Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 Review

"Proud owner of a Copper Spur UL2 tent that I purchased in 2013. I've camped well over a hundred times in that tent and thus far, aside from dealing with aging tent zippers that don't work like they used to, there have been very few issues with this tent. It's been incredibly durable and reliable.

Due to my positive experience with my Copper Spur UL2, I purchased a new UL3 tent. During its maiden voyage on a cold, windy, rainy night in Minnesota's Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness, the tent kept us bone dry and warm. We really appreciated the extra space. The added storage spaces and multi-functional vestibules helped keep the gear outside of our tent dry as well. Off to a good start...

We moved camps the next morning. I set the tent up as I normally would (laid the footprint, attached the tent to the poles, added the rainfly, and staked everything down). It was then time for the simplest of tent adjustments; I applied a little bit of tension to the "unique TipLok™ Tent Buckle™" on the rainfly, which is supposed to "streamline(s) tent set up by combining three functions: secure pole-tip capture, rainfly attachment and tensioner, and stake-out loop"… and one of these flimsy tent buckles snapped in half. I'd literally done this hundreds of times with my old UL2. And the second time I added a little bit of tension to one of these buckles, I was left with a busted tent. Very disappointing. Thankfully I found an extra tent stake in the backcountry and was able to use that to tightly cinch down this particular corner of the rainfly. The next two nights were dry (no rain) and aside from this glaring fault, the tent performed well.

Thankfully REI took the tent back and I'm in the process of receiving a replacement. I'm afraid this will be an ongoing issue with this tent... something this critical and simple should not fail during regular use. I’m concerned that in the race to make the lightest tent possible, Big Agnes may have used more fragile materials for the new version. Fingers crossed that this won't occur again, but I'm afraid the impetus will be on me and my camping partners to be gentle with this tent."

"A Great tent! Light and Easy Set Up

Brought this for a three day shakedown and was very satisfied.

While it its not in the sub 2 lb. Ultra-ultralight class tents, was impressed with it’s lightness for the room. Two people could easily split the components weight for backpacking.

Once you get it oriented, it was easy to set up with the color-coded corner tabs, clips and matching pole ends.

Additionally, I bought the UL footprint which also integrates into the system for a perfect fit. Bonus: You can pick up the whole thing and move it before you stake it down.

Watching a couple of Youtube review videos really helped me understand this whole set up, as well as tip and tricks on how to use all the options.

For example: BA expects that two guy lines will be staked together at the head and foot ends. I recommend buying four more stakes to be able to guy out all lines separately.

Love the versatility of this freestanding with optional pole supported winglike canopies for extra shelter.

*Don’t set up the ends too high or you’ll funnel any rain towards the tent 🫢

Spacious and airy for 2P and backpacks at your feet but No way for 3P.

It feels airy even with the rainfly on. Allowing me at 5’9” to fully sit up inside. Love the multiple gear pockets for airing out socks or holding headlamps/phone.

The double doors are awesome; you don’t have to climb over tent mate for a midnight call of nature.

All components easily fit into its bag.

Can’t wait for it’s next adventure!"

"For what it is - it's a very good tent.

However, there are some gripes I have with it. First is it's water resistance. I understand that tent is light, but during the trip to the Norwegian mountains with plenty of rain, after some 35mm rain the floor starter to oversaturate and slowly creep water through. I'm fine with rain fly soaking and slowly letting through some water, but not the floor (and that's with added footprint that was set up to prevent major pooling in between groundsheet and floor).

Pitching it fly first is a true excersice in creativity and agility - so pitching in the rain overall is rather a challenge. Possible, but not the most pleasant experience, especially after you attach the inner tent.

The pole-supported doors are hit-and-miss. Very nice when it works, very annoying in the still yet gusty weather.

Otherwise, it's a pretty good tent - plenty storage options, plenty room for two even with Exped's LW mats (as usual, for comfort buy n+1 sized tent, 2-person version would be too tight). Sturdy enough for it's weight.

I found it to be perfect summer tent."

"I bought this a month ago to use it as backpacking/ car camping tent. My first and only use was while camping in Yellowstone this May. It rained non-stop for 4 days, with some snow and hail. Disclaimer, this is my first Big Agnes tent.

The bottom of the tent kept the water out and stayed dry, even though it flooded underneath at one point.

To me, the set up was easy, but also confusing. One side is bigger than the other so you have to make sure that once you assemble the polls into their X-shape, that it's facing the right way when you clip everything together. We were flustered because it was storming, so I think this made me miss a standard tent set up, with 2 separate sections of polls to create that X-shape instead of the Big Agnes tent, where the polls are all connected to a center piece (minus the shorter sectioned poll for the roof to keep shape)

Another minor issue was the fact that the rain-fly didn't have a clasp to hold it open, which would cause the water that beaded up on the door to run down inside the tent while we were trying to get out, due to the door falling back down on us."

