Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent:

Unlike some of the other big agnes tents, this one has pretty much the square footage advertised. The tent floor is a rectangle measured as follows, when tightly staked out,: 88in long, 69in wide in middle, 71in wide on one end and 70in wide on the other. Center height was 40in.

Color coded black and white clip guides make for easy, quick rainfly attachment. It's nice to not have to spend time figuring out which sides have the doors and so on, just match the colors and you are good to go.

The rain fly has back and front vents that can be opened or closed as needed. An additional, non-advertised feature is when the vents are open you can see out of them like little windows. This means with the rain fly on, one can see outside the tent 360 degrees via the front and back vents/almost windows, and by unzipping the vestibules. As a nature lover, who wants to see critters, this is an awesome unexpected feature.

We were really worried about the doors needing to be opened down (this was probably the biggest reason we didn't want to buy the tent) but this was not an issue at all. We were able to get into and out of the tent without needing to unzip the door completely as might be expected. On my first try I was able to get into the tent easily by unzipping the door partially with one hand while holding a pb&j sandwich, water bottle, folded mats and measuring tape in the other hand. By not unzipping the door all the way to the ground, the tent floor stays cleaner inside, another cool perk.

On the inside there are 3 hooks across the top, 4 hooks on the back and front i.e. 12 hooks for gear. There are 4 upper gear storage areas and 4 lower i.e. 8 total places inside to store your gear.

Unlike the fly creek's not so clear whitish tent mesh, this mesh, despite being black, allows for an almost clear view outside, depending on the angle. Even at the worst angle you can still see outside with way more clarity than the fly creek and thus you will have no trouble spying critters at night, something you just can't do in the fly creek. There are times when it almost looked like there was no mesh at all. I was quite blown away by this.

The interior room is outstanding. At no time did the two of us have space issues; touch the near vertical tent walls or feel pushed against the walls trying to stay out of each other's way. If using this tent with 2 people it will feel like a castle space wise (as compared to other ultra light 3 person tents). The large size could be problematic, as it makes it harder to find a flat, level space big enough to accommodate the footprint and the staked out vestibules.

While trying to fall asleep I kept feeling a tickle on my shoulder (like a bug on me), it turned out to be the zipper ties of the tent door sticking out and touching my shoulder. I just moved them up a bit.

The tent poles are a bit longer than the fly creek and depending on how you fold them up can be even longer due to the tri intersections. I wish I had paid more attention to the folded configuration when taking the tent out for the first time. I'm still figuring out the best way to keep the poles, when packed, as short as possible. The poles do fit in my ortlieb bags that go on my mountain bike rack, so it's not a huge problem.

For the time being, to save money, we are using an older smaller rei footprint and just putting it under the mid-section of the tent from door to door (the most utilized area of the floor). Just a tip for those on a budget.

I wish the tent floor was more of a bathtub bottom, instead you can see the waterproof tape and seem going down the tent floor in two places, (something that will wear with time).

As we live in Texas we love the no heat retention of the tent, as it makes summer camping more doable, but if you live in colder climates you might have to up your sleeping gear, warmth wise.

In summary, the tent is crazy expensive but worth the price for the insane amount of room it offers for the weight and way cool features discussed above.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent:

We've used this tent in a lot of different conditions, but the most intense was on a five-day hike in Los Dientes de Navarino, the southern-most hike in the world in Tierra del Fuego, Chile. We encountered 40 mile an hour winds, a blizzard and torrential rains. Every night I woke up amazed that our tent was still standing. Seriously. At times, the only thing keeping us from blowing away was our combined weight in the tent, but nothing collapsed - impressive. Then, the night of the big rain, I woke up to find that we were pitched in 2 inches of standing water - but not a drop came in the tent - how could the floor be that water-tight? Again, I was amazed. The tent sets up very easily once you get used to the color coded system, it comes down fast once you develop a technique, the openings work well, the fly doesn't sag and there are nice pockets inside to hold flasks of Drambuie. What more can one ask for?

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent:

I have had this tent for about two years now- Used it several times in Texas, Colorado, and Utah... Its great because of the weight- it packs very light and is a good tent over all. Was disappointed with the gear lofts and the overall lack of space and storage in the tent. My GF is under a hundred pounds, I am average male size- we sleep in a double sleeping bag and I wouldnt want to put an additional person in the tent.

Its not as firm on the ground like other tents- meaning that the fabric on the bottom doesnt seem as nicely defined and firm as other tents I own.

Great air circulation.. Even with the fly on- On a nice clear night- we take off the fly and get to see the stars!

I also have a NF- Mountain 35 Season tent- and I am fearful that I compare too much to that tent...

