Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Review

Name: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2
Brand: Big Agnes

If you talk about backpacking trips in terms of weeks rather than days, look no further than this comfortable, lightweight tent

The Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 is particularly comfortable compared to most other lightweight tents we tested.

Credit: Zach Lovell

Price: $600 List

Manufacturer: Big Agnes

By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ June 16, 2026

OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#2 of 11

Livability - 35% 7.6
Weather Resistance - 25% 7.5
Weight - 15% 8.9
Packed Size - 15% 9.7
Durability - 10% 7.4

Best Lightweight Tent

List Price: $600

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Our Verdict

If keeping your pack light is a priority, look no further than the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2. While many tents in this featherweight category lack weatherproofing, this model kept us dry through more storms and handled windy nights well, especially when we tensioned the many guy lines. The unique boxy shape is especially spacious for a 2-person tent, with plenty of headroom to sit up. To keep weight down, the UL2 is built with thinner fabrics, so it's important to be mindful of sharp sticks when choosing a campsite (or invest in a footprint). If you can swing the high price, this is a tent that's sure to empower many far-flung adventures.

REASONS TO BUY

Top-scoring space to weight ratio

Easy to pack

Fairly large pockets

Two vestibules and doors

REASONS TO AVOID

Expensive

Lightweight material requires extra care

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)

	This Product Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2	Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3	The North Face Stormbreak 2	REI Co-op Half Dome 3	The North Face Stormbreak 3
Awards	Best Lightweight Tent	Best Overall Backpacking Tent		Best For Livability	Best Bang for Your Buck
Price	$600 List Check Price at REI	$650 List Check Price at REI	$220 List Check Price at REI	$399 List Check Price at REI	$260 List Check Price at REI
Overall Score	81	81	72	69	69
Star Rating	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5	1 2 3 4 5
Bottom Line	If you talk about backpacking trips in terms of weeks rather than days, look no further than this comfortable, lightweight tent	Considering the featherweight and small packed size, there's no reason two people shouldn't enjoy the comfort of this 3-person tent	This affordable, spacious, durable tent is perfect for anyone just getting into backpacking	This is our top recommendation for a backpacking tent that can comfortably fit three people	It might not be the lightest tent available, but considering its comfort and durability, this is the best value for new backpackers
Rating Categories	Big Agnes Copper Spu...	Big Agnes Copper Spu...	The North Face Storm...	REI Co-op Half Dome 3	The North Face Storm...
Livability (35%)	7.6	8.5	7.9	8.9	8.6
Weather Resistance (25%)	7.5	7.5	7.0	7.2	7.1
Weight (15%)	8.9	8.0	5.5	4.0	4.0
Packed Size (15%)	9.7	8.5	7.3	4.0	5.2
Durability (10%)	7.4	7.4	7.7	7.5	7.7
Specifications	Big Agnes Copper Spu...	Big Agnes Copper Spu...	The North Face Storm...	REI Co-op Half Dome 3	The North Face Storm...
Listed Size	2 person	3 person	2 person	3 person	3 person
True Capacity	Comfortable for one person and gear; Fits two people with a small amount of gear	Very spacious for two people and gear; Fits three people with a small amount of gear	Very spacious for one person and gear; Fits two people with a moderate amount of gear	Very spacious for two people and gear; Fits three people comfortably with a moderate amount of gear	Fits two people very comfortably with gear; Very tight for three people with very little gear
Measured Minimum Trail Weight	2.56 lbs	3.28 lbs	5.61 lbs	5.11 lbs	6.20 lbs
Measured Packaged Weight	3.10 lbs	3.81 lbs	5.88 lbs	7.10 lbs	7.10 lbs
Number of Doors	2	2	2	2	2
Measured Floor Area	29.0 sq ft	41.0 sq ft	30.6 sq ft	43.7 sq ft	39.7 sq ft
Measured Packed Size	19.5 x 4 in	21 x 5 in	20 x 6.5 in	27 x 7.5 in	22 x 8 in
Measured Peak Height	40 in	43 in	43 in	44 in	46 in
Measured Vestibule Area	9.0 sq ft on each side	9.0 sq ft on each side	9.8 sq ft on each side	9.4 sq ft on each side	10.8 sq ft on each side
Number of Pockets	4	4	4	6	4
Gear Loft?	Sold separately	Sold separately	No	No	No
Type	Two door freestanding	Two door freestanding	Two door freestanding	Two door freestanding	Two door freestanding
Number of Guy Points	4	4	4	4	4
Number of Poles	2	2	4	1	4
Pole Diameter	8.7 mm	8.7 mm	8.5 mm	Not provided	8.5 mm
Pole Material	DAC Featherlite NFL, NSL and pressfit poles	DAC Featherlite NFL, NSL and pressfit poles	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Rain Fly Material	Proprietary HyperBead fabric; 15D nylon with 20D solution dyed ripstop and 1500 mm waterproof rating without intentionally added PFAS	Proprietary HyperBead fabric; 15D nylon with 20D solution dyed ripstop and 1500 mm waterproof rating without intentionally added PFAS	75D polyester, 1200 mm PU coating	40D ripstop nylon	75D polyester taffeta
Inner Tent Material	Breathable 15D nylon with 20D solution dyed ripstop, and 15D polyester mesh	Breathable 15D nylon with 20D solution dyed ripstop, and 15D polyester mesh	40D polyester mesh, 75D polyester taffeta canopy, 75D polyester 1500 mm floor	75D polyester taffeta, 20D nylon	75D polyester taffeta
Footprint Included?	No	No	No	Yes	No

