Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2
​tent review
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Tent specs:
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Price: $369.95 (at REI)
(ground cover is purchased separately $75) Design type: semi-freestanding Sleeping capacity: 2 Minimum trail weight: 1 lb. 15 oz. Packed weight: 2 lbs. 5 oz. Packed size: 4 x 19 inches Number of poles: 1 hubbed poleset Pole material: Aluminum DAC Featherlite Pole diameter: 8.7 millimeters |
Floor dimensions: 86 x 52/42 (LxW head/foot) inches
Floor area: 28 sq. ft. Vestibule area: 8 sq. ft. Peak height: 40 inches Number of doors: 1 Canopy fabric: nylon/polyester mesh Floor fabric: ripstop nylon Rainfly fabric: ripstop nylon |
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Major pros-The tent is extremely lightweight and folds up into a compact roll, and you will have no difficulty getting the tent back into its stuff sack, even if it's not rolled up perfectly.
The tent is extremely easy to set up and take down. It can be set up in less than 3 minutes!
There is plenty of room for one person with gear, a bit cramped for two adults, but totally doable. At 5 ft. 5 inches I can sit up near the door and not be anywhere near touching the tent ceiling.
There are netted storage compartments at both sides of the tent by the door for storing your necessities such as your headlamp, toilet paper and bear spray.
There is also a netted compartment on the ceiling, which is very handy for putting a headlamp or flashlight so that you can sit in your tent and read or write in your journal at night without having to hold the light.
All of the materials are extremely durable and waterproof. The floor material comes up a few inches and stops at the door, which will keep water from seeping into your tent if you encounter a heavy rain.
The vestibule by the door which is created by the rainfly, is large enough to store a laying down large backpacking pack, as well as some shoes.
The tent is extremely easy to set up and take down. It can be set up in less than 3 minutes!
There is plenty of room for one person with gear, a bit cramped for two adults, but totally doable. At 5 ft. 5 inches I can sit up near the door and not be anywhere near touching the tent ceiling.
There are netted storage compartments at both sides of the tent by the door for storing your necessities such as your headlamp, toilet paper and bear spray.
There is also a netted compartment on the ceiling, which is very handy for putting a headlamp or flashlight so that you can sit in your tent and read or write in your journal at night without having to hold the light.
All of the materials are extremely durable and waterproof. The floor material comes up a few inches and stops at the door, which will keep water from seeping into your tent if you encounter a heavy rain.
The vestibule by the door which is created by the rainfly, is large enough to store a laying down large backpacking pack, as well as some shoes.
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Major cons- the only con I have for this tent is that it does suffer a bit from condensation overnight. Most nights my tent walls were damp and this causes the tent walls to sag a bit. This isn't an issue if you're sleeping along in the tent, but if there are two adults, you will be touching the tent walls, which will then get your sleeping bags a bit wet.
You will have to use all of your stakes and stake the outside of your rainfly in order to keep your tent walls from sagging. This can sometimes be hard to do, especially when camping in areas where the tent space is small and there are bushes or rocks all around.
You will have to use all of your stakes and stake the outside of your rainfly in order to keep your tent walls from sagging. This can sometimes be hard to do, especially when camping in areas where the tent space is small and there are bushes or rocks all around.
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This tent is well-suited for a backpacker who will be using the tent in spring, summer and fall, for short and long backpacking trips. This is definitely a three season tent, as claimed, and it is extremely good at keeping body heat inside the tent. I was always warm inside the tent, and frequently went outside in the morning, to find it 10 degrees colder than what it was inside my tent.
The materials that the tent is made out of feel very sturdy and like they will last a long time.
The tent is a bit on the pricey side, especially if you are also purchasing the ground cover, but it is in line with most of the other brands out there that offer ultra lightweight tents.
This tent is definitely an investment that is worthwhile. The lighter weight tent for two people, as well as the durable materials will give you many, many years of adventures!
The materials that the tent is made out of feel very sturdy and like they will last a long time.
The tent is a bit on the pricey side, especially if you are also purchasing the ground cover, but it is in line with most of the other brands out there that offer ultra lightweight tents.
This tent is definitely an investment that is worthwhile. The lighter weight tent for two people, as well as the durable materials will give you many, many years of adventures!
-This article was written in 2016-
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer
*All pictures are taken by Franziska Weinheimer