Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 Review

The Copper Spur UL2 manages to combine weight and comfort without too many sacrifices. With plenty of headroom and easy-to-use doors, it's a tent that's ready for any adventure without bogging you down.

Comfort

The Copper Spur is surprisingly comfortable considering how lightweight it is. A single hiker can easily carry this tent, but split between two people, the weight would be barely noticeable. And this tent manages to do this without sacrificing things like storage or headroom.

It fits two people well, with 43" of headroom at the center. The design also keeps the walls quite vertical, meaning that even at the ends, you still have plenty of room. With a footprint of 52x88 inches, it boasts a lovely 29 square feet of interior space, which allows plenty of room even for a side sleeper who needs space for knees.

The Spur also has two 9-square-foot vestibules, which can hold shoes and a pack easily. Four interior pockets also help hold and organize smaller, miscellaneous items that tend to clutter small spaces. If there is condensation build-up, the fly also includes a kickstand vent for a point of ventilation.

Weather Resistance

The Copper Spur performed decently well during adverse weather, especially considering the lightweight nature of the fabric.

It held up well during winds, but the stakes were less than ideal, with a very small notch to hold the guy line, so if not properly staked or weighted down, this tent is prone to blowing away. The upright nature of the tent, although providing additional space inside, also does not help in this situation, so we wouldn't necessarily recommend this tent for areas where high winds are a common occurrence.

This tent stayed dry for three days in the rain, but we did notice that after considerable rain, the lightweight nature of the fabric does make it more prone to sagging under the weight of built-up water, which could be a concern during extended bad weather. Making sure the fabric of the tent stays very taut during storms will help alleviate this issue.

Our most recent test included testing tents in the heat of summer, and unfortunately, we did find that the Copper Spur got quite hot after sitting in the full Colorado sun for several hours. It was almost ten degrees hotter than its counterparts, and we largely attributed this to the very thin fabric. On the bright side, however, the tent does include a kickstand ventilation, and if you are unlucky enough to be pitching in the full, summer sun, you can also open both doors and pitch the vestibule for cross-ventilation.

The vestibule is a unique feature of this tent. In addition to being used in the traditional way, it can also be propped open with trekking poles to create an awning. On hot days where you still need shade and/or weather coverage, this is a huge asset.

Space to Weight Ratio

This tent weighs in at a trail weight of 2 lb. 10 oz or 3 lb. total weight. This is a solid two pounds less than most of its counterparts, and split between two people, only 1.5 lb.

The extremely lightweight material used in this tent means that packed, it measures just 19.5"x4", a size that is easily packed or strapped to the outside of a daypack, with room to spare for other materials. Although the Copper Spur doesn't come with a footprint, we were impressed with the durability of the floor. If you are needing one, though, a separate footprint can be purchased, although this will add to the overall weight. Overall, if we were going to be spending several days in the wilderness, with lots of hiking and or moving camp, we would definitely choose this tent for its weight and maneuverability.

Ease of Use

The Copper Spur UL2 is free-standing, making it fairly easy to set up. If setting up in bad weather, it can be pitched fly-first, although you do need to have the footprint (purchased separately) to do this. The pole structure is also easy to understand, with color matching to make the pole direction easy to navigate. The cross pole is the only deterrent to a very quick setup. It seats into rubber cups, which are nice for overall tent security, but the fit is very tight, and getting the pole into the cup can take a bit of elbow grease.

We found this tent easier than others to open one-handed, due to having two zippers rather than one, and no large curves in the door, as many tents have. If your hands are full of gear, being able to quickly slide open two independent zippers with one hand is a huge asset.

Construction Quality

This tent is clearly made of high-quality materials, but these lightweight features also make durability a bit of a concern. This clearly is a tent for fast and light, and not necessarily for kids, pets, or other activities that cause a lot of wear and tear. Still, we were also pleasantly surprised with how well the floor held up, despite the aforementioned concerns.

The poles of this tent were thinner and lighter than their counterparts. Although we didn't personally experience any bending or breaking during testing, other testers have noted this to be a concern, so it is worth mentioning. Our main concern came from the stakes, which have a very small notch for the tent's guyline to seat into, rather than the large, curved stakes of most tents. Although the Copper Spur only has very thin guy lines, we still found that the tent was prone to popping off the stake. If not weighted down enough, it easily blows away, and during testing, we experienced just this. One trip over bramble, cactus, and into a tree left the rain fly with several tears. If using this tent in a windy area, it is important to make sure it is staked down exactly right to help prevent this. Or better yet, swap out the stakes provided for a burlier option to prevent a torn tent.

Should You Buy the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2?

The Copper Spur UL2 is a great option when weight is a priority. It's pretty clear that a lot of science and design went into this piece of equipment, so it is an investment. If fast and light is your jam, though, then it's still a decent price for a high-performing product. If, however, weight is less of an issue for you, then there are also several other, more affordable, more durable options. Overall, however, this is a well-thought-out, high-quality tent that won't weigh you down on long distances.

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