"I purchased this tent to start adventuring overnight with my son. Our old two man tent couldn't accommodate our sleeping mats so we went for the luxury of a three person tent. We chose this tent based on good reviews, light weight for it's size, flexible porch set up and the variety of net baskets for storing items in the roof of the inner tent. These are particularly welcome for storing my glasses and our phones. We've not been out in the real wild yet but it's certainly done a great job in our garden and on a campsite. The bag easily accommodates the tent, pegs, inner and the ground sheet which we purchased separately.

We also purchased extra, longer pegs. I guess that's our only gripe - it comes with so few pegs.

"We got a 3P tent to have enough room for gear inside as it rains a lot in the PNW. Fairly good construction, poles do not feel flimsy, it is super light weight and fits in motorcycle saddle bags. Seam seals are good. Sets up in under 5 mins including staking out. I do wish the fly was just a bit larger, the vestibules are not very roomy (fits a couple pairs of boots, but not a pack) and not deep enough to keep rain out if you have to access the tent in the rain. If weight is not a huge consideration would recommend buying longer stakes, the ones it comes with are sturdy but cant hold in loose or sandy soil. Zippers worked okay, the ultra lightweight material of the fly snags a little easier than heavier fabric so you need to be more careful, but thats the tradeoff for weight savings."

"Bought to replace my old Big Agnes Slater UL3. After my first weekend, I am happy with my decision so far. Myself, girlfriend, & 7 y.o. daughter stayed in tent. Both nights camping dropped below freezing, but we all stayed warm in the tent with sleeping pads & 20 degree quilts. I did not use the extra guylines, only the 4 corners & 4 sides, yet the tent held up extremely well without them in gusts of around 25 kts. Ventilation was adequate with the double zippers & single peak vent. There was condensation, of course, with the cold weather & three of us breathing, but it never got so heavy that there were any drips inside, or wet spots on quilts due to sidewall contact. I am 6'1 and am glad that I opted for the long version. on a 3" inflatable sleeping pad, I had just enough room to stretch out without my head or feet touching the sidewall. I accidentally brought two 25" wide pads and one 20" pad which was a bit too wide, but by adjusting the tension and alternating the direction of the mummy pads, it ended up working out okay. Two 20" & one 25" pad would fill out the floor space perfectly. Three 20" pads would leave you with a bit of space to spare. As it was cold, I did not opt to set up the doors in the porch configuration, but it seems pretty straightforward, albeit gimmicky. The two zippers were nice, however, in allowing you to open either depending on wind direction to allow ventilation while shielding from wind and/or rain in warmer climates. The only thing I did NOT like was the keepers for the door if you used BOTH zippers, so as to roll the door up to the top. I attempted this while loading the tent, but the location of the two keepers on either end of the roll did not adequately hold the door up as the door just slid out of them in the middle. a single keeper in the center would have worked better. There is a TON of storage pockets inside, which was pretty awesome for staying organized. All told, I saved a substantial amount of weight over the Slater for moderately less room, but still plenty for three people to actually stay in. Super simple setup and definitely light enough to backpack with IF you hike with a child, friend, dog, or lots of gear. For just 2 people, there are definitely more suitable options."

"For years I used a MH light wedge 3, but after 30 years it was time for a new tent. This didn’t disappoint! Light and silky as spiderwebs, plenty of clever little inside pockets for all the various things, and awesome 2 door layout. It says 3 person but it was perfect for 2 adults and gear. We each got our own vestibule for our things! The design is so nice and aesthetically pleasing, it was fun to be in the tent. Gorgeous tiny reflective guy attachments for finding the tent at night. I know it’s an UL backpacking tent but I got it for front country camping. Packs small. My only complaint is the door zippers—the tent wall is so light and flexible you can’t zip/unzip with one hand; you have to anchor with the non zipping hand. I plan on getting the footprint to protect it, cause I plan on using this tent for a long time!"

"We (two people) just took this tent on an eleven day trip through the interior of the Frank Church in Idaho. We had three dogs with us, and it was roomy enough for us all. We also really enjoyed the extra headspace of the long version which we used. We experienced many days and nights of heavy rain, and one night of snow and never got even a drop in the tent. This tent stands up to wind very well, and the vestibules are great for boots and other gear. We especially appreciated the doors on each side of the tent and the mesh loft. We replaced the tent stakes before the trip, as the aluminum ones are too sharp and hazardous to our pet’s feet. We used Zpacks carbon fiber stakes instead with blunt heads."

In conclusion, the Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 has garnered a lot of positive feedback from users who appreciate its spacious interior, lightweight design, and overall performance. Whether you're a seasoned camper or a beginner, these reviews highlight the many benefits of the Big Agnes Copper Spur 3. The Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 is a reliable choice for anyone looking for a high-quality, lightweight tent that can accommodate up to three people comfortably. If you're in the market for a new tent, the Big Agnes Copper Spur 3 is definitely worth considering.

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