Big Agnes Copper Spur HV Ultralight 3P 3-Season Tent – Reviewed & Tested

When you start shopping for an ultralight tent, Big Agnes is a brand that’ll come up almost immediately. Explorer Jess was more than happy putting the Copper Spur UL 3P tent to the test to see if all the glowing recommendations are based on something more than just hype.

With a big name brand, big price tags, and a big following, Big Agnes is playing big and winning. The brand began in the US backcountry and has been operating for around twenty years now. While it’s most known in Australia for its line of exceptional quality, lightweight tents, Big Agnes also produces a wide range of gear, aiming to be ‘the mother of comfort’ to Explorers everywhere. Big goals too.

The Copper Spur HV UL3 3P 3-season tent is spoken about with the same dreamy-eyed reverence men in a flannel shirt and thongs direct towards their Colorbond roof while they water the lawn. Everyone who has one loves it, and the rest of us watch beady-eyed wondering if they truly love it, or they’re just dead set on convincing themselves that the money was worth it.

I finally bit the bullet and purchased this tent after seeing a mate enjoy the 2P version so much. Plus the specs are amazing. From the HV (high volume) interior design adding more space with no extra weight, to the easy setup, and it being just 1.7kg for a 3P tent, it was hard to pass up. That, and I really wanted my own Colorbond moment.

Six days on the Jatbula trail was a good opportunity to test it out

Why Am I the Right Person to Do This Review?

My earliest memory of being in a tent is from an eight-week family holiday around the Kimberley with four of us squeezed into our trusted Southern Cross behemoth every night. I’ve spent the night on an exposed mountaintop in the Faroe Islands protected by a 2P NatureHike tent that cost $160, in conditions so poor locals were taking bets on how long I’d last. I’ve also done the Overland with a Coleman 3P Ridgeline tent, and countless other hikes, environments, and tents inbetween. I know the difference a good tent can make, and I’m all too aware that gems exist at the most unexpected prices. 

Additionally, when I invest in a piece of gear, I research for months. There are spreadsheets. I track forums for dates on sales and special releases, and I read blog after blog from real users. I purchased the Copper Spur HV UL3 and immediately subjected it to five nights in blazing heat in the NT. I know it inside and out, on paper and on dirt. 

But enough about me, let’s talk tents.

I also unashamedly invited myself into @claire_birk‘s Big Agnes Spur to test it out one frigid morning on Mt Kosciuszko | @courtneyevewhite

Copper Spur 3P Tent Quick Specifications

Weight: 1.7kg
Packed Size: 53 x 15cm
Footprint Dimensions: 229 x 178cm
Peak Height: 110cm
Doors: 2
Vestibules: 2
Capacity: 3-Person
Season: 3-season
RRP: $950

Performance

The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 does what it claims to do—and then some. Designed as a 3-season tent, I’ve admittedly only used my one in warm weather with one light shower (but I have shivered in my NatureHike tent next door to someone comfortable in their Copper Spur!).

I’ve got mates who’ve used their 2P version all over the place, from the variable Overland, to some frigid nights on the Great Ocean Walk – and the 1200mm waterproof polyurethane coating has more than risen to the occasion each and every time. This coating means the tent is designed to be able to withstand the pressure of moderate rain (1200mm of pressure) without leaking.

The double-wall design kept condensation at bay, and the fly held up well against wind and rain. It’s not a winter tent, so don’t expect it to perform in heavy snow or torrential downpours, but for typical 3-season adventures, it’s more than capable of keeping you comfy. If you’re expecting decent rain, I’d rug up with an extra sleeping bag liner before I took a different tent as you’re more likely to get cold than wet in this one.

The high-volume design is a game-changer for anyone who has made do with tiny nylon homes previously. The tent feels luxuriously spacious, and the near-vertical walls give you enough headroom to sit up comfortably – I even managed a modified salute to the sun yoga sequence in there! For a 3-person tent, it’s incredibly light, and I can’t figure out what features it’s skimped on. Maybe it hasn’t. Two doors and two vestibules mean I’m no longer getting climbed over in the middle of the night when nature calls, and make managing temperatures inside the tent very easy.

With the doors open it feels huge

Durability

The Copper Spur HV UL3 is made from proprietary ultralight double rip-stop mixed denier nylon and all seams are taped with waterproof solvent-free polyurethane tape (instead of harmful PVC or VOC’s – suss the FAQs if you need a definition), making it as durable as it is lightweight. Aside from collecting bits of tanbark in the incredibly small denier polyester mesh of the inner, it shows virtually no signs of wear. My mate’s 2P tent has been on a tonne of trips over the past few years and you’d think it was brand new.

