Big Agnes - Tiger Wall 2 Carbon

Hmmmm,  I used to own a Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2 and never had any problems with it.  It worked very well in high winds and rain if I had it properly staked out with guy lines.  I currently have a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 1 that I love.   It holds up in the wind rain and light snow without a problem and weighs just about 2lbs.  There is a reason why it has received highest honors for years now throughout the backpacking industry.  Now with that being said I purchased a Durston DCF X Mid 1Pro about a year ago and have used it a few times instead of the Copper Spur.  Mainly because of the weight savings- roughly a pound.  Both tents are top notch and have their pros and cons.  Just as every other tent out there.  For me, I like that the Copper Spur is totally free standing and quite easy to setup.  It has plenty of interior space inside the tent as well as the vestibule.  I like that I can set it up without the fly for clear nights.  The Durston is a bit more finicky when it comes to getting a good pitch.  Once you have figured it out the tent is like nothing else.   It's incredibly light and it works as a bomber shelter.  The drawbacks are that it doesn't ventilate as well as the BA and tends to have more issues with condensation.  Of course that is common with all single wall tents.   Other than that the Durston is very roomy and I like the fact that it has 2 vestibule. You can't go wrong with either tent.  I have to say that there several tents mentioned in the comments that have caught my eye.   Nemo makes a nice 1 person semi free standing  shelter  as does Slingfin - Tarptent has one I would like to check out as well.  It's hard to make a bad choice with all the good options out there .

my son and I use Big Agnes Tiger Wall 2P. He is 15 now but it still works. If I had two kids, I would use 3P option, or give them the 2P tent and use the tarp or 1P myself.

If I were to go back I time when purchasing a tent, I would have gotten this one. I also have a Tiger Wall UL2 and it does poorly with wind. It flexes too much amongst other things.

I just bought both of these. Steep and cheap had the tiger wall on sale for $160 so it seemed like a great back up to have

It’s a good tent, very light for the size. I have a tigerwall by them and I am happy.

Tiger Wall is the GOAT tent. Light, 3 season but can be taken to below freezing, strong AF. I would note that if you are buying a 2 person tent, buy the 3 person tigerwall, not the 2

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.

Do you meant the PCT? Never heard of the CBT, but I certainly don’t know all the trails out there. I hiked the PCT last year with a big Agnes tigerwall and it was fantastic. Found mine used for a great deal, but I believe even new they are probably close to your $500 limit. Lots and lots of Durstons on trail also tho, and the folks I talked to loved theirs so that seems like a solid choice too. No experience with the other brands tho, other than a montbell fleece that I love. Condensation is more a factor of inside vs outside temps than precipitation, although you should be prepared for some soggy, foggy days especially towards the end of September.

I also got that Tiger Wall sale. It’s gonna be my “friend wants to try backpacking” tent.

Personally snapped a three season tent on rainier from the wind a few seasons ago. Granted it was a big Agnes tiger wall. Upgraded to a mountain hardware tango and it’s great.

One thing I’d add is that I already have a 1P MSR Hubba and a Big Agnes Tiger Wall, both I love and find comfy / spacious but they aren’t robust enough for Scottish winter. I’m thinking the MSR Access 1 may have been a better choice for my palatial headroom desires ! (For a similar budget as the Abisko) I do love hanging out in the tent. ⛺️

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.

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.