I wanted to try this tent when I first saw it advertised several months ago. 2 person tent for two pounds and a vestibule, tough to beat. I have used the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 for a couple of years several years ago. That tent was fine, but it was tight and I have never been a great fan of the front opening tents. I was a little concerned when I saw the MSRP of this tent at $499. But you can get them for $400 at several places online with free shipping and no tax, so I took the plunge.
First off this is tent is exactly the same dimensions as the Fly Creek UL2, but the materials used are lighter and have more mesh material used on the tent itself. The feel of the tent seems "thinner" than the original Fly Creek, so I am guessing that is how the weight is reduced also. It is also , you guessed it, a platinum color verse the old color which is sort of gold/tan/orange assortment. Overall the tent was put together just like all the Big Agnes tents, and are pitched like the entire line of Ultra Light tents Big Agnes offers.
The tent came packaged at 2 pounds 4.2 ounces, slightly higher than advertised. I discarded the stuff sacks for the stakes and poles and replaced the BA stakes with the new Carbon MSR stakes. My packaged tent weight is 2 pounds 1.8 ounces with the stake change and getting rid of the extra stuff sacks.
The tent itself is like a bathtub floor with the entire upper mesh. The pole system is actually three poles that are connected through a hub.
As you can see in the pictures, it looks like all the other BA tents. I think they could have put one more attachment from the tent to the pole system in the middle of the lower end as you can see the angle is fairly steep. This area would only really provide more room for your legs, but it more volume at nearly no weight cost would be nice.
The fly also went on like all the other BA tents and was a snug fit over the pole system. The middle of the tent has clips that attach to the fly to pull out the inner tent slightly for more side wall room. There are also four additional guy lines on the fly if you needed to really guy it out in severe weather. I have had several BA Tents and have never used these. I thought of removing them, but I took them off and it was about a one ounce weight savings, so I put them back just in case one day I need them.
Once it was all set up, I thought there was no way two people could fit in it. It was more like a one person tent with plenty of room for clothes and some equipment.
The vestibule was plenty big for your boots or in a pinch I think I could put my Duplex Timberline 2 in there, but it would have been tight. I generally keep the vestibule clear, except my boots, so when I get up in the middle of the night I don't trip over everything.
The tent also has three mesh storage pockets on the inside, left, right and above, which were all very handy.
Overall, I liked it. Lightweight, easy to set up and will probably handle any weather I will get myself into in the back country.
First off this is tent is exactly the same dimensions as the Fly Creek UL2, but the materials used are lighter and have more mesh material used on the tent itself. The feel of the tent seems "thinner" than the original Fly Creek, so I am guessing that is how the weight is reduced also. It is also , you guessed it, a platinum color verse the old color which is sort of gold/tan/orange assortment. Overall the tent was put together just like all the Big Agnes tents, and are pitched like the entire line of Ultra Light tents Big Agnes offers.
The tent came packaged at 2 pounds 4.2 ounces, slightly higher than advertised. I discarded the stuff sacks for the stakes and poles and replaced the BA stakes with the new Carbon MSR stakes. My packaged tent weight is 2 pounds 1.8 ounces with the stake change and getting rid of the extra stuff sacks.
The tent itself is like a bathtub floor with the entire upper mesh. The pole system is actually three poles that are connected through a hub.
As you can see in the pictures, it looks like all the other BA tents. I think they could have put one more attachment from the tent to the pole system in the middle of the lower end as you can see the angle is fairly steep. This area would only really provide more room for your legs, but it more volume at nearly no weight cost would be nice.
The fly also went on like all the other BA tents and was a snug fit over the pole system. The middle of the tent has clips that attach to the fly to pull out the inner tent slightly for more side wall room. There are also four additional guy lines on the fly if you needed to really guy it out in severe weather. I have had several BA Tents and have never used these. I thought of removing them, but I took them off and it was about a one ounce weight savings, so I put them back just in case one day I need them.
Once it was all set up, I thought there was no way two people could fit in it. It was more like a one person tent with plenty of room for clothes and some equipment.
The vestibule was plenty big for your boots or in a pinch I think I could put my Duplex Timberline 2 in there, but it would have been tight. I generally keep the vestibule clear, except my boots, so when I get up in the middle of the night I don't trip over everything.
The tent also has three mesh storage pockets on the inside, left, right and above, which were all very handy.
Overall, I liked it. Lightweight, easy to set up and will probably handle any weather I will get myself into in the back country.