Read more: How PFCs in Outdoor Gear Harm The Planet

Tell me that doesn’t look like it’s just out of the packet?

The poles are made from DAC Featherlite aluminium, which is strong but flexible enough to withstand some serious gusts. The addition of the four-way high-volume hub design and span pole (which admittedly is a bit fiddly to fit), creates incredible stabilisation of the frame and improves the pitch to prevent rain accumulation. The ultralight clips fit the tent body to the frame in all the right places to maximise internal space.

Keep in mind that this is an ultralight tent, and like all ultralight gear, it requires a bit of extra care. Don’t go dragging it across rocky ground or leaving it where your dog could mistake a guy line for their next toy. Big Agnes provides a matching optional footprint you can buy to place under your tent to further protect it from rocky ground or a spiteful stick. I couldn’t afford it initially but after my latest trip, I’m keen to invest to prolong the life of this tent as long as possible. Treat it well, and it’ll last for many adventures.

We’ve been using a footprint from another tent but it’s not quite the right size and I’d prefer the Big Agnes one

Comfort

With a decent floor space, the Copper Spur HV UL3 3P tent was perfect for two people, and two 65L packs, with plenty of room to move. Three people would be more of a squeeze and you’d definitely be utilising the vestibules for any packs you’re carrying. The extra storage options, particularly the bin mezzanine at the foot and layers of ceiling pockets at the head, mean you can store a lot out of the way, leaving all floor space for people and sleeping mats.

Old habits die hard – that gear on the floor ended up stored in the lofty storage pockets and mezzanine

The headroom is amazing. I’ve never had a tent with such a large interior height before and it made getting ready in the morning a much easier process, with fewer inadvertent elbows to the head. Sleep was easy in this tent but the floor is quite slippery so I ended up throwing a jacket under my sleeping mat to prevent sliding slightly whenever I rolled over. Small inconvenience in the scheme of things and one that was easily fixed.

The fabric is thin so make sure you do a good job clearing your site before you set up, (this is pretty standard practice anyway) or throw down a tarp or footprint first to ensure a good sleep and the longevity of the tent.

Ventilation

Ventilation is excellent, thanks to the multiple doors, and strategic venting options on the fly, both on the doors and near the roof of the tent. Even on warmer nights and afternoons, you’ve got heaps of options to keep air flowing through.

This vent right up top made a massive difference and kept the Copper Spur comfortable, even in direct midday sun

Design

The design of the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 is where the value in every dollar becomes really obvious. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered, from the pre-bent poles that create more internal space to the quick stash door keeper that lets you roll back the door quickly without fumbling around (in theory anyway, it took me a few goes to get the hang of it).

Multiple tabs to secure the door, and the ability to tuck it in (look at the RHS) make this really neat

I especially loved that the tub around the bottom of the mesh interior is opaque. This was handy at group campsites so you could keep the tent open but easily get changed lying down without having to close the fly for privacy. The mesh above the tub is super fine, but also quite staticky and I noticed it collected a lot of grit and dust in the holes, which took forever to get out. That’s the only downside that’s legitimately bugged me about this tent so far, and it’s definitely akin to nitpicking.

Storage options

The storage options are next level, with multiple interior pockets and gear lofts to keep your essentials organised. As someone who needs order to feel calm, I took great delight in being inside this tent. There are so many pockets that I could allocate each one to specific bits n bobs that normally clutter the floor and result in countless frustrated minutes only to find I’m sitting on the thing. If you wear glasses, the pocket directly above your face, a whole arm length away is nothing short of perfection.

There are heaps of internal loops to help attach extra gear lofts, hang insect repellant bands (loved them for this), or damp clothes to dry overnight. According to my research the main reason these have been included is to attach mtnGLO® tent and camp lights if you like your tent lit up like a Christmas tree. Not my vibe, and a strange choice for a range of ultralight tents, but the convenience is there if you want it.

This mezzanine overhead storage bucket at the foot is next level handy

Colour

In regards to colour, the tent is available in, and I quote ‘dogs balls orange’ as my friend’s husband delightfully put it (Big Agnes would probably prefer I use their term – orange), or a lovely olive green, which blends nicely with the outdoors. I chose the orange for safety in emergencies (though I’ll forever associate it with dogs balls now), but the green is gorgeous.

Set Up

Setting up the tent only takes a couple of minutes, even if you’re flying solo. The colour-coded webbing, incredibly smooth zips, and TipLok buckles make it almost impossible to set up incorrectly, and it all just fits. If you’ve ever set up a bargain-basement tent, you’ll appreciate that this feature alone is worthy of the price. Plus, the included stuff sack is well-designed, with a wide opening so you’re never trying to return it to a bag that seems impossibly small, and the compression straps keep things compact on the go.

