I currently have the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 and love it. It's light, fast to set up, and quite roomy. The only issue I've had with it was during strong winds in Florida. The wind was strong enough that it flattened the foot area of the tent. Since it wasn't supposed to rain, I just took the rain fly off and let the mesh allow the wind to blow through. Perhaps reworking the guy ropes might have solved the problem, but I didn't try.
That said, I'll be replacing it this winter. As an old guy with a bad back, the end entry on the Fly Creek has gotten to be too much for me. I'll most likely be replacing it with a Durston X-Dome 1+, which has a nice wide side opening.
Admittedly, both these options are above your price range, and the Durston isn't available at REI.
Regardless of what you get, do a shake-down campout in your backyard. It's a lot easier to deal with learning a new tent, or finding out that a piece is missing, in your backyard, than 30 miles away in a campground.
I am using a Big Gnes Fly Creek 2, and it's fine for me and my wife. Was in a rain last summer on and off for several hours and stated dry as a bone. I think it's right at 1 kg trail ready, maybe slightly less. Easy setup and takedown.
I'm 6'3" 210lbs and my wife is 5'3" and similarly proportioned. We've use a Flycreek UL2 for more than a decade. It is fine for us for weekend trips where we are going to be moving regardless if weather. I don't want to do more than sleep in it.
My current over-40 and several-previous-surgeries body would like a bit more headroom and a side door or two rather than the end loading design. I use a hammock for solo camping.
Funny you should mention the Fly Creek to trekking pole tent progression as I did exactly that. Still have my beat Fly Creek 2 around to lend out to friends- it served me well but now a days I’m either driving up to the site or walking in with trekking poles I may as well use for my shelter.
I do think the Fly Creek is good - especially used. The title was a bit sensational.
I carried a 2person fly creek, it was awesome. Still very light, had a smaller footprint than most single wall trekking pole tents. Being able to sleep with all your gear in the tent was a bonus. Not waking up to water running down the inside of my tent every morning is also nice when you don’t want to stop to dry it out.
Finally I got lucky and ended up hiking the last 3/4 of the PCT with a girl I met on trail…. The extra room as nice when we started hiking together.
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