How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2 mtnGLO Tent
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Winner of Backpacker magazine's 2015 Editors' Choice Award for its built-in LED lighting, this ultralight 2-person, 3-season backpacking tent will brighten up your backcountry trips.
Shop similar products- mtnGLO™ Tent Lighting Technology features LED lights integrated into the tent body, so you can experience ambient light in your shelter with the click of a button
- LED light strand is durable and flexible enough to withstand repeated tent pitching and stuffing
- LEDs illuminate the interior of your tent with 90+ hrs. of hands-free light to sort gear, read, eat and play cards without blinding your friend with a headlamp
- Simple push-button controller has 3 settings: on, off and 50% brightness; requires 3 AAA batteries (sold separately)
- 2 doors and 2 vestibules; stormflaps on vestibule zippers
- DAC Featherlite NSL and NFL poles with lightweight hubs; steep walls and crossover pole increase interior living space
- 2 media pockets located above sleeping area enable clean earbud cord routing from phones or other devices; 4 interior mesh pockets keep small items organized
- Gear loft loops are compatible with Big Agnes Entertainment Center and PowerCase mtnGLO gear lofts (sold separately)
- All seams taped with waterproof, solvent-free polyurethane tape (no PVC or VOCs)
- Reflective guylines and webbing on tent corners
- Comes with 8 Superlight aluminum J stakes
- Save weight and create a minimalist shelter by using just the rainfly, poles and footprint (sold separately)
| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 3-season |
| Sleeping Capacity | 2-person |
| Minimum Trail Weight | 2 lbs. 14 oz. |
| Fly / Footprint Pitch Weight | 2 lbs. 3 oz. |
| Packaged Weight | 3 lbs. 4 oz. |
| Packed Size | 5.5 x 17.5 inches |
| Floor Dimensions | 90 x 52/42 (L x W head/foot) inches |
| Floor Area | 29 square feet |
| Vestibule Area | 9 + 9 square feet |
| Peak Height | 42 inches |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors |
| Number of Poles | 2 |
| Pole Material | Aluminum DAC Featherlite NSL |
| Pole Diameter | 8.7 millimeters |
| Canopy Fabric | Nylon/polyester mesh |
| Floor Fabric | Ripstop nylon |
| Rainfly Fabric | Ripstop nylon |
| Footprint Included | No |
| Ultralight | Yes |
| Design Type | Freestanding |
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Great gets better!
Yasha10 years ago
Great tent just got better with a light switch at your fingertips.
Adding only 3oz.to last season’s Copper Spur UL2.
Testing this tent this winter 2015 Sierra Nevada week ago. The tent held up nicely with no trouble handling the 35-MPH gusts of wind as we were in unsettled weather pattern up here. Some mix of light rain and snow at 9k we were very comfortable for the two nights in the exposed area. This tent pitches very easily in the wind and was up in less than 5, completely guying out the wall movement was minimal during the windy nights.
"Let there be light" not enough to read a book but all we could ask for when it comes to convenience of moving around in the dark and keeping things manageable. This tent it very light and some reviews have said the materials used are easily damaged. It is true that ultralight tens general are more delicate than older heavier versions yet this being my second Copper Spur I disagree with the assertions that they are not reliable ,my two are in perfect shape my first having 3 seasons mostly summer and about 40 days.
Technology has continually advanced yet over the last twenty years very few have been what a call an industry leap, those items that have are now indispensable.
So when it comes to many of my recommendations and endorsements I take a practical view with an eye for the quality commitment and consistence of the companies that values are not prone to the latest fad.
Bid Agnes is a fine family owed company that stands behind their product.
Yasha
Lake Tahoe
81 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Not for extended expedition journeys
mankiva9 years ago
This tent is not for longer, extended travel especially international, because it has a limited lifespan as a light weight tent.
Six months of extended use, this tent has proven fragile but maintainable. Virtually all the materials of the tent have experienced fatigue and stress with daily use in a 150 night period! Big Agnes extends great customer service and has replaced the inner tent because of holes worn in the mosquito netting, worn out broken pole hubs, and a failing, shorting out lighting power module. They recommend seam sealing the tent when the rain fly begins to leak. REI does not carry parts for this light weight and fragile tent. I am on an extended adventure and don't have time to deal with an REI return or exchange. In my case it is definitely a candidate for an REI return once my journey is done.
On the good side, the tent is a great light weight, very livable, functional and comfortable space as a solo shelter for an extended period of time. The double vestibules are a very sweet feature for gear storage and cooking. I would not consider sharing this space with another person as it would be very tight and unaccommodating.
