Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent

Comments about Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent:

it does depend on your uses and with whom. I used it on a 4-night section hike of the PCT last summer, and I loved the roominess compared to a 1-person tent; I'm 6'2", 210 # and the only thing that touched the ends was my stuff sack pillow when it rolled off the pad. I just wish REI would either give the full floor dimensions or the floor plan like at the BA website because the 52" width they show is only at the head, and the foot is 42". Doing the math, it would be tight with 2 20" pads and not much space between at the head. This doesn't provide any "elbow" room for two larger adults, but a thru-hiker would be most interested in light weight whereas at age 72, I'm a little more into the comfort aspect! Like other reviewers, the cost and the "D" doors were very appealing to my budget and comfort. Also, I like that it has some fabric for the lower half, which provides a little privacy and some wind protection, but still vents well. I can live with it being 1/2 pound heavier than the Copper Spur UL2 and the footprint only added another 6-oz. For me, the tent is the right combo of weight/size/cost and it couldn't be easier to set-up and take down. As for the pole length, I just strap it to the side of my pack and the tent itself compresses down very nicely. The only reason I give it 4 stars is that REI's definition for 5 stars is "Perfect, couldn't be any better", and that's how I would rate it for me, but everyone has different priorities, plus it could be better if BA made the Copper Spur with the Jackrabbit doors!

Comments about Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent:

I was looking for a few things in a tent. 1) Lightweight for backpacking 2) Not too pricey 3) I wanted a 2 man tent for a little extra comfort but not too much extra weight and bulk.

I am pleased to say the Jackrabbit fulfilled all my requirements.

Packed up, it is easily small enough to put in my backpack. When I was considering my options I had thought of getting the Hubba Hubba but the Jackrabbit packs up much smaller.

I've taken it on two car camping trips so far and am very pleased with it. It stays nice and warm inside compared to outside. The two rainfly vestibules give you a very large amount of space outside the tent to put your backpack, shoes etc without them getting wet. There are two mesh pockets, one in each corner of one end of the tent where you can put your keys, cell phone, etc.

It is very easy to set up. Only takes a few minutes. The rainfly has color coded tabs on the corners to easily tell which direction it should be turned prior to hooking it down.

The only concern I have is that the floor is so thin, I worry about tearing it. However, so long as I am cautious it shouldnt be an issue. Instead of purchasing the official footprint for it, I've purchased a small thin blue tarp to use as a footprint in order to save some money.

I havent had a chance to test it in extreme wind or rain so I can't reveiw those factors. I did have some light rain during one of my trips and it did fine with that. I also had a two day trip in the mountains where the temps dropped down into the 30's at night. The inside temp was easily 20 degrees warmer than out.

Comments about Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent:

The tent is good so far. I took it out on an overnight at Coast Camp in Point Reyes. It was really foggy and windy. Perhaps I am seeking perfection, but I was a little disappointed that there was a little bit of condensation in the tent. Not enough condensation to drip on me until I moved around in the tent and shook it loose. That small amount of condensation is the only reason that I am giving this tent four stars instead of five. Otherwise, it is easy to set up, lightweight, and it all fits together nicely in the tent stuff pack, even with the footprint! Although the drab color of the tent might not look bright and cool in the backyard, it blends in perfectly in the wilderness. It feels more like you're in the woods when you don't see a bright yellow tent in the campsite next to you.

Comments about Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent:

Very pleased with this tent. Setup was simple and quick. Preformed well in spring and fall like temperatures. The dual vestibules are very handy when one of the occupants needs to step out while the other is still asleep. It can get a bit crowded inside if stowing your gear and packs in as well, but that is the choice between weight and a bigger tent. For me this is a great two person tent.

Comments about Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent:

We took this new tent with us on a small backpacking trip and it was amazing! Night and day difference from our previous tent. With it being a 2-man, it is a little tight, but not unreasonably so. My spouse and I both fit comfortably in the tent with our two dogs. The vestibule space was ample enough for our shoes and packs. The tent already came with the seams sealed, so that saved us an extra step - but we did buy the fly since the tent material is a bit thin.

Overall the tent performed much better than I expected. If you sleep in it with the fly zipped shut, it was WAY too hot in the summer, but unzipped it would be very comfortable. I think we will enjoy this tent year round. Did I mention it took us a matter of minutes to get it set-up? It was so easy! We are very happy with our purchase.

Comments about Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent:

The tent is used primarily for scout campouts, which include a few backpacking trips each year. I have had this tent in all types of conditions. From 20 degrees with high humidity, to hot dry summer nights. I have also been in moderate rain showers without any leaking. One main difference I found with this tent compared to many other tents is the floor pan turns up the side wall about 1 foot, which keeps out sand or dirt in windy conditions. The full rainfly when staked out properly allows for adequate airflow. The foot end of the tent is not as wide so this could be a concern for some campers. I have used this tent with a low profile cot on longer campouts and the near vertical sidewalls give you plenty of room for one person. The tent is great for backpacking if you like to store your gear inside the tent. The hubbed pole system works well, and complete setup is under 10 minutes. The color coded corner tabs on ground cloth, tent, and fly make setup really easy. There are certainly lighter weight tents available, but the extra hundred $ to lose one pound is not worth it. The extra pound of weight in this tent can be found in the sturdier poles, fabric, etc. This tent may not be for the ultra light backpacker, but if you are looking for a great multi-use tent for one person you should check this tent out. It can also work for 2 people..... if you really like each other.

