Gear Review: Testing the Big Agnes Copper Spur mtnGLO 2 Tent

On a 17-day backpacking trip in 2024 along Corsica’s notoriously challenging GR20, I realized I had more in common with my fellow hikers than an appreciation for rugged terrain and a need for ibuprofen. Many of my pack-toting trail mates were, like me, using a version of a Big Agnes tent. It was undoubtedly the most common brand I saw on the GR20.  

For good reason: The Colorado company is known for high-quality outdoor gear. 

I have used Big Agnes tents for many years, impressed by the brand's lightweight yet durable shelters—I relied on my last Big Agnes tent, the Fly Creek, for more than a decade before I had to replace it. Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to test the Big Agnes Copper Spur mtnGLO 2 Tent on two separate solo trips in New Mexico.

My first impression: This tent is spacious. Many 2-person tents are a tight squeeze for two adults, but the Copper Spur mtnGLO has 40 inches of headroom and a 50-inch width, making it a true 2-person shelter. It feels roomier than its dimensions suggest, thanks to near-vertical walls that allow campers to sit upright without brushing their heads on the polyester mesh ceiling.  

The size isn’t the Copper Spur mtnGLO’s only luxurious component, by backpacking standards. The mtnGLO boasts lighting technology—first introduced by Big Agnes in 2015. A string of 21 mini-LED light bulbs encased in a cloth strip is integrated into the upper reaches of the tent and can be controlled by a small battery pack (more on this later). What makes the latest version of the Copper Spur mtnGLO different than past models in the UL series is the addition of HyperBead technology, which Big Agnes claims is more waterproof and lighter than previous materials.  

Meet the Gear Tester 

Testing the Copper Spur mtnGLO tent   

I carried the latest HyperBead version of the Copper Spur mtnGLO from Big Agnes with me on a pair of two-night trips in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest—one in the famed Gila Wilderness and another along an undulating, 13-mile stretch of the Continental Divide Trail.  

I used my REI Co-op Flash 55 pack on both treks, stowing the tent’s poles and stakes in one of the pack’s external side pockets and the tent and fly stuffed inside the main compartment. Given the tent’s volume (it packs down to about the size of two stacked Nalgene bottles), it took up more interior space than I’m used to, but not so much that I couldn’t carry nice-to-have items like an REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair, three roast beef sandwiches, two cans of emergency beer, a down comforter and two magazines, in addition to standard gear like a full-length sleeping pad. 

At camp, I intentionally put the Copper Spur mtnGLO tent through the ringer, weathering two squalls and setting the shelter up on varied terrain, including abrasive gravel, sand and mud punctuated by tree roots and protruding rocks.   

Who is this tent for?

Backpackers who want a lightweight shelter without sacrificing comfort can't go wrong with the Big Agnes Copper Spur mtnGLO 2 Tent. Its roomy interior and two spacious vestibules allow backpackers to sprawl after long miles. Its 40-inch peak height means even tall adventurers can sit upright when reading a book or playing a game of cards.

It's also great for rainy days at camp thanks to a hands-free interior lighting system and waterproofing that withstood two major storms.

Setup and Takedown   

The Copper Spur is a semifreestanding tent, which means that its basic structure can be set up without stakes. However, the vestibules require one stake each, and securing the main tent body can help stabilize it against wind and expand it to create more interior space.   

There are 12 stake-out points, not including the awnings, which are erected using two trekking poles (not included), two guylines and two additional stakes on each side. 

The Copper Spur’s four-way hub design and color-coded pole tips make setup intuitive. The only hitch: I found that threading the hubbed poles through the grommets can be a bit unwieldly for a lone hiker or a tight campsite. 

Tent corners feature TipLok buckles that hold pole tips securely throughout the setup process, though those buckles did take a bit of jiggling when I was taking the tent down. Still, in calm conditions and with practice, two people can likely set up the Copper Spur in no more than 10 minutes. Fifteen, if you’re by yourself and worn out from a long day on the trail.  

The included stuff sack sports a large, sideways opening and compression closure that make packing easy when it’s time to break camp. 

