New Copper Spur HV UL2 – what's better?

[David K.]

Looking for advice on a 2 person tent for 2 – 6 foot tall people?  Need something that is wide enough to accommodate 2 wide pads and hopefully under 3 pounds.  I currently have a Stratospire 2 which I like but the pitch is annoying, especially when you can’t easily get stakes in the ground.  The new Copper Spur HV UL2 looks good.  http://bigagnes.com/Copper-Spur-HV-UL2  Anyone have one that can comment on the pros/cons of the updated design?

[ben .]

the copper spur narrows to 42″ at the foot. two wide pads would be squeezed against both sides, if they fit at all.

(everyone’s different, but my wife and i felt like it was a bit tight, and we were sharing a quilt!)

[Bob Moulder]

Maybe SMD Lunar Duo?

If you require (semi) freestanding, MSR Freelite 2?

 

[Caledonia Heather]

With two wide pads and two people over 6 feet tall, I would be looking for 3 person tents in most cases. The fly creek 3 person if you don’t mind front entry, or copper spur for side entry. similarly, the tarptent cloudburst could work. Or you could go for the MLD supermid. Or go for separate one-person shelters (my personal preference unless I am romantically involved with my tent partner).

[Jim C]

I’ve got the previous version Copper Spur UL3, and though I’ve never used the HV version, I can name one pro and one con of the new version:

Pro: Better door design. The previous door’s “hinge” was on the bottom (the door is shaped like a rainbow), so when open, it’d either fall into your tent, or on the ground outside the tent. This addresses my biggest, and maybe only, complaint about my tent. The new design opens to the side.

Con: Tapered design at the foot. The previous version was 70 inches (for the UL3) at the head and foot; the new design is 70″ at the head, but only 63″ at the foot.

If you used the UL3 for two people, as @heatherfeather suggested, the taper probably wouldn’t be an issue. But with the UL2, I think it would, especially with wide pads.

[Scott Smith]

I’ll second the use of a CSUL3, for a couple

 

for a few more ounces, you get so much more room .. including height

[Michael Schlesselmann]

I’ll +1 on the SMD Lunar Duo although it probably has the same limitations as your SS2. I have done multiple trips with both me and my hiking partner being 6’1 and having long and wide pads.

[Eric Osburn]

I’ve owned and used a few BA tents. For two adult males, especially large males, I wouldn’t suggest any of their 2 man tents, they are just too small.

The Copper Spur HV UL3 looks very livable for two larger guys and should be easy to split the weight between the two.

[David K.]

Thanks for all the feedback.  Was considering the Nemo Meta LE 2P but it looks like it’s been discontinued and I can’t find any detailed reviews on it.  Price is definitely good though!  https://goo.gl/AwgwPT

[bradmacmt]

Am I the only one that thinks the new placement of the fly vent on the CS HV UL2 is likely to be problematic?

Oh, and is it possible to make an uglier tent? I do see they’re offering it in a subtler olive color this year. Good move. I’ve lived in the CS with all that orange, it’s not pleasant.

[bradmacmt]

The Msr Hubba Hubba NX vent placement makes far more sense… and there’s one at each end. I also prefer the color and zipper placement on the fly (easier to open/close from inside the tent).

[David K.]

re: new vent placement, is it poor because wind would allow rain in?

re: orange color, why is that unpleasent?  I’ve never had a tent with a bright color, can you elaborate on why that would be a negative?

Anyone have any issues with the door zips being 2 separate zippers?  Pros or cons to this?

[Ryan Tucker]

I have the CS HV UL2 and love it. Been in a few storms, etc…I can’t find anything wrong so far. It has met my expectations. I had ordered a MLD Duo Mid that missed a trip deadline and now I am strongly considering just selling it and keeping the CS HV UL2 when it arrives.

[Valerie E]

@dkny2la :

re: new vent placement, is it poor because wind would allow rain in?  Yes, in the photos, at least it looks like the slightest up-breeze would sent raindrops under the fly.  Most would be caught by the inner net, but still — why design it that way?

re: orange color, why is that unpleasent?  I’ve never had a tent with a bright color, can you elaborate on why that would be a negative?  Most importantly, if you ever need/want to “stealth camp”, orange is the worst (that’s why you wear orange during hunting season — so it can be easily seen a long way off!).  Secondly, orange can cast a strange glow on everything inside (which either you’ll like, or you won’t).

