Copper Spur mtnGLO

I've had a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 MtnGLO for about 8 years (i did NOT pay full price), never used a footprint for it in the High Sierra, nice and lightweight but good material, easy setup, no issues with the tent itself at all although i opened it up in the wilderness last weekend and found the shock cording had hardened and yellowed. I got it to work but just contacted BA this morning and within minutes they replied and they'll restring it for free. So BA stands behind their product. Take a look at their cheaper tents if you need to like the Blacktail, etc. I just tried my first generation Durston X-Mid 1 on the same trip, which i bought new years ago... i'm pretty impressed and it worked great though i think the 1-person is too small for my wishes; i already have plans to get an X-Mid 2. You can use trekking poles or buy separate carbon fiber poles. It's double wall unlike most ultra lightweight tents and the material seems tough enough for me with 15D polyester. The thing is it's not that expensive! and for what you mentioned, its design addresses high winds and snow. we're talking $289 new. How crazy is that? I read how some people had issues with setup but it's really easy. I had no trouble on the first test run in my backyard. I also have a Nemo 3-person tent but haven't used it in years, the quality is good but it was NOT a backpacking tent. They might offer something you'd prefer. Otherwise you can check out REI's used gear/returns selection, as well as the sub here for used gear.

I've loved both the Copper Spur and the Hubba Hubba - both have a 3 person version if you want more space. I've never had a problem with water pooling on the copper spur, but that maybe either a difference in the yearly model or maybe user error. I did have it sink down from snow weight once in the Tetons, but I just woke up and pushed up on the ceiling and it all slid off and I went back to sleep without even getting out of my sleeping bag.

I think the 3 person big Agnes copper spur is your best bet but would admittedly be a tight squeeze depending on how big your boys are

We have a core equipment tent that we got from costco for car camping. i think its the 10 man version. it is hilariously huge, and weighs like 40 lbs. it is very spacious, has a built in LED light strip, and sets up in under a minute. it has held up well in the rain. the 6 person version is on costco for $140 i have a ultra light 2 and 5 man big agnes copper spur tents for when we are hiking in to camp, but for car camping the ease of the core equipment tent is great, and you really dont need something as technical as the Wawona.

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

It's out of your budget but the Big Agnes Cooper Spur is top notch. Ultra light and very sturdy. Will fit well in your 40l pack. I have used mine dozens of times over 100s of miles. Have fun.

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.