g), only marginally more expensive, and the extra space will help with keeping your bags inside. To me, the worst part is the extra weight, and the extra size of the tent would prevent it from fitting in the side pouch on my bag. But if you're strapping it underneath anyway, and you're not weight-constrained, maybe it's fine. I went with the UL2 because I think it's fine to leave my pack in the vestibule of the tent, only taking the essentials inside. You can possibly find space for it near your feet if you're not big people. After all, when you're at camp, all the bulky things aren't in the pack any more! I like my tent, but there are lots of good brands out there. You might find a better deal online, but check your local outdoor store to get a feel for how big/heavy they are. If feasible, buy it there, too! I liked my REI Half Dome tent but it was so much larger and heavier than the Copper Spur, and I'm glad I replaced it.

Yeah, got it in June of last year on the deal posted somewhere here. I also just picked up a Copper Spur HV UL2 for $210 this weekend from sams. They seem very similar and I love free standing tents. Plan is to use ul2 for solo or aspect 3 with wife/kid(s).

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

I’m your height, solo woman doing a NOBO LASH in April. I just got the Durston XDome +1. It’s 35 oz and has enough room for my pack/gear in rainy weather. My usual tent is a BA Copper Spur UL2 at a little over 3 lbs and it’s great but has a larger footprint and is bulkier than what I want for 5-6 weeks on trail. People get hung up on UL but hike your own hike and if you like your tent, take it!

I have the tarptent you are looking at, plus ba copper spur ul 2 and 3, plus a fly creek 2. The double rainbow dw is roughly the weight of the fly creek with superior capabilities to the copper spur 2.

I can vouch for the Big Agnes Copper Spur. Ive had it 4 years, and do not use a footprint. I have no holes, it holds up in windy conditions, and packs so well into my pack. I'm 5 7" and have ample room. BTW mine is the 2 person. Just in case I wanna bring someone.

I use a big Agnes copper spur 2. I'm 6 foot 3 and fit comfortably with my gear. I've also used it for two people before and was still comfortable

You will probably end up hearing the Big Agnes copper spur 2 person tent. It's a very popular backpacking tent and is great. I've had mine for over ten years and still use it. It's a bit out of budget. Currently on Sale for 370 on their website but it's worth it

I’ve had the Copper Spur 2 person tent for about 10 years and love it. Has held up too high winds and hail at 10,000ft + many times. However I only used it once with another person and it was too tight a space. So, would recommend, but get there 3P.

That is what i would buy as well. The double side doors are really nice.

Gotta tell you that I bought the BA CS UL several years ago and the weight, packing size, ease of setup and quality of construction was worth every penny.

Ditto on the BA Copper Spur UL 2. Purchased mine in '18 for the JMT. Tried to go UL, but have gone full circle back to this tent. Took it on the Uinta Highline Trail in Utah this past August, where the afternoon hailstorms were mind blowing. This tent is a freaking bomb shelter.

That looks more like SE Ok. I think your GPS is off by 4 hrs. Haha If I may - you want a 3 season tent that breathes so you can use it in the hot spring and late summer. Go to REI and learn about them, then buy on EBay. A 4 season tent will not breathe so well. Keep the vent open at night so condensation from your breath doesn’t collect or your tent will be soaked on the inside at sunrise. Warmth comes from your sleep system. Buy a decent air mattress (klymite? $90-100) and a sleep bag for 20-30f temps. I always use a cheap bag liner (keeps the bag from collecting body oils and adds 3-6 degrees of warmth, easily washable). Always go to bed with dry feet and loose; wool socks and loose base layer - think layers. And neck gator is a must if cold. If you afford a better sleeping bag, awesome. Most can’t. Also, the smaller the tent, the warmer. I have an REI one man quarterdome and love it. I also have a Big Agnes Spur (?) 2 man for me and my dog or wife and it is great. Maybe a bit too roomy. Bought both used. If you can afford new - go for it. [good website to learn about gear](https://www.cleverhiker.com/) Don’t over think it and just do it, then adjust. You can hike up the west side of that stream, climb over the ridge and backpack camp on /near the top. Park at the bridge, go upstream with the river on your right, it’s only about a half mile, maybe 3/4. Or for your first time, camp near your car. Good luck

I kid you not, I got an unused Big Ag copper spur 2 person from REI's used department for $58 recently. Was listed at $158 and she rang it up at $58. I would have said something but their union busting activities as of late leave me with no allegiance. Even $158 would have been a great price.

I have the UL2 and it’s a great tent. It looks like the design of both is very similar, but the tiger wall is slightly lighter. WRT durability the fabric is quite thin so I always carry a footprint, but no durability issues with about 2 weeks total use time. All that being said if you have multiple little ones both of these tents are probably going to be quite cramped for you. Even if you only have one I regret going with the two person over the three when I take my girlfriend camping with me.

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.

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

I love my Copper Spur!

They are great tents and you don’t have to use trekking poles for them. On the Copper Spur it’s optional. Otherwise it’s a normal vestibule.

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.

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

Through the PCT and CDT I’ve had a Big Agnes copper spur, Zpack duplex, Tarptent Notch Li and a Durston Xmid Pro in search of the perfect tent. Xmid pro was my favorite. I recommend the dyneema bathtub on it.

Me too. I’m 6’1, 180, and it is just right. I do have the hotel fly, so my pack can sleep outside; it would be pretty cramped if I had to bring my 60L pack inside with me…

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

I've had the Copper Spur for about five years and recommend it. The fabric is so thin that I was worried about durability at first, but it hasn't failed me yet. Not a lot of vestibule space, though. Just enough for your shoes. The shock cord inside the tent poles went loose on me about a year ago, but they were easy to replace.

Honestly, it's plenty big for 2 adults. Two 25" mats fit easily and head room by the poles is great. Not that bad on the low sides either. My main problem in the mountains has always been finding a big enough spot to put it. The footprint under the fly is huge for a two-person. Often have to get creative to get a stormworthy pitch. Getting the perfect pitch can be tricky, but getting one that's good enough isn't usually too hard. As far as other options, the tarptent triple rainbow might be worth a look as well. I Believe the double rainbow can accommodate two wide mattresses, but it gets narrow towards the top. I've personally preferred the triple over the big Agnes because it uses more durable fabric. I had a copper spur for two seasons and had to patch the floor multiple times.

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

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.

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.

Family of 3 and we won tickets to the Kerrville Folkmusic Festival. We had a Big Agnes Copper Spur and a Coleman 4 person dome, but we wanted to be able to stand and get dressed, as well as have room for an air mattress and a cot, though we ditched the air mattress for 2 more cots, so we got a Coleman Evanston 6. Since then we bought a Coleman Weathermaster 8 as it has two rooms, but honestly it’s just about the perfect size to have plenty of room to even bring in the folding chairs if we need, which then makes it a little crowded. For the two of you I’d think a 6 person should be just enough to stand as long as nobody’s over maybe 6’ or so. If it’s raining or too windy and cold you should be able to squeeze in a couple of chairs and be happier. The Evanston has a screened porch which has been handy a few times.

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.

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.

Used Big Agnes copper spur.

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.

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

In my experience I’ve found the copper spur to be a very upright & tall tent, whenever there is high wind the tent does get blown over and flattened out. I rather take my old vango or lanshan in windy conditions to be honest. Copper spur is a great tent though literally my only issue with it.

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.