Decision to make: Fly Creek UL3 vs Nemo Meta 2p

Luke, I cant speak to the Meta but we have a Fly creek 2 and recently picked up a Fly creek 3 on a close out deal that was too good to pass up. We used the 3 BPing in Zion and for a kayak trip in VT this year. The wife likes the extra room and we plan to use it for more paddling trips so the extra 8oz ea. is a non issue there. For us little people at 5'8" and me under 130 lbs. there is plenty of room for all our gear inside so the vestibule is not too big a deal like it is with the 2. We only used it for our dirty boots.

Unfortunately I can't vouch for high wind and rain performance yet so this review may be pretty much useless to you. As far as condensation we had no issues when forced to camp near the water in some very heavy, wet air. We are in mosquito and deer tick country here in New England so we prefer a tent over other sleep set ups.

The only weak spot in design for us is the rearward pitched door allowing for rain to come straight down onto the floor. Hopefully we will get around that by not unzipping the vestibule quite as far when entering. I was glad to see our 3 has better quality zippers than our 2 came with. We accept the light weight material as part of the sacrifice for less weight but I do understand your concerns with a dog along.

I will still reach for the FC2 for short fair weather trips but I'm hoping the FC3 will be better for 2 people for foul weather and kayak trips.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, jimmyb

Hey dude, I have used a nemo meta 1P, have a friend with the 2P, and have used a few different versions of the Big Agnes. I can solidly say I liked the Fly Creek 3 best. It has more room than the meta 2 for 2 people, and you won't be rubbing your feet and head on the ends of the shelter. The thing that I hated the most about nemo meta was the design. It simply didn't leave enough room, even when all guyed out to make it worthwhile. I find that its a really cool looking tent and that it is well made, but that it just isn't that well designed. Personally, if I were you, I'd sell them BOTH and get the Zpacks Hexamid Duplex. Not as big as the Fly Creek, basically a similar design to your presumably familiar Nemo meta 2P, but WAY BETTER EXECUTED. I have been using my hexamid solplex all season and I can't say enough good things. The zpacks IS WORTH the money, I guarantee it. Even if you want the poles for it so you can use your trekking poles and leave the tent set up, you only add about 3.8 ounces for 2 poles. You can't lose with that shelter. Why is it better executed, you might ask? Well for one thing, its longer. The angles of the wall and floor are much better, and you won't be rubbing up against the top of this tent AT ALL. Even if you're over 6 feet tall, with size 13 feet you'd be ok. I saw it with my own eyes :) Also, because of condensation. I found my Nemo EXTREMELY prone to condensation. Even with one door open, it was the most condensation I've ever had in a tent consistantly. Had to sell mine. I'm solidly a zpacks dude now. I have the solplex for myself and plan to buy a duplex when I can afford to get another, for when I need to share. Guess what? They started making a 3 person version. Might be even better. I promise you'll be more comfortable than in either of these two tents you ask about!

I've never even seen a Nemo tent in use, but I do have a FC3. I was also horrified at how thin the material is–but then, I came from many years of only using Hillebergs and my old Jack Wolfskin; however, it weighs less than Hillies, and the material has done okay so far.
IMO, the only caveat is exiting and entering the vestibule: no matter what I do, I get some water sprayed on me if there's any kind of moisture on the fly, be it morning dew or rain. The cause is the poor design of the entry, and I tap around the zipper from the inside when exiting to shake the drops off, and try to hold a towel in front of me, but I still get at least a little wet. What a pain in the butt! Otherwise, the tent does fine in the rain and wind. I live and camp in southern New Mexico, so when I say wind, I mean 35-45 mph steady with gusts 50-60 (although my Unna does much better–but it's unfair to compare other tents with Hillies). I haven't experienced longer downpours in the Fly Creek, but it did well in some real rain.
To make a long story short, the FC is a good tent. If you camp in areas with lots of rain, think twice about it–mine did well in the rain, but there's that problem of getting in and out. I live in the land of little rain–it only rains here when I camp–, so it's not a big deal. It was noisy in the wind (so's my Unna), but at no time did I think it was going to collapse in on me. BTW, I'm sure you've noticed that the UL3 is a 2-person tent. And I've noticed that the vestibule is respectable, but not big enough to sleep a German Shepherd.

Well I don't know but if one wants something like a Meta 2 but double wall ,larger sleeping area and two large vestibule, that is a good description of the Tarptent Strato Spire 2.
Not that I am biased or anything like that…
franco@tarptent

Fanco,
Very true. I had my eye on that SS2 after I purchased the Nemo. I got the FC3 for a good deal and the Meta2 can be returned still. The SS2 at present is out of my budget but It does look like a nice tent.