The tent sheds high winds of 60-80 mph very well, as well as heavy rain and light snow. It does not do well with heavy, wet springtime snow.
The rainfly regularly collects condensation in varied conditions, however the inner tent remains very dry consistently. The fly and floor do dry quickly while packing up.The two doors can be opened when the conditions allow for great ventilation.
This tent has about a 150 night, maintenance free usage lifespan and probably double that with part replacements. This is because of it's light weight materials. Also, my experience includes almost no UV wear and tear because it has been mostly packed up during the sunlit periods. I am sure these materials are impacted by UV light if you'd leave it set up much. That may shorten it's lifespan even more.
I will recommend this tent for casual or light weight use only but not for extended or fully committed use.
mankiva
Boulder, CO, United States
27 people found this review helpful
Customer Images
Oldman Biker Hiker
Portland, OR
Light is gimmicky, Tent is great
10 years ago
Bought this tent because I sometimes need to stealth camp on bike tours and did not want the giant orange flag of the non-mt glo version. I've used it a couple of days in mild weather. This is a nice color for setting back in the trees. The built in light does nothing for me because you cannot read by it. I have a headlamp in the pocket anyway, it has red LED on it, and I don't see the advantage of LED lighting that you cannot read with. Used it once, turned it off and turned on my headlamp. The tent itself is perfect, it has all the right features and is great for either backpacking or bikepacking. Pros: Lightweight Packs down small Easy setup / teardown Zippers work well (be half careful with the fly zipper so it doesn't catch) Great venting on hot nights sans fly Roomy for 1, OK for two, dual doors to access two vestibules gives lots of space. Plenty of pockets for kindle, lights, phones, snacks. Excellent color Cons: Light is permanently sown in. Might be of value to some but not to me, I prefer a headlamp. Ground sheet is uber expensive. I ended up with a piece of Tyvek.
Yes , I recommend this product
eyly22
Long Beach, CA
Love it!
8 years ago
So far this little tent has impressed me! Was out in the desert a few weeks ago with high and cold winds. This tent stayed standing and blocked the winds much better than I ever expected...especially for a light weight tent. My husband and I had plenty of room and never felt crowded. The mountain glo feature is nice but definitely not necessary, plenty of pockets for small lanterns or head lamps. Wasn't a huge fan of the steaks but surprisingly they held up well. Also as others have mentioned, the foot print is a little pricey..never understood why those weren't included? Either way, still love the tent.
Zerch
Wisconsin, United States
Great tent
10 years ago
Bought this tent for a spring hike at Pictured Rocks in Upper Peninsula Michigan. Spent 4 nights in temps falling into the 30s. Tent did a great job of venting out the moisture and keeping dry on the inside. I also purchased the footprint and I like how the footprint, the poles, tent, and rain fly all have color coordinated clips so assembly is super easy. Had one night of rain, but again stayed dry and warm. The mtn glow feature is effective and does light up the inside of the tent. I was skeptical about the added weight and durability of the light, but am impressed that it can get rolled up, stuffed, etc and won't damage the lights or the tent. I am going to store with the batteries out just so they don't leak and damage the tent. Truthfully, the lights are a nice to have, not a need to have. I gave 4 stars because it seemed a bit tight for being a two person tent. I am 6'1 and 185lbs and fit perfectly - I think two adults my size would be pushing the sides. But would fit with one of my kids. It was extremely comfortable for just me on a solo hike.
Yes , I recommend this product
Yasha
Lake Tahoe
Great gets better!
10 years ago
Great tent just got better with a light switch at your fingertips. Adding only 3oz.to last season’s Copper Spur UL2. Testing this tent this winter 2015 Sierra Nevada week ago. The tent held up nicely with no trouble handling the 35-MPH gusts of wind as we were in unsettled weather pattern up here. Some mix of light rain and snow at 9k we were very comfortable for the two nights in the exposed area. This tent pitches very easily in the wind and was up in less than 5, completely guying out the wall movement was minimal during the windy nights. "Let there be light" not enough to read a book but all we could ask for when it comes to convenience of moving around in the dark and keeping things manageable. This tent it very light and some reviews have said the materials used are easily damaged. It is true that ultralight tens general are more delicate than older heavier versions yet this being my second Copper Spur I disagree with the assertions that they are not reliable ,my two are in perfect shape my first having 3 seasons mostly summer and about 40 days. Technology has continually advanced yet over the last twenty years very few have been what a call an industry leap, those items that have are now indispensable. So when it comes to many of my recommendations and endorsements I take a practical view with an eye for the quality commitment and consistence of the companies that values are not prone to the latest fad. Bid Agnes is a fine family owed company that stands behind their product.