Waterproofing and Ventilation 

I witnessed firsthand the water repellency of the shelter’s HyperBead fabric, thanks to monsoonal squalls both nights in the Gila Wilderness. Despite heavy wind and rain, the Copper Spur mtnGLO didn’t so much as flinch. It was fun lying on my back watching rainwater bead off the exterior, and the shelter felt sturdy despite the wind gusts. I slept easily knowing I wouldn't wake to a collapsed tent or a pool of water at my feet. You can also purchase a compatible footprint (sold separately) to keep the bottom of your tent dry and protect it from rocks and other debris. 

Even when your tent is waterproof, waiting out a storm in a nylon shelter can cause another moisture problem: condensation. This wasn’t a problem on my trips, thanks to low vents on the vestibule doors and a high fly vent on top that opens with a kickstand. Together, they invited enough airflow to help reduce condensation during two 10-plus-hour storms. Even on muggy days, I found that condensation was negligible. 

Interior Space and Organization

The Copper Spur mtnGLO is a seriously comfortable tent. With 29 square feet of interior space, I was able to spread out and sit up without contorting myself. A solo hiker can fit the scattered contents of a full pack and a 25-inch-wide sleeping pad inside the tent with plenty of room to spare.  

I was able to stash my REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair under one of the vestibules without having to disassemble it. Dual zippers on each door can be operated with one hand, making ingress and egress a breeze. 

I felt as though I was reclining in a tent made more for a family car-camping trip than backpacking. Of course, that extra space comes with a weight penalty as the Copper Spur mtnGLO is bulkier and almost a pound heavier than the Fly Creek UL2 I’ve carried for many years. 

Plus, the shelter has more sizeable interior mesh pockets than any similar-size tent I've ever used, so your smartphone, headlamp and toilet paper are always within reach. The two largest pockets are centered so that two people can access them with ease.      

mtnGLO Lighting System 

The mtnGLO system is so cool, you may even be tempted to lie there turning the lights on and off for a few minutes just because it’s amusing to have overhead luminescence in the backcountry. While the mtnGLO lighting system provides more than enough illumination to find your socks in the middle of the night, it isn't overbearing, won’t disturb campers in nearby sites and can't be detected from outer space.  

Both nights in the Gila Wilderness, after it finally stopped raining at about 3am, I was able to use the mtnGLO lights to help me tie back the vestibule flaps to get some air moving inside the tent. 

There are two switches on the battery pack, which can be left dangling for easy access or stored in a small integrated sleeve. One switch engages the system with a toggle designed to help save battery life, while the other turns the lights on and off, with full- and half-strength gradations. Both are pretty small. It took me several tries in the dark to locate the main lighting switch on the first night, which meant I, ironically, had to use my headlamp to turn the mtnGLO lights on. By the second night, I had it down. 

Bottom Line   

The Big Agnes Copper Spur mtnGLO 2 Tent is a true 2-person backpacking tent with substantial interior space that hits a sweet spot among comfort, durability and weight.  

It stands up in powerful wind and rain, and even though its spaciousness and extra features make it a little heavier than comparable 2-person backpacking shelters, it will quickly be a faithful companion for me on longer lightweight treks. 

The extra features and space make this tent slightly heavier than many comparable 2-person lightweight shelters. For an easier carry, consider splitting its components—tent body, fly, poles and stakes—between two hikers.    

With its spacious interior, built-in lighting system, improved waterproof technology, large vestibules and awnings, the Copper Spur mtnGLO is well worth the price tag, for a backpacking tent from a company whose products can withstand the rigors of trails as demanding as Corsica’s GR20 and territory as tough as the Gila Wilderness. 

Other Versions   

The Big Agnes Copper Spur collection includes three other versions without the mtnGLO technology: the Copper Spur UL, the Copper Spur Limited with Footprint and the Copper Spur Bikepack. All versions, including the mtnGLO, come in multiple capacities.   

• Big Agnes Copper Spur mtnGLO: Buy 2-person. Buy 3-person.   

• Big Agnes Copper Spur UL: Buy 1-person. Buy 2-person. Buy 2-person XL. Buy 3-person. Buy 3-person XL. Buy 4-person.   

• Big Agnes Copper Spur Limited with Footprint: Buy 2-person. Buy 3-person.   

• Big Agnes Copper Spur UL Bikepack: Buy 1-person. Buy 2-person. Buy 3-person.