How to Choose a Backpacking Tent
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 Tent
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Freestanding, 3-season and ultralight, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 tent is your home away from home with a high-volume hub, dual doors, light and strong materials, and easy setup.
Shop newer version- Awning-style vestibules expand covered living space, which is great for both drizzle and sun protection
- 3D bin at the foot provides off-the-floor storage; oversize ceiling pocket in the head; media pockets provide earbud cord-routing
- Tent corner construction with TipLok Tent Buckle™ design streamlines and combines 3 functions: secure pole-tip capture, rainfly attachment and tensioner, and stake-out loop
- TipLok buckles have a keyed hole to securely lock pole tip in place during setup; hinged design stabilizes structure by equalizing forces between tent body, rainfly and stake
- Lightweight double ripstop nylon; mixed-denier fabric offers extra tear-strength and puncture-resistance without adding weight
- 2 doors and 2 vestibules with double zippers provide multiple access options, letting you minimize wind-driven rain or snow getting into the tent
- Pre-bent span pole coupled with the high-volume angle hub increases strength and stability, helps shed rain and snow, and creates optimal livable space
- Dual low-vent vestibule doors coupled with high-fly vent maximize options for both active and passive airflow, reducing condensation in all weather conditions
- Dual-zipper doors with easy-grip zipper pulls are smooth-closing and allow for easy entry and exit; use only one zipper for quick, reach-through access
- Quick Stash door keepers on tent body doors make stowing an unzipped door quick and easy
- Hook-and-loop closure tabs connect fly to pole structure, providing perfect pitch and extra stability
- Precut guylines and tensioners are attached to fly; reflective guylines and webbing on tent corners make them easy to see at night
- All seams are taped with waterproof, solvent-free polyurethane tape (free of PVCs and VOCs); vestibule zippers protected with stormflap
- Multiple interior loops make it easy to attach gear lofts, accessories and mtnGLO® tent and camp lights (not included)
- Includes 8 Big Agnes Dirt Dagger UL stakes and 4 awning guylines
- To extend the life of your tent floor, Big Agnes recommends using a matching footprint (not included); Fast Fly setup available with compatible footprint
- Compatible with HV UL3 footprint models featuring TipLok Tent Buckles (not included)
- The Copper Hotel HV UL3 Accessory Vestibule Fly (not included) is interchangeable with the standard fly, convenient for those trips when you need the extra vestibule space
Imported.
View the Big Agnes Copper Spur Product LineView all Big Agnes Backpacking Tents| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 3-season |
| Sleeping Capacity | 3-person |
| Minimum Trail Weight | 3 lbs. 8 oz. |
| Fly / Footprint Pitch Weight | 2 lbs. 13 oz. |
| Packaged Weight | 3 lbs. 14 oz. |
| Packed Size | 6 x 21 inches |
| Floor Dimensions | 90 x 70/62 (L x W head/foot) inches |
| Floor Area | 41 square feet |
| Vestibule Area | 9 + 9 square feet |
| Peak Height | 43 inches |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors |
| Number of Poles | 2 |
| Pole Material | DAC NFL |
| Pole Diameter | 9.3 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 |
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Most Helpful Favorable Review
Unexpectedly Strong and Resilient
Rachel O4 years ago
I am aware that this is technically not a 4-Season tent by spec, but I recently assumed the risk and took it on a winter backpacking trip anyways to see how it would do. After the way it performed I wanted to write a review. The tent held up to an incredible amount of wet heavy snow mixed with rain on day one. An absolute deluge of sloppy wet snow and the rainfly held up and kept us bone dry inside. The real impressiveness came from the way it handled an overnight storm that rolled in and dumped approximately 8-10 inches of snow by morning. We banged the snow off our tent about 2-3 times throughout the night but it never once showed signed of collapsing under the weight and withstood a couple strong gusts. I'm impressed with how strong this tent was considering the conditions we put it through. Considering it's ultralight fabric and overall low weight I'm pleasantly surprised with it's durability under pressure and know it will perform exceptionally well under the relatively benign treatment of 3 season camping in the future. Pull the trigger on this one.
