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[I like the big Agnes fly creek](https://www.outlandusa.com/p/big-agnes-fly-creek-hv-ul2-solution-dye-graygreige-2-person) but it's very cramped for 2 people. I'd say you both need to be on the smaller side, but definitely completely sealed and free standing (it's awkward if you can't peg it, but it ultimately stands.)
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.
I found a Big Agnes Flycreek UL2 on clearance a dew years back and have been using that for me and the dog.
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.
I used it for one person mostly. It was a luxury item but for the weight it was worth it. We both had our own tents.
If you are brand new, get something cheap and on sale. Fair chance that you either will give up backpacking after a few trips or realize that you want to invest more in high-end gear. You eventually need a quiver if tents, sleeping bags, and packs as no single one is great for all conditions. For summer, I mainly use: flycreek 2p tent, Western Mountaineering 20 or 40F sleeping bags, and a daypack with side straps that cost about $60 and weighs roughly half a pound.
Need more details. Do you want a freestanding or are you open to trekking poles? Do you want to truly sleep 2 people or just want a roomy one person? Are you okay with a single walled tent? Big Agnes Fly Creek 2, freestanding front entry tent. Just a good all around tent only complaints is from older people with bad knees with the front entry. You aren't crawling over another person to get out. Z-Packs Duplex, I used this one for over 3000 miles, you best of both worlds since you can buy a freestanding kit. This one is out of your budget though at 799$ and the freestanding poles are another 100$. They have a bargain section of their website however that occasionally lists returned tents or tents with minor factory defects that dont effect usability. People will recommend the X-Mid Pro 2, but I'm not a fan of it as a two person because one person will have a sloping wall in their face unless you are both willing to sleep facing opposite directions. I will most likely go back to the duplex when this wears out. I also find it finicky to setup, but it could be that I have way more familiarity with the duplex.
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