Anyone have any issues with the door zips being 2 separate zippers?  Pros or cons to this?  If you mean one zipper on the inner mesh tent and another on the rain fly — personally, I find it awkward and difficult to unzip the mesh, and then lean allllllllllll the way forward to unzip the rain fly’s zipper… but I have bad shoulders.  Of course, most double-walled tents are designed that way, and certainly all of BA’s tents.

For what it’s worth, I find the low height and sharply inclined walls of BA’s tents claustrophobic.  We had a Fly Creek UL3 for my husband and me (not tall/big people) and we sold it because it felt too constrained.  The new HV should be slightly better, but BA’s designs are created to “sound” better on paper than they “feel” in real life.  YMMV

[David K.]

Thanks for the info Valerie.  :)

re: the zippers on the doors, I was referring to just the actual tent door having 2 separate zippers, one horizontal and one vertical, as opposed to one continuous zipper.  Any thoughts on that?

[Owen]

re: orange color, why is that unpleasent?  I’ve never had a tent with a bright color, can you elaborate on why that would be a negative?

Personally, I prefer bright tents!

a) As someone who camps and works in wilderness areas, I value being found more than I value being stealthy. I’ve been in situations where I was grateful I had bright clothing on. If I’m in an area where I want to be stealthy, I’m probably not using a tent, anyways. I’m using a bivy or small tarp.

b) Even on the darkest, cloudiest, rainiest day, you wake up to warm, cheerful light. It usually motivates me enough to at least look outside…

[bradmacmt]

re: new vent placement, is it poor because wind would allow rain in?

re: orange color, why is that unpleasent?  I’ve never had a tent with a bright color, can you elaborate on why that would be a negative?

Anyone have any issues with the door zips being 2 separate zippers?  Pros or cons to this?

Vent: Given the right conditions, if it’s left open, the vent will absolutely allow driving rain and snow in.

Color: While aesthetics are subjective, there is a psychology of color. It’s not the exterior “look”, it’s the interior “feeling” that I’m referring to. Soft, subtle colors in the light gray/cream/off-white range create a restful interior environment, while still giving a bright feeling in overcast weather. Harsh, bright, primary and fully saturated colors don’t create the same feeling. If you’ve ever been tent-bound during a storm for more than a day you’ll appreciate the difference. Also, a lighter color interior reflects light back better than darker, saturated colors, giving a brighter interior at night w/ an interior light source. However, I think it’s fair to say, you get used to whatever you’re using… the differences are not as noticeable unless compared side by side.

Dual Zip: Can’t see why it should be an issue. If the CS had a side vestibule zip like the Hubba NX it would be even better.

 

[bradmacmt]

If I were compelled to buy the CS HV UL2, I’d be inclined to the other color option because of how it will feel differently inside, not necessarily how it looks outside. However, my bet is, given the popularity of the CS line, Big Agnes gave in to consumer demand for a subtler color, since they seem to be wedded to the bright orange. In many parts of Europe in particular, it’s considered “bad form” to have a brightly colored tent in the backcountry. The expectation there is to try to blend into the environment, not stand out. This is particularly true in the UK.

 

[bradmacmt]

To further illustrate the idea of blending in, here’s the European version of the MSR Hubba Hubba NX…

 

[Scott Smith]

Or. if color is that big of a deal.. for an ounce more you get lights and a color that is much more compatible with your surrounding environment
<h1 class=”item-details-content-header-title”>Copper Spur HV UL2 mtnGLO</h1>
 

 

 

[David K.]

I agree, I think the mtnGLO color is the nicest of the 3.  Too bad I’d have to pay extra for the LED lights that I could care less about.

[bradmacmt]

The vent is still a bad design…

 

[David K.]

I do like the Hubba Hubba NX but I feel like it’s too small for 2 tall people and it’s also on the heavy side.  That design is solid but it’s been around for a while.  Time for an update MSR!

[Jeffs Eleven]

Its on like v.4

[bradmacmt]

I do like the Hubba Hubba NX but I feel like it’s too small for 2 tall people and it’s also on the heavy side.  That design is solid but it’s been around for a while.  Time for an update MSR!

The NX IS the update!

How is it too small for 2 people… it’s larger than the Copper Spur UL2!

 

 

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