Rachel O
Seattle, WA
128 people found this review helpful
Most Helpful Critical Review
Awful in summer hail and summer snow
Denver packers2 years ago
We wanted to love this tent, but both the 2 person and 3 person versions of this tents have left us in precarious positions. On a 2 week trip to the Bridger Tetons in WY last August, there was a snowstorm one night. The tent couldn’t handle it. It collapsed on us during the night, leaving us to have to get out of the tent every 45 mins to clear snow after we more-or-less were able to right the tent. After backpacking for decades, we’ve never felt worried in a tent before this event. The poles bent. We returned the 2 person and decided to try the 3 person. This weekend in Colorado (Labor Day) while backpacking, we encountered a hail storm - not uncommon in the Colorado Rockies. The 3 person tent collapsed bending the poles. Others who were with us did not encounter the same issue with their non-Big Agnes tent. This tent performance in hail and some snow is not okay, especially when both weather vents occurred during the summer. We loved the ease of the tent and the weight, but a 3 season tent needs to stand up to some inclement weather. This tent failed us.
Denver packers
Denver
74 people found this review helpful
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Jodi916
NW Minnesota
Easy set up and dog friendly
4 years ago
My husband and I and our two large labs took this tent for a trial run on the North Country Trail in Minnesota over Labor Day weekend. We had a late start and ended up setting up the tent in the dark by headlamp - no problem. We had only set it up once before a couple months earlier in our living room. One of our labs was ready for bed early so we put him in the tent and later heard him rustling around trying to get comfortable. We were nervous he would tear the thin material but it held up great. Love the two doors and vestibule. Plenty of room for two average sized adults and two bigger labs. Lots of features on this tent make for a comfortable experience in all kinds of weather. We couldn't be happier with this tent.
Yes , I recommend this product
dlloud
Great backpacking tent - UL3 = 2 people
4 years ago
Love this tent! So light, easy to setup, and the small features are very thoughtful. Good pockets, breathability, and more. The UL3 is really enough room for 2 people, 3 would be very tight.
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'9"
Yes , I recommend this product
rwalstrom
Minnesota
Fantastic tent!
4 years ago
I brought our copper spur to the Boundary Waters Wilderness for a 5 day deep backcountry paddle. It’s quick to set up and take down, chock full of convenient storage overhead and on the sides of the tent, and super light. Durability wasn’t an issue at all, though I did pick up the footprint. Our last night we had a major thunderstorm roll through and our tent pad flooded with 3 inches of water. I thought for sure I was in for soaked gear, but the waterproofing was so solid the tent FLOATED on top of the water. I was super impressed and we were able to quickly unstake and relocate with no fuss. Enthusiastic 5-stars.
Age:35–44
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:6'0"
Yes , I recommend this product
Rachel O
Seattle, WA
Unexpectedly Strong and Resilient
4 years ago
I am aware that this is technically not a 4-Season tent by spec, but I recently assumed the risk and took it on a winter backpacking trip anyways to see how it would do. After the way it performed I wanted to write a review. The tent held up to an incredible amount of wet heavy snow mixed with rain on day one. An absolute deluge of sloppy wet snow and the rainfly held up and kept us bone dry inside. The real impressiveness came from the way it handled an overnight storm that rolled in and dumped approximately 8-10 inches of snow by morning. We banged the snow off our tent about 2-3 times throughout the night but it never once showed signed of collapsing under the weight and withstood a couple strong gusts. I'm impressed with how strong this tent was considering the conditions we put it through. Considering it's ultralight fabric and overall low weight I'm pleasantly surprised with it's durability under pressure and know it will perform exceptionally well under the relatively benign treatment of 3 season camping in the future. Pull the trigger on this one.
