Big Agnes

Copper Spur HV3 Expedition

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Overall

#361 in

Camping Tents

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Sentiment score60% positive
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Last updated: May 29, 2026

Reddit Reviews

Reddit IconFriskMoose
12 months ago

Big Agnes Expedition HV3 currently on offer at Sportpersuit. I know it has been discontinued but I bought it and couldn’t be happier. It is super solid, spacious and still o weight wise when I split it up in two. The fabric, zippers are much more durable vs the copper spur UL so should last a lot longer. I have 2 25” pads in it and still has room for the packs in the 3 person version.

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11 months ago

The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV Expedition is quite a sturdy type of tent, technically 3+ seasons and it is fairly lightweight. It can withstand strong winds and snow buildup. It’s not for real expeditions nor winter alpine conditions. It is a great choice for average wild camping imo.

Reddit Iconcomedyq
8 months ago

My copper spur broke on me in a wind storm (granted it was very high wind on an exposed mountain). 2 of the 4 plastic buckles that the tent pole goes into at the end broke. Also my friend on the Colorado Trail broke 2 big Agnes tents this summer while setting up (once the tent pole bent/broke, other time I can't remember because I hadn't met them yet). I still think it's a good tent, but as a backpacker and mountaineer who cares a lot about weight, I probably wouldn't buy it again, I just don't quite trust it. Cleverhiker has very good points, but honestly thru hiking generally doesn't put you in a crazy exposed campsite like the top of a Scottish highland summit

Reddit IconPlantPoweredOkie
10 months ago

Big agnes 3 person with 2 vestibules. Free standing tent, not too heavy.

Reddit Iconstop-freaking-out
4 months ago

My personal tent is a Big Agnes Copper spur 3 person that I got on sales at the end of the season. I use that for Scout events and backpacking. Our family tent is a Coleman 6 person we got at Costco. Sometimes I bring my old 2 person REI dome tent and stick one of the kids in that when we do family camping. The Cots fit in the Coleman. It's hard to set up the larger tent by myself, with a little help it is pretty easy especially not that my son is taller than me.

Reddit IconCommanderAGL
10 months ago

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

Reddit Icondandurston
7 months ago

Looking at the poles will tell you quite a bit about sturdiness. The Freelite 1 uses DAC NFL 8.7mm poles with a forked design. So one end of the tent has essentially 2 archs of 8.7mm while the other end has a single arch of 8.7mm. That would be comparable in sturdiness to other tents that also use a forked arch of 8.7mm, such as Big Agnes Fly Creek and Tiger Wall, and Nemo Hornet. Tents that use essentially dual arches of 8.7mm at both ends are going to be sturdier, like X-Dome 1+ but also BA Copper Spur, MSR Hubba, and many others. Easton Carbon 3.9 is very similar to DAC 8.7 mm in sturdiness. Then both brands of tent pole makers make numerous stiffer options but with higher weights that would likely put the tent over your 1 kg goal.

Reddit IconLakestang
9 months ago

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.

9 months ago

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.

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