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Copper Spur UL2 is among the lightest tents we've tested to date. While some of its featherweight competition lacks livability, the UL2 offers ample space for one adult, and is comfortable enough for two people, as long as they're comfortable in close quarters. After testing this tent from the Rockies to the High Sierra, the Copper Spur UL2 has become a favorite among our team for extended backpacking trips.

big agnes copper spur ul2 - lightweight and comfortable, the copper spur ul2 has become a... — Lightweight and comfortable, the Copper Spur UL2 has become a perennial favorite for week-long backpacking trips. Credit: Zach Lovell

Livability

The headroom of the Copper Spur UL2 is impressive relative to its overall space. With a 40" peak, our 6-foot-tall tester could easily sit up in the UL2. The dual vestibules are each 9 square feet, offering plenty of space to leave backpacks outside without leaving them exposed to the elements. Many ultralight tents we've tested have only one door, while the two large doors make it easy for two people to crawl in and out of the tent.

This tent has about 29 square feet of usable space inside, making the Copper Spur UL2 a spacious option for a solo backpacker, though we have to admit it's a bit tight for two. Sleeping shoulder-to-shoulder worked well, but not everyone will be comfortable sleeping in such close quarters. It's wider at one end and narrower at the other, making it less ideal for sleeping head-to-toe. Fortunately, Big Agnes makes the Copper Spur in multiple sizes, so you can choose the right size.

there might be some amount of overlap in sleeping bags if fitting...

although this tent has a tapered design, narrowing at the feet, the...

While wider sleeping pads will overlap a bit, the UL2 offers plenty of pockets to keep things off the floor.

The thinner rainfly fabric is quite breathable, which helps with condensation and keeps the UL2 from feeling clammy inside. When the weather is nice, the mesh-heavy tent body is breezy. If you'd rather leave the rainfly on, just in case, you can even roll up part of the vestibule to increase airflow and make it easier to go to the bathroom.

big agnes copper spur ul2 - rolling up the vestibule on warm nights helps maximize airflow. — Rolling up the vestibule on warm nights helps maximize airflow. Credit: Katie Brown

Weather Resistance

Big Agnes has started using a proprietary fabric in its Copper Spur line called HyperBead, which is designed to outperform its weight in waterproofing. And it worked well, but when the rain was measured in days rather than hours, some moisture began to seep into the tent. As is often the case with lighter-weight tents, the Copper Spur UL2 will keep you dry during an average rainstorm, but you need to set it up properly to protect you during a strong thunderstorm.

Unlike a 4-season tent, the inner body offers little reinforcement, so any water that seeps through the rainfly will drip through the mesh. To keep this tent upright in strong winds, the thinner-diameter poles also required slightly more guy line tension than some heavier-duty tents we tested. Given its weight, however, the Copper Spur UL2 held up surprisingly well against strong gusts.

Spraying the Copper Spur UL2 with a hose offered some insight into how water can force its way through the lightweight rainfly, as it would when the wind is particularly strong. However, we were impressed by the weather resistance during an average rainstorm. Credit: Zach Lovell

Weight

The Copper Spur UL2 ranks among the lightest models we tested, with a packaged weight of 3.1 pounds.

Weight-conscious backpackers can shave that down by leaving the stuff sack behind, and purchasing lighter-weight stakes – one of our testers was able to shave the base weight down to roughly 2.5 pounds. Even if it's still a bit tight for two adults, the Copper Spur UL2 features twin doors and vestibules – most of the other tents we tested in this weight class have only one.

big agnes copper spur ul2 - even the packaged weight of the copper spur ul2 is reasonable... — Even the packaged weight of the Copper Spur UL2 is reasonable, considering its relative comfort. Credit: Zach Lovell

Packed Size

While a few other tents weighed less than the Copper Spur UL2, this model ranked at the top of the charts for overall packed size.

It's easy to repack into the well-designed stuff sack, and the package measures 19.5" long and about 4" thick. It easily slides down the side of a backpack, and we were able to fit it into some surprisingly tight spaces.

big agnes copper spur ul2 - now that's a tight package. if you need a tent that can pack down... — Now that's a tight package. If you need a tent that can pack down small, look no further than the Copper Spur UL2. Credit: Zach Lovell

Durability

The lightweight build of the Copper Spur UL2 makes it a bit more delicate than some of the competition. The tent body, floor, and rainfly are all made of 15-denier nylon, which is substantially thinner than many other tents we tested.

Tensioning the guylines helped reinforce the tent pole structure, but even so, the featherlight DAC poles bent slightly on one particularly windy night. With intentional care, the Copper Spur UL2 should still last a long time, but it's far from robust.

big agnes copper spur ul2 - the ultralight poles performed well overall, but it's important to... — The ultralight poles performed well overall, but it's important to choose a campsite that's not at the full fury of the weather. Credit: Zach Lovell

Should You Buy the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2?

The Copper Spur UL2 is a lightweight, ultrapackable tent designed for long backpacking trips. While this premium option may be overkill for many weekend backpackers, if you're planning weeklong trips (or even longer), you should consider upgrading to a tent like the UL2. It's a particularly great option for solo hikers on long trips, or couples who are comfortable living in close quarters and want to maximize their time on the trail.

What Other Backpacking Tents Should You Consider?

For a bit more space, check out the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3 – it's essentially the same tent as the UL2, only bigger. If the price tag of the Copper Spur tents is shocking, a tent like the REI Co-op Half Dome 3 or the smaller Half Dome 2 is a more reasonably priced option for anyone sticking to weekend trips.

—Zach Lovell