The part that takes the longest is attaching the pre-bent span pole, which helps keep the fly off the mesh inner

Sustainability

Big Agnes is committed to sustainability, and the Copper Spur HV UL3 is a testament to that. The tent is made with solution-dyed fabrics that reduce water and energy consumption during manufacturing, the poles are anodised without the use of harsh acids, and earth-friendly choices have been made with the seam taping.

Big Agnes has committed to all their products being 100% PFAS-free…eventually. I’m always a bit suss when brands put a goal with no date, but I think it’s more likely to be a website oversight than a sign of greenwashing in this instance (if you do patrol their website, you’ll see what I mean).

Big Agnes isn’t B-Corp Certified (We Are Explorers is – more about that here!), but the brand has joined the Outdoor Industry Association’s Climate Action Corps (OIACAC). If like me, you have no idea what that is, you’ll appreciate this next bit.

From what I can tell, the OIACAC (apparently this acronym is too long for them but I’m running with it), is a group of smaller brands working together to take a stand on the importance for the outdoor industry to work together to address climate issues and sustainability. It provides a framework and tools for them to measure their impact and set goals. So they’re kind of operating like a B-Corp, without actually being one. As far as second best options go, I love it. Big yes, OIACAC!

Overall this brand is headed in the right direction and I’m excited to see how they progress in this area.

Another shot of that lovely opaque bottom. It’s super effective

Price

At $950 RRP, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL3 isn’t exactly cheap. Even though this tent is almost always available on sale, it’s still a big investment whether it’s $650 or $950. Top tip: Wild Earth frequently has sales with a few hundred bucks off!

But in the world of ultralight tents, you get what you pay for, and this is one, extremely rare, instance where I don’t begrudge a single dollar. The Copper Spur HV from Big Agnes offers a brilliant balance of weight, space, and durability, making it worth the investment for serious hikers.

Plus, considering the longevity and performance, it’s one you’ll be able to gaze lovingly at for a very long time.

Cue the harps

Final Thoughts

As it turns out, once you purchase one for yourself, all those hikers waxing poetic about their Big Agnes Copper Spur suddenly seem a lot more relatable. This tent is nice. If you’re serious about ultralight hiking and hit the trail often, I’d be hard-pressed to recommend you a different tent.

It’s been thoughtfully designed, and is a breeze to carry, set up, and pack down. Depending on your outback vibe it can help you blend in or stick out like dog balls (a good thing!). I know which I’d prefer if I needed rescuing! And while the initial price is high, when you do that old trick of averaging it out based on the number of times you use it, well, it’s pretty damn reasonable.

FAQs Big Agnes Copper Spur Ultralight 3p 3-Season Tent

What accessories are available for the Big Agnes Copper Spur?

Big Agnes has gone all out so if you want to be an unofficial brand ambassador for them, you borderline can. Grab the matching footprint, an ultralight sleeping mat, a bonus gear loft, an ultralight chair, and – well honestly, this list go on for awhile. Wait – one more! They don’t appear to have a kitchen sink but you can buy a camp ‘trash can’ if you want to!

Does Big Agnes do bikepacking tents?

They sure do! Once I step up my bikepacking game this is the tent I’d love to take with me. Check out the ultralight Copper Spur bikepacking tent on Wild Earth and hopefully you’ll score a bargain.

Is PVC a bad material?

PVC or polyvinyl chloride, is a plastic we’ve pretty much all used, it’s in a tonne of everyday products including pipes, flooring, and even medical products. The harm from PVC mainly comes during it’s production and disposal when toxic chemicals leach out of it, polluting the air (and us if we breathe it in). All in all, it’s good to avoid if you can, but isn’t the worst thing out there.

What are VOC’s?

VOC’s or volatile organic compounds, are mostly found in products like paint and cleaning supplies. Formaldehyde and benzene are VOCs you may be familiar with. They can evaporate easily into the air and ingesting them can lead to headaches and respiratory issues. They’re the reason it’s a good idea to ventilate the room and wear a mask when you paint a wall at home for example. Some have been proven to be carcinogenic. Thankfully, Big Agnes avoids them wherever possible.

What other tent did you consider buying instead of the Copper Spur?

The Hyperlite Unbound 2P tent was the next big contender when I made the decision to upgrade from my Coleman Ridgeline. The Coleman was great for my partner and I but as our hiking trips became more frequent, we wanted some additional features. The main reason I opted for the Big Agnes was that I wanted the option to be able to remove the fly, and the set up looked a lot easier with less space required. The increased space and generous jump down in price compared to the Hyperlite Unbound also helped make the Copper Spur my first choice.