2 person lightweight tent

Mountain hardwear SuperMega UL 2.
So simple and fast fast fast to pitch.

Find yourself a "gently used" Big Agnus Copper Spur UL2 and you-they will find true happiness..

Another vote for the Copper Spur, UL2 or 3 for a bit more room.

Thanks for the recommendations, they look promising.

How about the BA Fly Creek UL2?

Thanks!

BA Fly creek 2

Only one door !

Problems reported with rain getting inside the tent . and on you .. when entering or exiting tent, whilst raining..

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I'd still go with the Copper Spur. With two young girls, or potentially you and one of them, you don't want to be climbing over one another to access the one door at the head of the tent. You get more vestibule space, an extra door, more interior space (walls are more vertical) all for a bit extra weight. A fair tradeoff in my mind.

The Big Agnes Fly Creek Platinum is the lightest.
I chose the Mountain Hardware SuperMegaUL2 because it is an improved design over the Fly Creeks in that the door leans out. Big difference for someone 6'1". If the tent is only for the girls, it may not be such an important factor. The other minor difference is that the MH tent is truly freestanding, which is the least complicated for your goal of "easy to put up"- the BA uses stakes for the back corners.

The wife and I have a BA Fly creek 2 and 3. Both purchased at fantastic close out prices. We manage single entry fine. The FC 2 is our go to. The 3 was purchased for a kayaking trip and to see if the extra room was worth the weight. It is comfortably much larger for a penalty of 8oz each and the wife prefers it but I'm the one carrying the tent so like I said the UL 2 gets packed ;) Weight was and still is our main concern and we are willing to deal with some issues as all gear choices come with compromises. They are made of light material and zips on the UL 2 need gentle care but for our usage in many times buggy humid conditions they're very good shelters. If you carry at least one hiking pole you can make the FC 2 a completely free standing tent. Also I think the new FC 3 is only 3 oz more than the CS 2. Big big difference in room but I'm not familiar with the CS construction.

Good luck to you, jimmyb

You should give the Fly Creek UL2 a serious look.

I've owned both the Fly Creek and the Copper Spur and both are decent shelters but for the purpose you have mentioned (for your daughters), I'd pick the Fly Creek.

Since your daughters are young and going to carry their own tent, it should be light. The Fly Creek is almost a pound lighter than the Copper Spur and is easier to set up (I hate the crossing pole on the Copper Spur).

The single door won't be an issue because they are young and agile. The space is tight in the Fly Creek but since they are sisters they won't mind being close (and they are presumably much smaller than me so space probably won't be an issue).

As for rain coming in the door, that's just nonsense IMO. I used a Fly Creek for years and never had a problem in the rain. If it's pouring out, you just leave the door zipped enough to cover the entry and squeeze in. I can do this easily and I'm 6 ft/200 lbs, so I don't think your daughters will have any problem going in and out.

The rain comment has always puzzled me because it comes from a group of campers that often recommends Mids which have a way bigger problem with wet entry.

As for the comment about not being free standing… I've never seen a tent that didn't need to be staked to the ground (unless you like tumble weeds). I always used 6 stakes on my Fly Creek. The extra stakes aren't necessary.

"You should give the Fly Creek UL2 a serious look." 

I must say I'm glad to see the FC getting a few good nods here. I think this may be one of those love it or hate it pieces of gear but not quite sure why. I do wish it was sewn in the USA.

jimmyb

Fly creek UL 2 in gear trade right now if interested.

jimmyb

Golite Imogene. Wait a minute…..

I found that a tent with 2 seperate, equal length poles was MUCH easier for kids to manage than any tent with a hubbed pole system.
Also, 1 door was fine for 2 people that were as flexible as kids.

Your post mentions scouting..

Most troops will supply tents for the scouts, but they are usually cheap heavy tents. So I still recommend getting a lightweight one. Some tents are smaller than others. These are great for kids, since they can be made sturdy, but are still light.

Tarps work great for scouts on back country trips. I recommend a 10×10 tarp that they can pitch tight to the ground and still move around in. Pitching the edge near the ground seems to prevent the fear of wildlife coming to get them at night.

For trips where they will sleep in a big open field (youth campground, jamborees, etc), or in designated campsites (state parks, AT in some areas) a tent works better. Fields are really really wet, and condensation drips of the tarp when the wind rattles it. Also, rain blows in through the end in an open field. At designated campsites, the ground you are "required" to sleep on is a compacted, bowl shape from over use. Bath tub floored tents are mandatory in the rain.

For scouting with 5th through 8th graders, I recommend a tent with a 30 denier fly, 70 denier floor, and 5/16" pole diameter. Scouts typically set up camp earlier than hard core hikers, and spent some hours in camp exploring and goofing around with their friends. It was very easy to train my kids to be careful with lightweight gear, but they were only successful 75% of the time getting their tent mate to take off their boots when going inside the tent to get something, and only successful 20% of the time getting the other scouts to keep the game of tag or rugby-like "football" away from the tents to prevent people from impacting the walls of the tent enough to bow them in a foot or two when they fell or ran past.

For high school age scouts, or a venturing crew – they are less rambunctious and fine with the same type of lightweight gear you would use.

I really appreciate all the info. We do all our backpacking in Alaska so rain, wind, and the weather turning is always a possibility. They have down bags and I'd rather have them in a tent for downpours.