Big Agnes Fly Creek HV 1 Carbon Review (Tent)

With regard to the Notch Li comparison, the 8-oz “optional dedicated pole-set” is just that if you are already carrying trekking poles.

Henry (Tarptent)

Would it make sense to put a mesh panel in the inner tent at the end, where the foot of a sleeping bag is likely to come in contact with the inner tent, instead of making it all from the less breathable nylon fabric?  Sort of a having you cake and eating it, too, approach.

Hi Andrew,  no worries. I was really just addressing the specs chart which at first glance makes it appear like the other model is significantly lighter than the Notch Li. My guess is that for most readers of this article trekking poles are standard and for them the shelter weights are really close.

-H

I own this tent, and I think this is a great review. I couldn’t disagree with anything. It is definitely a specialized offering, but if you are in the target audience, it is an amazing tent. I use it mostly as an emergency shelter. It is lighter than the bivy I used to use, and not much heavier than a tarp with pegs and groundsheet. It is also great as a freestanding bug net. If it does actually rain, and you have to be inside it for a long time, well then it is admittedly a bit small and hard to get in and out. If I am only expecting it to rain occasionally on my hike, it’s a good trade-off. The materials are definitely lightweight, but it doesn’t feel like its going to fall apart. I haven’t put any holes in it yet. I like that it is basically free-standing and doesn’t need hiking poles. If there’s room for a bivy, there’s room to put up this tent. A great Sierra tent.

Based on the failure that Andrew Skurka reported in his long term review of the Tiger Wall Carbon, I would personally avoid ALL of BA’s Platinum Line.  As Skurka says, these fall into the “stupid light” category.

Now, granted.  I’ve used the regular Copper Spur HV UL2, and fitting the horizontal crossing pole on that model into its pockets can be VERY tight.  The horizontal crossing pole appears to be where Skurka experienced a major tear in the fabric.  Maybe the Fly Creek won’t suffer the same fate because it doesn’t utilize the same crossing pole under high compression, putting high amounts of tension on the fabric around the pole pockets.

Still, BA’s .34 DCF seems dangerously thin to me, especially considering these are some of the most expensive tents on the market.

“Stupid light” = trying to engineer a tent that depends on high-stress distribution with materials that aren’t strong enough to support it. The Tiger Wall may fall into this category – I can’t comment definitively on that, as I haven’t seen the TW Carbon in person. Failure may also fall into the realm of user error, I just don’t know. You absolutely have to observe these things first hand and do a pretty careful analysis to make these kinds of negative judgments on product performance.

But that doesn’t negate the utility of using 0.34 osy DCF for a design not subject to these stresses – i.e., the Fly Creek design.

You have to be smart about this, and treat these two designs (and their material selections) differently.

In addition, consider what the Fly Creek actually is – a tent designed to be as light as feasible.

Big Agnes does not promise the moon here. From their own marketing materials:

These products are intended for only the most advanced user. Although extremely strong for their weight, these tents are not indestructible and require careful use to decrease the possibility of damage. Special care during setup and extended trips is important as rough handling, long-term abrasion, exposure to sharp objects or rocky campsite selection may result in fabric punctures and tears.

Most advanced user = someone who understands the limitations of materials and technology at the limits of ultralight.

But – therein lies the problem.

This tent is sold via Big Agnes’ normal retail channels (e.g., REI) and thus, immediately thrusted into the mainstream where it then becomes subject to criticism that probably borders on the unfair.

Better for them if they spent more time educating users to bring them up to an “advanced level” and offer this tent privately to a small email list than advertising it so publicly 😂

That said, I observed Andrew Marshall (the author of this Fly Creek UL 1 Carbon review) using the tent for six days in the Montana Beartooths this fall on a trip we did together, and was impressed by (a) his care in handling and pitching the tent, and (b) the tent’s performance (stability) in some awfully strong wind gusts > 35 mph. But that in and of itself was a testament to Andrew’s care in pitching the tent, using all available guylines, and paying careful attention to the distribution of even fly tension while pitching.

Honestly, that’s one of the most embarrassing “read the marketing copy on the printout held over the camera” videos I’ve ever seen from a manufacturer.

They just read the copy that’s included with the tents – the stuff that’s marketed to people who want to try the tent but need the insurance warranty and have no clue about what they’re getting into.

It would be nice if a designer got behind the camera and gave us a straight shot off the cuff that actually spoke to their “advanced users.”

My advice at this point: do your homework and know what you’re getting into.

If not, don’t buy this tent, it’s not going to serve you very well.

If you know with certainty that this tent is for you, then you’ll know exactly what that is, and can buy it in confidence.

It’s a double-wall bivy tent that’s warm, weighs only 21 oz, and not meant for hardcore weather or someone who’s clumsy. It’s not that complicated.

Worth noting that the 4 ounce poles are the stronger poles. Tarptent also sells 2 ounce poles. I’ve used those (a lot) and never had any problem with them. My guess is that those 2 ounce poles — in that configuration — are stronger than poles that are arced. The geodesic dome structure is great — but the poles necessary to pull it off are either heavy, or the weak point of your system. Of course trekking poles are much stronger. I literally put my entire body weight on my Gossamer gear (very lightweight) poles just about every time I hike. I would never sit on a domed tent.

The point being that the comparison is a bit misleading. If you don’t carry trekking poles, than the Tarptent setup is about 4 ounces heavier for about the same amount of strength. Using heavier poles would probably make the Tarpent stronger. For those who use Trekking poles, using those would be much, much stronger and the weight of the two tents would be practically identical. Free standing tents are great — they offer many advantages — but they tend to be heavier for the same amount of space and this one is no exception.