Yes , I recommend this product
Bstew
Alaska
Folds like a cheap tent
11 months ago
This tent can not handle typical mountain conditions including much wind over about 15mph before it starts to cave in. We snapped a pole, ripped the fly, and also broke two of the tip-lock pole connectors in windy conditions. The winds were not even that bad, many gusts to maybe 30mph with sustained around 20. The tent was guyed out very well. I've camped in these conditions dozens and dozens of days/nights. The single hub design and long legs allow way too much flex. The long legs buckled inward almost touching with modest winds. The little velcro tabs in the corners look like after thoughts. Even minor winds 15-20mph folded them in. I purchased Copper Spur 3 tent in 2010 when they first came out. It performed flawlessly through that time. That included about everything Alaska can throw at it including heavy winds, rain, snow. I was 100% confidant in shelter. I upgraded to the latest model because it had a few nice amendments, and I thought I could trust BA given my history with the same tent. Boy was I wrong. The upgrades to this tent made it a car camping type tent. bring a solid patch kit, you'll need it, and hope you can find shelter somewhere else. A friend of mine also bought this tent based on my recommendation from the previous model. He had the EXACT same failures in similar wind conditions. He ended up duct taping a willow branch to the poles to keep them from folding in.
Age:45–54
Weight:200–225 lbs.
Height:6'2"
No, I do not recommend this product
Big Panda
Sacramento, CA
ideal 3 season tent
3 years ago
This is my primary spring and summer tent. It’s comically easy to setup and strike. It’s so roomy inside, you’ll feel like you’re in a suite, not a tent. There are storage pockets all over the place to keep your stuff off the ground. Ventilation is great. Weight is light enough to be a great backpacking option. The materials are strong but not entirely invincible. Weather resistance is good. I’ve been rained on pretty hard and buffeted by winds and stayed dry and comfy in this tent. My only complaint is that one night I had a surprise ice storm in this tent, and the connector clips for the poles were too weak to deal with that without bending. Big Agnes promptly replaced them for free, however.
Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product
Jimmy242
Flint
Awesome tent
2 years ago
This tent is awesome! Well designed and thought out. Vent on top keeps moisture out, mesh hangers are perfect for lights and/or gear you want off the floor. Two of us slept great in the 3 person tent with a little room for larger pads. Vestibule worked really well for storing packs and boots overnight and keeping them dry. Great, lightweight tent that sleeps 2 comfortably.
Age:45–54
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'7"
Yes , I recommend this product
Bryan
New Zealand
Very light and great head room
4 years ago
We've used this tent just once so far and main use will be Bikepacking. It is very light and was easy to set up. The featherlight aluminum is pretty amazing. The tent has plenty of small pockets to stash your goodies in, and as we got a three person tent for two of us there is lots of room. I did note that the tent floor material was very thin and feels like it would easily puncture with a sharp object in the grass, so we are thinking about getting the footprint. These footprint now come with a bike-packing shape which is great (glad Big Agnes is keeping up with the trends).
Age:45–54
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Yes , I recommend this product
whitesalmon
Portland, OR
The Perfect Backpacking Tent
5 years ago
I've tested five 2-3 person tents in the past 6 weeks. This tent exceeds all of them! Big vestibule's and multiple storage pockets on the inside. While 3 people can fit in this tent, I purchased it for 2 person use. I don't mind splitting a few ounces between friends for comfort. I noticed in the reviews a few people felt the material used was really light weight and that it would tear. They got that half right, It is really light weight! However it's extremely strong. My new favorite backpacking tent!
Age:45–54
Weight:175–200 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Yes , I recommend this product
Procyon8657
Tuscaloosa, AL
Yup!
3 years ago
Had this a little while now, and just came off the trail from a 12 night Philmont trek with my younger son. We shared the tent, (which in my experience-a 3P tent is meant for 2 people) and had plenty of room and storage. The pockets are plentiful, and the back shelf quickly became our “stash drawer”, holding a variety of things, and drying socks and shirts etc. Easy set up, and take down, stood up to a thunderstorm and one really spectacular hailstorm. Overall, very pleased with the purchase
Height:6'0"
Age:45–54
Weight:225–250 lbs.
Yes , I recommend this product
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