Copper Spur Limited 3

Hi all, Looking to get a new 3P tent for my partner and I! We currently have an older version of the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 3 (pre-Hyber Bead). It's a great tent that has held up to our use for a solid 7+ years, but we're looking to upgrade / renew it since the waterproofness seems to be fading a bit. We're considering just replacing it with the new Copper Spur UL 3, but wanting to poll the group to see if other options are worth considering – especially the Tiger Wall, Nemo Hornet, or Dragonfly. **Our use case:** \- backpacking around PNW mostly \- Our preference is for a 3 person for use with our dog, a friend for those rare occasions, or a future child. \- semi-freestanding or freestanding (we have an X-Mid for when weight really matters, but lately my partner hates the fiddle factor of trekking pole tents, and I don't mind splitting the weight of a larger tent when I camp with her). \- we will also use the tent for some car camping / front country campgrounds... so take that FWIW. That said our Copper Spur has been totally adequate for this; we don't need more space than that. \- I'm 6 foot if that is an issue in these smaller tents \- Want to keep weight around 1800g total (Copper Spur is the heaviest we want to go) \- Durability is a big concern for us. The Copper Spur has held up well, being a bit careful, with no major issues. I've anecdotally heard the Nemo stuff holds up better than the Big Agnes stuff, but we want this tent to last a while or be able to be serviced / repaired should issues come up. \- storm worthiness - nothing crazy, just 3 season conditions, but it gets WET here in the spring/fall. Performance in wind would also be a benefit, but we do have a dedicated 4-season tent for winter stuff. \- warranty support (in Canada, if possible) - while I haven't had issues, I've heard Big Agnes' warranty is suffering a bit vs Nemo's, which I've heard is excellent. \- Hyperbead vs. Osmo, any differences here? \- Is the portion of the body on the Nemo Hornet an issue in rain/wind?

thanks! Yea we figured it's probably the Copper Spur. That said given we haven't had durability issues with it, wondering if we could get away with one of the lighter models like the Tiger Wall or Hornet and use it with a footprint when we're car camping. Car camping comfort isn't a big need – the space of a 3 person is more than comfortable enough and fits our exped megamat just fine (we don't need one of those mega walmart palaces!).

do you have the newer version of the dragonfly or old? I'm also torn between the Dragonfly or copper spur. I have a 7+ year old copper spur that is getting to it's last legs, I love it but it seems Nemo has taken the edge here. Especially in little details and the warranty / support department. It looks like The Big Agnes vestibule stake also just stakes out, with no line-loc on it to tighten the fly, what a miss!

Heads up (if you weren’t already aware), the copper spur models are currently 25% off on Backcountry.com - I was also between UL2 XL / UL3 and ended up going with the 3!

I’ve used a Big Agnes copper spur 3 for years backpacking with family, fitting 3 adults is snug but having a year old in between would be really doable depending on what you are using for the toddlers pad. Keep in mind taking young kids means you will be hauling all their gear too (as well as them at 1 year old) so saving weight on the tent is nice. While they do make a 4 person copper spur tent it’s a good bit more $ and I’ve found since we camp I primarily in the NC mountains where open relatively flat spots tent not to be that big… so finding a place for a 4person tent can be more difficult sometimes

Big Agnes is 100% worth it to me. They’ve replaced 2 tents for me and restrung poles for free. I currently have a Seedhouse 2 (replaced a 1 after delamination), a four season something which replaced a seedhouse 2 and a copper spur 3. Recommend them all the time.  Also the $1000 is an extreme weather tent. If your out in winter or serious elements, you don’t screw around with your shelter. 

I actually have both and have used them with my two kids (slightly older Copper Spur 3). Two kids, 13 and 16, and me on 20 inch wide pads. They both worked fine (used the Copper Spur when they were younger). The newer Tiger Wall felt a bit more spacious.

I have a BA Copper Spur 3. It's awesome, but I would want something more robust for your use case in the PNW if it's my only tent. I have a Black Diamond El Dorado if I'm expecting real weather in shoulder season (also used for ski touring). Love it, but it's single wall and not what you want for an only tent. People have mentioned a bunch above, and of those I'd probably look closest at Hilleberg (two different buddies own and love) and Slingfin. Can get pretty weight competitive with lighter options, but much sturdier in weather.

How tall are you? I tried lying down in last year‘s hubba hubba two person, and it was too small for me to lie straight across. I’m 6 foot four. I could go on a diagonal if I was by myself, but I wanted to be with a friend. Ended up getting a three person copper spur.