Comments about Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent:

So far I'm very pleased with the Jack Rabbit SL2. The design is overall very solid, with one possible improvement (later).
The tent, fly, poles, stakes, plus footprint and six extra Ground Hog stakes weighed in just under 5 pounds. The pole lengths pack down about 2 inches shorter than my previous tent, so I now have the option of dropping the whole tent bag in my pack, without having to separate out items.
I bought the tent intending for it to be my tent, for just me, but with enough room that I could bring along one of my sons, or on a long hike possibly share with another adult. The Jack Rabbit SL2 has enough space for this. While it would be somewhat tight for two adults I think you could pull it off. The vestibules have a good amount of space. Gear stayed dry and generally fit without getting too wet if you opened the rainfly to get in/out. I have plenty of room for just myself. I'm 6'1" and had room to sit up without hitting the top. Laying down I did not have issues with my head or feet hitting the sidewalls. The design allows for good sidewalls, somewhat straight compared to a typical dome or three pole design. The single connected dog bone pole system seems very solid and was not difficult to setup.
I just returned from a 5 day/4 night trip where we saw a day with rain, a thunderstorm, gusting winds (up to 30 mph), and then another night with 8 hours of steady rain. Temperatures at night dropped down to the low 30s. The tent held up great. With everything staked and guyed out properly the tend did not move. I did not notice any flapping or noise from the rainfly. With the fly pulled down the inside of the tent was pretty warm at night, around 50 - even though it was in the low 30s outside.
One possible improvement could have been to extend the cross pole (and fly) another couple inches on both sides so that they extend a little further past the tent door when opened. I did cause some rain to get into the tent when I got in and out with water dripping down from the fly then into the tent. You can tell that Big Agnes may have considered this because there is no issue if the tent door is closed, and rainfly unzipped, because the water would drip on the sidewall of the tent, and not the meshing. This was my only nit (wish I could give 4 1/2 stars).
So far I'm very pleased with my purchase. BTW, I selected the Jack Rabbit SL2 over the Copper Spur because the Jack Rabbit SL2 was about $100 less, had a little more material which made me feel better about the tent holding up, and the Jack Rabbit SL2 has "D" style doors - I did not like the roll down doors of the Copper Spur. My trade off between the two tents was the addition of almost a pound with the Jack Rabbit SL2, nonetheless this is still a very light tent.
This is my first impression after my first time out with the tent. I look forward to using without the rainfly once the weather warms and we get past the rainy season.

Comments about Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent:

This is a great tent for one person. It is a two person tent by decription but I bought it for one man use. Two people would be very crowded in this tent. The side entry is fantastic! No ducking and climbing over your gear to get in. very easy set up, maybe 2 minutes. The only negative thing I would say is that the floor is very thin. I have a backpacking cot and I am afraid it will puncture the floor on this tent. Even on fairly smooth ground the sand or gravel seems to what to come thru. REI makes a footprint for this tent, and that will be my next purchase for this reason. All in all it is the best backbacking tent I have ever owned! I have tried a lot of cheaper tents but you get what you pay for. Very roomy, for one, and a great design!!

Comments about Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent:

I originally bought the BA Copper Spur 2, which is truly the perfect 2 person tent. However, this Jackrabbit 2 is virtually the same tent but much much cheaper ($120 less). The Jackrabbit is a half pound heavier than the copper spur, but besides that and a couple inches of length, they're the same tent. My girlfriend and I just got back from a 4 day Grand Canyon trip. I was a bit nervous about it being too small, but it turned out to be plenty of room for us. We slept full nights without bumping into each other at all. The dual vestibules are amazing. Great Tent. Super light. Great value. Buy with Confidence.

Comments about Big Agnes Jack Rabbit SL2 Tent:

I bought this and the Copper Spur UL2 to compare. The weight difference between the two is 8 oz, otherwise they are very similar size but the Jackrabbit is $120 cheaper. Not being one to cut straps from my backpacks to lighten the load I was hoping I could save some dough and still get a tent that will fit me (6'1") without my feet or head touching the ends and roomy vestibules to comfortably store two packs and two pairs of shoes.No such luck. The main drawback of the Jackrabbit is that the pole sections are too long and are the main driver of the 21" packed width. There really is no way around it, and stuffing those inside a smaller pack would be awkward. I pulled the tent out of the stuff sack, saw the poles, put everything back in the sack and off it goes back to REI.I think that this tent makes a viable alternative to the Quarter Dome T2 Plus, particularly since it addresses my main complaint about the new Quarterdome models --- mesh is too low so you end up with dust in your face at windy dry locations. However, I will be spending the extra $120 and keeping the Copper Spur instead.