I love the weight of my Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1, but it basically leaves room only for me and my bedding. If you want anything to join you, get the 2-man. It is close to 1 lb heavier though, so if you’re really looking to shave ounces and don’t mind being the only thing in your tent get the single.
Not sure about bags or pads, but my longest lasting tent was a Fly Creek UL2. I practically lived in that thing for 3 full summers, and used it for extended periods of time over a number of years. Bought in 2013, retired it last year. Replaced it with a Copper Spur UL1. Overall I would say I am very satisfied with Big Agnes products.
I used the Copper Spur UL2 on my hike of the AT 10 years ago. It's a great tent & over the years has been given great updates. After putting tons of miles on it, I gave it to a buddy & he's still using it today. I currently have one of the Copper Spur UL1's as well & really dig it for certain hikes.
On my PCT hike, I used a Zpacks Duplex. Also a great tent & was perfect for that hike. Still have it, but haven't really used it since. That being said, I've used a single wall DCF trekking pole on ALL of my other thru-hikes since.
The only downside to using an UL DCF trekking pole tent on a thru-hike is that "most" folks will wear one out over 3-4K miles. So, if you plan on only doing the one trail (PCT), an UL trekking pole tent is the clear winner for its simplicity & weight. If you're planning to do a bunch of thru-hikes due to getting the "bug" & can really only justify buying one tent/ aren't as weight conscious... I think a tent like the Copper Spur or Tiger wall would be a great choice.
\- Darwin
Copper Spur is free standing. Tiger wall is semi free standing.
Here is a pic of my 2 BA CS UL1 tents with no stakes because of the rocky terrain taken in July 2025 near Lyell Glacier in Yosemite
https://imgur.com/a/BEWXfiz
My dude, I use that tent without stakes all the time. I have two of the UL1's, one UL2 bikepacking version, and a UL3 long. They all stand fully without any stakes. You only need stakes if there is wind or rain.
nemo is great according to friends I just camped with. they loved theirs. I had a brand new Copper Sur UL1 and it was also great. Incredibly light, quick set up, sleek and sturdy. I bought it to camp in a rainforest, specifically for the weight and waterproofing.
AKA_Squanchy
