How to Choose a Backpacking Tent

This product is not available. Good news: we have a newer version.
Freestanding, 3-season and ultralight, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 tent is your home away from home with a high-volume hub, light and strong materials, and easy setup.
Shop newer versionImported.
View the Big Agnes Copper Spur Product LineView all Big Agnes Backpacking TentsBest Use | Backpacking |
---|---|
Seasons | 3-season |
Sleeping Capacity | 1-person |
Minimum Trail Weight | 2 lbs. 2 oz. |
Fly / Footprint Pitch Weight | 1 lb. 10 oz. |
Packaged Weight | 2 lbs. 6 oz. |
Packed Size | 5.5 x 17.5 inches |
Floor Dimensions | 88 x 38/28 (L x W head/foot) inches |
Floor Area | 20 square feet |
Vestibule Area | 9 square feet |
Peak Height | 38 inches |
Number of Doors | 1 door |
Number of Poles | 1 |
Pole Material | DAC NFL |
Pole Diameter | 8.7 millimeters |
Canopy Fabric | Ripstop nylon/polyester mesh |
Floor Fabric | Ripstop nylon/polyurethane coating |
Rainfly Fabric | Ripstop nylon/polyurethane coating |
Footprint Included | No |
Ultralight | Yes |
Design Type | Freestanding |
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification
Was in need of a new solo backpacking tent and after doing a bunch of research, settled on the Copper Spur UL1. So glad I did! Spent the night on top of Tennet Mountain (elev. 6,000) on the Art Loeb Trail. I was so surprised how thin the material was and even more surprised at how durable. Slept on a grassy bouldery ground and there was absolutely no condensation on the inside of the tent, even on the bottom and was totally protected from some gusty winds. I especially appreciate the roominess of this tent (both height and width) and also the mesh shelf pocket to keep wet stuff up off the ground to air out. Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase and can't wait to see how this baby holds up in some serious rain.
Super lightweight, roomy for 1, but not substantial. After less than 5 uses, holes developed in rainfly where crossbar connects. I treat this tent very gingerly because the fabric is so thin and flimsy. Submitted to Big Agnes--they can't repair for 6 weeks or more, unless I want to pay $75 to expedite. Not even sure if they'll cover this as warranty work--message from Big Agnes was vague on that. I won't by Big Agnes again.
My second Copper Spur 1. After 4 years time to upgrade with new Copper Spur. Looked across entire market and offerings of 1-2 person tents and simply did not find better offering meeting my needs and wants in new tent. New features and changes are excellent. New gear lofts really allow gear management inside tent and ample room to accommodate 72" x 25" inflatable pad. Big fan of freestanding tents due to so much activity in Southwest. Love footprint size and single door entry of this tent. Never have issue finding good campsite like other I backpack with. The new vestibule entry allowing for canopy will be welcomed in warm summer months when little shade protection will be appreciated after long day on trail.
I have had the Copper Spur HV UL1 for around 9 months now and have enjoyed it in the mountains of Colorado and the Ozarks in Arkansas. It's been my go to tent over that time and I have spent about 30 nights in it. For comparisons, I have Hilleberg and Tarptents that are alternatives. When I was in the hunt for a new tent I specifically wanted something with steep end walls and a side entrance along. Few solo tents provide such a steep end wall at the head end. It doesn't matter haw crazy thick your pad is, the material is not going to be in your face when you lie down in the Copper Spur UL1. For someone that is 6'1" and likes his 3.5" Exped pad, this is a big deal. I also appreciate the bin style pocket towards the foot end. I put all my "little clothes" like gloves, hats, neck warmers and socks in it where they don't get lost under my pad. It has ceiling pockets in the head end that I put my "backup water" inside. The muted color is also appealing and blends into the landscape nicely. The drawbacks are that it's on the heavy side relative to many solo shelters. For a long thru hike where weight is more important than comfort this tent won't make the cut. I use it for my more leisure trips in which my comfort in camp is more important than comfort on the trail. The tent needs a ground sheet (I use Tyvek). The plastic tie backs are a pain, and they punctured the stuff sack in a few places. The "porch" setup with the door is novel and I like it but it opens at an angle so that rain can still make it's way into the vestibule and the inner tent. Maybe if it had little "wings" it could be more functional in a rainstorm. But for sun protection when camping above treeline it is good to have so long as you are a trekking pole user.
Very high quality tent! Lightweight and perfect for backpacking. Plenty of room (I am 6’ tall) and I am able to sit up without hitting my head. Nice overhead pockets.
Bought this because I wanted a free-standing, two-piece, lightweight “traditional” tent. It checks all those boxes very well. Plenty of interior “stash” spaces to lay socks and clothes out to dry, I’m 5 ft 6, so I generally don’t get cramped in tents, but this is definitely as roomy, if not roomier, than other UL tents. It IS made of light materials that WILL tear if not well cared for - but that comes with the territory; get a sheet of tyvek or the footprint to keep things from poking through the thin bottom and keep it clear of snags and it will last. Really appreciate the prop open vent - have not had any condensation issues this far.
I've had the tent 3 years and its worked well. This summer, I took it on the Teton Crest Trail for 5 days. It withstood heavy thunderstorms at 9K ft, high winds and gusts that I thought might put us into flight but it held firm. The tent stayed dry inside even though I could see water between the footprint and tent floor. For high elevation use, I've learned over the years to stake out all the support lines and take the time to drive the stakes in deep. Do that and this thing is rock solid. Reading the other reviews, I've noticed the comment about the zipper getting stuck in the fabric. Go slow, take a little care and I've not been concerned with it. The light weight is great! The HV UL1 is fine for one person however there's really no extra space - its a minimalist shelter. If you happen to be taking your dog along, the next size up may be a better choice
Used this on a multi-day trip. It is fairly roomy for a one-person tent. One night I was able to put all my gear in with me and it was still OK. Very easy to pitch. Handles condensation well. Seems like it will hold up well. Not as light as some of the ultralight tents (even some of the 2P ultralights). But the tradeoff is easier set-up and perhaps better weather resistance. The tent stakes are one thing I would consider swapping out. The notches are shallow, and the lines can slip off. Could quite get the awning feature to work but didn't really need it. You should be careful with how you handle the tent but it is reasonably sturdy.
I took this tent out for the first time on a 2 day hike that included one night of constant rain. Total happiness that I stayed dry. I need to figure out the “porch” with my trekking poles. I tried it and failed, so maybe next time. Did get rain underneath the tent (probably because there was just so much of it!), but everything inside the tent stayed dry. Can see how someone would get frustrated with the zipper getting caught all the time if you try to to zip with one hand. VERY EASY tent to set-up and even took the tent body down while staying under the set-up fly to try and stay dry for as long as possible. May switch out the guy lines for something longer; kind of short imo.
I really liked the idea of the rain fly clipping to the tent when I set this up in the store. I have used it three times now and every time I’ve taken it out, the “female” ends of at least one of the plastic clips have jammed up with dirt making it very difficult to connect the rain fly. Removing the sand has been difficult and time consuming even when I used the awl and toothpick on my Swiss Army knife to try and clean out the clips. I know the folks at Big Agnes must test their gear before production, but this purchase kind of makes me wonder. On the plus side, the tent packs down small and very roomy for a one person tent.