Big Agnes - Copper Spur HV UL3 Long Tent: 3-Person 3-Season

Hi all, Looking to get a new 3P tent for my partner and I! We currently have an older version of the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 3 (pre-Hyber Bead). It's a great tent that has held up to our use for a solid 7+ years, but we're looking to upgrade / renew it since the waterproofness seems to be fading a bit. We're considering just replacing it with the new Copper Spur UL 3, but wanting to poll the group to see if other options are worth considering - especially the Tiger Wall, Nemo Hornet, or Dragonfly. **Our use case:** \- backpacking around PNW mostly \- Our preference is for a 3 person for use with our dog, a friend for those rare occasions, or a future child. \- semi-freestanding or freestanding (we have an X-Mid for when weight really matters, but lately my partner hates the fiddle factor of trekking pole tents, and I don't mind splitting the weight of a larger tent when I camp with her). \- we will also use the tent for some car camping / front country campgrounds... so take that FWIW. That said our Copper Spur has been totally adequate for this; we don't need more space than that. \- I'm 6 foot if that is an issue in these smaller tents \- Want to keep weight around 1800g total (Copper Spur is the heaviest we want to go) \- Durability is a big concern for us. The Copper Spur has held up well, being a bit careful, with no major issues. I've anecdotally heard the Nemo stuff holds up better than the Big Agnes stuff, but we want this tent to last a while or be able to be serviced / repaired should issues come up. \- storm worthiness - nothing crazy, just 3 season conditions, but it gets WET here in the spring/fall. Performance in wind would also be a benefit, but we do have a dedicated 4-season tent for winter stuff. \- warranty support (in Canada, if possible) - while I haven't had issues, I've heard Big Agnes' warranty is suffering a bit vs Nemo's, which I've heard is excellent. \- Hyperbead vs. Osmo, any differences here? \- Is the portion of the body on the Nemo Hornet an issue in rain/wind?

thanks! Yea we figured it's probably the Copper Spur. That said given we haven't had durability issues with it, wondering if we could get away with one of the lighter models like the Tiger Wall or Hornet and use it with a footprint when we're car camping. Car camping comfort isn't a big need - the space of a 3 person is more than comfortable enough and fits our exped megamat just fine (we don't need one of those mega walmart palaces!).

Heads up (if you weren't already aware), the copper spur models are currently 25% off on Backcountry.com - I was also between UL2 XL / UL3 and ended up going with the 3!

I can only recommend what I've got, which is a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3. Mine is extra long. I love it! I've also got the 2P variant, which can fit 2 comfortably, if slightly snugly, though I am 193 cm.

After dealing with a warranty issue with Durston I would rather deal with Big Agnes

I did some further digging, and it looks like Hyperbead is stretch resistant. I'm starting to think it might be a very similar fabric to OSMO which is no longer exclusive to Nemo, so I suspect Hyperbead might be a Nylon Poly blend as well and they aren't disclosing that fact to seem more proprietary. Otherwise I'm not sure how they could get a 100% Nylon fabric to not sag. If that's the case then the Dragonfly and Copper Spur are pretty much a toss up fabric wise. There's one other feature that might sway you and that's if you use a footprint. The Cooper spur has a traditional grommet design which allows for a fly first pitch when using a footprint. Nemo uses a Jake's foot attachment so inner first pitch even with the footprint. I don't use a footprint and prefer Jake's foot attachments especially when setting up solo. I'm not a thru hiker though, and have never been forced to set up a tent while raining just before bed. I usually have the flexibility to wait out a shower before setting up, or setting it up in the rain and having enough time to dry it out before tossing in my gear.

I've had trouble with zippers on Big Agnes tents, but I'am in the sand often.

A 3 person big Agnes high volume is what you're looking for

They told us that they don't keep spare parts on hand - only order complete tents as needed, so if you don't need a whole tent they have to scrounge around for parts. I found it absurd that they wanted to charge us so much for a repaired fly, and it wasn't even the same color.

I've been really happy with my Big Agnes double-wall tent. It's over 20 years old now and still kicking. The BD-pyramid type thing, or just a snow-cave are my favorite options for ski tours though.

Paria is a glorified dropshipping company. Durston and Big Agnes are good options, you don't need anything more niche honestly

Ive had my big agnes longer than any other tent ive owned so far! I think its at least ten years old.

My go to two person tent is a three person. I highly recommend Big Agnes tigerwall or copper spur. Kinda pricy but sometimes they go on sale.

Looking at the poles will tell you quite a bit about sturdiness. The Freelite 1 uses DAC NFL 8.7mm poles with a forked design. So one end of the tent has essentially 2 archs of 8.7mm while the other end has a single arch of 8.7mm. That would be comparable in sturdiness to other tents that also use a forked arch of 8.7mm, such as Big Agnes Fly Creek and Tiger Wall, and Nemo Hornet. Tents that use essentially dual arches of 8.7mm at both ends are going to be sturdier, like X-Dome 1+ but also BA Copper Spur, MSR Hubba, and many others. Easton Carbon 3.9 is very similar to DAC 8.7 mm in sturdiness. Then both brands of tent pole makers make numerous stiffer options but with higher weights that would likely put the tent over your 1 kg goal.