I do like this tent- I use it a lot- but its not my go to tent unless its a nice warm trip and I dont want to pull out other tents.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent:

I've had this tent now for a year, so figured it was time to write a review. I've used this tent on tons of backpacking trips, in pretty much all weather conditions except snow. When properly staked out, this tent is bombproof. Wind/Rain are not a problem at all. It also breathes really well, so condensation is never an issue. I use it as a solo tent because it's so light but have also had another person in it with me with lots of room left over. I figure it could sleep three average sized humans comfortably, and the twin doors and vestibules are awesome for easy access, day or night.

Super easy to set up, take down and stow. As I said above, the tent is super light on the trail and can easily be distributed between two with no idea it's even in your pack. I carry it solo. I never notice the weight because I pack out around 30-32 lbs with all gear, including food. If anything, you can't help but not notice an orange stuff sack in your pack but you'll never feel the weight unless your a minimalist. I use a Gregory Baltoro 75 that I've also reviewed on here.

Fantastic tent from a fantastic company.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent:

Great tent. It's light, packs up well, very roomy inside and is just overall bomb proof! I've taken it out on so many trips now and not one issue yet.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent:

Wanted something lightweight but large enough for 2 people. This solved the problem. Backpacking in your mid sixties the pack starts to get a little heavy. This is one part of the solution, lessen the weight of your tent. Could not find a lighter tent anywhere near this sale price.
First set up was easy. Can be done in about 5 minutes or less by a single individual. With help it is quicker.

First trip was the high Sierras, 11,000'. Packs compactly. Feels a bit flimsy but holds up well. it was quite windy and the tent did not flutter enough to cause me any loss of sleep. One morning I did have frost on the under side of the rain fly, most probably from condensation. The inside of the tent was dry. It rained one day and night and the tent stayed completely dry.
I am very happy with this tent, it will extend my hiking range.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent:

This tent packs out well under 5 lbs including a foot print and extra stakes. We use this as a two person tent and the weight splits pretty evenly two way. It has more than enough room for tall folks and the vestibules are plenty big enough for your gear. I would give the tent 5 stars if it weren't for the the door zippers. You have to open the doors all the way and climb over the unzipped doors to enter and exit, which isn't ideal in areas with bad insect problems. Occasionally the zippers take two hands to unzip due to the lightweight materials, but its a fair trade off for the weight savings.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent:

My wife and I bought this tent 4 months ago for weekend adventures and longer backpack/mountaineering trips. So far, we love it. It's extremely roomy for the weight--plenty of room for two tall adults (we're 6'2" and 5'8") and extra gear. It's easy to imagine packing three adults in there if needed. It's an awesome step up from our old Hubba Hubba (and the old REI two-man) in terms of space and the comfort that comes with it.

In regard to weight, I always smile when I pack it up. It's incredibly light. Big Agnes is to be commended for figuring out such an impressive weight-to-strength solution.

Strength doesn't seem to be an issue when the fly is tied down well. That said, we haven't taken it to howling winds and heavy snow yet. The true test is yet to come. I don't have many doubts though. It seems very solid.

Overall, we're thrilled with our purchase. It's pricey, but you'll be happy you spent the money.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent:

We've taken this tent on 3 weeklong backpacking trips over the past year and I'm impressed. The tent is perfect for two tall people, the fly vestibule on both sides is large enough to cover a full backpack and boots and still get in the tent, and the tent is about a third the weight of my old Sierra Design dome tent with about the same footprint.
I haven't had the tent out in a bad storm so I can't comment on whether the light weight design would be compromised by extreme wind conditions. However, I wouldn't expect this tent to be as durable overall as heavier tents. Also, with a light mesh top, this tent is most suitable for summer camping.
Its possible to rig the rain fly to cover half of the tent for a quick cover up if it starts to sprinkle in the middle of the night. I love watching the stars through the mesh top.
Hard to think of how they could improve the design - we used the internal loops on the inside to rig up laundry lines that work well for hanging damp socks and shirts.
Because of the light weight floor material, I use a Tyvek footprint to minimize wear and would not bring footwear into the interior of the tent at all.

Comments about Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 Tent:

Great Tent! A little background: I spend a desent amount of time in a tent ~one month a year. So I didn't mind spending a little more money. I'm over 6' so I was looking for something with a little extra space. I also got this tent with the intent of getting into backpacking. I was looking for a 2+ 3 person tent under 5lbs. Looked at all the major manufactuers and some of the lesser known. I felt like this was the best option for me looking for something larger then a single ultra light but with the light weight feature. I was really impressed with the pole structure design and strength.

My only complaint, if you would call it that. Is that after spending several nights in it and some time in the rain. I'd like the doors to open sideways not toward the ground. Still not that big of a deal.

Def worth the price (find it on sale) Awesome tent