Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2- The Best Trekking Tent

The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 is one of the best lightweight 2-person tents on the market! It’s a full-featured free-standing tent that has amazing spacious volume and strong construction for maximum protection. For every camping adventure, a top-quality tent will make the difference between comfort and no sleep. In 2024, I needed to upgrade my Vango Spectre to something more suited to Trekking and Backpacking. There are hundreds of tents on the market so it’s difficult to figure out all the differences and best. But the Award Winning Copper Spur UL2 is one of the best trekking tents available and this blog will explain why it’s a must consider!

Introducing the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2

The Copper Spur series (2023) is the best Big Agnes tent for backpacking with its ultralight high-volume tub design. The living space is maximised without additional weight thanks to the light durable materials. The large footprint, high ceiling and awning-style vestibules give plenty of storage space. The materials are very light and hardwearing to handle the 3-season weather. What amazed me was how quick and easy to pitch and pack the Copper Spur! It is a free-standing tent which uses alloy poles instead of trekking poles for structure. Weighing just 1.4kg (3.13lbs), the Copper Spur comes with a primary 4-pole structure and cross-beam pole, waterproof rainfly, inner fly sheet, guy lines and stakes. There is a Bikepacking version with small changes to suit bike touring instead of backpacking. An updated version is due in early 2025 so look for discounted prices!

Key Features

• Dual Door Vestibules – The 2 doors expand thanks to the awning-style vestibules held up by trekking poles. This feature offers a cover for sunshine or light rain when at camp.
• High-Quality Materials – The Ultralight nylon double ripstop mixed denier fabric outer and floor means it’s durable and offers puncture resistance. The DAC Poles have a 4-way top hub for maximum strength and stability for strong winds (perfect for Patagonia!)
• Door zips – The doors have dual zippers for easy entry/exit and have a Quick Stash feature. However, I usually pack the unzipped door between the rainfly outer and the tent body inner.
• Inner Storage – The Copper Spur has 2 oversized ceiling pockets ideal for head torches, tech and small items. There is expandable storage due to the interior loops to attach accessories, lights or bins.
• Guy-Lines – Reflective guy-lines with easy-to-adjust tensioners help ensure the tent is in tension and stable.
• Pole attachment – Big Agnes TipLok™ Tent Buckle™ makes it quick to clip the poles to the inner, rainfly and the stakes. There are also hooks and loops to attach the pole to the fly for extra stability.
• Tent Ventilation – The high fly vent and low vents on the doors create good airflow and reduce condensation build-up

Technical Specs

Trail Weight: 1.22kg
Total Weight: 1.42kg / 3.13lbs
Packed Size: 50 x 15cm
Floor Area: 2.7 m²
Vestibule Area: 0.8 m² + 0.8 m²
Head Height: 102cm
Weight: 964g
Footprint Weight: 142g
Price: £425 / $530

Why I Chose the Copper Spur UL2

Before Patagonia, I needed to buy a lightweight 2 man tent for the Torres Del Paine O Circuit Trek. After reading too many kit reviews and watching useful YouTube videos for a change, I narrowed it down to the Copper Spur, Nemo Dagger Osmo, MSR Hubba Hubba MX, Durston X-Mid 2P & Sierra Design Meteor 3000 2P. All strong contenders with varying weights, budgets and strengths to consider. My main criteria was to be lightweight but free-standing which removed the Durston and Sierra Design. Then to have maximum roominess and features to have a comfortable living environment. And finally, robust stable construction to withstand the famous Patagonian gale force winds.

I opted for the popular Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Tent which was outside my initial budget but I decided with care it could last years of camping and trekking trips. I loved the dual door access and large footprint & height making it feel spacious inside. The tent could be pitched in 5 mins and the stuff pack made it easy to roll up which should not be underestimated. The Copper Spur had to handle heavy rain and snow which it kept out well but the 70mph winds were almost too much on an exposed hillside. There were cheaper tents on the market but the quality material used and abundance of smart features meant, there was a level of comfort while camping in the wilderness. The Copper Spur was used along with my Trekking Kit List and there will be a Camping Kit List published soon!

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Best Features

• Lightweight – Coming in at 1.42kg, the Copper Spur is a lightweight Champion but misses out on the Ultralightweight category. However, the additional grams mean a stable and stronger tent to handle heavy rain and winds.
• Spacious – One of the stand-out features is the headroom and large layout. With a single main compartment, you could fit 2 adults side by side but with little space for packs. For solo trekking, this was great to spread out and unpack the Backpack once pitched up.
• Speed to Pitch & Pack – After a few pitches, it becomes second nature and is pretty self-explanatory. There are instructions in the stuff sack and takes around 5 mins to pitch. To get the best tension and stability, ensure all the clips, buckles and hooks are connected.
• Ventilation – Not a feature I brought the tent for but the top roof vent is very effective at regulating the airflow and preventing the build-up of condensation.
• Storage and features – There are innovative straps, pockets and bins around the Copper Spur to help customise the living space. The awning-style doors are perfect to expand the footprint and vestibules were sufficiently large for shoes, packs and poles to be stored.
• Weather Resistance – The DAC alloy poles provide strong stability to withstand poor weather. The 4-way Cross pattern is a tested design and the additional cross-beam that clips into the tent body adds the final strength needed. The Copper Spur did a great job apart from when I was battered by 70mph winds in Patagonia and even then no poles snapped! Not many 3 season tents would withstand those forces with no tree/wind protection. The Waterproofing was impressive against heavy UK rain and snow in Patagonia.

Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Considerations

• Expensive – The biggest detractor for buying the Copper Spur is the price tag. Coming in at £420 RRP ($530), it’s an investment considering the amount of good tents available for half the price. The competition of MSR, Nemo and others are similarly priced and it’s the ultralightweight performance and free-standing features that bump the price up.
• 3-season Tent – The Copper Spur is designed for 3-season camping from Early Spring to Late Autumn (Fall) so it is not engineered for winter camping. A specific mountaineering tent would provide the
• Separate Ground Sheet – One minor bug was that there is a separate ground sheet/ footprint designed for the Copper Spur but it is not included. With a price tag of over £400, it would be nice to have it as default but many companies do bundle deals at least. It’s easy to find a deal on the Copper Spur so be patient to find a bargain!

Rankings

Final Thoughts

In summary, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 is one of the best lightweight 2-man tents on the market. Since buying it in 2024, I have tested it out in Snowdonia, Lakes District and trekked through Patagonia which passed with flying colours. The top reasons I would recommend the Copper Spur are the amount of space for the weight, the ease of use and the stability & waterproofness. If it’s within your budget, then the Big Agnes is an amazing tent that will give you comfort and space to enjoy your adventures and not worry about a bad night’s sleep. I have loved using my Copper Spur for mountain camping trips and look forward to many more in 2025!

What is your favourite tent? And what is the best place you’ve been camping? I’d love to hear your thoughts and please feel free to share with other people looking to get a new tent