The BA Copper Spur is available in 3, 4, & 5 person sizes. note that the regular 3P is tapered and will only fit (3) 20" or mummy pads. There is a 3XL that will fit (3) 25" pads. I have the 3 MTN Glow which has built in lights. Highly recommend the entire series

Try the REI re/supply. I got a Big Agnes tent that retails for $499 for $134. Also, REI sale is coming up in a few weeks and there will probably be a good deal on their own brand tents and others.

Copper Spur, but get the 3man, unless you like it cosy

Agreed! But I'd recommend the hvul3. Got it last season and have loved it. Perfect for 2 people plus dog, or just 2 people. Just got back from a trip where my dad and I shared it. If only it muted snoring...

There's a balance of not spending too much your first time and getting quality stuff that will last for years. The big 4 that will all last a long time A good backpack should be a priority as you will be carrying it on your hips (or shoulders if it isn't sized right). Then tent/pad. Big Agnus Copper Spur seems to be at the top of most people's list and while not cheap it isn't crazy expensive. Great if you can find on sale. Get a 2 person even if going solo most of the time as you can have a roomier tent w your pack inside when solo or use as a 2P tent when you go w a friend Pads depend on if you are a back or side sleeper (need a thicker pad like Sea 2 Summit or Nemo). Tons of choices and some budget options. A sleeping bag is critical but can become your most expensive item. I would start with a $200-300 one if you can that has a ISO Limit rating in the 20s if you plan on 3 seasons at altitude. If not then one with and ISO Limit rating in the 30s. Down will be lighter and pack smalller but if on a budget a synthetic bag will likely be cheaper. Good news is your bag will probably last you 20 years. You can use it car camping, rustic cabin camping or backpacking. Water filter is an easy choice these days with a cheap but super dependable and quality Sawyer Squeeze. Lots of stove options. Not the lightest but I like the Jet Boil for its simplicity and speed of heating up water and that it has the pot as part of it. I don't carry any other pot. Just a spoon and mug. Hiking poles if doing uneven terrain and or ups and downs Hiking shoes/boots is a whole other discussion. Most go with low top trail runners vs boots. A super useful web site is Halfway Anywhere. With one big caveat. These surveys are for longer through hikes where generally weight/quality is prioritized over cost. But you get to see a big list of what people used and their ratings. I have the below link set to the JMT (vs much longer AT or PCT) as the JMP is a little more geared toward typical [gear survey](https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/john-muir-trail-survey/) backpacking.

Yeah that seems wild, my copper spur is 11 years old and it's 100% still fine

I kinda had the same thing. We decided to get a 3p tent because our two wide pads were smacking together in the copper spur 2. The whole copper spur line is on sale rn bc of the new hyperbead copper spur. We're also eyeing a zenbivvy double bed, but that's very expensive and will only be a purchase I'm willing to make if we end up camping together a lot or one of my buddies takes up cuddling.

I actually have both and have used them with my two kids (slightly older Copper Spur 3). Two kids, 13 and 16, and me on 20 inch wide pads. They both worked fine (used the Copper Spur when they were younger). The newer Tiger Wall felt a bit more spacious.

Ultralight 3 person tents weigh about as much as a traditional 2-person tent so I agree this can be an excellent option. On my last trip we used our Big Agnes Copper Spur 3UL and with just two people it felt like a palace. I acknowledge it's a really pricey tent, but compared to the 2XL it's only slightly heavier/pricier and much more useful for situations where you actually need to shelter three people, or maybe 2 people plus a dog.

Big Agnes warranty and customer service help is top-notch. I sent them an email earlier this week and they responded within minutes with a fix that allowed me not to send the tent in and repair it myself.

Yeah that seems wild, my copper spur is 11 years old and it's 100% still fine

Big Agnes is 100% worth it to me. They've replaced 2 tents for me and restrung poles for free. I currently have a Seedhouse 2 (replaced a 1 after delamination), a four season something which replaced a seedhouse 2 and a copper spur 3. Recommend them all the time. Also the $1000 is an extreme weather tent. If your out in winter or serious elements, you don't screw around with your shelter.

I can only recommend what I've got, which is a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3. Mine is extra long. I love it! I've also got the 2P variant, which can fit 2 comfortably, if slightly snugly, though I am 193 cm.

We love our copper spur but it doesn't hold up well in strong wind - a pole snapped and it tore the fly. Unfortunately when we called Big Agnes we found that they don't support their own products - we were told that it wasn't possible to get a new fly, we had to wait until they located a return in their warehouse (or worse yet a repaired fly) and they would charge over $100 for it. The pole cost $40 I think (it was the smallest pole that holds the fly out). We purchased the pole but ended up repairing the fly ourselves. For years we used MSR tents, they replaced the fly and other parts for free several times, and we got years of use out of them. Although I love the tent, I will never purchase another Big Agnes product again - when you spend $500 on a tent you expect customer support, not the bs we went through TLDR - Nice tent but Big Agnes does not support their products, I will never buy from them again

Big Agnes ,Big house is comfy

Durston makes great tents, absolutely. I've used a number of them and they're great. However, I'd personally still choose Big Ag over any others based on my experiences - there's a reason thru-hikers use them so often. Really exceptional balance of all the right elements.

The Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 is the QUEEN of 3person tents. It *will* get a bit cramped once you have two adult-sized boys, but it's still doable. But at that point, you'll be at the end of that tent's lifespan (newer tents will be much lighter) and/or the boys are gonna want to sleep alone in their own tent. For an even lighter option, the Tarptent Triple Rainbow, Hogback, or Cloudburst 3 person tents are all great choices. One thing to consider: double doors are more pleasant with two people ... but with 3, you may want a front-opening single-door tent like the Cloudburst. That way, nobody needs to climb over anyone else for the bathroom. The Cloudburst also won't feel too tight with an adult and two adult-size kids. It has TWO openings/vestibules but they're positioned at the head and foot, so no climbing over your friends.

My copper spur broke on me in a wind storm (granted it was very high wind on an exposed mountain). 2 of the 4 plastic buckles that the tent pole goes into at the end broke. Also my friend on the Colorado Trail broke 2 big Agnes tents this summer while setting up (once the tent pole bent/broke, other time I can't remember because I hadn't met them yet). I still think it's a good tent, but as a backpacker and mountaineer who cares a lot about weight, I probably wouldn't buy it again, I just don't quite trust it. Cleverhiker has very good points, but honestly thru hiking generally doesn't put you in a crazy exposed campsite like the top of a Scottish highland summit

The main tent that comes to mind as stronger, cheaper, and lighter that doesn't make large compromises to usability is the durston x-mid. And it still makes some compromises in that it isn't freestanding. For 3 season backpacking in Colorado/rocky mountain US the copper.spur is solid.

If you want a 3 person tent for the weight of a 2 person tent, get an ultralight tent like the big agnes cooper spur hv ul3, which has the bonus of being a tiny bit wider, longer, and taller than a typical 3 person tent, too! All for the weight of a typical decently priced 2 person tent (about four pounds).

I second the Big Agnes Copperspur. It's a truly freestanding tent and spacious for the weight. Plus, BA customer service is great should you ever have problems.

The best bang for your buck when it comes to livable space, size and amount of pockets, ease of setup and teardown, and quality is the **Big Agnes Tiger Wall**, followed closely by the **Big Agnes Copper Spur**. I've tried literally dozens of tents and cannot recommend those enough. They are spendy, but when it comes to a freestanding tent that's durable and reliable, these things are really, really tough to beat. I see them all the time on thru-hikes like thet Colorado Trail, CDT, and PCT where rain / random mountain weather is common. A close second is the semi-freestanding **MSR Freelite 2 or 3**. It's also a solid, bombproof tent that's lightweight. My only real complaint about it is the cutout on one end effectively makes one narrow end a single-wall, which can condensate and get soaked in long periods of rain. But, it also dries fast, and ventilation is so effective it's rarely ever been an issue for me. Final recommendation if you want a non-freestanding tent is the **Six Moons Designs Lunar Duo.** Trekking pole tent that's budget-friendly, comfy, and just big enough for two people. Much more limited headspace compared to the above, but vestibules are large enough that I've never had an issue. Good luck!

https://geartrade.ca/ they stock a bit of budget gear and they are not amazon. Also try thelasthunt.com, and https://www.sportchek.ca/en.html they can have some good gear in clearance. I really enjoy my big agnes tent and they are available in long, but they are pricy when not on sale.

Yup. Best tent for two people is a three person ultra-light. Camp/backpack a LOT. And still like my partner. In a 3p Big Agnes.

I picked up a sea to summit Telos 3 recently its a pretty awesome tent loaded with features. Runner up was a Big agnes copper spur Telos gave mely wife & I plenty of room for 2xl pads, and we could nearly stand up. It also felt much more durable than the BA, but this also means it was a tad bit heavier. It also has multiple setup options- half fly & a "hangout" mode.

If you are set on a 3 person tent given your requirements I would stay away from any of the super light weight dcf tent because of your desire for durability. I also don't think for your use case you are going to do better than the copper spur. If you are looking for more room you could even look at the xl version. Seeing that you are splitting the weight between two people I would not trade the convenience of a free standing tent for the small weight savings with the other semi freestanding tents.

I got the BA and love it. Super light and easy to pack

Big Agnes specs 53oz for the copper spur ul3 at trail weight. The copper spur 1p is 32oz. Durston really shines with it's space for value, the xmid 1 has the same footprint as many lightweight 2 person shelters. Which is good and bad. You'd be hard pressed to find a comparable combination of weight/price/living space.

BA copper spur will not let you down!!! I have a hvul2 long and it's great.