Big Agnes - Fly Creek HV UL2

I've been sleeping in tents for decades and have never used a footprint. The Fly Creek is a very reasonable tent, especially at that price point.

Why Not buy the Fly Creek and MYOG your ground sheet from tyvek for ~15 € (Extremtextil) You don’t even need to sew it. Just cut it with scissors and leave the edges raw or put some masking tape on P.S. I am fully sold on MYOG since a year - it can be loads of fun!

unpopular opinion here, since most people are "all in" for trekking pole tents, but Big AgnesFly Creek HV UL2 is also sub-2lbs (1lb 15 oz), and if you take Gossamer Gear The Two (24oz+ once you include cordage) and add two trekking poles, Big Agnes will actually be lighter than GG The Two. Advantages of Big Agnes is: it's (semi)free standing so can be setup with no stakes if needed, in very tight places, and is a true double-wall. You can leave the fly at home if you only need the inner, or only use the footprint+fly with no mesh, for weight savings, so it's modular. I suspect due to steeper slope at the corners BA will give you a bit more space efficiency for similar footprint. If you definitely bringing 2 poles, GG The Two wins by \~7 oz or so, but you would need to take a careful accounting of all options that are important to you, cordage, stakes etc. There is no one "correct" answer here.

Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 well over 200 nights of use (with a tyvek diy ground sheet)guessing its about 1/2 worn out. 1kg. Great single person adventure cycling tent with room inside for gear.

I have the hv ul2 long and love it it’s a great tent

I highly recommend the Fly Creek UL2. I've used one for years on multiple continents/environments. Even winter environments it's not exactly designed for. I love the damn thing. [https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/ultralight-tents/products/fly-creek-hv-ul2-solution-dye](https://www.bigagnes.com/collections/ultralight-tents/products/fly-creek-hv-ul2-solution-dye)

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.

After getting as much mileage as possible out of my BA 2P Flycreek and Tarptent Rainbow, I'm excited to invest in an ultralight shelter that shaves a pound or more off my base weight (I'm actually at the beginning of doing a big overhaul of my kit--should be fun). I've been researching different shelters, and I think I've got it down to a few options, though I'm open to other suggestions. **Use Cases** * Fast-and-light weekend trips, mostly in California (Sierras, Trinity Alps, Big Sur, Point Reyes, desert, etc.) though can be across the western US * Tahoe Rim Trail in the next couple years * Tour de Montblanc not out of the question (though might hut-to-hut) * Never say never: I won't rule out another US long trail like the AZT or PNW Trail, and could see doing the JMT **Criteria** * 1P or small 2P: I'm looking for something just for myself (I'm also in the market for a 3P family backpacking tent, but that'll be a different post) * Fastpacking (running) with a Salomon UA25 so packed size is important * Trekking pole tents only for easier packing (i.e., no ZPacks Offset Solo with its extra strut) * Want it to last for at least 5 years of adventures, since I expect my usage will be occasional * < 20 oz, lighter is better (ideally < 16 oz) but I'm willing to add an ounce or two for better durability, build, closures, etc. * Fully enclosed (I've woken up with mice running over me once, I don't want to do it again) * Don't love mids, I appreciate headroom * I'm 5' 4", don't need a ton of space but it's nice to have the option to bring my pack inside. **Options I'm Considering** * Gossamer Gear "The One": price is great, reviews are solid, but it sounds like the nylon retains water terribly and sags a ton and it might have trouble in high wind. Also would require a groundsheet, which adds to the weight. * ZPacks "Pivot Solo": new design with a funky setup, not sure if they've worked out all the kinks; have heard ZPacks has quality control issues. Otherwise, looks fantastic. * Durston "X-Mid Pro 1": some folks say the vestibules are so big it's hard to fit in a tight spot. Not sure how the diagonal orientation works with actually having usable space inside (vs. weird corners where you can't fit a pack). But I've heard wonderful things about Durston shelters. * ~~Tarptent "Aeon Li": seems to come in lower on reviews than others on this list.~~ Anyone have experience with some of the tents on this list? Any recommendations or considerations?

something like the Big Agnes Fly Creek. Avoid the "solution dyed" ones, they literally stink. Not great in a storm, but super lightweight and big inside.

General comment on the BA Fly Creek: If you're considering the Fly Creek, get the Tiger Wall instead. It is basically the same sent, but the difference is having two side entrances on the Tiger Wall vs. a single rear entrance on the Fly Creek. With two adults (especially two adults and two kids), you'll be tripping over each other if you do not make having _two side entrances_ a must-have feature for a _backpacking_ tent. If you were getting a car camping tent, which would be much larger and spacious, you could get away with a single entrane. But not a backpacking tent. TL;DR - Fly Creek is a great tent, just probably not the right design for your application.

Fly creek sucks. You want two side entry doors. The UL move is the BATWUL (big anus tigerwall UL).

I’d gladly take that weight over the coffin that is the creek. Just ain’t worth it. And we are talking about 4oz difference. I know this is UL but… come on now!

I worked at REI and I have 2 BA tents and love both of them. I've used the Fly Creek in very harsh weather and have never had a drop of water get inside, nor a stake pull loose, nor a rip, or broken pole. It's free-standing and to me that's very important. If you take care of it you will have that tent for 20 or more years. Is it worth $50 a year?

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.

It's pretty similar in specs and price to my Alps Koda 1, which is simple, reliable, and totally bombproof, but I kept thinking I'd upgrade it to something lighter and fancier. Finally upgraded to a Big Agnes Fly Creek, which I hated. Resold the Fly Creek and kept the trusty old Koda after all.

I have the Big Agnus Fly Creek. It was one of the lighter backpacking tents I could find. They are doing a big sale currently too:)

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.

Yeah, I figured. I have a Big Agnes tent that I got for a great deal. It's only a one man tent, and I wish I would have opted for the two man tent so I have more room for my gear. I think you're right, just a gimmick. Happy trails my friend.

I actually have a very nice Big Agnes one man tent. I was more interested in this pop-up tent for like 2 day picnic trips with my family every blue moon when the weather is fair. I usually camp alone, but I was recently welcomed into a beautiful family. Would be nice to just pop out that fuggin' thing.. like a lame-a** magic trick.

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.