Yes , I recommend this product
ManDogBearPig
Columbia, SC
This tent is AWESOME
9 years ago
Ok so first of all let me say that I bought this version of the tent over the regular copper spur2 simply because it was on sale and only a few bucks more. I am an avid backpacker and outdoorsman and ex Infantry Soldier with camping throughout MI, MN, PA, NC, and now SC with plenty of experience using no tent at all. I say that only to illustrate the fact that I do have experience in camping with tents and with no shelter at all. At first the thought of the lights was kinda hookie to say the least but after using them a couple times, I now appreciate what they have to offer. They literally eliminate the entire interior of the tent in a very user friendly way. Not a blinding you in the middle of the night way.That being said lets go with the review. This may be kinda lengthy but when paying this price for a tent I personally did quite a bit of research prior to buying, so have at it if you please. Weight... what can I say yes there are lighter tents out there but after owning this one for this past spring/summer I have to say at just a bit over 3lbs it is worth its weight in gold. The material is thin and I must admit it was slightly concerning at first of tears or punctures. However after 5 uses on varied terrain there have been no issues. Also the light weight thin material packs down SMALL (more to follow) Packing...I personally use a tactical style backpack designed as a rifle scabbard. I really love the design because it is functional and I can store many things in the scabbard such as my Axe, Saw, poles etc... that doesn't take up precious room in the 33L pack area. That being said with the poles and steaks packed in this scabbard the tent in the back with the fly squishes down to about the size of a cantaloupe mellon. Thus allowing it to be packed just about anywhere in your pack. Size... Ok so this was a factor that I saw on several reviews that almost swayed me away from this tent. I am 6'4" and weigh in at 200 on the money. I have read that people said it was too tight length wise and width as well. My GF is 5'9" and the two of us fit in this tent just fine. As for the length well I personally think it was more than spacious for my slightly tall self. No complaints at all for that department. Width...yes it fits two mattresses in it snuggly so don't expect extra room to frolic about but it is by no means cramped...provided you are not a slightly tubby person. Versatility... Setting this tent up is simpler than taking twist tie off a bag of already sliced bread and removing a piece to eat. Seriously I set it up once without the instructions when I first got it to check it out. My GF who is not by any means an avid camper and is just getting into it then set it up by herself on her first trip with me. So needless to say it is very simple. The poles go together quickly and easily so I'm really not sure how someone broke one by putting it together. Also it does come with a splint just incase Murphy is along for the trip. Also the steaks it comes with I was planning on replacing with MSRs but after using them I really have no complaints. I still carry a couple MSR just incase but as of yet no problems. Next up continuing the versatility is the Fly. I really like the design of the fly that zips down the middle and either side can be staked out. This allows you to open the vestibule either from the head or foot on both sides. This came in handy last week when I was out and there was a very slight SC breeze that can only be detected with some sort of NASA tech gear. Anyway I was able to open the foot end and let the breeze come in the tent and the head end on the other side giving nice cross ventilation. Storage... there are a ton of tie off points inside the tent where you can clip or tie things to hang. also each side has 3 pockets at the head end making a total of 6 for you non math folks. Two on each side up in the mesh as you can see in the photo, and then another one can be slightly seen about half way down the wall of the tent by the logo. All very handy locations. Complaints... Ok so the only issue I have with this tent is the same issue I think most people have with most tents. Its sure the same issue I have had with my tents in the past. The fabric likes to jump in the path of the zipper when closing the flaps. I say this only because I want to make all aware that problem is here but it really isn't a big deal if you use your finger to keep the material out of the way. Lastly...I do not have the footprint as of yet. Currently I am using a small emergency blanket/tarp as the ground cloth. eventually I will spring for the fitted footprint but I am in no rush. In conclusion this tent is Awesome. I hummed and haaaed over this for almost 6 months before I finally pulled the trigger on it. I have to say I really wish I would have done it years ago because it is a fantastic tent and I would recommend it to anyone. Happy camping.
sbjenni
Palo Alto, CA, United States
Would be perfect with a few minor improvements
8 years ago
I considered the mtnGLO version, but ended up buying the non-illuminated Copper Spur UL 2. The added lighting in the mtnGlo contributes only an ounce to the package weight, but bear in mind that it does require an external power supply (as in BATTERIES which are relatively HEAVY). Lots to like about the basic Copper Spur UL 2, and other reviewers have raved about these qualities, so I will mention just two pet-peeves with Big Agnes: 1. The included tent stakes are of poor design (you'll see what I mean on a windy night in poor soil as the stakes either pull out, or your guy strings playfully flip off because the notch is on the wrong side). To "fix" this I'm buying a set of far-superior MSR Mini Ground Hog stakes. 2. A properly fitted ground cloth from Big Agnes is a ridiculously expensive accessory that should be included, in my opinion.
