Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Review: Volume Where It Counts
Big Agnes state the four-way high-volume hub makes this 25 percent stronger with 20 percent more usable interior volume than previous versions, with two doors, two vestibules and an oversized ceiling pocket. Buy it if you want the most livable ultralight two-person tent. Read the listing carefully first: this particular one is the Bikepack variant, with a shorter-packing compression sack and bike-frame attachment webbing, which is a benefit on a bike and irrelevant on foot.
A high-volume hub design that adds 20 percent interior space, on a listing that is the bikepacking variant.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 Ultralight Bikepacking Tent
Under $500
A two-door, two-vestibule ultralight tent with a four-way high-volume hub, bike-friendly stuff sack and attachment webbing, and helmet storage.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Doors | Two doors and two vestibules |
|---|---|
| Hub | Four-way high-volume design |
| Strength | Big Agnes state 25 percent stronger than previous Copper Spur versions |
| Volume | Big Agnes state 20 percent more usable interior volume than previous versions |
| Fabric | Proprietary ultralight nylon double ripstop |
| Stuff sack | Compression sack with daisy-chain webbing for bike-frame attachment |
| Storage | Elastic webbing for a helmet on the tent body, oversized ceiling pocket |
| Ventilation | One fly vent and a low vent on the vestibule doors |
| Warranty | Guaranteed against manufacturing or material defect |
Specifications above come from Big Agnes' published product information. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- The high-volume hub is what makes a Copper Spur feel different from other ultralight tents. Steeper walls mean you can sit up without your head against the fly, which is the thing people actually notice.
- Two doors and two vestibules, so neither person climbs over the other and both have covered gear space.
- The vent design matters. A fly vent plus low vents on the vestibule doors gives you cross-flow, which is how a double-wall tent manages condensation.
- Big Agnes' warranty record is good and the brand is easy to get parts and poles from years later, which matters for a tent you intend to keep.
- An oversized ceiling pocket sounds trivial and is where your headlamp, phone and glasses go, every night.
Where it falls short
- This listing is the Bikepack version. The bike-frame webbing and helmet storage add features a foot hiker will never use, and the compression sack is optimised for a shorter pack length rather than for the lightest possible sack.
- Ultralight nylon double ripstop is light and it is thin. A footprint or a polycryo sheet is a sensible addition rather than a luxury.
- Nylon stretches when wet, which is the specific problem NEMO's OSMO fabric was developed to address. Expect to re-tension guylines after heavy rain.
- It is a freestanding tent with poles, which will always weigh more than a trekking pole shelter of the same floor area.
- At this price you are paying for interior volume. If you sleep and leave, a smaller tent saves money and weight for the same night's rest.
What owners report
The Copper Spur has been a reference ultralight tent for years and owner reports reflect it: livable, well ventilated, and light for what it is. The consistent criticism is fabric durability, which is the price of the weight, and the consistent advice from owners is to use a groundsheet.
Our Lunar Solo versus Copper Spur comparison covers the real decision, which is between a freestanding double-wall tent and a single-wall trekking pole shelter at half the weight. Our trekking pole versus freestanding comparison generalises it.
Shelter, pack and sleep system are the Big Three, and they are where base weight is actually decided. Our Big Three guide and the base weight calculator show what a pound saved here is worth against a pound saved anywhere else, which is usually a lot.
Who it suits
- Pairs who want to be comfortable rather than merely accommodated.
- Bikepackers, for whom this particular variant's stuff sack and attachment webbing are genuinely useful.
- Anyone who camps in weather and wants a double-wall tent with real ventilation.
Who should skip it
- Foot hikers who would rather not pay for bike-specific features, who should look for the standard Copper Spur listing.
- Weight-focused hikers already carrying trekking poles.
- Anyone camping on rough ground without a groundsheet.
Alternatives worth considering
NEMO Equipment Hornet OSMO Backpacking Tent, 2P
Under $500
NEMO's OSMO fabric is designed specifically to stretch less when wet, which is the recurring annoyance with nylon shelters in sustained rain. Tighter inside than the Copper Spur, which is the trade.
Check price on AmazonSix Moon Designs Lunar Solo Ultralight Backpacking Tent, 26 oz, trekking pole setup
Under $500
Twenty six ounces for one person, pitched with a trekking pole, in silicone-coated polyester. Single wall, so you manage condensation rather than avoiding it, and it needs stakeable ground.
Check price on AmazonNaturehike Cloud Up Base Backpacking Tent, 2 Person
Under $250
A freestanding two-person tent at a quarter of the price. Heavier and less refined, and it gets you out on the trail, which is worth more than the last half pound to most people.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Lunar Solo vs Copper Spur HV UL2
- Trekking pole tent vs freestanding tent
- The Big Three explained
- Tent vs tarp vs hammock
- Tent weight comparison
- Base weight calculator
- NEMO Hornet OSMO 2P review
- Best ultralight tents
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Copper Spur and the Copper Spur Bikepack?
The Bikepack version adds bike-specific features: a shorter compression stuff sack with daisy-chain webbing for frame mounting, and elastic helmet storage on the tent body. The tent itself is closely related. On foot, those features add nothing, so check which version a listing is before buying.
Is the Copper Spur HV UL2 roomy enough for two?
It is one of the more livable ultralight two-person tents, because the high-volume hub creates steeper walls and more sitting height than a tapered design. Two adults fit properly rather than merely fitting. That livability is what the extra weight and cost buy.
Do I need a footprint?
It is sensible. Ultralight nylon floors are thin and a groundsheet meaningfully extends their life. A cut piece of polycryo weighs a couple of ounces and costs very little, and most weight-conscious hikers use that rather than the branded footprint.
Does the fly need re-tensioning in rain?
Nylon flies stretch when wet, so yes, expect to re-tension guylines after sustained rain. That is a property of the fabric family rather than a defect. Polyester and newer poly-nylon blends stretch less, which is a reason some hikers prefer them.
How does it compare to a trekking pole shelter?
It is heavier and it pitches anywhere, including on rock and platforms where stakes will not go. A trekking pole shelter uses poles you already carry and is typically half the weight for one person. Our comparison covers both, and the honest answer depends on where you camp.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, listed weights, and verified owner reviews across retailers. We do not test gear in person, and every weight quoted here is the manufacturer's figure unless we say otherwise, so weigh your own kit before you trust a total. Going lighter also means carrying less margin, so treat insulation, navigation, water treatment and an emergency plan as fixed costs rather than places to save grams.
Weighing your own kit item by item? The Base Weight Reduction Planner is the paid version of these pages: 11 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, two filled-in examples, a companion spreadsheet and the full PDF, $29.
