Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Tent

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Tent:

The Copper Spur SL 2 is a well designed and highly useful tent for those who desire a sturdy, light, but highly functional ultralight for backpacking. After copious research my decision came down to either the Hubba Hubba XP or the CS-SL2. Both tents represent some of the best overall design, performance, and functionality in a lightweight two person backpacker tent. I went with the Copper Spur SL2 and have no regret. The workmanship on both tents is of a high standard. As of this review I am still a short term user and really need a full season for a complete review but I have been backpacking since 1974 and the Copper Spur design has managed to addressed nearly all my thoughts on how to improve a lightweight 2 person tent. Several more active backpacking seasons will atest to whether this tent is as durable as it should be. Every ounce counts for me and true to form I put the CP-SL2 on a very accurate scale and found the packed weight to be 3 lbs and 12 ounces. I am 200 lbs and 6 feet 1 inches tall and it still has enough room for my teenage boy scout son and I to sleep comfortable, warm, and dry. If a backpacker desires more room they will have to settle for more weight and bulk. I have not had problems with the center tent pole extending too far out from the doors. The center pole was well designed to be optimal for rain fly coverage and gear storage under the vestibule. I agree with one of the reviews that state that it is unfortunate that such a tent of this quality is not produced in the U.S. The same can be said for nearly all of the other high grade tents too including the Hubba Hubba tents. However, Big Agnes has produced a gem of a tent. I hope this review is useful for others.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Tent:

Had to replace my REI quarterdome UL2, which I loved. The new version had many changes that I did not like. The Copper Spur has the features of the the UL2 plus more. I do not like a tent that is all mesh, because when the wind comes up I feel unprotected as it blows under the vestibule. The copper spur has just enough solid fabric around the bottom to be enclosed but enough mesh to breathe well and give great ventilation. It is a snap to set up, and I like the rainfly clipping onto the tent rather than placing the grommets under the poles of the tent. On my first trip into the desert we had monsoon rains and very powerful winds. The tent held up well and no water came inside the tent, and the vestibule provided dry protection for my gear. It weighs less than my former tent and was comfortable for two people (both female, might be a little small for large men). The crossbar on top gives more headroom than a dome tent.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Tent:

I used this tent for my AT thru-hike last year (2009) and loved it. I am a little over 6'3'' and I like my space, but not extra weight. I chose this tent after considering tarps, hammocks, etc. I chose this for the ample size, bug protection, panoramic view w/o fly, and ease of set up. It was very nice to have a quick set up when tired or dealing with rain. I also have the Emerald Mtn. SL3, which is much the same but w/o the extra side protection. This does make a difference in keeping out wind and rain, especially in heavy rain events. I like the venting of this tent in the wet,humid, hot days, but every once in a while a rogue drop will manage to come in the vent. I don't know how, but it does occasionally happen in torrential rain storms. The one con to this tent was that the fly broke in a heavy wind event at the base of Mt. Katahdin on my last night on the trail. The wind was over 45mph at times however, so I can't complain too much about that. It was a steallr tent and many others had it on the AT as well. I even had a fellow hiker with the SL1 version say he wished he had gotten the SL2. It is big enough for two average people but don't count on two big guys/girls. I would have given it a 5 star rating but the fly could use some reinforcement I suppose. It is pricey but nice.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Tent:

Its only major drawback, extremely disappointing for me, and ultimately making in useless in a practical sense was some type of chemical residue coating all the fabric parts of tent. I assume it has something to do with waterproofing. You can feel it on your hands after handling the tent which was a bit disconcerting. That alone I could deal with but this residue makes the fabric stick to the poles when erected so that any light breeze makes the fabric emit popping noises as it rubs on the poles. This becomes so loud in higher winds 10mph+ that it made it literally impossible to sleep. I can only liken it to sound of very heavy water drops falling from a tree onto your tent, it was torture.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Tent:

This is a really good tent. I have used it in all configurations and it is nice and lightweight. Only gripe is it is a tight fit with 2 men. Fine for one or a couple but a little ockward spooning anotherguy.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Tent:

Went on a week bike tour in Arizona and Utah last week and the tent was very roomy and set up quickly. We had to do some stealth camping and it was nice not having a bright rain fly for everyone to see. One draw back was that we had some high winds and the steaks didn't hold the vestibule down at all, so it was flapping in the wind. Other then that the is awesome.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Tent:

I love this tent and don't get why people downplay this tent. I am 6'2"and have plenty of room with some to spare. yes, it is snug for two people but you have plenty of room to do whatever so what do you expect? It's a light weight backpacking tent. if you are not comfortable sleeping that close with someone then get a bigger tent or go for a solo tent. set up is super easy. my fist time setting it up took less then 15min by myself. the weight is good enough i wouldn't even mind rocking it solo just to have a good freestanding tent and lots of room to sprawl out. impressed with the construction and the venting of the tent. condensation should never be a problem. all in all, superb tent.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Tent:

This is a great tent, I'm not going to duplicate all the other positives about this tent in other reviews. But I will add my insight to some negatives posted. The tent floor itself does not match its stated dimensions as noted by another reviewer. But this is not exclusive to this tent or manufacturer so shouldn't be considered as negative. All manufacturers use the outside dimensions which includes the staking corners. this is industry standard and the inside floor area will as a consequence be smaller. I do wish they made a plus size of this tent. Also another reviewer stated a slimy feel. I believe this is due to the silicone impregnated nylon (silnylon) which is slippery to the touch. This fabric is used throughout the tent (which is why it costs more) and is way more superior to a pu coated fabric. Siliconized nylon allows it to be permanently waterproof as pu coatings will eventually wear off. It also allows a lighter denier nylon to be used because the silicone increases the tear strength of the nylon to match higher denier fabrics. But it shouldn't leave any residue. The door hinging on the bottom is a small annoyance rather than a deal breaker. You can always put the door inside the tent instead of putting it outside in the dirt but I agree that a side hinge would have been better.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Tent:

Was considering a purchase of the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 based on advertised dimensions of 90 inch length, 42 X 52 inch width. Thankfully, REI had a store in Anchorage with a Copper Spur 2 in stock. Once set up on the showroom floor, the interior dimensions were not even close to the listed specs. What a sham.

The usable interior length, when fitted with a ThermaRest ground pad to smooth out the floor and provide perspective, was slightly less than 80 inches when measured with a steel tape measure. 80"!!! For heaven sake!

A regular length mummy bag would be crammed head to foot - with the resulting dampness from condensation soaking your bag. The width was less than advertised as well by a couple inches (40" X 50"), but the listed 42 X 52 doesn't give much room for leeway and still remain a viable 2 man tent.

Shame on you guys. Why design and build something too small and then market it as being larger than it is - why not just build it right in the first place?

Keep shopping, unless you are looking for a short, one man tent.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Tent:

So I bought this tent based on years of hearing about BA tents, the amazing light weight and design features and lots of experience with other tents. I never considered spending this kind of money on a three season tent, but as I've gotten older every ounce counts. I opted for the UL2 over the UL1 as I thought I'd be too cramped in the UL1 when out for a week at a time. When I set the tent up in my living room I know I made the right choice. Advertised as 90 inches long this tent, staked out is 82 at most and that is generous. The width is also less than advertised, 47 by 42. I don't know how the company can misrepresent dimensions. This tent would be very cramped for two adults. I don't know how other reviewers talk about it being so roomy. Since I plan on using it as a solo tent this may not be a real problem, but it is disappointing. Caveat Emptor!