No, I do not recommend this product
mankiva
Boulder, CO, United States
Not for extended expedition journeys
9 years ago
This tent is not for longer, extended travel especially international, because it has a limited lifespan as a light weight tent. Six months of extended use, this tent has proven fragile but maintainable. Virtually all the materials of the tent have experienced fatigue and stress with daily use in a 150 night period! Big Agnes extends great customer service and has replaced the inner tent because of holes worn in the mosquito netting, worn out broken pole hubs, and a failing, shorting out lighting power module. They recommend seam sealing the tent when the rain fly begins to leak. REI does not carry parts for this light weight and fragile tent. I am on an extended adventure and don't have time to deal with an REI return or exchange. In my case it is definitely a candidate for an REI return once my journey is done. On the good side, the tent is a great light weight, very livable, functional and comfortable space as a solo shelter for an extended period of time. The double vestibules are a very sweet feature for gear storage and cooking. I would not consider sharing this space with another person as it would be very tight and unaccommodating. The tent sheds high winds of 60-80 mph very well, as well as heavy rain and light snow. It does not do well with heavy, wet springtime snow. The rainfly regularly collects condensation in varied conditions, however the inner tent remains very dry consistently. The fly and floor do dry quickly while packing up.The two doors can be opened when the conditions allow for great ventilation. This tent has about a 150 night, maintenance free usage lifespan and probably double that with part replacements. This is because of it's light weight materials. Also, my experience includes almost no UV wear and tear because it has been mostly packed up during the sunlit periods. I am sure these materials are impacted by UV light if you'd leave it set up much. That may shorten it's lifespan even more. I will recommend this tent for casual or light weight use only but not for extended or fully committed use.
Yes , I recommend this product
Damon Outdoors
Georgia
Awesome Little Tent
4 years ago
This small ultralight tent has been awesome. Coming in at 3 pounds 4 ounces packed weight, it was perfect for my kayak camping trips. I won't bore you with a ton of specs as that is easily found on their website. Pros. Very light Packs down small Easy to set up Sturdy Little to no condensation Warm (using an insulated pad over an emergency blanket) Great customer service Cons. Zippers catch in flaps easily ----Biggest Con Does not come with a footprint Air vent can only be operated from the outside No overhead storage If you are looking for a great backpacking tent you can not go wrong with a Copper Spur. I went with the two man and it gives me plenty of room to pack in some gear. I can bring my backpack right in with me. With two vestibules, you have extra protection from the weather for your boots/shoes and anything else you do not want inside the tent. Over the 4 years, I used this tent at the lake as well as my saltwater beach trips. It has held up in wind and rain. Even a heavy storm that pushed sand up on it. I have never had any condensation build up in it. That being said, I loaned it to my father once and he said he got some condensation. You really have to take your time with the zippers. If you move too fast you will bind up in the flap. I was rushing once to get in to miss a rain storm and it caught and tore the flap. I sent it off to BA for a paid fix and it is still going strong today. The sewn in lights work great and use very little power from the provided pack. It has two settings and is perfect for seeing while settling info the night. I would like to see an overhead net for storage for the money as well as a footprint. Both of these can be purchased separately. I would definitely recommend this tent to those needing a lightweight option. I would and may buy another. I look forward to bringing this along on my motorcycle trips as well!
Yes , I recommend this product
Demosthenes
One of the greatest tents ever
7 years ago
My wife and I bought this tent to do a 300 mile section hike on the PCT and have used it numerous times afterwards. For us it was absolutely perfect. It was long enough to put small items at our feet (I’m around 5’11”) and was wide enough for us both to sleep comfortably. Though if you’re larger waist-wise then two people might not fit. It was also tall enough for both of us to sit upright without touching the ceiling which was nice. The tent is super lightweight and packs up small enough that it was never a burden to carry. The vestibules are perfect to put your pack in at the end of the day, and they keep the rain off well enough. We both love the led lights because it makes it so much more comfortable and home-y to have lights without needing a headlamp all of the time. The lights are bright enough at night to eat with and find items in the tent but probably not enough to read. Also, having two doors is the greatest thing if you’ve got two people. There’s never any climbing over each other. I would 100% buy this again.
Yes , I recommend this product
Glenn F
Great Tent But.....
9 years ago
The tent is awesome! Set up is quick... Extremely light... Lights didn't work. Now I need to go and exchange and hope for better luck the second time. Was told by customer service this has been an issue.
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